Jersey, St Brelade's, Hotel Miramar

All prices quoted are correct for 2004 high season.

St. Brelade's Bay in Jersey is renowned as one of the best beaches on the island and so we were keen to stay in this area when booking this years holiday.

The Hotel Miramar caught my eye in the brochure for 2 main reasons; it was classed as a family friendly hotel and was competitively priced for the location. Whereas the UK hotel rating system is in stars, Jersey's is in suns and this was classed as a 2 sun hotel - so we were expecting basic and comfortable rather than luxurious.

~ ~ ~ Location ~ ~ ~

We originally struggled to find the hotel as it is situated on a road that isn't marked on the Jersey tourist maps. However we found the right area easily and there is a small sign on the main roadside pointing down the correct street. The important thing to note is not to follow signs down to the beach as the hotel is not beachside. It is amongst the hills surrounding the bay. It is conveniently located for the airport, but a little further away from the ferry port.

The hotel literature states that the beach is a 10 minute downhill stroll from the hotel. We'd already worked out that this would mean an uphill trudge back with two young children after a day at the beach but we were willing to give this a try - until we drove down the hill. What isn't mentioned is how steep the hill is. It is too much for young children and all the beach stuff that needs carting down. So unfortunately the car was needed for a day at the beach and car parking is charged for - 47p for 2 hours - unless you're lucky enough to get down early and nab one of the 10 or so free parking spots located near the church.

Car hire (or taking your own on a ferry) is recommended as St Helier for the shops and restaurants is a 5 mile drive away, although there is a regular bus service. Parking is provided at the hotel but does involve double parking at times. If you end up blocking someone in then your keys can be left at reception for the staff to move the car or they will come and find you if necessary. Likewise if you find yourself blocked in cars are moved fairly quickly.

~ ~ ~ Checking In ~ ~ ~

Checking in was very straightforward. We were asked our name and were asked to fill in a card requiring name, address, nationality and car registration number. We were also given details of eating times and the children's menu. When the formalities were complete we were handed our key (including huge key fob!) and directed to our room.

The Hotel Miramar only houses 74 guests at any one time so finding the room was not difficult. There is no lift to the first floor, however rooms on the ground floor are available for those requiring wheelchair access.

~ ~ ~ The Room ~ ~ ~

We occupied a family room for the duration of our stay and it was a good size. A double bed, a single bed and a cot all fitted in comfortably along with a large desk and wardrobe for storage.

I was pleasantly surprised that the single bed was a proper bed and not a pullout sofa and that the cot was a proper wooden one, not a travel cot. Then I was not so pleasantly surprised when I realised there was no kettle, no complimentary tea and coffee and no telephone. I don't think I've ever been in a hotel where these things are not provided. Of course, ordinarily, it is quite possible to last 2 weeks without these items but we had baby bottles to make and warm up on a daily basis so a kettle was an absolute necessity. A quick request to reception and within 10 minutes a kettle was provided but I do think a facility such as this should be readily available without the need to ask. Early morning tea and coffee can be purchased at an extra 80p per cup.

The en-suite bathroom was a nice size. The tiles were a little dated and the bathroom suite was bordering on brown but the grout and sealant looked almost brand new so it all felt very clean. The shower above the bath was more of a trickle than a shower but adequate and the bath itself was a decent size and it was possible to have a relaxing soak.

The beds were comfortable and there was adequate storage space for all our clothes. We hadn't paid any supplements for sea views or a south facing room so we overlooked the car park and bar, which became rather loud at closing time.

~ ~ ~ Dining ~ ~ ~

Breakfast was served between 8am and 9.30am every morning and everything was served to the table. There were 3 courses consisting of fruit juice, cereal or grapefruit and the cooked option. Although this is plenty for a breakfast, I was disappointed in the size of the Traditional English choice which consisted of a sausage, 1 rasher of bacon, a fried egg and half a tomato. No beans and even worse, no mushrooms.

After a week or so I was getting a bit bored with that so started choosing the other cooked options, all rather egg based - scrambled egg on toast, poached egg on toast or boiled eggs. I was starting to wonder whether the business had shares in eggs! There was no continental choice.

The evening meal was served between 6.45pm and 8pm, although families with children eating off the children's menu could be served from 6.30pm. As Jacob was eating off the children's menu, this is what we did. The children's menu is not served after 7pm.

The evening meal consisted of 4 courses and included an appetiser, soup of the day, the main course and dessert. The food was cooked to a high standard and was generally tasty and a wine menu was also available each day.

There were 4 or 5 choices of main course daily, two of which were always omelette of the day and a cold meat salad. Generally there was a meat option and a fish option but never a vegetarian choice. Not being vegetarian this wasn't a problem but it did surprise me. I'm assuming that any vegetarians may have to let the hotel know in advance. Don't just turn up and expect to be catered for.

The children's menu included smaller portions off the adult menu or a choice of sausages, fish fingers or chicken nuggets served with chips or boiled potatoes and beans. The children's dessert was ice-cream.

If just staying at the hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, the evening meal could be purchased at £10.25 per head, which for the amount and quality, I thought was good value.

~ ~ ~ Other Hotel Features ~ ~ ~

Bar

My first impression of the bar was that it was extremely dated. Yellow swirls covered the walls and dim lighting provided quite a glum atmosphere.

The bar prices were average for wine and lager but soft drinks cost £1 for a small glass and a bottle of Bacardi Breezer cost almost £3, which I thought was more nightclub price than dated bar price. And this on an island where there is no VAT!

The local radio station provided the background music and the children and teenagers tended to gather around the pool table and arcade game. Snacks could also be purchased from the bar during the day for reasonable prices.

Conservatory

A much more pleasant evening retreat was the double glazed conservatory leading out onto the south facing sun terrace, overlooking St. Brelade's Bay. The view of the sea as the sun set made for a relaxing atmosphere at the end of a busy day.

Plenty of recent magazines, a few books and a couple of games were also provided for guests to use.

Pool and Garden

Down some rather steep steps from the terrace was an adequate sized garden, small heated outdoor pool and even smaller Jacuzzi.

Luckily we had some hot weather and so made use of the pool and on a few occasions spent more than an hour swimming and splashing about after a day on the beach and before tea. There is no lifeguard on duty and parents are responsible for their children's safety. The pool is open 9am to 7pm daily.

Dotted around the garden and pool edge were sun loungers and plenty of seating, so it is a peaceful place to sit in the sun and read a book if this is what you want to do. Fresh, clean towels can be collected on the way to the pool and then left in a basket on the way back to be washed. I liked this because it meant we weren't taking our own towels down to the poolside and then having to find space to dry them in the room.

~ ~ ~ Checking Out ~ ~ ~

We had booked direct with the hotel so had the whole bill to settle before we left, unlike booking through a travel agent where you may be expected to pay up front up to 12 weeks before your trip. This is quite a good option because I think it gives you some ammunition if standards haven't met your expectations.

We also booked early and secured this year's holiday at 2003 prices, costing us £40.50 per person, per night for half board which I thought was reasonable considering the facilities at the hotel. Children between 2-11 are charged at 50% if booking through a travel agent but we saved here as well by booking direct, as there was no charge for Jacob who was 3.

We were handed a breakdown of the bill, including bar drinks we had added on throughout the 2 week holiday as well as the half board. It was clear and straightforward and we were left in no doubt that everything had been charged correctly.

Check out time is 10am which is quite early, especially as we didn't have to check in at the ferry until 7.30pm. I would imagine if you were flying and didn't have a car, it could be quite a hassle being out of the room and then having to find something to keep you occupied until checking-in time at the airport. I would suggest a lunchtime flight home would be ideal. Of course, as we had travelled on the ferry, once our car was loaded up with the luggage we were free to enjoy our last day on the island.

~ ~ ~ Overall ~ ~ ~

I would sum this hotel up as clean and comfy if a little basic and dated in places. It's close to St. Brelade's Bay yet you're not paying the inflated prices of those hotels along the shore. It is one of the cheaper hotels in the area so don't go along expecting all mod cons and the height of luxury.

It does cater well for children of all ages and plenty of families come back to this hotel year after year.

If you need a comfortable base from which to explore the St. Brelade's Bay area and the rest of the island then it makes an ideal choice.

http://www.jersey.co.uk/hotels/miramar/