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ADMINISTRATION:
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Hotels and B&B Accommodation in the Channel Islands
of Guernsey, Sark, Alderney & Herm
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Guernsey
Guernsey is
an independent self-governing island which boasts a favourable
tax climate and is a popular holiday destination for British and
French travellers alike. Many offshore banks, fund managers and
insurance companies have established headquarters here owing to
its favourable trading conditions, particularly in St Peter Port,
the island capital. Whilst the traditional industries of flower
growing, fishing and dairy farming still play an important part,
contributing both to the varied economy and to the island’s
character. Guernsey also has its own stamps and currency, and
while British pounds can be used on the island, Guernsey pounds
cannot be used in the UK. Being an island, with a warmer climate
than mainland UK, much time is spent outside; on the beach, walking
the cliffs, island hopping or eating al fresco. The Island
has great sporting facilities and a programme of sporting events
throughout the year.
Like nearby
Jersey, there is a Norman French influence to be seen throughout
the island, though distinctly British in all other ways, including
the familiar telephone kiosks and pillar boxes - except that in
Guernsey they are coloured blue!
Guernsey
Hotels & Accommodation
Guernsey boasts
a huge range of places to stay to suit every taste and budget.
Whether you’re looking for four star luxury, friendly guest
accommodation, or an inexpensive B&B, all are available on
the island.
St Peter Port
viewed from the Harbour © Gloria Moss 2011.
Guernsey
Health & Currency Matters
The States
of Guernsey are not a member of the European Union, though it
does have existing trade agreements in place. Therefore, British
citizens are not actually covered by the National Health or by
European E111 reciprocal health facilities, so visitors from the
UK are advised to take out travel and medical insurance.
United Kingdom
currency is legal tender in Guernsey, though they also issue their
own, characterised especially by the one pound note (long since
gone in mainland Britain to be replaced by a pound coin).
The
States of Guernsey One Pound Note
In
fact, Jersey, Guernsey and British Pounds (and in most places
the European Euro) are commonly accepted. It also means that British
visitors can use Channel Islands ATM cash machines from all the
usual familiar banks without incurring conversion or other bank
charges. Beware however, if you use an ATM in Guernsey, it will
issue Guernsey currency, which is not legal tender back in the
UK, though British banks will exchange notes over the counter.
Therefore it is not unusual to find banknotes of three different
nationalities in your pocket, wallet or purse. Guernsey coins
cannot be exchanged back in the UK so spend them before you leave.
Sark,
Alderney & Herm
Sark
Sark is a small island in the Channel Islands located just off
the French coast of Normandy. It is in the Bailiwick of Guernsey,
with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament.
It has a population of about 600. Sark's economy depends primarily
on tourism. There is no airport on Sark, but the Isle of Sark
Shipping Company operates small ferries from the island to St
Peter Port in Guernsey. The island is a car-free zone where the
only vehicles allowed are horse-drawn, as well as bicycles, tractors,
and battery-powered buggies or motorised bicycles for elderly
or disabled people. Passengers and goods arriving by ferry from
Guernsey are transported from the wharf by tractor-pulled vehicles.
Alderney
Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and part
of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, The island has a population of only
2,400 people. The only parish of Alderney is the parish of St.
Anne which covers the whole island. The main town, St. Anne, features
an imposing church and unevenly cobbled high street. There is
a primary school, a secondary school, and a post office as well
as hotels, restaurants, banks and shops. Alderney
is served by Alderney Airport. There are several flights each
day from Southampton, Jersey and Guernsey.
Herm
Herm is the smallest of the Channel Islands that is open to the
public and is also part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Cars are
banned from the small island just like its Channel Island neighbour.
Unlike Sark, however, bicycles are also banned. Herm does allow
quad bikes and tractors for use by local residents.
Herm won the 2002 and 2008 Britain in Bloom competition in the
'Small Coastal Resort' category
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Much of the material on this web page was sourced at, or based on, entries
in Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) and VisitGuernsey website (www.visitguernsey.com),
who own the respective copyrights. Therefore, while every effort has
been made in compiling the information contained on this page, Papillon
Graphics makes no guarantee as to the accuracy, currency or authenticity
of the entries, nor of the quality of service offered by any companies
listed herein.
The map of Guernsey and photo of St Peter Port on this web page are
Copyright © 2011 John & Gloria Moss, Papillon Graphics
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