Guernsey
May 2022
1 week

St. Peter Port

Like England in a 1970s time capsule, but with London 2023 prices.

[Local Time}
{Temperature}
°C ·
[Description}

St. Peter Port, nestled on the quaint island of Guernsey, is a small harbor town with a rich maritime history.

Its narrow streets, adorned with Georgian architecture, wind their way around the harbor front and shoreline.

Verdict:
Avoid

It would be of no consequence if I were to never visit the island again.

🌎
Verdict:
Avoid

It would be of no consequence if I were to never visit the island again.

Verdict:
Avoid

It would be of no consequence if I were to never visit the island again.

👎
Verdict:
Avoid

It would be of no consequence if I were to never visit the island again.

🛫
British Pound (GBP)
20,000
⚠️ Would avoid

Summary

If it was not for a friend being stationed on the island for work, there is no conceivable reason I would have considered visited Guernsey and I don't believe there is one for yourself either. The main intent of writing this article was on the off chance anyone was half tempted to explore the idea. Please do not.

Total:
Accommodation
Bad
Ok
Good
Great
15
%

Thankfully I was staying with a friend, but the island as a whole has a massive under supply of accommodation and a highly restrictive housing market which make Airbnb prices highly uncompetitive. Prices comparable for hotels as what you would pay In London.

info
New legislation
Recent changes introduced by the Turkish government has made short-term rentals for under 100 days more restricted. Keep an eye on Reddit threads for up-to-date assessments of how the new legislation is impacting short-term rentals in practice.
Places to work
Bad
Ok
Good
Great
42
%

The town does have a coworking option, which even though I did not visit personally, have heard positive things from members. There isn't a great selection of suitable coffee shops to work from and those that are there tend to shut early.

Value
Bad
Ok
Good
Great
31
%

Prices for food are generally above what you would expect to pay in London and generally the quality does not always match.

Accomodation is particularly expensive due to a lack of supply, so expect to pay the same or more as you would for a night in a major UK city.

info
The yen is currently at a 34-year low
While this is undoubtedly a negative for the Japanese, it makes for an exceptionally good time to visit Japan from abroad. Although this trend is unlikely to reverse significantly in the short term, it's still worth checking before visiting.
Read more
Excitement
Bad
Ok
Good
Great
11
%

A really quiet destination. It’s not uncommon to walk through the main high street in the middle of the day and see fewer than five people in sight. Once the shops close at 5, the town becomes a ghost town, with only a handful of restaurants and pubs showing any remote signs of life. An entirely unappealing prospect unless actively seeking some form of isolationism.

Working hours

Guernsey follows the same timezone as the UK, placing it one hour behind most of Western and Central Europe.

🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?
I've written a guide on how to structure your day to get the most out of the time difference.
Do you need to speak Spanish?
Without doubt, being able to speak Spanish with a degree of fluency is a huge asset when visiting South America. I had always put off visiting the continent due to my Spanish skills not extending beyond requesting a "cerveza grande".

But even with my incredibly primitive linguistic capabilities, it was not in any way to the detriment of the trip. English is spoken sparsely, but armed with a few phrases, some polite enthusiasm and a translator, it shouldn't deter you from visiting.
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🔎
November 2024 Fact Check
Given the instability in Argentina over the past few years, I found that most advice on key topics, even if written within the last 12 months, bordered on being dangerously outdated.

I have attempted to summarise some of the most misleading points I encountered.
"Nowhere accepts card"
Incorrect
Card availability is now excellent across the city. Even if you are purchasing a single empanada, bananas from a greengrocer, or buying cans of beer off a man in the street before a football match. Some businesses may offer a 10% discount if you use cash, or charge a small surcharge for card payments.
"It's difficult to get a SUBE card"
Incorrect
This was true in recent years, as there had been a shortage of the cards across the city due to a lack of the plastics needed to create the card. I had no problems going to the nearest off-licence and getting a card on my first attempt. It's worth asking your Airbnb host who may have a spare.
"Buenos Aires is cheap"
Incorrect
The biggest misconception that may still linger, even if you are reading articles from 2023. If planning on eating out heavily, then expect European prices or even higher on more imported day-to-day goods. Eating out aside, day-to-day expenses are still good value by global measures.
"Bring dollars with you"
Partially true
This advice would continue to make sense for Americans who already have dollars, but I wouldn't recommend making an effort to purchase with the intent of exchanging them on the ground. Collecting money via Western Union was convenient and good value, which I would recommend to anyone visiting from outside the US.
"Make sure you get the blue-dollar rate"
Partially true
The dramatic stabilisation of the peso by late 2024 means that this difference is nowhere near as significant as it was 12 months ago. At the time of writing, there was only a 10% difference between the official and blue rate. If you are only in the city for a short period you may not even have to grapple with this.
"Restaurant service is poor"
Partially true
I did see some evidence of this, especially in cheaper,  traditional restaurants. In comical fashion, drinks would not appear or the bill would never materialise. In more contemporary outlets, it was never a problem.
"It is a football mad city"
True
There is absolutely no doubt that this is as true as ever in 2024.

Where to stay

No items found.

Where to work

Digital Greenhouse Guernsey
Top Choice
☕️ Good Coffee
📍 Top Location
🥗 On Site Cafe
🧍Community Focused
⭐️ Quality Fit Out
🌳 Outdoor Space

I haven't actually visited this place myself as I was working from a friend's office, but from what I have heard it is a reliable place to work from with several community events held throughout the year with a focus on supporting new businesses on the island.

It's in a good location, close to the main supermarket in the town and offers options for both hot desking and dedicated desks.

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Remote work visa

Remote work visa coming soon
A dedicated remote work visa is available for this country.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
There is currently no remote work visa available for this country.
Visa length
Visa cost
Earning requirements
Learn more open_in_new
To the best of my knowledge this information was correct as of December 2024. If you notice something has changed drop me a message and I'll update it!

Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.

Safety

Off work

Day trip to Sark

Spanning just 2.1 square miles, Sark is known for its lack of cars, relying on bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and walking as primary modes of transport. With a population of around 500, it's a haven of rugged cliffs, picturesque harbor, and panoramic coastal views.

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Walk to Fermain Bay

A picturesque cove renowned for its crystal-clear waters and golden sands. Walkable from the main centre of St. Peter Port.

Explore Herm Island

Even smaller than Sark, Herm Island, covering around a mile and a half, is a car-free haven known for its Shell Beach with its shimmering white sand and beautiful coastal paths. With just one hotel and a scattering of holiday cottages, it offers a tranquil retreat easily accessible in under an hour from the mainland via boat.

Duration & season

If for whatever reason you did have to visit Guernsey, you'd be best off opting for the summer months where the neighbouring islands can be explored and the wind is less likely to be a hinderance.

Food & drink

Guernsey Loop
·
Walk
The cliff side can make for a good walk, with it easy to follow around much of the island. There's a few options for coffee and food dotted around the villages.

People

For such a small and nondescript location, the island is surprisingly multicultural with sizeable Thai, Fillipino and Portugese populations attracted to the island for employment opportunities. Many UK and international companies have offices here giving a more diverse range of people than you would otherwise expect.

Exercise

Guernsey Loop
The cliff side can make for a good walk, with it easy to follow around much of the island. There's a few options for coffee and food dotted around the villages.
keyboard_arrow_down
Guernsey Loop
The cliff side can make for a good walk, with it easy to follow around much of the island. There's a few options for coffee and food dotted around the villages.

Verdict

Positives
  • Feels like a version of the UK from a time warp.If you are looking to experience what a small town was like 40 years ago.
  • Fantastic selection of pubs.St. Peter Port would make for an excellent weekend bar crawl.
  • Some picturesque spots.Some of the beaches and coves are beautiful during the summer months.
Negatives
  • Incredibly quiet.Expect to find nothing open after 17:00 any day of the week.
  • Expensive.The cost of eating out is on a par with London but with a lot less variety and quality.
  • Poor weather.Even though it is more southern the mainland of the UK, expect it to be dramatically cooler than the southern coast. High winds and rain common.
  • Very small.With minimal effort you could cycle around the entire island several times in one day.
  • Lots of SUVs on unsuitable roads.What could be idylic countryside is ruined by heavy car volume on tiny narrow streets.
Tips
  • Stay in St. Peter's Port.Staying anywhere else will make you entirely reliant on a car or an infrequent bus service.
  • Visit in summer.The town comes more align with the arrival of the ferry boats prompting a range of weekend street food markets.
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