Where are the Channel Islands?

Officially the sunniest location in the British Isles, the Channel Islands sit in the English Channel in the Bay of St. Malo, between mainland UK and France. Although part of the British Isles, they actually sit much closer to Europe than to the UK. This afford the islands the luxury of a very pleasant climate, typically with longer daylight hours and warmer weather.

How do I get there?

Just a short one-hour flight from most UK airports, flying to Jersey and Guernsey couldn’t be simpler. The Islands are extremely well-served from the UK, with regular, reliable departures with scheduled flights. Our offers include departures from all of these airports and take advantage of our attractive rates packaged with car hire or transfers which more often than not are less expensive than driving to a Channel port and loading your vehicle onto a catamaran or ferry. If you can’t find the airport that suits you, give us a call and we’ll find it for you.

What happens once I arrive?

All of our offers include return airport transfers or car hire, so once you arrive on Jersey, you will be at your hotel in no time.

Getting around on Jersey and Guernsey is a dream, with an excellent local bus network which is fast, regular, clean and cheap. Buses are available at the airports for Island-wide destinations, and no hotel is ever far from a convenient stop.

Car hire is is an excellent way to see the Island at your leisure. The quiet roads and meandering routes make for some beautiful drives, along which you can stop en-route for lunch and walks and enjoy the views as you please. Cars can be collected at the airport on arrival for the full duration of your stay or simply for a day or two.

What language is spoken throughout the Channel Islands?

English is spoken on the Channel Islands. Jersey has its own native language, Jerriais – an old Norman language. Although you may not hear it spoken, it’s part of the island’s heritage. Similarly, Guernsey’s native language is Guernésiais, with its roots in Latin.

What currency is used in the Channel Islands?

Pound Sterling, just the same as the UK. You will not need to change money, and while the Channel Islands have their own mints and produce their own notes and coins, these are pounds and pence, and can be used once you’re back home. All major debit and credit cards are accepted and there are ATM machines across the islands.

Is there a time difference between the Channel Islands and the UK?

No, it’s the same as the UK. The Channel Islands follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and changes to British Summer Time at the same time as the UK.

Do I need a passport to visit the Channel Islands?

Passports are not required for travel between the UK and the Channel Islands. The airlines will require photographic identification (an of course passports can be used for this purpose), and this can be a driving licence, bus pass, work pass, or any photo ID which has been officially issued.

What financial protection is in place once my holiday is confirmed?

You are covered by our ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence no. 10008) which protects you and your party in the event of insolvency (please see ATOL certificate). Your ATOL certificate will be issued upon booking, and you should take a copy with you when you travel.

Do I need travel insurance?

It is strongly recommended that you have a policy to protect you in the event of any unforeseen disruption to your break.

Please note ATOL protection does not replace the need for travel insurance, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have something in place in the event of any disruption to your travel plans.

Jersey and the UK have a reciprocal health agreement (RHA). Full details can be found here: https://www.gov.je/Health/Travelling/Pages/VisitingJersey.aspx For details on healthcare on Guernsey, please visit: https://gov.gg/article/152735/travelandhealth

Where can I find more information while I’m there?

Visitor centres are centrally situated in the heart of St. Helier in Jersey and St. Peter Port in Guernsey and have a wealth of information at your disposal.

What do I do when I get to the airport?

Easyjet

Online-check-in opens 4 weeks prior to departure. Visit easyjet.com to check-in to your flight using your ‘K’ reference number. (This also allows you add hold baggage or book seats if you’d like too.)

Once you check-in online, your boarding passes are available for you to either print or download so that they can be displayed on your mobile at the airport. Both formats are acceptable at the airport as the important thing is the barcode which is required to be scanned to proceed through security.

If you have booked hold bags separately, take these to the Easyjet Bag Drop before heading through security. Make sure each member of the party has valid photo ID to present before boarding.

Blue Islands

Please check-in 48 hours prior to your departure, by visiting Blue Islands and under ‘Manage My Booking’ there is an option to check-in, select seats etc. This allows you to access your booking using your surname and booking reference. At the airport, you will be required to present valid photo ID for each member of your party.

Blue Islands includes hold luggage of 1 x 23k item per passenger at no extra charge, so check-in any hold luggage at point of check-in.

Aurigny

Approach the Aurigny check-in desk at the airport on the day of departure in order to check-in and receive your boarding passes. There is no online access for Blue Islands bookings, so please simply approach the desk at the airport with your photo ID for each member of the party. Once the check-in agent sees these they will locate your booking and issue boarding passes. At this stage, proceed through security.

Aurigny includes hold luggage of 1 x 20k item per passenger at no extra charge, so check-in any hold luggage at point of check-in.

I need assistance at the airport – how do I arrange this?

We will take care of this for you. Please let us know the details of your requirements as early as possible by emailing us on travel@channelescapes.com and we will ensure that everything is in place in advance of your travel and everything goes smoothly. (do contact us beforehand. If you wait until you are at the airport it is not always possible for the airline to put things into action without any notice.)

What arrangements are in place for healthcare if required?

It is strongly recommended that you have insurance cover for your break to the Channel Islands.

For UK visitors to Jersey, some medical care is covered by the Reciprocal Health Agreement (RHA) with the UK. More information can be found here https://www.jersey.com/plan-your-break/before-you-visit/healthcare/

For UK visitors to Guernsey, historically, there has been nothing in place, however this is due to change in 2023 when a reciprocal agreement will come into being to afford NHS treatment to visitors to Guernsey. More information can be found here https://gov.gg/healthcareforvisitors/travellers

What Terminal do I depart from at the Airport?

For Easyjet flights, this will be printed on your boarding pass and more info below:

Gatwick-Jersey – North Terminal

Manchester-Jersey – Terminal 1

Glasgow-Jersey – Main Terminal

For Aurigny flights:

Manchester-Guernsey – Terminal 3

Gatwick-Guernsey – South Terminal

For British Airways flights:

Heathrow-Jersey – Terminal 5

(All other airports operating flights to Jersey have only one terminal).

Please note that airlines can change the terminal for departure and/or arrival purposes, so please do check the website of the airline you are travelling with for any changes to the above information.

Can I pay a deposit?

Yes. If your break is not imminent, you can book your break with a deposit, leaving the balance due nearer the date of departure. Our agents can take this by telephone, so just ring us on 0203 955 5050 and one of our team will be happy to arrange this for you.

Do I need a DVLA code for hiring a car?

Yes. In advance of travel, please complete the DVLA form for hiring a car (if your break includes one). This should be completed and printed prior to travel, and will remain valid for 21 days, and please remember to take your copy with you for presentation upon collection of the car. This should be completed through the following link: https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Call Us: +44(0) 203 955 5050 or email: travel@channelescapes.com