24-hour room service: Longueville Manor, Jersey

First impressions as you go into Longueville Manor are of walking into a large country house, albeit one that has been built on a rather congested main road. There is no immediate sign of a reception desk - it's placed discreetly at the back of the building - although plenty of staff are on hand to look after your luggage. Instead there is a lobby area, with various sitting rooms opening off it, each furnished with comfortable armchairs, and copies of the latest lifestyle magazines.

First impressions as you go into Longueville Manor are of walking into a large country house, albeit one that has been built on a rather congested main road. There is no immediate sign of a reception desk - it's placed discreetly at the back of the building - although plenty of staff are on hand to look after your luggage. Instead there is a lobby area, with various sitting rooms opening off it, each furnished with comfortable armchairs, and copies of the latest lifestyle magazines.

The building is an old manor house, restored during the 19th century and converted into a hotel in 1948. Some extra land was acquired 10 years ago and turned into a flourishing kitchen garden. The dining room is designed for serious eating - oak-panelled, and with crisp, white tablecloths. The food is exquisite, focussing on the fish and dairy produce for which the island is famous. Waiters glide silently in and out, replacing cutlery, smoothing out napkins, pouring drinks and confirming the impression that while you are here, you are not expected to lift a finger.

Location, location, locationLongueville Manor Hotel is in St Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7WF (tel 01534 725501, e-mail longman@itl.net; www.longuevillemanor.com).

Transport: If you do feel the urge to venture out, a complementary chauffeur service is available every morning to take you into "town" - St Helier - or to nearby Gorey or St Brelade's Bay. Since the island is only nine miles long and five miles wide, nowhere is very far away.

Time to airport: Fifteen to twenty minutes by taxi.

Are you lying comfortably?The hotel's 32 rooms are all slightly different, but the overall impression is chintzy and comfortable. Ask for a room at the back for a view over the lovely gardens and the woodland beyond. All the rooms come with a scrabble set, magazines, soft toys as well as the usual hair dryer, iron, bathrobe and slippers.

Freebies: chilled champagne, mineral water, flowers and a basket of fruit from the kitchen garden, a tin of home-made shortbread, and daily newspapers. The bathroom is full of Crabtree and Evelyn products.

Keeping in touch: every room has TV and radio. Fax and internet connections are available at reception.

The bottom lineBetween now and the end of September, double rooms cost between £210 and £270 a night; suites £370.

I'm not paying that: Off-season breaks, between October and March (excluding Christmas and 3 to 17 January), start at £245, which includes half-board, champagne and car hire if you stay two nights or more.

Still too much: Try the Merton (01534 724231), not far from Longueville Manor, where prices start at £43 per person for B&B.