Travel test

WHAT: The four-star, refurbished St Brelade’s Bay Hotel, Jersey. Rooms from £155 a night on B&B, £225 dinner, B&B. Free wi-fi, stbreladesbayhotel.com

WHERE: In five acres of grounds on La Route de la Baie, St Brelade, overlooking the magnificent beach and about 10 minutes by road from the island’s airport and 20 minutes to the centre of St Helier, the capital of Jersey. EXPERIENCE: Check-in was prompt and we were upgraded to a magnificent fourth floor penthouse suite, which had a lounge with tea and coffee facilities, a dressing area and a bathroom with luxe amenities.

The suite’s undoubted highlight was the large balcony with a showstopper view of the bay. We spent a lot of time there just enjoying that vista and taking an inordinate amount of photos.

While my wife Debbie and I were at St Brelade’s Bay for two nights, it’s well equipped for a week-long holiday stay with direct beach access, a great outdoor pool and cafe bar in the lush, terraced south-facing gardens, a fabulous DW Health Club with a huge gym and indoor pool, and a spa (guests get free access to the health club).

Away from the garden cafe bar, drinks are served on the suntrap terrace, in the main bar or in the large lounge.

Food is a standout feature at the hotel, and our dinner in the Bay Restaurant was excellent. We both had the trio of salmon starter, with cod thermidor main for me and pan-fried sea bass fillet for Debbie. Every last delicious morsel was devoured, including superb local veg (Jersey Royal potatoes really do taste better than your average King Edward). Breakfast was a good buffet.

Necessary for the current climate, there are Covid notices, app check-ins and hand sanitiser very visibly placed throughout the property.

QUIBBLES: We were mistakenly charged twice for a bottle of wine with dinner – quickly and politely sorted out.

VERDICT: A lovely hotel. Having to check out was a wrench.

9.5/10

MORE INFO

bonjourquebec.com. easterntownships.or; laurentides.com; tourismeoutaouais.com.

*Canada is currently subject to Covid entry restrictions and quarantines.