The first time I considered visiting the Channel Islands, I became aware of Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast of France. About 20 years later, when ideas became reality, I decided to add the ferry journey I once had looked at, to my itinerary.
Condor Ferries is the company that runs from St. Peter Port, Guernsey, to Saint-Malo, France. There are direct services (approx. 2 hours), but the departure that fit me the best, went via St. Helier, Jersey. A trip that clocks in at 3 hours in total. It takes an hour to get to Jersey, 30 minutes docking, and another hour and a half until you set foot on French soil. All for 30 pounds only. Somewhere online it says that due to immigration regulations, you have to disembark in Jersey, go through clearance, and re-board the same vessel. Not correct. I didn’t have to. I also checked with Condor Ferries beforehand, and they said that wouldn’t happen. On board there is free seating, and you can choose between groups of tables and chairs and rows of seats. I spotted a cafe/kiosk, and a tax-free shop. Outside it’s nothing but open sea, unless close to the islands. In other words, nothing exciting. Tickets are easily booked online through their website. Questions are handled quickly by their chat service.
The ferry terminal in St. Peter Port is quite far out on the pier. I got a ride from the hotel owner 🙂 As I had received my boarding pass via e-mail (don’t need to print it, just show it on your phone), I could skip check-in, and proceed directly to security, operated by lovely grandmas and grandpas 🙂 At the same desk, my suitcase was tagged with destination name, and handed in. Sat down at the waiting area, which has a kiosk, and a souvenir shop. If you do have to check in, you need to be there 40 minutes before scheduled departure at the latest.
Upon disembarking at the ferry terminal in Saint-Malo, you pick up your luggage from a conveyor belt, go through passport control, step outside, and wait for a taxi. There are most likely other transportation options, but as I arrived in the evening, I went for the most convenient alternative. Had it been daylight, I most likely would have walked to my hotel, it was not too far away. Getting a taxi proved to be a test of patience. It took a long while. A local assured us, visitors, cabs would come – they just had to wait for the movable bridge to let boats pass.
