"We have just returned from a pleasant nine day stay at the Somerville. There are a number of very positive elements to the review and just one negative.
We thought the quality of food good for breakfast, lunch and bar snacks, with good and friendly and efficient service to match.
We thought the fixed price lunch menus on Mon - Thurs and the loyalty programme for the Somerville and other group hotels added to the good value.
I enjoy a good rum and there was plenty on offer in the bar drinks menu and the bar staff were a joy. I would have liked to have seen more draught beer drinks slanted towards Jersey rather than what I can get at home in Sainsbury's. That would give the hotel an edge over other establishments in St Aubin which have a similar 'problem'.
We were on a B&B rate but thought the notional price element for breakfast made that good value too, helped by a coffee machine that produced a decent product and efficient early-morning staff. We had to leave for the airport at 8:40 am which makes for skates-on when breakfast always starts at 8:00 am. It would be nice to have access to a coffee machine for guests before that as the room coffee is nothing to write home about.
The comfort, ambience and views in the various dining sections were wonderful as was the bar. Service throughout the hotel and its sections was considered as professional as the hotel's high rating.
In spite of the overall value in food & beverage and its delivery, this is not a cheap hotel, though I can see value-added in the use of the pool and pool area as a resort.
In my opinion the rate paid for a classic sea view room is high when Jersey sales tax is only 5%. Though an attractive room category, the rooms are not large and effort has to be made to store and move things to avoid clutter, not helped by the fact that glass is used to protect and cover bedside and other furniture, which can make it scary for some shaky senior citizens, like me.
I don't think that, for me, the bed linen quality/comfort was fitting to the price paid and the room can get hot even in September and even with the windows slightly opened.
The hotel's situation above the bay makes for gorgeous views to get up to and enjoy through the day. I agree with others that one could happily stay in the hotel for much of the day and enjoy the offered food rather than venture out.
The only problem with that is that you would need to eat breakfast early and then arrive for lunch right before last service at 2:00 pm, unless you eat a continental.
In my opinion the two hills up to the hotel from the bus stops and the main drag can be viewed as a positive and we used them to work off the pounds and keep active and there are a couple or three, additional to the hotel's, very good eateries within walking distance too, which is handy at lunch time for longer stays."
