5 tips to help you navigate your first week in Guernsey
Any first week in a new home can be stressful, there’s a mountain of boxes to unpack, rooms to sort and important admin jobs to organise before you can truly start to feel at home and settled in Guernsey.
If you haven’t visited the island many times ahead of your move, it might also feel a little overwhelming as you become accustomed to island life. But, we’re here to help! In this article we share a few tips to help you navigate your first week in Guernsey.
You might also want to checkout our practicalities page which covers the practical aspects of a relocation to Guernsey.
Need a little extra help? The Locate Guernsey who are on hand to provide support and guidance with your move.
1. Food and Drink
Unpacking is hungry work! It’s therefore a good idea to know where your nearest supermarket is so you can quickly stock up on essentials.
We have a variety of supermarkets in Guernsey including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and the Co-Op. We also have two independent supermarkets called Forest Stores and Alliance.
If you don’t have time to pop to the shops, a couple of our on-island providers also offer at home delivery:
- Cook Frozen Food delivery - COOK Guernsey Meal Delivery | Frozen Meals
- Manor Farm Foods - Orders and Delivery | Manor Farm Foods Guernsey
- Co-op food delivery service - Guernsey Online Groceries | Channel Islands Cooperative Society
Guernsey also has its own websites for takeaway orders and delivery in Guernsey, (there is no Uber Eats or Just Eat in Guernsey):
2. Navigating the new roads
Driving in Guernsey can feel a little daunting, some of our roads are very narrow and there’s a few ‘quirks’ you will need to get used to, but don’t worry, you will quickly get used to driving and will soon be navigating your way through a filter in turn like a true Guernsey local!
Having a car in Guernsey is a really helpful way to get around, especially if you have collections to make or need to drop boxes off to a storage facility. There’s a helpful, quick, guide online that covers the main differences of driving in Guernsey:
How driving in Guernsey is different
For more information about getting around Guernsey, including our bus service and booking taxis, check out our page:
3. Find your new local
Part of feeling more at home in a new place is scoping out your surroundings. If you had a favourite coffee shop, cosy pub you frequented on a Friday night or your favourite takeaway where you previously lived, it’s a good idea to scope out your new 'locals' here in Guernsey. We have lots of lovely places to explore and the beauty of living on an island is they’re usually not very far away!
Making a little time to nip out for a morning coffee or an evening drink is a great way to have a rest from the unpacking and get to see a little of your surrounding area. You’ll find that you will quickly get to know the other customers and they will soon be sharing their local tips and suggests for where to go and see on the island.
A full list of restaurants, cafés and eateries is available here:
Food & Drink | Restaurants, Bars & Cafés in Guernsey | Visit Guernsey
4. DIY
As you start to settle-in to your new home, you might also find that there’s the odd DIY job that’s required. Luckily, we are very well serviced on island for DIY and hardware stores.
Here’s a few stores to help you with your supplies:
- B&Q - B&Q St Peter Port - Guernsey
- Norman Piette - Norman Piette | Timber and Builder's Merchant
- Valpys - Valpys
- RH Gaudion Hardware & DIY: RH Gaudion
- Bougourd & Harry
It’s always a good idea to check the opening times before heading to a store as some have limited weekend opening hours.
If you need a helping hand with the work, there’s also lots of local trades available. A full list of trade providers can be found at:
Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association Members (GBTEA)
5. Get some fresh air and enjoy the scenery
The most important part of adjusting to a relocation is to give yourself a break so it’s really important to take time away from the unpacking to have some downtime and see a little of your new home.
Getting out for a quick walk or fresh air, even just for 10 minutes, will help you feel more relaxed and refreshed meaning you can start to enjoy the beautiful scenery the island is known for.
If you’d like some inspiration for walking routes in Guernsey, please visit: Self Guided Walking Routes in Guernsey | Visit Guernsey.
If you are considering relocating to the island, the team at Locate Guernsey are on hand to provide confidential guidance throughout your relocation journey free of charge. If you would like to understand how Guernsey could work for you, please get in touch:
