Channel Island charmers

Jersey and Guernsey are often overlooked when it comes to a spa break but – with more sunshine than blighty, no Brexit faff, fantastic beaches and fabulous hotels – it’s an obvious choice. It’s also just a 40-minute hop by air and as safe as houses (literally; the locals rarely lock them). The spas aren’t too shabby either… Here’s Stylish Spy’s pick of the Channel Island’s bunch.

St Brelade's Bay Hotel & Spa, Jersey

The hotel:
If it’s toss-up between a pristine beach and a pretty garden, look no further than St Brelade’s Bay Hotel & Spa. Set in a lofty position overlooking a glorious stretch of sand - and surrounded by five acres of mature leafiness - this whitewashed beauty-of-a-hotel is a cracker. It has five stars; 77 rooms and suites; several dining options; a courtyard café serving afternoon tea; a cocktail bar; a health club with indoor pool, heat facilities and gym; and a spa.

The spa:
After a swim in the pool, a bubble in the Jacuzzi, and a spell in the garden-view steam room or gym, retreat to the spa for some holistic love. Showcasing Caudalie, ESPA and – rather unusually – Intraceuticals - the 20-page treatment menu at St Brelade’s is as vast as it is well-thought-out. From Ayurvedic treatments to Oxygen Facials and Alternative Therapies to Signature massages, they’ve got you covered. This Spa Spy would make a beeline for the Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Detox Body Treatment; you?

Spa Sirene at The Royal Yacht, Jersey

The hotel:
If a stylish hotel in vibrant St Helier is more your thing, then The Royal Yacht is just the ticket. Curved glass and chrome fixtures give it that luxury super yacht feel (without the sea sickness); a cool interior of dusty blues and bronze keeps things grown-up. Book a room with a sea view and people watch from your sunny balcony. Dining options – of which there are plenty – include upmarket Sirocco with its open kitchen; pre-dinner drinks are de rigueur at Zephyr Café with its tables spilling out onto Weighbridge Place.

The spa:
Sirene is The Royal Yacht’s award-winning spa with plenty of facilities to while away the hours. Dip those twinkle toes in the Reflexology Foot Basin before acclimatising to the heat in the bubbly vitality pool. The gentle Aromatherapy Steam Room and the sniffle-busting Salt Inhalation Room will prepare spa-goers for the Swedish Sauna. Hot? Select ‘fresh’ under the experience shower with its minty scent. Super-duper hot? Brave the ice bucket. Aromatherapy Associates, Phytomer and OPI deliver body treatments facials and manis/pedis.

The Club Hotel & Spa, Jersey

The hotel:
Despite its location just off St Helier’s main road, The Club Hotel & Spa has a good amount of swank about it. Shoppers and foodies come for the nearby outlets and Michelin-starred restaurant; business guests like the smart, fuss-free design. Full-height windows opening to Juliet balconies, air conditioning, king-size beds and private bar comes as standard; upgrade for granite bathrooms and family rooms. If budget allows, try the tasting menu in Bohemia, the Art Deco restaurant holding that Michelin Star; wine pairings add a sense of occasion. Enjoy a nightcap in the honesty bar.

The spa:
The subterranean spa is quite the hidden gem; the outdoor saltwater pool (with lounger-clad sun-soaked terrace) the place to be on a sunny day. Non clement days can be spent in the thermal suite with its Salt Cabin, Rasul Mud Chamber and Herbal Steam Room. Reclining beds, integrated headphones looping calming music and magazines ensure the Relaxation Sanctuary does its job. Organic treatments and Ayurvedic therapies will leave you feeling blissed-out.

L’Horizon Beach Hotel & Spa, Jersey

The hotel:
As the name suggests L’Horizon Beach Hotel & Spa is all about the views (all the way to the horizon on a clear day) and the beach. Overlooking one of island’s most breath-taking bays, this smart, whitewashed property has more than its location licked. A glass-encased decked terrace facing the sea provides the perfect spot for a drink, a bite to eat or some wistful gazing; bag a room with a balcony to keep the sea in sight. Jersey Oysters and hand-dived scallops at The Grill restaurant are a must for seafood lovers.   

The spa:             
The large indoor pool – with its large windows, sea views, outdoor terrace and walkway to the beach – is the star of the show at the dual-level spa, which also has a sauna and steam room on the ground floor. You’ll find a Mani/Pedi Room, a Relaxation Lounge, a Sleep Room and six treatment rooms – where Elemis and Comfort Zone rule - on the upper floor. Commemorate an occasion with a Champagne Afternoon Tea for two.

St Pierre Park Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Guernsey

The hotel:
Set beside a lake in 35 acres of parkland, this grand dame of the Guernsey hotel scene is awash with facilities, including a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, several function rooms, a health club, dining choices, a hairdressers and 138 bedrooms. Leave the car in the car park and stay put or walk the 30-minutes to town. Ask for a refurbished room if you want to avoid feeling like you are stuck in 1983, when the hotel opened.

The spa:
The outdoor hot tub is far and away the best spot to sit and soak in those lake/parkland views. Tear yourself away for a swim in the 18-metre indoor pool - with its floor-to-ceiling glass along one side – before warming up in the marble steam room or dual aspect Volcanic Stone Sauna. Three floodlit outdoor tennis courts, an outdoor decked stretch zone, a resistance training room and a spin studio will satisfy the active. Elemis Treatments will iron out even the most crumpled of muscles.