Guernsey – The Destination that does NOT “Have it Allâ€
Says the Guernsey Tourist Board – “How many times have you read blurb about a holiday destination that “has it all†or, worse, the dreaded cliché “something for everyoneâ€? Well, this place really does not “have it allâ€. The island of Guernsey may well have fabulous white sand beaches, more sunshine hours than mainland Britain and superb seafood but take a look at what we don’t have :-
• No theme parks, amusement arcades or zoos
Children on holiday here have to suffer crabbing in rock pools, playing on the sands, boat trips to see the puffins parading off the coast of Herm island (if the weather’s bad they have to watch English TV too) or take a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) ride to see the seals on the rock crops in the north of the island.
• No in-flight movies
Blink and the flight’s over! Around 45 minutes from Gatwick and around an hour from 6 other regional airports (2 hours from the south coast on fast ferry)
• No chain restaurants
There are no McDonalds, Pizza Huts, KFC…none of them here. Instead, there are owner-run places, individual chefs, individual style from beach cafés to gourmet restaurants
• No chain coffee outlets
With respect to the great Starbucks, Nero’s and Co of our time, they aren’t here.
Places with names like “A Piece of Cakeâ€, Cobo Tea Rooms and the Pelican make just as good tea and coffee – really.
• No commuter chaos on the railways
Because there are no trains (except for a two-mile long ride on Alderney where a toy train provides easy sightseeing). Saturdays, Sunday, Bank Hols only, Easter-September of course
• No hotel chains
Not a single Travelodge or Holiday Inn. Our places to stay have names like
Old Government House, Fermain Valley, La Fregate, Aval du Creux, La Collinette, Milles Fleurs and St. Pierre Park.
• No traffic hassle (fewer cars and so fewer carbon emissions)
On Guernsey they think “congestion charge†is something to do with a chest infection. Maximum speed is 35 mph. The islands of Herm and Sark are car-free. On Guernsey, horseriders, cyclists and pedestrians have priority in the ruettes tranquilles and a single fare of 60p applies to all bus journeys.
Valere Tjolle
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