No room at Christmas in quarantine accommodation

Around 25 accommodation providers are listed on the States of Guernsey’s Covid-19 site which accept self-isolation clients.

Beau Vallon offers 10 units of self-catering apartments, five of which are booked on winter let with the others for isolators.

Owner Corrina Walker said: ‘We’re full now and couldn’t take any students even if we wanted to. We have had a lot of bookings for people wanting to come over for the Christmas period. The first two weeks of December were snapped up weeks ago.’

A couple of students are coming later in the month.

Students might be better going to hotels if needed, she said.

‘Alan Sillett, from the Guernsey Hospitality Association, is trying to work with hoteliers to arrange that.’

Grange Lodge Hotel offers 10 two-bed self-catering accommodation units.

A spokesman said a lack of staff has kept hotel guest numbers down, but the self-catering is completely full until mid-January.

‘The self-catering has kept us going for the time being. They have everything you’d want, with separate kitchens, bathrooms, and lounges.

‘A lot of people are coming back to be with their families for Christmas. We have no students in as most people booked well in advance.’

Grange Lodge would consider opening the hotel to self-isolators if it had the staff.

Sausmarez Manor has one room free between now and Christmas, but during a difficult window.

Manor seigneur Peter de Sausmarez said: ‘We’ve had a lot of interesting people, but it is an awkward date. I don’t think we’ve had any students. We wish them luck, it is jolly bad luck [to be at university during the pandemic]. The upside of it is they will be leaving being locked up there, to binge locked up here, but then will have their freedoms.’

n Go to covid19.gov.gg/support/protect for information on self-isolation requirements and accommodation providers.