St. James's Club

We have just come back from a 10 day holiday at St. James Club, and after reading some of the negative reviews posted on this site, we were concerned at what we might find. Fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised, and each day the holiday just got better - the staff were friendly and courteous, always willing to help (apart from the Watersports staff on the beach who displayed a negative 'don't care' attitide to guests.) The food in Picolo Mondo and Docksiders restaurant was far better than in most all inclusive resorts, being of a good quality and varied menu. The rainbow Garden restaurant is good for buffet breakfasts and luches - we ate in Coco's bar just once, and decided not to repeat the experience - the food wasn't as nice as The Rainbow Rooms for lunches, and the staff were surly in comparison to elsewhere. The rooms were spacious and clean, although sometimes they would not be cleaned until late in the afternoon. The whole hotel has a relaxed feel about it, and you can really wind down here. Guest services were extremely helpful, even when you ralexed too much and forgot to book your table for dinner for the following evening! The beaches aren't the best on the island, but there are 4 nice pools, and great beaches just a short drive away. Hiring a car is recommended as you can drive through the rain forests which is an experience not to be missed. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this hotel to even my most fastidious friends - it was a great place to spend a holiday. We have only been back for 5 days, and we are thinking of going back for a week in 6 weeks time! That says it all!

Well what a fantastic 2 week holiday at the St. James Club we have just returned from. We really couldn't fault it at all. Read all the negative reports before we left and must admit was a bit worried, but everything that was complained about we found the total opposite. We (2 families) stayed in Club Rooms and they have to be one of the cleanest rooms I've ever stayed in. Beds were extremely comfortable and all bedding/towels changed regularly and were beautifully crisp and clean. Air conditioning fantastically quiet and wonderfully cooling. If there was a comment to be made about the rooms, they were perhaps a little sparse and bare, but that is the only negative thing I think I can say about them. Beaches lovely, although we did stay mainly on Mamora beach where there was a bar (perfectly walkable) either end, and the little drinks cart drove round hourly from 12 until around 4, so you couldn't possibly get thirsty. None of the pools were overly large, but were perfectly adequate for a dip. Watersports very good indeed, smart hobie cats and sunfishes, you can have a lesson of water skiing as part of the all inclusive package. There are also kayaks and pedalos. Restaurants wonderful - a wide variety of beautifully presented meals - there must be something for everyone and as for drinks as soon as our glasses were empty they were being refilled - hardly ever had to ask. Must totally disagree with the people who found the staff rude - we found the total opposite - nothing but wide smiles and friendliness wherever we went. Trips we can recommend - the Jeep Safari with "Elmo" and friends - great fun and lots of laughter. Elmo was a real Eddie Murphy and kept us in great spirits all day. The Wadadli Catamarans also great fun - did a trip to Cades Reef and also a Sunset Cruise. The cruises that leave from St. James do hit the Atlantic for a bit (depending which way you are heading) and there is quite a swell out there - so remember those sickness pills if you're not a good sailor! A trip to Shirley Heights (shuttles from St. James Club) is obligatory - steel bands and reggae bands, a good night out. St. Johns worth a visit (again a shuttle from St. James will get you there) but there isn't really too much to see unless you are after a nice piece of jewellery or a named watch, this is where the cruise ships dock (often on Wednesdays) and the prices are very competitive. We travelled with Virgin Holidays and had a fantastic trip - all the better with their check in chill out on the last day so that your cases are whisked away to the airport and you can sit on the beach until the last possible minute without all that hanging around at the airport. Oh one last tip - St. James Club runs a Vacation Club - go to their presentation if you receive a leaflet - there is absolutely NO hard sell at all and for having a look at the smart accommodations for ½ an hour you receive a voucher for the St. James Club Shop and a voucher for some free chips in the Casino which gave us at least 2 hours of fun while we managed to loose them!! I wish you a fantastic holiday at the St. James Club and hope that you come away with the lovely memories that we have - all of them good, we certainly wouldn't hesitate to return again.

First of all, if you look at just a few of the reviews written about any one hotel, you will find a wide spectrum of opinion. Why do so many people find it difficult to understand that a personal review is a completely subjective account of one person's experience, the "I can't believe someone said x,y,z" quote........ We have just returned from a 2 week stay, and our experience is as follows....... What was good....... The quality of the food and drink was very good, especially for an all-inclusive hotel, where we have often found food to be v.poor, and the wine undrinkable. We found the 'Docksider' and 'Picolo Mondo' restaurants especially good, with a great choice and variety of food, and the option to pay an extra US$12 for 1/2 lobster, fillet steak, or surf & turf. We alternated between these 2 restaurants for dinner for our entire stay. There were many brand name spirits included in the all-inclusive package, including 'Pimms', 'Jack Daniels', 'Baileys', etc, which is often not the case with all-inclusive. The white and red wines were of a very decent quality and eminently drinkable. The sparkling wine (the hotel referred to it as champagne), was also reasonable, either on it's own or particularly in a 'bellini'! The beaches and grounds were lovely - the beach on the atlantic side benefitted from a welcome cool breeze, whereas with the Mamora Bay. the heat was intense with no breeze, but the sea was 'lagoon-like', which made for excellent watersports. Both beaches has adequate shelter/shade. What was ok....... The pool area was 'ok', but tended to be noisy and busy, and was on a peninsula, and didn't lead on to the beach. Most people tended to choose one or the other. The rooms were ok - a premium room's view of the sea was partial at best - small pieces of blue between the huge palms outside the room. Essentially basic, clean and functional, but tired. No frills here. What was bad.......... Service was generally better in both the Picolo Mondo and Docksider for dinner. Less impressive at Cocos and the Rainbow Restaurant, where insufficient staff seemed to be a problem. On 3 or 4 occasions I asked for a bottle of water (not included - $1.50), and it never arrived, despite asking 3 times over the course of the meal. In the end we gave up. It also wasn't uncommon for your food to be brought out, and be sat around getting cold for 4 or 5 minutes before it was delivered to you. Ordering tea in the morning - often the tea bags would come 5 minutes after the pot of hot water. We would quite often go and get them ourselves. Rudeness.... Most of the time it was polite, if unsmiling. At other times the rudeness and ignorance was beyond belief. We could approach the bar, and with a smile, say "hi", (no response), "may I have (eg) 2 cokes, please". The drinks would be served, and you would either get a terse "room number?", or the person recording all the drinks ordered asked you your room number, in which case not one single word would be uttered by the person serving you. Ordering a burger at the Mamora Bar, not realising they had stopped cooking 5 minutes previously.... "May we have 2 hamburgers please" "We're finished" was the curt response from an employee mid-sandwich herself without even looking up at us. If these types of incident were one or two in number, I wouldn't have mentioned them because it happens all over the Carribbean. But they happened with alarming regularity - in fact it's the worst we can remember out of some 15 Carribbean holidays in the last 8 years. We have found that if you want decent service, go East: Mauritius, Thailand, Hong Kong. Also Dubai. We thought it was a shame that the quality of the grounds and the food and drink were great, but the attitude of some of the staff was too often rude and ignorant. We often felt like an inconvenience when asking for something, a feeling akin to walking on eggshells. Evidently, a view that was shared by some (more vocal) guests, both around the pool and on the flight home. Oh, and if you're calling back to the UK from your room - expect to pay US$30 for a 3 minute call. Cheaper to use the mobile!

Wow!St. James's Club was really impressive. The Club sits on a secluded peninsula, which is about 110 acres. More palm trees than you've ever seen in one place...the beaches (both of them) are lined with palms! Makes L.A.'s famous palms look like a budding nursery compared to these great beaches.We had a blast! The Resort is a terrific place for families, couples, everyone. As a young professional, I found the resort to be very relaxing and service-oriented, but with plenty of activities like watersports, live bands, full Casino...or just taking some time out to read a book in the shade. What's that worth these days?!!! "Priceless!" (Especially since the kids are kept well entertained with swimming, and having a ball with their new pals.)The food was consistently good, with nice variety. Also, there are some very nice restaurants on the island like Le Bistro (French), Alberto's (Italian), and Life (casual/Caribbean), all of which are worth visiting.St. James's is only 10 minutes from English Harbour, which has lots of fun things to see, like old forts, shops, and Admiral Horatio Nelson's Dockyard. Don't miss the steel band and reggae part at Shirley Heights on Sunday night!Anyways, you can't go wrong. Bottom line: fun, relaxation, good food and drinks, sun, sand, blue water.

Just come back from a fabulous fortnight at The Beach Club, St James. The staff were excellent, freindly, courteous and good fun! The Kids Club was so good we had to drag the children away, my daughter celebrated her 7th birthday whislt we were there so one of the staff made her a cake at home, she was thrilled! The rooms were lovely overlooking the beach, just waking up in the morning knowing that you could sit on the balconey before breakfast and chill! The island is beautiful and full of surprises you can even have a beach all to yourself. A great holiday we met lots of people and we have great memories!

St. James's Club truly offers a FANTASTIC Caribbean getaway. We were at the Club last week, and extremely pleased with what we found. First, St. James's Club boasts not just one, but TWO FABULOUS BEACHES! Both beaches are white sand, and if you get up early enough you will see them being meticulously raked and cleaned every morning. Next, the FOOD at the resort is TERRIFIC. Unlike many resorts, St. James's has a total of FOUR RESTAURANTS. Each restaurant has a distinct ambience, and all are very nice. The Docksider has an upscale marina atmosphere, and lovely watefront views. The Picolo Mondo is a more intimate Italian-themed venue, with a fantastic staff. The Rainbow Garden has a lovely, breezy Caribbean ambience, and Coco's restaurant provides true Caribbean rustic elegance (not to mention great drinks and burgers for lunch!). As far as activities go, there is always something to do. There are five swimming pools, all kinds of water sports activities, a great KIDS CLUB, and a tour desk that offers lots of fun tours (try the Sunset Cruise!). If you want to be pampered, the resort has a very nice spa, and a beautiful beachfront reflexology centre called THE SANCTUARY. Heaven! Many of the resort's room have been recently, and very nicely refurbished. The Beach Club rooms are fabulous, and the Villas have undergone significant, and very effective clean-up and renovation. It is obvious that the Club has spent a lot of time and money in improving its food, services, and accommodation. The grounds are beautiful, and covered with lovely tropical gardens. The beaches are lined with dozens of tall, waving PALM TREES. The staff at the Club is very FRIENDLY, as with many Caribbean islands. If you make the effort to smile and start a conversation, you will no doubt make new friends. There are always guest services and property managers on-site...and even golf cart shuttle service if you're feeling too lazy to walk....oh, did I mention the roving bar on wheels (a custom gofl cart/mini bar conversion) that lazily roams the beaches! You really can't go wrong at St. James's. We travel a lot, and greatly appreciate the fact that the Club caters so well to couples and families. There are so many nice, relaxing places to sit and soak up the sun, or enjoy some shade and read a good book. And in the evening the bars are fun and lively....lots of great conversation with your fellow vacationers...especially after a few rum punches! Anyone who reports not having a good time at St. James's Club must have really tried hard to be a sourpuss. We were all smiles, all the while...and that is saying a lot considering we have stayed at many of the "nicest" resorts in the Caribbean and around the world. Go...have fun...and you'll be back again. Take a look at their site: (--) where you'll find some good info.

I've only been home fortyeight hours and I want to go back to St James Club! Accommodation fine, staff very courteous and friendly (do not believe earlier reports - when folks smile and say hi, do the same back - it works!), food and drink absolutely superb, considering how many people are being catered for. All four restaurants very good, but Piccolo Mondo is quite fantastic. The meal which my wife and I ate there on our Wedding Anniversary last week was the equivalent of anything available in Central London at one hundred pounds per person plus. And we walked away at the end of it without paying a single penny! All Inclusive is undoubtedly the way to go. I've added twelve pounds to my weight in two weeks - this tells it's own story. I cannot remember a more relaxing holiday in my life and I will return as soon as I am able.

Living in the Caribbean we usually vacation in North America or Europe, however wanting a change we decided upon a 'do nothing' holiday nearer to home.We visited in June 03 and stayed in a apartment (close to the children's pool) which was very large and well appointed. Proximity to the children's pool worked out very well for us as our 2 year old daughter was able to play in the shallow water with other children of a similar age.The apartments are situated on a hill somewhat removed from the main complex and as such offered a very quiet relaxing environment. We walked to the complex proper for breakfast otherwise spent the whole time near the apartment or on the beach.We found all the restaurants to be very good. Piccolo and Docksider offered excellent fare in very attractive settings. Rainbow and Coco's were more casual but perfectly OK. We never had a problem getting a reservation although we did usually eat early with our daughter. We also attended the Bare Foot bar b q which was great.The resort does enforce a dress code in the evening but we never found the atmosphere stuffy. There were many children most of whom behaved better than our daughter. The staff were excellent. Within a day or two the breakfast ladies knew our daughter's name and spoiled her with their attentions. Similarly the service received in the restaurants and elsewhere in the Hotel was relaxed and very friendly.I really can't understand the negative reviews and can only assume that the unhappy few had expected something different. It is true that SJC promotes itself as an exclusive resort which it probably isn't. Most of the people we spoke to had booked through Virgin in the UK and seemed to get a very good deal. One point to note is that Virgin allow their guests to check in for the return flight at the hotel and having now experienced Antigua International I highly recomend this option. The airport check-in desks are outside!I would recomend the hotel to anyone that wanted a quiet relaxing holiday. Having the apartment made the difference for us as we spent as much time on the balcony as anywhere else. We were very lucky with the weather and I must admit that the resort has little to offer if the weather is bad. That however is probaly true for most of the caribbean.Final point, we took the all inclusive option and thought that the quality of food and boose very good. The bars were open all the time and offered plenty of premium brands. We don't have much experience of all inclusive resorts but would have no hesitation in recomending this one.

Just back from a great week at St James Club. It was my first time to the Caribbean but am well travelled in the States and middle and far east. Really did not know what to expect after the variety of reports posted on this site but as I have worked in the hotel industry all my life, I know that everyone has different expectations, especially in this current market of competetive pricing, and one small thing that goes wrong can send a guest away unhappy. Anyway, I can only speak as I find and we had a great time. Had a Premium room in one of the 3 blocks, which are only 2/3 stories high. Had everything we needed, small balconey with ocean view, a/c & celing fan, coffee maker, iron & board, hairdyer, in room safe . However, if you are in a party of more than 2 and you can afford a bay suite or villa- go for it. The area known as the village up on the hill where the villa's are situated is wonderful. All the Restaurants were good, especially Rainbow for Breakfast & lunch, Coco's for lunch and the Docksider & Picolo's for dinner - food was of a high quality, varied and plentiful. It's best to book for dinner the night before if you want to eat at a specific time but we never had a problem getting a reservation where we wanted, although it was low season. Staff were on the whole professional, friendly, great with kids and would do whatever they could to please. They appreciate how vital tourism is to their island economy. Do go all inclusive as unless you have a car for the duration, taxis to go anywhere to eat will take all your budget and there are no food shops or restaurants within walking distance. Taxis are expensive although there are set government rates so you know in advance how much. e.g. to airport US$26. However, it is well worth hiring a car for a few days to get to see the rest of the island especially some of the beaches. Turners and Darkwood on the west coast are fabulous as are Half Moon Bay close to St James and Long Bay up by Devils Bridge area in the NE - Turners & Long bay are good for snorkeling off the beach. Whilst the 2 beaches at St James are lovely beaches - the caribbean wind & Atlantic can make Coco beach a bit windswept & uncomfortable at this time of year and whilst Mamora bay beach is long, wide and sheltered, the waters are not very clear, certainly not for snorkelling. There are plenty of sailing & pedal boats and you can borrow snorkelling gear for the day if you travel elsewhere. The south of the island is quite volcanic and the sea bed is dark and can seem a bit murky at times compared to the aquamarine colour experienced at the beaches mentioned above. Word of warning re: car hire at the Avis desk on site. Make sure you are specific about what you want, i.e right or left hand drive, a/c or not etc when you book your car. They drive on the right in Antigua but many of the cars and jeeps they supply are from USA and are left hand drive. Prices vary but from US$45 for basic car to $65 for a/c jeep per day. Also their collision damage waiver at $10 has a $1,000 excess so a accident could cost you dear. We hired from Dollar, off site but rep visits. $50 for a jeep but for $12 pd they give you fully comp cover. A much better deal. As many others have said, if you go with the flow of the Caribbean, don't expect things to be the same as back home, treat the staff as people not servants you will be rewarded with a most enjoyable vacation.

Let me start by saying that i have been to numerous all inclusive destinations around the world and quite a few in the carribean. Before we went to the SJC in Antigua i looked on this website to see what to expect and was surprised at some of the comments made (one guy mentioned something about he wish he'd have spent the money (some £7,000) on the lottery) i dont know where the £7,000 comes from unless he took a party of 12 ???? - then there was the comments from several people from the usa mentioning that they thought the place was shutting down / some restarurant food was not edible.???? -OK here is what i think of SJC antigua. All of the staff we encountered were extremely friendly and courteous.All Restaurants have more than edible food and in the Docksider and Picolo Mondo restaurants the food was nothing less than beautiful.The Rainbow garden and Coco's food was nice and in a buffet style - but if there was nothing you wanted they would cook you anything within reason.The drinks and clientel were all wonderful and made for an exceptional week's vacation.As for the quality of the rooms i can only comment on our room which was a club room, - it was spacious, clean and made for comfortable living quarters.This hotel is excellent and only the Galley Bay looked nicer as we went on a circumnavigation catamaran trip around the island and got to see most of the competitive hotels.The hotel is quiet and relaxing - if you want a noisy bustly vacation this is the wrong place for you, however if you want a nice relaxing vacation theres no place better.A+++++++