St. James’s Club & Villas

Overall a nice resort in a good situation, most staff were cheerful, attentive and helpful. A couple of the bar staff were not so helpful and it took some time to get their attention and a drink. On one occasion when the bartender acknowledged my order he carried on chatting...

Overall a nice resort in a good situation, most staff were cheerful, attentive and helpful. A couple of the bar staff were not so helpful and it took some time to get their attention and a drink. On one occasion when the bartender acknowledged my order he carried on chatting to the waitress for about 5 mins and when I asked again he snapped back "I'm doing it man, doing it". He clearly wasn't. This particular member of staff also started clearing the Docksider bar 45 mins before closing. Very disappointing. It's a shame that I didn't get his name but I can say that he wasn't one of the more experienced bar staff. On a different note, we saw advertised a Mowtown and Oldies show at 10pm and being of a certain age we decided to go and see it. The show didn't start until 10.20pm and finished at 11pm and consisted of a member of the entertainment staff plugging his phone into the sound system and playing his play list. Not much of a show. Disappointing. On a couple of occasions I asked the reception staff questions about general matters, restaurant/bar opening times and the like and pretty much each time of asking I was given the wrong info', not the end of the world but a bit slack. On a brighter note, St James's Club is set in lovely grounds with some nice secluded areas and the beaches were beautiful, the sea lovely and warm and the pool areas were nice too. The 11/11 restaurant was a nice and serene area to eat, although limited in choice. The other main restaurant was the Docksider was much more hectic but more choice. Our room (Royal Suite) was nice, a grand name for a relatively normal room. The housekeeping was excellent, very nice staff and helpful. Thank you to them. All in all a nice stay, was it worth paying extra for the Royal Suite? I'm not sure as I didn't see the other rooms but it was a nice holiday on a beautiful island. Unfortunately when things don't go 100% how they easily should, these are things that you tend to remember but we would definitely return to Antigua and, possibly, St James's.

I'm not sure what the negative comments are about for this resort (maybe it's easier to complain than to compliment?). In any event, this was probably the best vacation I've ever been on (and I've been on many). The hotel is situated on a sprawling property that has access to...

I'm not sure what the negative comments are about for this resort (maybe it's easier to complain than to compliment?). In any event, this was probably the best vacation I've ever been on (and I've been on many). The hotel is situated on a sprawling property that has access to a very serene bay on one side and the waves of the ocean on the other. The grounds are extremely clean and well kept. Around every turn is another picturesque tropical scene. Great for photos! We booked a basic suite and it was quite roomy with SO MUCH SPACE for your items. I think we had one of the best views of the property which included palm trees and waves crashing on the rock formations. I live in an upscale area of Michigan and don't eat red meat, so I'm very particular about my food. Let me just say I was blown away by all the choices - everything from lobster, to jerk chicken to french fries.... and the desserts --- impressive. The cocktails were great as well. The staff was professional and pleasant. I see lots of complaints here about the staff being rude. I think perhaps there is a cultural difference as the British influence on the island lends itself to a more stoic environment. That being said, everyone made me feel welcome and appreciated. Shout out to Christelda at the Reef Deck Bar who was always smiling and always happy. She truly seems to love her job. We paid $37.50 each and went to Piccolo Mondo on campus and had the best lobster dinner. Give that restaurant a try. It's worth it. Sports activities- wow! Included in the price were pickleball lessons and we took advantage of that. We played pickleball most days, went sailing and paddleboarding too. I work out four times a week and the gym at St. James Club was probably the largest, most modern and best kept hotel gym I've ever been to. The weather - chef's kiss! 82 and sunny every day except one during our 8 day stay.

We absolutely loved our two weeks! The staff is so friendly and helpful, and the resort is amazingly beautiful and clean. We loved it so much the first time we went there, that we now own two weeks every other year. We enjoy the variety of places to eat, the...

We absolutely loved our two weeks! The staff is so friendly and helpful, and the resort is amazingly beautiful and clean. We loved it so much the first time we went there, that we now own two weeks every other year. We enjoy the variety of places to eat, the various pools (especially the adults-only pool) and the beaches. There’s so much to do. We cant wait to return!

What a wonderful time we had! The grounds, rooms, pools and restaurants were very clean all the time. Food was good to excellent. Service was top notch Pay for the Royal Suites, many upgrades included. The wine was ok. Top shelf liquor unless you are a bourbon drinker but we...

What a wonderful time we had! The grounds, rooms, pools and restaurants were very clean all the time. Food was good to excellent. Service was top notch Pay for the Royal Suites, many upgrades included. The wine was ok. Top shelf liquor unless you are a bourbon drinker but we learned to drink rum old fashions. Rooms were very comfortable with amazing views. We highly recommend St James Club

Just leaving. Great stay in royal suites… really don’t understand bad reviews. We found food and service were largely great and certainly grounds can’t be faulted. Perhaps trick is to pay for royal suites- daily maid service/ pre book meals a week in advance so you always have a timed...

Just leaving. Great stay in royal suites… really don’t understand bad reviews. We found food and service were largely great and certainly grounds can’t be faulted. Perhaps trick is to pay for royal suites- daily maid service/ pre book meals a week in advance so you always have a timed slot rather than the non book restaurants where the lines are long. Also this is Antigua, so head for your meal before you are ‘hangry’and expect yo wait longer than at home. Also depending on what you order, it could take longer. We found the piccolo mondo really woth the extra/ $37 for the most fabulous lobster or filet mignon in a lovely setting, was a small price to pay- get there early and have a cocktail… all included in your all inclusive. The docksider and 11-11 were good for light bites; the coffee shop and Joanne, are open 24 hours with a warm welcome, good coffee and delicious yoghurt pots/ other treats., We played tennis every day and never had to wait for a court- but the wind strength can be testing at times. The gym is really well equipped and underutilised… body pump class ( which is not that) was fun and only 5 of us showed up. All in all, we’d highly recommend for a relaxing indulgent week- English cricket team stay here when they come, so can’t be bad 😉

The people were lovely, for the most part. If we were in contact with 10 staff, 8 of them were friendly. No one above and beyond. The location is stunning... how bad could it be? The beach was lovely, the pool was very nice (and ours was no children allowed...

The people were lovely, for the most part. If we were in contact with 10 staff, 8 of them were friendly. No one above and beyond. The location is stunning... how bad could it be? The beach was lovely, the pool was very nice (and ours was no children allowed so perfect!) The general vibe was really lacking. No music, no dancing, no entertaining... no vibe. We are really fun and couldn't find anything on campus that was fun. There was a 20 minute "cocktail reception" at the pool at 6pm that had a dj. Same wine, same food and that was it... 20 mins. Hardly an effort. Our "Royal Suite" was adequate. Clean. Bed was comfortable. Water in the shower was tepid after a minute. Needed a little love but overall adequate. After reading some of these other reviews, I just can't imagine what food you're all used to eating! The food in any of the restaurants was awful. The coffee was good. The bartenders didn't know how to make a Martini, nor a Marguerita and even a basic vodka, soda was a challenge. Really? The wine was swill. We have been to many Island all inclusive properties before and have never had an experience like this.

What was great: - great value for week all inclusive - location is absolutely beautiful - activities and being able to go out into the bay on kayaks etc. Sadly most of the time we stayed the red flag was up and there were no Catamaran trips - would have...

What was great: - great value for week all inclusive - location is absolutely beautiful - activities and being able to go out into the bay on kayaks etc. Sadly most of the time we stayed the red flag was up and there were no Catamaran trips - would have been helpful to tell us that on check in next time instead of getting a list of lots of things to do but in reality we could only do a handful of them due to weather. We used the fitness centre and tennis courts which were excellent! - the beach bar van man (although didn’t see him two of the seven days we were there) coming to serve drinks on the beach - The fact that you get water bottles at the beginning of your trip and then you’re encouraged to fill up at their various water stations. Such a good way to reduce plastic. - The coffee shop was brill, could always get coffee / mint tea / slushies / cakes etc. But the waste concerned me - plastic cups for water / plastic cups for treats, disposable coffee/tea cups. I saw bags and bags of waste - presumably none of it even being recycled as everything went in the same bins? If waste could be reduced further that would be amazing - maybe people can put a deposit down for a reusable coffee cup at the beginning of the stay that they return at the end? - Caribbean night at Docksiders was a huge highlight - best food we had there by a mile. Would do more of the traditional Caribbean food instead of the various other themed nights (Italian, Bollywood etc) or always have a few Caribbean dishes available. The fish curry on Bollywood night was delicious as was the daal. Generally vegetarian and fish dishes were solid - Breakfast - omelette station and fresh juices / fruit were awesome. The pastries were dry and not great which made it easy to resist which is probs for the best! - Being able to get a sun lounger on the beach any time of day was fab - Taxis and car hire were super easy and good. Taxis are expensive but that’s life! What could have been better - majority of staff were great but there were a few who were really poor. When we checked out we weren’t even asked if we enjoyed our stay and the lady literally couldn’t raise a smile at all - felt like we had done something wrong! We also saw people being told off for sitting at certain tables for lunch at Docksiders- these tables were free and just closer to the gorgeous view so would be great to let guests enjoy that? - Not enough staff clearing tables at docksiders led to some big queues with no communication. Maybe once people finally do get to sit down the staff could say ‘thanks for waiting how are you today’? Felt like staff had very specific jobs and didn’t muck in to help others when things were busy - Weekends appeared to be lacking with staff but were the busiest guest-wise. We waited for 20 mins for some water at Mamora Bay Bar because there was one member of staff and the water canister hadn’t been filled up - On arrival no towels at the pools (4pm) and when we asked bar staff they said hmmm not sure and so we swam and had to dry off in our rooms. That happened another few times during the stay - We stayed in a junior suite and the room was fine - comfy bed and lovely view, but generally very outdated especially the bathroom. Water pressure and shower not great - Difficult to get booked into the restaurants that required booking (they only release bookings the day before so if you don’t book in the morning, you don’t get a space!) and when we did get into rainbow cafe, the food and ambience was very average. Didn’t manage to try Coco’s or Piccolo Mondo due to them being booked up. Feel like with a few tweaks (renovation of bathrooms, changes to menu, plastic reduction, training of staff to just be a bit more positive and communicative) this could be an amazing hotel. It’s great value and seems wonderful especially for families. Sadly don’t think we’d come back as a couple as there are so many wonderful hotels on the island. Thank you so much for our stay!

17 nights Overall, we were very pleased and enjoyed better service and friendliness than we have experienced at any other Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort. What we loved … The staff in all areas were really helpful and cheerful, almost without exception. Generally, excellent service. The water sports .. good availability of...

17 nights Overall, we were very pleased and enjoyed better service and friendliness than we have experienced at any other Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort. What we loved … The staff in all areas were really helpful and cheerful, almost without exception. Generally, excellent service. The water sports .. good availability of equipment and great support from Bailey and his team. Really enjoyed the hobie cats and the kayaking … one of the main reasons we hope to come back. Bailey was very professional, always making sure the team were looking after the guests and ensuring safety on the water. Ken and Ironla / Neptune were great too. Good setup in the gym. Breakfast .. great choices, and excellent service at the omelette station from Oran and at the Smoothy station from King Michael. Eleven to Eleven, Rainbow Garden, Coco’s, coffee shop and the beach Grill were super with great staff and good food. Special thanks for great service to .. Kersha at 11 to 11, Elvis at Docksider bar, Luenda, Selyne, Michael, Twanna and Dorland at the beach bar / grill. Vyena and Beverly in Rainbow Garden. Roxanne at Piccolo, and Marissa at Customer Service. Orlando the Porter was also really cheerful and helpful. Car hire on site … we hired a car for 3 days .. easy, efficient, and well-priced, no hidden extras. Garry was very helpful. The grounds and the beaches were very well maintained and despite the windy weather the team kept everywhere very tidy What we didn’t love so much … and some suggestions … Piccolo .. we had good service from Roxanne and the food was really good. However, we had an 8 o’clock booking and by the time we were eating our main course the entertainment finished and the restaurant was being closed down around us. We didn’t rebook. Docksiders … the food was just OK and we learnt to go early if we wanted a good choice. Housekeeping. We would have preferred the room to be serviced daily but we didn’t really mind. However, when the rooms are serviced, care should be taken to replenish toiletries, paper tissues and coffee bags, etc. Beware!!!!! The Resort Fees and Tourist Taxes payable on departure = $US 17 per person per night All in all we had a great holiday, thank you. We hope to return.

From the very first interaction with St. James’s Club & Villas, we were impressed. The General Manager, Jennifer, was incredibly hands-on, responding personally and ensuring everything was seamless. She trusts her team but is always present to help, and it’s clear she runs the resort exceptionally well and ensures her...

From the very first interaction with St. James’s Club & Villas, we were impressed. The General Manager, Jennifer, was incredibly hands-on, responding personally and ensuring everything was seamless. She trusts her team but is always present to help, and it’s clear she runs the resort exceptionally well and ensures her team are happy. We travelled with our friends and we all thought the resort itself was fantastic, impeccably clean, and well-maintained. The staff were always smiling and friendly, making us feel truly welcome. Nothing was ever too much trouble! A special mention to Michael and Orlando, the wonderful porters who quickly arranged a buggy ride when my husband had a painful bad back—so helpful and much appreciated. The restaurants were fabulous, offering a great variety of delicious food. Picolo Mondo is absolutely worth the extra cost—it feels exclusive and special, and the food was exquisite. The beaches were stunning, with breathtaking views. We found Bayside Beach much calmer and less windy than the Atlantic side, making it the perfect spot to relax. As pickleball enthusiasts, we were thrilled to see courts at the resort and myself and our friends enjoyed meeting some lovely fellow players. It was a fantastic addition to our stay, especially as my husband wasn't able to play, so we had others to join in. The weather was a little unusual for this time of year, with some wind and rain, but it remained warm—still much better than being stuck in the UK! We also made a trip to Shirley Heights, which was well worth the visit for its spectacular views and lively atmosphere. A few standout team members to mention who truly made our stay extra special: Joeanne in the coffee shop – Always smiling and so helpful Cresida at the Reef Bar – Made the most delicious rum punch and cocktails! Tryphina at Eleven Eleven – Works tirelessly, and it was always a pleasure to see her friendly face at lunchtime Conica in Reception - So helpful, nothing phased her or was too much of an issue Peter, the duty manager – Such a lovely man, who truly loves his job. Goes above and beyond to ensure every guest has a truly enjoyable stay. Overall, an excellent holiday in a beautiful resort with outstanding service. We will definitely be returning! 🌴☀️🏖️

The location of St James Club is great. On check in we were made very welcome by the reception staff and then taken to our room. This was very disappointing. The rooms are large and our room led out on to a terrace and then on to the beach which...

The location of St James Club is great. On check in we were made very welcome by the reception staff and then taken to our room. This was very disappointing. The rooms are large and our room led out on to a terrace and then on to the beach which was lovely. It was well air conditioned with a/c unit and ceiling fan. However, it was very disapppointing otherwise. Although well furnished, the furniture is old and slightly shabby. The curtains were a disgrace! They looked as if they had been kept screwed up in a rubbish bag. There were three curtains of three different lengths only one of which were floor length, the second about a foot longer and the third even longer still and weren’t easy to close. Even pulled together anyone passing by outside would see in. We complained to the reception who said they would send someone along. We also asked for a bin as there wasn’t one either in the room or bathroom. Two days later nothing had happened so we saw the Sun Tours rep who also reported our complaints and requested that our room be changed. This was on a Friday morning. She told us that she would let us know as soon as she heard but that room changes usually took place between 3.00 and 5.00 pm. After 3.00pm on hearing nothing, we checked at reception to be told that no other room would be available until Sunday with which we were not happy. About 30 minutes later housekeeping arrived with two bins and another set of curtains. These curtains were at least the correct length but were very old with worn out linings with many holes. Come Sunday we had heard nothing at all from the Sun Tours rep or reception so went down to check at reception about the room change. The reception staff denied all knowledge and said they had no record. The bathrooms are very dated. There are two sinks, but the pop up plugs didn’t work in either, so did not retain the water. Other than a tiled area at the end of the bath, there was no shelf or cupboard to put toiletries. 60% of the floor tiles were cracked with some sharp edges. It was badly decorated with paint flaking off the door. Housekeeping changed towels etc every other day. They did not once replace coffee/milk/sugar in the room. We asked on numerous occasions for them to do this but on one day only (out of 10) were we left 2 coffee bags! Requests at reception also prompted no reaction as the staff really weren’t bothered. Our first evening we were given the option of two restaurants. We queued with two other couples at Eleven/11 to be ignored for a good 20 minutes (although there were plenty of free tables) before grudgingly being spoken to by the hostess. The restaurants in general though are good and food better than the average all inclusive standard. Restaurant and bar staff in the main are friendly and cheerful if sometimes service is a little slow. The Docksider and Eleven/11 bars are ok, drinks good if sometimes lacking in garnish. Don’t think I ever got a slice of lemon in a gin and tonic. Jacaranda bar is soul-less, no atmosphere, little seating and always too cold to be comfortable. Piccolo restaurant is an exception where the food, ambiance and staff are excellent. The room saga did not end. One afternoon we arrived back to our room after it had been cleaned. The door was not closed, nor could we get it to close and housekeeping had obviously just left it! Once again - a trip to reception which this time did prompt some action and two staff appeared to fix the door. A little later during the week the bottom runner of the wardrobe doors came unfixed from the floor and the sliding doors were just hanging. Getting around is simple. Taxi service from the hotel is excellent if a little pricey. But very reliable. The beaches are well kept with plenty of beds and sun umbrellas. Beach towels plentiful and easy to change. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained and sports facilities good. Although we enjoyed our holiday the overall experience is that the standard of the accommodation needs to be upgraded.

As a preface, we’re a British couple in our 60’s. Fit, healthy, still working full time running our own busy seafront Bar, a retail outlet and a holiday let in Wales, UK. This was our first real holiday together for 15 years & inspired by a friend taking part in...

As a preface, we’re a British couple in our 60’s. Fit, healthy, still working full time running our own busy seafront Bar, a retail outlet and a holiday let in Wales, UK. This was our first real holiday together for 15 years & inspired by a friend taking part in the World’s Toughest Row, completing 3000 miles across the Atlantic which took her and her female team mate 53 days to reach English Harbour, Antigua from the Canaries so we were there to greet them along with her own family & several people from the village in support. For us January is low season, so great timing for rest in Winter sunshine. We chose the nearby St James’s Resort to stay and not disappointed, it is very pretty in a classic Caribbean way and very, very well run with plenty of friendly staff making it look easy. With respect, we know what to expect & what to look for. There's a choice of five restaurants onsite (with different service styles & themed menu nights), a 24 hour coffee shop, plenty of Bars including pool & beachside, five swimming pools and 2 sandy beaches. There are water sports provided FOC (Hobie Cats, paddleboards), flood lit tennis courts & a well equipped gym. There are some activities organised, but never too 'Holiday Camp' and also a Kids Club with it's own building. The sun is hot, the warm wind can be deceptive so take care. You get the odd clouds, even a quick shower but it doesn't matter. Being set within its own 100+ acres with good security, you can feel safe, cared for and not crowded. Being all inclusive, the combination of good facilities, plenty of refreshments to hand along with no need to even carry money let alone be budget minded is a great recipe to really relax. Thankfully, little sign of the ’eat all you can’ brigade that some all-inclusive venues can attract. The whole resort is mature, so reading some Trip whinges about ‘old’ is misleading as a criticism. The rooms are not 2025 décor but they are good quality, well equipped (with air con) spacious and immaculate. In fact, everything is incredibly clean, smart and well maintained. The well-established palm tree landscaping and pathways around the whole resort have been cleverly designed and very sympathetic to the region, nature and privacy. There is ample space for recreation (always a sunbed free) yet full of enough people to be fun. Any ‘wait to be seated’ at peak times were only a minute or two. The typical guests were capable professionals enjoying the understated vibe of Antigua and that was refreshing in itself, so we enjoyed many interesting casual conversations with other guests around the pool, in the Bars or at dinner. Going out & about is good, but roads are poor & venues are not cheap. Taxis are around $20USD to Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour (recommended) and many of the beaches are worth a visit too. St John’s (main town) is dominated by cruise ship visitors, but an insight to local culture. Falmouth Harbour is home to a number of vast, private Super Yachts which do little except sit there looking expensive but they all employ many crew (often young, British & wouldn’t be out of place in Balham) and the crews frequent Lucky Eddy’s Sports Bar which we found (heard) by chance and, as luck would have it, was showing the 6 Nations – like being at home! On another trip out to the sophisticated Catherine’s Café (Pigeon Beach) 18 of us had an epic lunch. Also a great beachside Restaurant at Galleon Bay (amazing DJ). Slates Restaurant (East coast) was superb. We made the obligatory trip to Shirley Heights for sunset & steel drums and despite being packed with tourists, it was worth it for the views and experience. We’ll go back to St James's.

Our first impressions were high as we drive into this secure, exclusive feeling resort. The check in was smooth and we got a ride in a gulf buggy to our room. The room floor was sticky, the bathroom was very dated and there were many mosquitoes. We fed this back...

Our first impressions were high as we drive into this secure, exclusive feeling resort. The check in was smooth and we got a ride in a gulf buggy to our room. The room floor was sticky, the bathroom was very dated and there were many mosquitoes. We fed this back to Guest Services the following morning and were told the room would be cleaned and ‘bug sprayed’. We asked if another room was available but heard nothing back. The following morning we went back to Guest Services to say no one had addressed our issues and the room had not been cleaned. The manager did then arrange for this to be sorted that morning. Overall the staff at the reception were unwelcoming in comparison to another hotel we had stayed at on the North side of the island for a few days as we were keen to experience different parts of the island on our first ever trip to the Caribbean. There weren’t any personal touches such as a welcome drink or birthday acknowledgment as there was in the previous hotel. When checking out, we were expecting to pay a mandatory Tourism Guest Levy of USD $5 per person per night but had to also pay an additional resort fee of USD $24 per night which we have since discovered applies to all Elite Island chain hotels (it’s in the small print of their website). On a positive note, the restaurant staff were friendly and the buffet food was very good indeed. We complimented one of the chefs as the evening buffet was so tasty and a great selection on offer. The water sports team and car hire services were also very friendly. The resort is very close to many beaches and Nelson’s Dockyard so it is a great location. I’d highly recommend visiting Shirley Heights on Thursday or Sunday as it’s only a 15 minute drive away and a great experience.

Exceptionally well appointed huge resort. Good, if plain rooms, excellent value all inclusive package. Sure the service is sometimes a little lax, and the food can be sometimes hit and miss, but overall it was excellent. My only complaint? Not enough Hobie cats (2) or other boats (1) to sail,...

Exceptionally well appointed huge resort. Good, if plain rooms, excellent value all inclusive package. Sure the service is sometimes a little lax, and the food can be sometimes hit and miss, but overall it was excellent. My only complaint? Not enough Hobie cats (2) or other boats (1) to sail, which I know is a frustration for the excellent beach staff.

Our 3rd visit - lovely setting very relaxing we had a fab room on the beach - we went to the piccolo restaurant which is extra but well worth the visit - however the bar lady is not very welcoming and needs to smile a lot more - the staff...

Our 3rd visit - lovely setting very relaxing we had a fab room on the beach - we went to the piccolo restaurant which is extra but well worth the visit - however the bar lady is not very welcoming and needs to smile a lot more - the staff are good but only 2 people stand out one is Hayley a real credit to st James she is a real credit to st James and should be used as how customer service should be - the other is Marissa front of house manage who was so lovely

I went to st James club in January with a friend, we had a great experience, the accomodation were good and the staff was very nice, I really loved the beach and I liked the offering in the restaurants, the property is well kept and clean, I will definatelly return...

I went to st James club in January with a friend, we had a great experience, the accomodation were good and the staff was very nice, I really loved the beach and I liked the offering in the restaurants, the property is well kept and clean, I will definatelly return when possible. thank you for a great 5 days.

The setting and facilities are excellent. We stayed in a Royal Suite which was perfectly located, spotlessly clean and allowed us to book our restaurant choices for a week in advance - a huge bonus. There is a dedicated Concierge but he/she was rarely there so not so much of...

The setting and facilities are excellent. We stayed in a Royal Suite which was perfectly located, spotlessly clean and allowed us to book our restaurant choices for a week in advance - a huge bonus. There is a dedicated Concierge but he/she was rarely there so not so much of an advantage. Housekeeping was excellent and these rooms are close to all the amenities - important in a 100 acre site. Beach/pool towels were readily available and plentiful - such a bonus instead of tokens and one-for-one swaps! Food was plentiful and on the whole ok. The buffet rotated but the other menus did not change so once you had tried all the restaurants there was no variety. The exception was the fine dining option in Piccolo Mondo which was exceptional. You pay extra for this but worth every penny - the food, service and ambience were all superb. We treated ourselves twice. Two things let this hotel down. First is the absence of Guest Information on arrival. Despite a dedicated concierge and check-in we had nothing useful offered - a bad black and white photocopy of a 100 acre site is just not good enough. We had to discover for ourselves the locations, opening times and offerings of the many bars, eateries and facilities etc. It took us 2 days to discover it all...... and we never managed to master the TV which had the most limited and unusual remote control we have ever seen! The other downer is the very slow service in the restaurants - sometimes unacceptably so. A 2 hour wait at lunchtime was not unusual. Such a waste of time the you could be enjoying so much else on offer. These two issues, which could be so easily resolved, stop this being the 5 star resort the location and services deserve it to be.

This hotel is great if you want to stay within the complex. Many people appear to revisit year after year. I wish i'd known some of the things before going so I am going to add the main points of my findings rather than a full review as different people...

This hotel is great if you want to stay within the complex. Many people appear to revisit year after year. I wish i'd known some of the things before going so I am going to add the main points of my findings rather than a full review as different people want different things. 1. The hotel is pretty much in the middle of nowhere so not really anywhere to go outside the hotel on foot. 2. There are 5 pools. 1 can only be used by royal suite guests, 1 is a small children's pool, 1 is in a quiet area but not much shade so gets very hot, 1 has a a waterfall and is more of a plunge pool and 1 main pool which you can have a decent swim in. 3. The beach is fabulous with an abundance of beds. 4. There are 5 restaurants but not all are open every day. 2 you have to book the day before which are inclusive of your AI package but not that many places, 2 of them you don't have to book at all though 1 has a limited menu but it is waitress service so you don't have to queue for the buffet and the final one Piccolo is bookable but you pay 38.50USD per person for that one. 5. There are 7 bars but again not all are open all the time. 6. A taxi to St Johns (45 minutes away) would cost around 75 USD and a taxi to English Harbour 45USD. 7. Trips are quite expensive for example a 2.5 hour sunset cruise is 70USD and a full day tour for 105USD plus 100USD for round trip taxi for up to 4 people. 8. There is a Resort fee of 24USD and 10USD tourism guest levy so 34USD per day which is payable at the end of your visit (this is the total we paid for a double room). There is also an optional 2USD per day to their local charity but this is optional. Hope the above is helpful. If you are still interested, here is a quick review of my stay here. We loved the beach and the beach bar. Always plenty of beds all day so no need to rush down (though you may need to move them round a bit to get the shade. Hotel grounds are well kept. Buffet restaurant was typical AI, lovely location and lots of variety albeit a little repetitive. Bathrooms in the rooms are a little outdated. Vanity sinks ok but toilet a bit old fashioned and on one occasion my husband had to reattach the flush. You get 2 bottles of water in your room which you can refill at the bar or water stations but apparently it is ok to drink. We boiled it just in case but had lots of ice in our drinks while we were there and had no issues. Coco and Rainbow garden restaurants are worth a visit if you manage to get in. Overall we had a lovely holiday and enjoyed the daily visits to the beach though we like to walk out and about and there wasn't really anywhere to go without taking a taxi but many other people return year after year. Bed in the room was firm and comfortable which I like and Junior suite was a lovely air conditioned room. Pool area is nice and the bar lady that was there for most of our stay was lovely. The one thing that I felt let it down a bit is that empty glasses do not get collected so as people vacate the beds and new people take them you are surrounded by dirty glasses which lets it down a bit. The restaurant staff were generally cheerful but the reception staff made you feel like a naughty schoolchild and you felt like you were inconveniencing them by asking questions. Photocopied map they give you when you arrive is useless as it has been photocopied in black and white and you can't read the numbers to see what is where. When you arrive you are really tired and they give you so much information you can't take it in. There is a tour each morning to show you around but the guide kept forgetting bits and was pointing ahead to where the restaurants etc were without actually taking you to them. You could do with having a leaflet so that you could read through at your leisure. There are some on the notice boards but it would be good to have a copy. Lots of people were taking pictures of the notice boards.

After a long journey I was expecting a more friendly welcome but instead simply offered a cold towel and then bombared with information about the resort which I had no ability or apetite to take in. Then taken to room and left to my own devices. The lack of information...

After a long journey I was expecting a more friendly welcome but instead simply offered a cold towel and then bombared with information about the resort which I had no ability or apetite to take in. Then taken to room and left to my own devices. The lack of information is bewildering and I never did work out the TV, coffee machine or clock ! However non of these things bothered me and I somehow enjoyed exploring the resort without a map or guidance notes. The resort is well maintained and the room (Royal Suite) is large with a good bathroom. There are 5 restaurants the best being Picolo. The food is average but with a wide choice at the buffets. Service can be a bit hit and miss but then I was in no rush and believe you must adapt to the laid back approach of Antigua. Lorraine and Marrisa at Guest Services were very friendly and helpful and assisted in making my wife's birthday a wonderful day. I wasn't able to arrange a late room check out and as not being collected from the resort until 6pm meant we needed to change in the Gym shower area which was not ideal. Overall it was a pleasant 14 day holiday and whilst some other guests moaned about the food and service I didn't think it was that bad. I suggest providing more information by way of down-load to a phone perhaps, better welcome and improved food. I would say it was a 3.5/4 star resort but no where near 5 star.

29 years going to the Caribbean and this is the second worst experience. We have been to Blue waters before and it was brilliant. That time we took ferry rides to both Barbuda and Monserrat - and thought is was one of our best breaks. So let's start with what...

29 years going to the Caribbean and this is the second worst experience. We have been to Blue waters before and it was brilliant. That time we took ferry rides to both Barbuda and Monserrat - and thought is was one of our best breaks. So let's start with what is good. It is the most amazing site, with parallel beaches offering Atlantic waves, tempered by a reef, or a totally protected beach on Mamora bay. There is a wonderful coffee shop, open all hours and staffed mainly by one lady, who is absolutely charming and had the biggest smile on the island. If she could be cloned there would have been no problem. Then the rest. The reception staff were arrogant and rude. Leaving us fuming after a 13 hour journey, interested only in ensuring $350 was removed from my bank account - just in case! and then we waited half an hour to find a porter to take our cases. I asked if I could have a map of the site - no. I asked if she would explain where the room was, so we could walk there and wheel our own cases - no. It was 8.30 pm before we could get to a restaurant. Only the Docksider was available, The remaining food was garbage, uneatable. I had a plate with some lettuce and slice of Mozzarella cheese and that was my entire supper. I was so angry that we had decided to demand Virgin remove us to another hotel if things were the same the following day. Breakfast was OK, so we stayed on. Mistake. The booking system for evening meals was Byzantine. There was only one good restaurant with about 40 covers. Piccolo. You were fined $75 a couple for deigning to go there. But the rest was awful. Docksider was grim. The main restaurant for waiter service was called Rainbow. They kept on saying it was fully booked and forcing you to go back to a heaving Docksider. Why, I don't know. The restaurant was only 1/3 full in the evenings and we waited up to 2 hours to get a main course. You had to plan up to 3 days in advance to book a restaurant with frequent refusals, saying you can't book until tomorrow morning etc. By the time we left I was sick of the food and desperate to get away. Try asking for an ice cream instead of the ubiquitous sponge cake for dessert. You get a look from the waitress as if you had asked her for a quick one.. The rooms are dated. There was no instruction booklet! When I queried this at reception they claimed it was due to Covid!! Covid is over and anyway the sheets would be laminated and could have been wiped down between clients. So we had no idea where anything was on site. No map of St James or the rest of the island. No information about sports, boat hire, what to do if you were ill or the crazy booking system. The wind from the Atlantic came through an ill fitting door and kept us awake. Then every other night we were woken promptly at 4 am by a loud machine going backwards and forwards both sides of the block. It sounded like a very large lawn-mower. One night I decided to ambush the culprit and found a functionary gassing all the insects in a process they called fogging. Why they chose 4 am for this was beyond me. The stairs to the upper story are a serious health hazard. Some steps looked like railway sleepers, they were rotting, warped at odd angles and I fell twice, luckily having the foresight to hold the rail. The other stairs at each end offered a 25 step fall on concrete. These also had no connection between the steps so that anyone wearing sandals or slip ons could catch their shoe under the step and fall 20 feet. I noted at the sister hotel called Pineapple resort, all the steps had been made properly with non-slip bands glued to every edge. Why St James is so behind I cannot tell. They obviously have no health and safety officer. I reported the taps weren't working in my bathroom. They had not been fixed two weeks later when I left. The rooms were not serviced daily - as I had found in every other Caribbean hotel for nearly 30 years. Why not? I suspect to save money on cleaning and clean towels. After three days without cleaning, we complained to the management. The next day a rather grumpy old woman turned up. When we later returned from the beach, we could not get in. The lock was not working. After a lot of faff and bother, someone turned up and reactivated it. Two day later the same cleaner came. Yes! - you got it. The lock was not functioning again. I complained as there was a long walk to get back to the reception and arrange for a visit and asked whether there was a possibility that the cleaner was doctoring the lock to punish us for complaining about her. "No, of course not they trilled. My posterior. The beaches were nice, kept beautifully clean, but there are no lifeguards - even for the Atlantic side and the promised drinks truck came just once in the two weeks we were there. Worst though is that it is a 45 minute ride on very pot-holed roads to the main capital and airport. You are effectively stranded on this resort, with scanty items in their shop and nowhere to get alternative food. They offer a hire car service with mini cars that will not cope with the potholed roads. Yes - you guessed, you can't insure against tyre and wheel damage and will have to pay the full cost of repairs. We instead decided on a day trip around the island. Organised by Virgin with Pelican tours, it was a total rip off. £220 to listen to a load of drivel, driving past 1000 battered houses and a visit to three tourist spots, not worth the effort. An "authentic" meal in a roadside cafe probably owned by a relative of the driver. Food was worse than the hotel - and that's saying something. The ferry rides to the other islands were closed. The entertainment consisted of repeating bands, who either could not sing or decided that what you needed in a restaurant was a very loud bass amplification so that you could not hold any conversation, whilst waiting 2 hours for your food. At exit we were treated like criminals. The car was stopped and they demanded a receipt to show you had settled your bill. No-one at reception had offered us this when we paid. Why anyone who had shelled out £10,000 for the holiday to Virgin was likely to run off without settling the extras eludes me. The final straw was a £450 "tourist tax" from the Antigua government "to improve facilities". If they could prove any of this money had gone to repair the atrocious roads I might have seen the point, but we all know where this money will be headed. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

This would be our fourth visit to St James Club with our friends (the Fab Four). We love it here and the friendly relaxed way the staff are. There are lots of restaurants and bars and pool areas and beaches with lots of sun beds. Never is it overcrowded, there...

This would be our fourth visit to St James Club with our friends (the Fab Four). We love it here and the friendly relaxed way the staff are. There are lots of restaurants and bars and pool areas and beaches with lots of sun beds. Never is it overcrowded, there is always plenty of seats or sunbeds wherever you go. Sometimes there was confusion about which restaurants you could reserve and book up. Reception seemed very unclear about what restaurants were open or closed (particularly Cocos). The serving staff on the whole were very good, a little slow in service, particularly lunchtime buffet at Rainbows - ordering drinks could take up to half an hour sometimes - so definite room for improvement here. One particular waitress stood out though as being exceptional, attentive and very efficient and that was Makeda. Thank you Makeda you were excellent! There is plenty of variety as far as food is concerned and it is very tasty. Cannot fault the food at all. We stayed in one of the villas, and it was spacious, well equipped and clean. One of our party fell over on the stone step leading to the villa and dislocated her wrist. The staff were excellent in handling this, arranging an ambulance and when she returned from hospital, the staff were always checking to see if she was ok or there was anything she needed. Peter in particular was very good and there was a very friendly guy who took them to and from the hospital and stayed with them the whole time they were there. Unfortunately I cannot remember his name. We had a hire car and would spend most mornings on the beach before it got too hot, a leisurely and boozy lunch, chill out in the cool in the villa followed by a trip out. There are many trips to go on organised by the Club, boat trips, Sting Ray City, Shirley Heights, but we would recommend taking yourself off in the car and exploring all the different beaches and bays. One beach bar we always return to is OJs on Turner Beach, full of raw Caribbean fun, furnished with beach nick snacks, rickety tables and chairs, strings of sea shells and sandy floors. Another bay is Half Moon Bay - gorgeous photo spot and only a short drive away. Thank you St James for looking after us. We had a lovely time and hope to return again one day. .

Great location and beaches are beautiful, but the staff for the most part seemed grumpy and unhappy like they were angry they had to serve you. The room in the Papaya wing was dated and a bit beat up, and could have used a good scrubbing, even into the corners...

Great location and beaches are beautiful, but the staff for the most part seemed grumpy and unhappy like they were angry they had to serve you. The room in the Papaya wing was dated and a bit beat up, and could have used a good scrubbing, even into the corners of the room and bathroom. But we did have a lovely ocean view with a big patio that let out to the sand. The food was pretty good but, the beach bar was out of rum by noon on a Sunday. Really? A beach bar in the Caribbean was out of rum? The whole experience was kind of mixed.

We have just returned from a 10 day holiday at SJC. It was the best holiday ever. I was concerned about the negative reviews I had read since booking our holiday but was so positively delighted to find how these reviews did not accurately reflect our experience. The check in...

We have just returned from a 10 day holiday at SJC. It was the best holiday ever. I was concerned about the negative reviews I had read since booking our holiday but was so positively delighted to find how these reviews did not accurately reflect our experience. The check in was smooth, informative and welcoming. Our room,in the Royal Suite section was modern, spacious, kept perfectly clean,excellent air con, huge bathroom comfy bed. big balcony and had a fantastic view of Mamora Bay. The resort site is absolutely beautiful. The Royal area pools were never busy, with plenty of sunbeds and umbellas, and a fabulous bar. Every member of staff had a smile and a good morning/afternoon/evening when we passed by and the waiting staff, bar staff, chefs were kind, courteous and fun. The live evening entertainment was plentiful and varied, from casual background music to a party vibe that made you want to get up and dance. Breakfast in the Rainbow Garden was great. I worked out how to construct Eggs Royale (bliss). Yes there were birds flying about and snacking on uncleared leftovers, but we found them charming and amusingly cheeky. We also breakfasted in Cocos, a more relaxed and quiet vibe, but with less choice. We lunched at the Beach Grill, and the Eleven to Eleven, both were delicious. Lunch at the Rainbow was good, but mostly we did not have room for what was on offer. We dined once at Cocos and Piccolo Mondo. Both were good (especially the Coconut Shrimps!) but had slow service for mains and pudding. However the wait was about 20 minutes, not the hours I have seen mentioned in other reviews. We mosly ate dinner and drank at the Docksider restaurant and bar (near our room) Delicious food and cocktails. Lovely people looking after us and hilarious bar staff. We also loved the Coffee shop, especially the iced lattes. I did get badly bitten despite the employment of heavy duty chemicals but I do everywhere in the world I go- even my own back garden- and di not notice anyone with bites as bad as mine. We had a couple of short, very sharp rain showers, but they did not last long, and help the site remain as green and lush. Thank you to all the fabulous team at SJC for a great holiday we will never forget.

I recently stayed at St. James Club & Villas resort, and overall, the experience was fine. The resort itself is beautiful, with well-maintained grounds, two lovely beaches, and plenty of amenities. The rooms were clean (if somewhat dated), kept cool and comfortable, and the views from our room were absolutely...

I recently stayed at St. James Club & Villas resort, and overall, the experience was fine. The resort itself is beautiful, with well-maintained grounds, two lovely beaches, and plenty of amenities. The rooms were clean (if somewhat dated), kept cool and comfortable, and the views from our room were absolutely stunning. We used the buffet restaurants, and the quality and selection of food were great. However, there were a few downsides. Firstly, the resort is in a remote location with nothing else nearby. Please note that a taxi from the airport costs US$48. While this makes for a peaceful and secluded atmosphere, it also means you’re limited to the on-site restaurants and activities unless you're willing to take an expensive taxi or book excursions. Secondly, I was disappointed by the overall attitude of the staff—particularly the bar staff, especially at the main bar near reception. On several occasions, they were unfriendly and unapproachable, and at times, they simply ignored us altogether. Frequently, simple requests to staff were met with indifference, making us feel more like an inconvenience than valued guests. Another issue was the slow clearing of plates at the restaurants. Tables were often left uncleared for long periods, which attracted birds—a real nuisance when trying to enjoy a meal. It would be helpful if staff were more attentive in removing leftover food and dishes promptly, rather than leaving them on sideboards. Additionally, the resort could do a better job of providing information on activities. We found it difficult to know what was available and when, due to a lack of clear information. A detailed schedule of activities and events would have been helpful (perhaps TV info screens throughout the resort). We were only provided with an A4 photocopy of the resort map, which was neither detailed nor practical. Larger, more comprehensive maps would have made it easier to navigate the property. One of the beaches does suffer from the sargassum seaweed problem, but I must commend the resort for going to great efforts to remove it daily, ensuring that the beach remains as clean and accessible as possible. The resort itself offers everything you need for a great getaway. With more attentive service and small improvements, it could be exceptional. I hope the management takes note, as these changes would significantly enhance the guest experience. Would I return? Possibly, but I’d sooner spend the same money on a resort in the Canary Islands, which is much closer (to the UK) than Antigua and offers far better service for the same cost.

The hotel was not so great. Needs a major update. The one thing that is nice is that one side is the bay and one side is the beach. Intimate setting. Restaurants were not so great and they are never open at the same time. Not much food variety. It’s...

The hotel was not so great. Needs a major update. The one thing that is nice is that one side is the bay and one side is the beach. Intimate setting. Restaurants were not so great and they are never open at the same time. Not much food variety. It’s a good place to just sit in the water and do nothing.

I think reviews are obviously relative... Here's my take on St. James Club in Antigua. It's calm, serene and friendly. We're in the Royal Suites on the Bay side of the resort. (Iast full day tomorrow) It's fantastic! It's quiet (adults only) and you get the sunset outside your balcony,...

I think reviews are obviously relative... Here's my take on St. James Club in Antigua. It's calm, serene and friendly. We're in the Royal Suites on the Bay side of the resort. (Iast full day tomorrow) It's fantastic! It's quiet (adults only) and you get the sunset outside your balcony, above the calm bay waters. The opposite side is the Atlantic Ocean side. It's equally gorgeous, but a different mood. At least in March, the winds are kickin' and the water is super choppy...and it's seaweed season. The crew cleans it as well as possible, daily. It's very obviously a neverending chore. Anyway, I understand that the breakers can be heard through your cracked balcony slider, and I'd find that lovely! In addition to the sunrise and gorgeous ocean views. Now onto the food... We enjoyed everything so much! Reviews talked of "bland" flavors, and boring options. We found it to be quite the opposite. But we tried new things! Enjoying our meals, as they were meant to be eaten....with the sauces and accompaniments. Everything has been delicious, good quality dishes. The breakfast buffet have been great as well (we do enjoy the omelet station). I think it's a matter of reaching outside of your norm...and taking in the tastes of your environment! Location... The resort is a bit off the beaten path. English Harbor is a 10 minute taxi...and the airport a 30-35 minute drive. But we were looking for relaxation... And St. James excels at that! There's a lot of tennis & pickleball happening....ping pong and corn hole as well. All sorts of water fun! (HobieCats, paddle boards, kayaks, etc.) Lots and lots of laying around on the beach...the bay is PERFECT for it!! The water is calm and exceptional for families with kids. Tons of palm tree shade, with many loungers under round tiki covers. The drinks flow heavy here as well. Those rum punches can really be sneaky! Undeniably delicious!! The point is...if you're looking for some laid back, paradise - living fun, this is where you want to be!! Staff are super friendly, food is delicious and vibe is definitely on island time!

We had a lovely and very relaxing holiday. The resort was quiet so no scrambling for sunbeds. The non-motorized watersports were free, we used the paddleboards and kayaks. We went out on one of the small catamaran type boats and a shout out for Ken, he came out with us...

We had a lovely and very relaxing holiday. The resort was quiet so no scrambling for sunbeds. The non-motorized watersports were free, we used the paddleboards and kayaks. We went out on one of the small catamaran type boats and a shout out for Ken, he came out with us and gave us a lesson. The rooms were quite tired and dark but were clean and functional. We had a great sea view with large balcony. The food was ok, we are vegetarians and sometimes the dishes were not labelled so had to check. Most lunch times we went to the Beach Grill and the food was lovely there, Luenda and the team were always attentive and friendly. The entertainment was great at Dockside and there was a party atmosphere most nights. We only went on one trip booked through the hotel, this was to Stingray City and Laviscount Island, we were charged an additional fee of $70 for the transfer for 1-4 people, we presumed it would be individual taxis but we were on transfer with other people and it was full , felt we shouldn't have had to pay $70 like a family of 4 . Booked further trips with Antigua Chiama Italia Tours which were great. We met some lovely people and the atmosphere was really friendly. It was our first time in Antigua and overall we really enjoyed our holiday. Most importantly everyone must have a Mudslide Cocktail !!