St James Beach Club Reviews

As with a lot of the reviews we had a great time at the St James Beach club and was so glad that we decided to stay in the beach club and not the main hotel.

The rooms are fantastic and very clean. We prefer a top floor so only chose a standard room which was ideal. Coco's bar where you have your meals is really nice and the staff are really friendly. The two times that we had to have dinner in the main hotels restaurants was a bit of a let down and to be honest I wish you did not have to eat there. It was all a bit rushed and the steel band and fire eating night was a complete fast - but you have no choice but to eat there !? I am a veggie and after a week I was bored of the food, I was expecting lots of fish but there was only one fish dish per night and typically 'catch of the day' was always the same fish, grouper. But saying this I still thought the food was OK for an all inclusive hotel. The beach on our side was very windy so we tended to sit on the other side which was really nice. The sea on both sides was disappointing as on the windy side it was full of sea weed and the calm side it was like a lake and very cloudy. John had a great time on the hobbie cats which are free and worth a lesson. The hotel complex is well looked after and the staff really nice.

Shirley Heights is a must along with hiring a car. The island is not what I expected and quite messy with a lot of rubbish and half built buildings which was not what I expected. This is my first trip to the Caribbean and it was not what I expected. I would recommend going but I would not return as a week was enough for us as there is not much to do. There were alot of people there who had been many times and loved it. I think we prefer a holiday where you can get off the complex without taking a taxi. The Virgin early check in was ideal as the airport is manic !

We had a fab holiday at The Beach Club.we went with Virgin, and to be quite honest i dont think we can go with another airline again! 10/10 Virgin.we checked in the night before,no hassle.We had a ground floor,which we upgraded on.it was beautiful, walking striaght on the beach.We went for 10 nights, which was just right.Departure day, check in and chill out!the Vigin Airport Staff came to the hotel at 10.30am,so we could check in then,got rid of the bags.Back on the Beach to sunbath and have yet more Rum Cocktails!!!!! We would come back here,but lifes too short and we are looking to go to St Lucia,with Virgin again!!!

Theres been a few reviews here on the beach club, so will try my best not to repeat, We were on an AI for a week flying with virgin, the flight was good, but we thought the airport was a little hectic/busy, basically due to the size of the place, the transfer wasnt the greatest, as it was a clapped out minibus with dodgy AC.

Once we arrived at the hotel we checked in filled a couple of forms offered and offered a complimentary drink. We had a superior room, and I have to say it was worth it, admittingly there no bigger than a standard room, however your patio is right on the beach. As we had a young child it was a bonus not having to climb the stairs. The rooms are large and clean but basic.

The resort itself has two beachs one for calm for water sports, one a little rougher. There very clean and when we were there very quite. Its a very quite resort most of the time all you can hear is the sea. The food wasnt the greatest but was ok, on most evenings you had a choice of buffet or ordering from the menu, for a small surcharge $18 u.s you can have lobster, admittingly only the tail however still very nice.

St Johns is worth a trip, and very cheap for spirits and fags. $7u.s for smirnoff vodka. And its good for souveniors. The market in st johns, you may find a bit claustrphobic, things arnt really any cheaper in there anyway, and make sure you count your change, im aware alot countries/people arnt as fortunate as some,hense i tip well but im not gonna get ripped off.

Antiguas not the best place ive been but would still recommend it highly. The Beach club was a lovly hotel excellantly situated. The only reasons I dont give this an excellant rating is there is only one restaurant for all meals. Not a problem for a week, and the food was ok, but just a change of surroundings would be nice. And the pool was a little small, however never busy and there is a larger pool at st james you can use. However for what we paid 1550 for 2 adults and one infant an absaloute bargain

Get ready for the most honest review of the Beach Club at St James on the web !!

We've just returned from 2 weeks all inclusive at the Beach Club after spending many hours of evaluating resort options in Antigua before we booked. I?m 40 and my girlfriend is 26.

1st impressions - yes, on arrival the airport is a bit chaotic but remembering that a jumbo jet full of tired and hot passengers has just arrived, what do people expect ? Read the reviews and you'll know what to do. You WILL find your cases in the end and a 'red cap' WILL stick them on a trolley and dash through customs with you in hot pursuit and yes, you WILL need to give him a dollar a bag. So what? It's great fun, especially to the sound of a steel band - you're in the Caribbean - relax and go with it.

Arrival at the resort - after a fascinating cab ride to the resort (seeing how some Antiguans really live) you can see St James Club and the bay as you approach. Again, search the web and you'll see many pictures so you'll know what to look for. Check-in is again fairly relaxed so don't expect to be in your room in minutes. Take my advice, chat to the staff serving the rum/fruit punch and introduce yourselves. Along with the check-in guy (Lionel), they will be the 1st friends you make on your holiday. Smile at everyone and they will smile back (every time they see you). Be the last to check-in and make it clear you are in no rush ! The rum punch makes it a very nice 30 mins or so.

Rooms - book a Superior Room on the ground floor. When you enter the room, tip the porter 5 dollars (if you?re feeling generous) and shake his hand. Walk straight through the room, onto the balcony and down a couple of steps onto the beach. Perfect. So it may cost a few extra quid for the ground floor but it's peanuts in comparison to the price of the holiday and you get to mix drinks while you're getting ready for dinner (we were given 3 bottles of Cavalier rum during the 2 weeks). I know it's all inclusive but who wants to walk to the bar every time you want a rum and coke, especially if you're in the bath with your gorgeous wife/girlfriend ?

The room itself does exactly what it says on the tin. Decent size with sitting area, great bathroom, plenty of storage, large comfy bed, fridge, tea and coffee, iron, ceiling fan and air con - what else do you need ?

Beaches - the only disappointment for us during the whole stay. I expected better but failed in my research on this. Safe and clean but not the classic Caribbean beaches we wanted. For this, you'll need to go to Half Moon Bay (about 25 mins drive). The Atlantic beach is cooled by the breeze ? go there in the morning and after lunch hit the pool (the best one is through St James Club reception) followed by a snooze on Mamora Bay as the sun cools and disappears behind the hills. A bit of everything in a single day. Look out for Sheridan who drives the beach drinks cart. Introduce yourself and shake his hand ? he?s a great guy and will look after you really well. Ask about his son and his home.

Restaurant - take all your meals at Coco's and incur no surcharges whatsoever. Good variety with alternate buffet and a la carte evenings. Make friends with the staff ? again introduce yourselves and complement the girls on their hair, nails, make-up. Make a few jokes and share some great times with people who will quickly become your friends. Treat the staff like servants and that?s exactly what they will be. Those guests who experience poor service or long faces are simply not trying to embrace the culture they have chosen to experience. Drinks will flow at the table ? anything you want!

Entertainment ? ?limited?, as described in other reviews. Stay in the resort for 2 weeks and you?ll go ?stir crazy? Make friends and share taxis to other places in the evenings (as recommended by the staff). Hit Abracadabra?s in English Harbour on a Thur, Fri or Sat for excellent dancing with local people (don?t arrive before 11pm and be sure to book a cab back to St James ? around 1.30am). Pop into the Gallery for a drink beforehand and meet Curtis behind the bar. You?ll have a great night out and make more friends ! Go to Shirley?s Heights on Sunday and have fab time. Stock up at Coco?s bar before you go and you?ll be dancing to the steel band as soon as you get there !! Return to Coco?s at about 9.30pm for dinner and then hit the Karaoke. Sunday is a great night in Antigua so let your hair down and enjoy it. It?s true that most people go to bed early in the resort but remember it?s not compulsory. The staff are there until 1pm so have a laugh with them and find out what really goes on !!

Trips ? if you booked with Virgin, go on the Catamaran cruise around the island and the Jeep Safari. You won?t regret it (especially the cruise where you will experience the most fantastic snorkeling ever ? like being in an aquarium). The Caribbean Sea is a wonderful sight from the boat ? perfect clear turquoise water just like you see in the brochures.

Watersports ? take advantage of this ? it?s all inclusive (even the water ski lessons). Make friends with the guys and play volleyball with them. Talk to them about their job, family, home and benefit from personal service with a broad smile (even if it takes you 10 attempts to stand up on the water skis). They will share in your joy of success if you make the effort to chat and thank them for helping you.

Overall ? a superb resort for people who want to enjoy a friendly relaxed holiday. I can?t emphasise enough the need to fight your natural urge to be reserved, and to embrace the people and their way of life. It will significantly enhance your holiday, and make the staff feel they are adding value to your stay at the Beach Club. Some of the most valuable photo?s we have of our holiday are of the girls in Coco?s restaurant ? tell Albertina and Corrine that Nick and Mel say hi !

Would we go back ? For the resort, food, people, atmosphere ? a definite yes. For the beaches ? probably not. Next time we may try Barbados but don?t misunderstand me, Antigua is a wonderful place to spend a holiday and the Beach Club / St James is acknowledged as a premier resort on the island ? something with which I concur from personal experience.

Sorry about the long review but I hope this helps.

This was our first time in the Caribbean and we were very impressed with what we found. We booked a standard room which was very large and comfortable. The superior rooms were all located on the ground floor of hotel giving direct access to the beach from the terrace. As we'd requested a balcony anyway so we'd have more privacy, we couldn't see the point of paying extra for the superior rooms. Other reviews have mentioned that the superior rooms are no larger anyway.

We found the breeze on Coco beach a godsend given the heat whilst on the neighbouring Mamura beach there was little breeze and we found it too stifling. Top tip, take plenty of high factor sun tan lotion as it's not easily available on the resort.

We felt that the Virgin brochure understated the quality and facilities of the Beach Club. The all inclusive package was superb, all drinks were included - premium brands as well as local drinks. The food at Coco's was excellent - buffet nights alternated with waiter service.

We only did 2 trips - 1 to St Johns and 1 to English Harbour. St Johns is a must for shopping, whilst English Harbour, and in particular Nelson's Dockyard was very interesting. We made the effort to find the walk to Fort Berkley and this was well worth the effort, even though it was a very hot day!

We flew with BMI out of Manchester and were very impressed with the flights - the BMI aircaft was very comfortable and had more legroom than we can remember from our last Virgin Atlantic flight.