We booked and travelled with Virgin. Our first experience of an all inclusive holiday although we have travelled extensively for many years. Previous to our departure we read the comments displayed and were a little apprehensive. But following our near chaotic taxi transfer from the airport our apprehension was dispelled.

The hotel check-in was extremely efficient. The golf cart transfer to our room was excellent. Our room was spacious and clean, overlooking the ocean.

All of the restaurants were of high quality although some were higher than others. All offered a very wide range of food to suit all tastes.

Without exception all of the people (employees) we encountered were very friendly, courteous and nothing was too much trouble. There was always a friendly happy smile as a welcome.

The ocean side of the resort was very windy and care should be taken when sunbathing. The only noise was the waves and the drinks cart! Mamora Bay was really like a mill pond, very calm and allowed novice water sports enthusiasts to learn safely.

A trip to St John's on market day was another experience everyone should enjoy. Whilst there take a walk upto the Cathedral.

We also enjoyed a Classic Safari around the island. This proved to be the highlight of our holiday as our excellent guide Marcus showed us places we would never had seen.

Although we are not beach people, this is a location that we would return to for complete relaxation.

S&A, Stanford le Hope, Essex

My husband and i stayed in St James for 10 days. I had done lots and lots of research into where to stay as there seemed to be high and low opinions of the same places.

I chose st James club based on the pics and the generaly good reviews. we stayed in the detached cottages on the end of the penninsula. I was a little dissapointed as the room was very small. there were some cracked tiles in the bathroom, not what i would expect from a 4 star resort but the a/c was fantastic - an absolute must have.

we were there in september and the weather was a bit hit and miss, very hot at times but we spend several days sitting in the bar reading books out of the torrential monsoon like rain.

Breakfast and lunch in the main restaurant was very good but dinner is not great. The place up the hill, Picalo Mondo, was outstanding. we went 3 times during our stay, well worth the extra £30. Antigua is not a cheap place to stay at or get to so it is a bit gutting that to get the standard of food i call good has an additonal charge.

We did a day trip round the island which was the most boring day I have ever spent, stuck in the back of a mini van all day. we also did a trip to stingray city which was great fun but the best one was a round the island on a catamaran where food and drink was free flowing all day. I really felt like i was on holiday then.

The casino was closed because they said not enough people used it and the staff were being paid and not doing any business which was very disapointing,it was another reason i booked this resort - we like a gamble.

the beaches are beautiful and well looked after, but there were jellyfish everywhere so we may as well have been in the middle of the island cos we couldnt go in the water, i think this is a seasonal thing so do check before you go. The pools were great if a little featureless but you could always get a bed and a table with shade.

all in all, antigua is a long way to go for what you get, we could have been anywhere in europe and not had jellyfish to deal with.

St James Club is not quite a 4 star. The food is repetitive American ribs, chicken wings, steak, pasta (and bizzare but true roast beef and Yorkshire pudding) not exactly fine dining.Tonight's rib of beef is tomorrow's stew here! Leftovers were often visibly re-used. The children's menu is basically chicken nuggets, pizza, hot dog and fries and there are no early meal sittings for kids - our son was asleep during every evening meal! There is not enough local cuisine nor ingredients, most of the ingredients were of the cheap variety.The Carribean night was the best night to eat. Half the staff are excellent and attentive, the other half just the opposite, which is a shame as the ladies of the Rainbow Garden restaurant are great particularly Elaine. It took 3 nights for our toddler's bed to be sorted out and Guest Services needed several calls before problems were resolved. Our bed linen smelt of mildew and our sheets didn't fit our bed. The building work 100 yards from our room commenced at 7am with a 7.5 tonne lorry, JCB digger etc, this wasn't mentioned when we booked. A further word of advice from a Virgin pilot we met on our outbound day " always fill your bath with water in the morning here, - as you might find it's not working when you come back to your room in the evening". We had no water supply for 2 evenings, which is not much fun with a sandy 2 year old! So basically go to Jumby Bay or Galley Bay instead unless you want a disappointment. Our travel agent has still not heard from the hotel 4 weeks after submitting our complaint which reflects the "not bothered" attitude of some of the staff. We have stayed in 4 and 5 star hotels all over the Carribean for the past 20 years and know that this is not the usual standard - it certainly didn't match our travel agents description!

I and my two teenage sons (15 and 17) stayed at St James for 9 days in middle og February and we all had a great holiday at the hotel and on the island generally. Booked through Virgin but we were not at Beach Club part.

Was worried beforehand that it would be too quiet and boring for the boys since reviews indicated that there are many older people there. But this was not the case. There were some other teenagers and children there and plenty of possibilities to do different activities either on the beach, in the sea, at the teenage tent or on the tennis courts. (Think it might have been half term in Britain)

Hotel clean and well kept. Room spacious and great few of windy beach. Staff mostly friendly and very helpful especially the duty manager. A fridge and extra bed was brought promptly to the room on arrival when requested and other small problems were dealt with ok. After seeing some of the other hotel complexes around the island we were glad we had chosen St James.

Didnt go all inclusive because we wanted to get out and about and take excursions. In fact we did all of the following for the same amount as the all inclusive package would have cost us: (Apart from some wine with meals we don't drink alcohol)
- hired a 4wd jeep for 5 days via Virgin
- ate evening meal twice at docksider
- Shirleys Heights with evening meal there.
- ate evening meal at Piccolo 3 times. Same price as the other restaurants. Very good service and quieter atmosphere.
- ate out at English Harbour - mad mongoose - 3 times
- Virgin Dundee day excursion with lunch included
- St Johns excursion on Saturday
- Extreme Circumnavigation boat trip with lunch included
- Nelsons Dockyard
- rest of lunches on marmora beach or at other beachside cafes on the island
- breakfast a la carte at Rainbow or bought food and made our own breakfast in the room

Driving on island was no problem and we found our way around ok. Roads bumpy but you get used to it. Found some lovely spots. Half Moon Bay, Carlisle Bay, Long Bay to name a few. Our favourite beach was Rendezvous Bay which we first visited on the boat trip. Next day we drove down there with 4wd but it was a very primitive track!! Not recommended. Love the place but don't know if I have the nerve to drive down there again! Completely offroad.

The highlight of the week for the boys was the helicopter trip around the island. Can recommend. We'd booked the volcano trip but weather conditions stopped it unfortunately.

Island had a lovely relaxed atmosphere with friendly people. We would love to come back sometime but there are so many places out there to explore..........