Planning a trip to the Channel Islands next year. Would like any input on whether to visit Guernsey or Jersey? One of the things we'd like to do during our stay is tour the World War II sites on the island. Any ideas to help us focus our trip would be appreciated.
Posted by
Derry
175 posts
Hi Rick, Spent five days on Jersey last summer; it's just a larger Guernsey. We used the St Helier bus system to get from the airport to the hotel and also visit most of the island sites. You'll find lots of interesting places to spend your days. We stayed at the Pomme D'or hotel which has a perfect city center location near all the downtown sites, adjacent to the local bus and the nearby ferry terminals. France's St Malo is a fun and interesting day trip as well. If you do plan to use the ferry - plan ahead - they can fill up early especially on the weekends. Flybe has an inexpensive flight (approx 40 min) out of Gatwick' South terminal direct to Jersey. Local buses meet all the flights and take you into the city center. Enjoy!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Many places to visit on Jersey, basically you can go around the island on various bus lines and see most of the good sights We also took a day ferry to Sark- nominally no cars, small island great for walking through the villages. Cute and scenic. You could also get a ferry to guernsey if there is something there you want to see
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
If you're interested in WW11, there's a good book you might enjoy for background- 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer. Enjoy!
Posted by
Washington, DC
888 posts
I was going to recommend the same book that Maggie did. It is a wonderful read and you will learn much history about the German occupation during WWII. Diane Rehm also did a show about it (if you Google Diane Rehm and Guernsey it will come up). Have fun!
Sorry I have no personal experience beyond the book and show to recommend.
Posted by
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, Canada
307 posts
I just got back from a two week trip during which we spent a night on Jersey, the more populous of the two islands, with 90-100,000 residents. St Helier is a great town for a visit, and I would highly recommend seeing the Jersey War Tunnels, a museum documenting the German occupation during WW II, and which is housed in an old underground hospital built during the occupation.