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St. James's Club & Villas, Antigua

Mamora Bay, Antigua

4.2(882 reviews)

Family

St. James Club & Villas occupies one of the most spectacular settings in Antigua: a private 100-acre peninsula at Mamora Bay on the south-east coast, flanked by two very different beaches. The Coco's Beach snorkeling is repeatedly described by guests as a highlight of their whole Caribbean trip, with fish and coral in water clear enough to earn the aquarium comparison again and again. With 236 rooms, suites and villas, six pools, five restaurants plus a beach grill, seven bars, free non-motorized watersports and a kids' club, it is one of the most complete all-inclusives on the island for families or travelers who want options, and it has collected consistent travel-award recognition in recent years.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Two distinct beaches on a private 100-acre peninsula: Coco's Beach for snorkeling (guests describe it as like swimming in an aquarium) and the calmer Mamora Bay for swimming, which almost no other Antigua all-inclusive can match
+Six pools spread across the property, plus two private pools reserved for the adults-only Royal Suites and a private pool at every villa, so chairs and crowding are rarely a problem
+Complimentary non-motorized watersports cover sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and paddleboarding, with snorkel gear included and both beaches free to snorkel
+Supervised kids' club with a 5pm kids' dinner and a kids' menu in three restaurants, making it one of the few Antigua all-inclusives that genuinely works for young families
+Five restaurants plus the Beach Bar & Grill: the Docksider dinner buffet, Rainbow Garden, Coco's for Caribbean plates on an upper deck, open-air Eleven-11 and the hillside Italian Piccolo Mondo
+Adults-only Royal Suites (18+) sit in a quieter section overlooking Mamora Bay with private check-in, a sunken living area and wet bar, giving couples a grown-up corner of a family resort
+Four tennis courts and three pickleball courts with a resident tennis pro, plus a fitness centre, yoga and the Tranquility Body & Soul Spa with a poolside treatment area
+Two- and three-bedroom villas (1,600 and 1,900 sq ft) with full kitchens and private pools suit multi-generational groups, and English Harbour is only about 5 minutes away by car

Cons

−A resort fee is charged locally on top of the booking rate, and Antigua adds a tourism levy per guest per night, so check both before comparing prices; a US$350 card pre-authorization is also taken at check-in
−Staffing shortages have affected service consistency, and travelers have reported long waits for meals and restaurant closures during busy periods
−Non-upgraded rooms remain dated, and 2026 reviews still flag maintenance problems such as broken air conditioning, faulty safes and housekeeping lapses
−Piccolo Mondo carries a per-person surcharge for all-inclusive guests, children included; the operator's own page gives it as both US$40 and US$50, so confirm at booking
−Wi-Fi is bundled into the resort fee and covers the lobby and guest rooms only, so expect weak or no signal at the beach and pools
−No babysitting service is offered, so parents wanting an evening out have to plan around the kids' club hours
−2026 has been a heavy sargassum year and the exposed Coco's Beach side shows it; summer guests reported seaweed and smell there, with crews clearing it daily and the Mamora Bay side staying cleaner

The practical picture is mixed. Dining runs from the Docksider's themed dinner buffet and Rainbow Garden's buffet breakfast and lunch to a la carte Caribbean plates at Coco's, casual pizzas and grills at Eleven-11 and Italian at Piccolo Mondo, which carries a surcharge; dinner reservations open at Guest Services 24 hours ahead, with menus posted the evening before, and Monday is Gala Night and Thursday is Caribbean Night. Rooms range from 425 sq ft garden-view Club Rooms to Beachfront Rooms facing Coco's and two- and three-bedroom villas with private pools. Staffing has been a documented challenge, with long waits and inconsistent housekeeping still showing up in reviews, and non-upgraded rooms are dated. Budget for the resort fee and tourism levy, and note that 2026's heavy sargassum hit the exposed Coco's side harder than the sheltered Mamora Bay side.

St. James Club makes the most sense for families who want genuine kids' programming in Antigua, multi-generational groups who can spread out in a villa, and travelers whose priority is snorkeling, sailing and scenery over nightlife and cutting-edge luxury. It competes with Sandals Grande Antigua for upscale all-inclusive travelers: Sandals wins on polish and service consistency and is couples-only, while St. James Club wins on natural setting and family-friendliness. English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard are about 5 minutes away (around US$30 round trip by taxi), the resort runs a Sunday shuttle to the Shirley Heights sunset party, and the airport is roughly 30 to 40 minutes' drive.

Common Questions

What extra charges should I budget for?

A resort fee is collected at the property and is not in the booking rate; it covers the Wi-Fi in the lobby and rooms. Antigua also charges a tourism levy per guest per night. On top of that, Piccolo Mondo carries a per-person surcharge, bottled water is not included in the all-inclusive, and a US$350 pre-authorization is placed on your card at check-in for incidentals.

How is the snorkeling at Coco's Beach?

Exceptional when conditions cooperate, and it is the most praised feature of the resort. Snorkel gear is included, both beaches are free to snorkel, and paid guided snorkeling trips run daily. The caveat for 2026: it has been a heavy sargassum year and Coco's is the more exposed beach, so summer visitors may find seaweed affecting water clarity despite daily clearing.

Is this resort suitable for families with young children?

Yes, it is one of the better family options in Antigua. There is a supervised kids' club that serves kids' dinner at 5pm daily, a kids' menu in three restaurants, free cribs on request, and calm swimming at Mamora Bay. Babysitting is not available, and rollaway beds cost US$20 per bed per night. During school holidays the resort can feel crowded and service can stretch thin.

What watersports are included in the all-inclusive rate?

Non-motorized watersports are complimentary: sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and paddleboarding. Waterskiing, parasailing and jet skis are not offered at all, and guided snorkeling trips cost extra. For guests who love being on the water, the free sailing and snorkeling are among the strongest inclusions of any Antigua all-inclusive.

How easy is it to get to English Harbour and Shirley Heights?

English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard are about 5 minutes by car, and a taxi there and back runs roughly US$30. The resort runs shuttles to Shirley Heights on Sundays for the famous sunset party, and paid shuttles to St. John's Monday through Thursday. Car rental is available from the resort if you want more freedom, but a US license needs a local driving permit.

Restaurants (4)

Type	Restaurants
Buffet	Rainbow Garden, The Docksider
Italian	Piccolo Mondo (extra charge)
Caribbean & local	Coco’s Restaurant

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.

What's nearby

Shirley Heights
14 min drive · 5.2 mi
Devil's Bridge
30 min drive · 11 mi
Nelson's Dockyard
10 min drive · 4.0 mi
Galleon Beach
11 min drive · 4.3 mi
Darkwood Beach
30 min drive · 15 mi
Falmouth Harbour Marina
9 min drive · 3.5 mi

More things to do (24)

Long Bay Beach · beach20 min drive · 11 mi
Stingray City snorkel trip · excursion20 min drive · 8.5 mi
Ffryes Beach · beach35 min drive · 16 mi
Deep Bay Beach · beach35 min drive · 19 mi
English Harbour · town8 min drive · 3.5 mi
Antigua's Donkey Sanctuary · wildlife9 min drive · 3.9 mi
Pigeon Point Beach · beach11 min drive · 4.1 mi
Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre · museum11 min drive · 4.2 mi
Betty's Hope · ruins20 min drive · 7.4 mi
Wallings Nature Reserve · nature20 min drive · 8.1 mi
Antigua Rainforest Zip Line · adventure park20 min drive · 8.3 mi
Half Moon Bay · beach25 min drive · 9.7 mi
St. John's · town30 min drive · 15 mi
Government House Museum · museum30 min drive · 15 mi
St. John's Cathedral · historic site30 min drive · 15 mi
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda · museum30 min drive · 15 mi
Barbuda day trip by ferry · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
Turners Beach · beach30 min drive · 15 mi
Cedar Valley Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 16 mi
Dickinson Bay Beach · beach35 min drive · 18 mi
Fort James · ruins35 min drive · 18 mi
Jabberwock Beach · beach35 min drive · 17 mi
Jolly Harbour Marina · marina35 min drive · 18 mi
Fort Barrington · ruins35 min drive · 19 mi

Amenities

Yoga Classes

Diving

Tennis

Kids Club

Snorkeling

Room Service

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Show 4 more amenities

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Room upgrades

2 Bedroom SuitesVillas

Seaweed & sargassum

Antigua gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Antigua →

Google Reviews★ 4.2 · 882 reviews

Tracy H.

a week ago

“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...”

Elizabeth A.

2 weeks ago

“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...”

amy t.

2 months ago

“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...”