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St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Mamora Bay, Antigua with 248 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Diving, Kids Club, Snorkeling and Tennis. Travelers rate it 4.2/5 across 882 Google reviews.
Seaweed & sargassum
Antigua gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Amenities
Quick answers
- Is St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua adults only?
- No — St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua is a family-friendly resort that accepts children of all ages.
- Where is St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua?
- St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua is in Mamora Bay, Antigua. Its address is Mamora Bay, St. Paul's, Antigua & Barbuda.
- How many rooms does St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua have?
- St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua has 248 rooms.
- Is St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua all-inclusive?
- Yes — St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua is an all-inclusive resort, so meals, drinks and most on-site activities are covered by the rate.
Traveler Insights(1,240 discussions)
St. James's Club & Villas occupies one of the most spectacular settings in Antigua — a private peninsula in Mamora Bay that gives the resort access to two very different beaches and genuinely gorgeous water views from almost every corner of the property. The Coco Beach snorkeling is repeatedly described by guests as a highlight of their entire Caribbean experience, with healthy coral and abundant marine life in water so clear it earns the 'aquarium' comparison again and again. Six pools, five restaurants, a full watersports package, and a kids club make this one of the most complete all-inclusive properties in Antigua for families or travelers who want options.
Recent stays reveal a resort genuinely mid-turnaround. On the plus side, the Rainbow Garden Restaurant has been renovated, a new waterfront cafe and coffee shop overlooking Mamora Bay has opened, and guests have noted food quality improvements. But staffing has been a documented challenge — restaurant closures, long waits, and inconsistent housekeeping still show up in reviews — and non-upgraded rooms remain dated, with 2026 guests flagging maintenance problems like broken A/C and safes. The mandatory resort fee and tourism levy add roughly $30 per room per night beyond the quoted rate, which is frustrating when disclosed only at checkout. Add 2026's record sargassum season, which has hit the exposed Coco Beach side earlier and harder than usual (the resort clears it daily and the Mamora Bay side stays cleaner), and this is a property where timing and room selection genuinely matter.
St. James's Club makes the most sense for families who want an Antigua all-inclusive with genuine kids' programming, or for travelers whose priority is watersports and natural beauty over nightlife and cutting-edge luxury. It competes with Sandals Grande Antigua for that market — Sandals wins on polish and service consistency, while St. James's wins on natural setting and family-friendliness. If you go, budget for the extra fees, ask for a renovated or recently maintained room, make restaurant reservations the moment they open, and aim to travel outside school holidays and peak sargassum months when the property shows its best side.
Pros
- +Two distinct beaches on-site — Coco Beach for snorkeling (described as 'like swimming in an aquarium') and the calmer Mamora Bay for swimming — virtually no other Antigua all-inclusive matches this
- +Six swimming pools spread across the property, so chair availability and crowd congestion are rarely an issue even in peak season
- +Complimentary non-motorized watersports package includes kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing, pedal boats, windsurfing, and paddleboards — serious value for water sports enthusiasts
- +Family-friendly setup with a supervised kids club, making it one of the few all-inclusives in Antigua that genuinely works for families with young children
- +Five on-site restaurants spanning Caribbean, Italian, and international cuisine, with beachfront settings at multiple outlets
- +Property is set on a peninsula in Mamora Bay, giving it a secluded, hideaway feel while remaining a short drive from English Harbour and Shirley Heights
- +Yoga classes, fitness classes, beach volleyball, and tennis courts round out the activity schedule well beyond the typical pool-and-beach routine
- +Gorgeous tropical grounds — the landscaping and bay views consistently earn praise in reviews as among the most scenic in Antigua
Cons
- −A mandatory resort fee of US$24 per room per night is charged at the property and not included in the booking rate — a practice that frustrates many guests who feel it should be built into the price
- −Staffing shortages have affected service consistency — travelers have reported 2.5-hour waits for meals and entire restaurant closures during busy periods
- −Non-upgraded rooms remain dated and maintenance issues keep surfacing in 2026 reviews — broken air conditioning, malfunctioning safes, and housekeeping lapses (rooms not cleaned for multiple days) appear frequently enough to take seriously
- −The resort can feel overcrowded relative to its staffing levels, particularly during school holiday periods when pool chairs and restaurant seats become competitive
- −Wi-Fi reliability is inconsistent, with strong signal in rooms but weak or no coverage in beach and pool areas
- −Getting to and from English Harbour, Nelson's Dockyard, or Shirley Heights requires a car or taxi — the resort's isolation cuts both ways
- −2026 is a record sargassum year and the resort's exposed south-coast position shows it — June and July guests reported seaweed arriving earlier and heavier than usual on the Coco Beach side, with one beachfront guest unable to use their room because of the smell; crews clear it daily and steer guests to the cleaner Mamora Bay side
- −The tourism levy of US$5 per guest per night adds yet another at-check-out charge on top of the resort fee, leaving guests who didn't research this in advance feeling blindsided
Common Questions
What is the mandatory resort fee and what does it cover?
How is the snorkeling at Coco Beach?
Is this resort suitable for families with young children?
What watersports are included in the all-inclusive rate?
How far is the resort from English Harbour and Shirley Heights?
How does St. James's Club compare to Sandals Grande Antigua?
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“Just returned from our holiday at St James club Antigua. We had a fabulous time. The resort is outstanding. The premium room was large and well maintained and had a lovely view of the garden and ocean. Food was delicious with five restaurants to ch...”
“My husband and I stood here over xmas week and it was amazing. The staff was awesome, attentive and friendly. Food and drink option was great. Facility may need a few upgrades and deeper cleaning but overall was good for us to relax. We barely were...”
“It was our second trip to St James Club in the last 6 years. This visit surpassed the first. The grounds and location are perfect for an island getaway. We were on the beach on the Atlantic side in the Mango building on the second floor and our ro...”