Hotel de France | St Helier, Jersey

A relaxed atmosphere abounds at the Hotel de France situated on the outskirts and overlooking the capital of Jersey - St. Helier. The 4 Star hotel is only a fifteen-minute walk into the town centre and provides excellent amenities both for leisure and business travellers alike. The family owned property, set within 11 acres of private land, offers 126 individually styled bedrooms ranging from family rooms to master and junior suites and spa rooms.

There is plenty of free on-site parking for the hotel guests and the hotel also offers complimentary shuttle service to the town centre. We did not use the shuttle service as we had taken our car (on the Condor Ferry) to Jersey. But this is a very thoughtful gesture as the hotel is on a steep incline and the shuttle service would prove useful if you are travelling with the elderly or people with limited mobility.

Our room

We stayed in one of the Spa rooms which come with their own private balcony. The balcony afforded beautiful views across the town centre of St Helier right up to the coast. The room was spacious, clean and had all mod cons like television (Sky TV), hair dryer, room safe, mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities and a good Wi-Fi connection.

All Spa Rooms have en-suite bathrooms that are spacious, modern and luxurious with both bath and separate walk-in shower. Bathrobes, towels and slippers were provided. Toiletries from Eco-Boutique were stocked in the bathroom and replenished daily.

Ayush Spa and Healthhaus Gymnasium

Ayush Spa offers a portfolio of treatments featuring therapies that have adapted to maintain the Spa's Ayurvedic philosophy. Some of the facilities within Ayush Spa like the Infinity Swimming Pool, Hydrotherapy Pool with Jacuzzi, Hot and Cold Plunge Pools, Sauna and Steam Room and Relaxation Suite are free to all in-house residents. Similarly, the Healthhaus Gymnasium facilities like the functional suite and free weights, Technogym Kinesis and cardiovascular equipment can be used free of charge by hotel guests.

The Spa treatments at Ayush Spa are quite popular and hence it is recommended to make all spa reservations along with your hotel booking. We did not have the time to enjoy any treatments at the spa during our stay. But I did have a look at their offerings and their Ayush La Sultane face therapies caught my attention. On my next visit, I am surely booking myself in for one of these pampering facials.

Food and drink

We had breakfast in the Orangery Restaurant all three days of our stay. It was a self-service buffet breakfast and the food was continually replaced. I loved the selection of fresh fruit. In addition to the full English and Continental breakfasts, an A La Carte selection was also available. Staff in the restaurant were very friendly but not intrusive.

While we did not have dinner at the hotel as were out all the three days only returning well past dinner time, if you are staying at the hotel, you can have your dinner either at the informal Garden View Restaurant or at the fine dining Saffrons Restaurant. Saffrons serve Indian cuisine with a twist - Indian spices combined with European cooking techniques to create lighter and healthier meals which score very well in terms of flavour.

What to see and do

Although small in size, Jersey packs a punch when it comes to the number of attractions it has to offer. From historic sites like Mont Orgueil Castle and Battery Lothringen to museums like the Jersey War Tunnels and the Mansell Collection and from natural attractions like St Brelade's Bay Beach (& Corbière Lighthouse) and Plemont Bay to shopping venues like Liberty Wharf Shopping Centre and St Helier Central Market, there is plenty for visitors to see and do. If you need any information or suggestions regarding travel and sightseeing, let the hotel staff know - they are only too happy to share their local knowledge with the guests.

Our thoughts

Overall, our stay with Hotel de France was wonderful. Our room was lovely with a comfortable bed, breakfast was good and the staff were friendly and helpful. It is a fantastic hotel with a very relaxed atmosphere. We had a lovely time. This time around our visit to Jersey was geared more towards sight seeing and as such, we did not get a chance to enjoy the spa facilities at the hotel. One day I would love to come back and treat myself and the husband to a spa break at Hotel de France.

Good to know

Prices for single rooms (B&B) start from £99.00 per night, while double rooms (B&B) are priced from £130.00 onwards for 2 guests sharing a room. Prices for the Spa room with a balcony (like the one we stayed in) start from £170.00 for 1 night for 2 guests. You get the best rates when you book directly with the hotel. You can use the details below to make your reservation.

Hotel de France | St Saviour's Road, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands - JE1 7XP
Phone | +44 (0) 1534 614000
Book Online | www.defrance.co.uk

Our stay at Hotel de France was complimentary for purposes of this review. However, all opinions, as always remain solely our own.