The island of Jersey may have an identity crisis but it's the perfect destination for a spring break, as Malcolm and Sylvia Warne discover

THE growth of low-cost multi-destination air travel from regional airports has opened up a cornucopia of weekend break destinations for North-East travellers. The Channel Islands represent one such destination within just an hour's flight from Newcastle, Teesside and Leeds-Bradford airports.

We visited Jersey - an ideal island for a springtime two-night break.

It lies just off the coast of France and enjoys the benefits of a split personality - it is a strangely homely yet different place.

It is not part of the UK and not part of France either. It has its own government to determine most matters but uses the pound. The islanders drive on the right and speak English. And yet the French influence is everywhere - from place names to restaurant menus.

Underpinning this blend of cultures is serious wealth. For years the island has been a tax haven for the rich, if not particularly famous. While Monaco is undoubtedly ritzier for celebrities who want to be noticed, Jersey is the tax haven for the discreet. Their fabulous homes dotted round the island and the yachts bobbing in St Helier harbour are testament to this understated sense of affluence.

But if you find yourselves enchanted by Jersey's many charms, don't even think about having a second home there. One St Helier estate agent's window we peered into displayed details of a modest two-bedroomed bungalow - this "ideal starter home" was priced at £295,000.

We stayed at the most central hotel in St Helier - the comfortable three star Pomme D'Or which overlooks the harbour and Liberation Square - so called because the surrender of the German garrison was celebrated there is 1945.

This is another key influence on the island - the occupation by the Nazis during the Second World War. Evidence of how the Germans tried to convert the island into an impregnable fortress is everywhere in the form of formidable defences.

The most evocative of these is the eerie German underground hospital in the middle of the island. Hewn out of solid rock by wretched and appallingly-treated Russian and French prisoners, the network of tunnels has been turned into a fascinating museum about the travails and privations under the German regime. A new visitor centre has opened this year and the museum within the hospital is well worth a visit, provided you're not claustrophobic and well wrapped up - the underground tunnels are cool and damp, even at the height of summer.

During the rest of our two-day break we sampled the cosmopolitan shopping area of St Helier, with its central covered market full of the flowers Jersey is famed for, and managed a whistle-stop tour of the island in a hire car, provided as part of our package.

The island's coastline is simply stunning - sandy bay after sandy bay, separated by craggy headlands.

During the March weekend we were there the weather was fabulous. Good weather will make a big difference to anyone's stay but the climate is predominantly mild so the chances of it being really dire are slim.

If it does turn out to be a bit grim there's no shortage of other attractions on the island. Centres devoted to the history of pearls and gold, diamonds and other gemstones will keep those who want to shop happy, while the range of activity centres devoted to everything from golf, riding, shooting, cycling, birdwatching to surfing seems impressive for an island that measures only 45 square miles.

Despite the obvious wealth of many islanders, they seemed universally friendly. When driving away from the airport on our arrival we paused at a crossroads to study the map. A beautifully-spoken and turned-out local was driving past, saw our puzzled faces, stopped her car and got out to send us in the right direction. It's the sort of welcome tourism officials dream of and it certainly put us in the right frame of mind to enjoy the rest of our stay.

TRAVELFACTS

A two-night stay in Jersey with direct sell Channel Island specialist, One Step Holidays (www.onestepholidays.co.uk ) costs from £179 per person, based on two sharing and including return flights from Leeds-Bradford with BMI Baby, two nights B&B accommodation and transfers. A two night stay at the Pomme d'Or Hotel costs from £227 per person with the third night free for weekend bookings on specific dates throughout the year. Car hire can be booked with Avis through One Step Holidays from £8 per day.

For information about holidays or short breaks to the Channel Islands call One Step Holidays reservations on 0870 120 3091, visit www.onestepholidays.co.uk or call 0870 0433 988 for a brochure.