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St James Travel and Tours is a leading ground handler in Antigua. Formed in 2000 the company itself is relatively new, but its staff, led by Maureen Jeremy, is very experienced. And it has a very good pedigree, as sister company to St James Travel and Tours in Barbados, a ground handler of long standing. The two branches offer the same services, which includes destination management services, island tours, incentive travel and conferences, wedding planning and concierge services for individual travellers. Although much of St James Travel and Tours’ work is in Antigua, they can also assist passengers in transit on the island.
St James Travel & Tours in Barbados was conceived in 1982 and quickly became the Rolls Royce of Barbados’s local organisers, or ‘ground handlers’ as they are known in the travel industry. The company, based on the West Coast, in St. James was set up by husband and wife team Marie Louise and David Gittens.
A ground handler can make all the difference to how your holiday goes. They can smooth your way from the moment you walk through Immigration to the time when you step back onto the tarmac on your homeward journey. They are on-island ‘fixers’, and what matters when you use them is their efficiency, the strength of their local contacts and their sheer buying power to assure the best quality service.
While they handle mostly travel industry business, they can still be very useful for independent travellers who want special service, a tailor-made party for instance, or simply a fast-track link into the best that the island has to offer. |
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Concierge Service
A concierge service can make a significant difference to the quality of a private holiday for the discerning independent traveller, or to the efficient execution of arrangements for executive groups. It takes the weight off your shoulders and smoothes out the wrinkles of travel even before you get to Antigua.
Restaurant bookings, ordering and delivery of cakes, wine or champagne, flowers or fruit baskets, meet and greet at the airport, coordination of the specific type of transfer you would like, making arrangements for touring the island or island hopping excursions are all examples of what you will get from a Concierge Service… by simply letting St James Travel & Tours know where and when you would like a particular service.
- Per person US$15
- 4 pax US$25
- 6 pax US$30
- 8 pax US$35
10 pax US$40
The above costs are per transaction. |
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Destination Management
Destination Management is a service generally provided to travel organisers, but independent travellers may be interested to see the sort of services that are included in a ‘package’ or flight-inclusive holiday booked through a tour operator/travel organiser.
In the UK and Europe it is a legal requirement for all companies selling flight-inclusive vacation packages to provide a local representative/ground handler for their clients, together with 24-hour emergency cover to all travellers.
St James Travel and Tours look after some of the biggest name Caribbean specialist tour operators/wholesalers and their clients. They provide a complete service, which is tailored specifically to portray the company’s image to their clients, while saving the tour companies the expense of supporting their own representative on Antigua.
Representatives (‘reps’) are well-trained, welcoming, faultlessly polite and very cool. Always uniformed – either in the travel company’s uniform or their own – their raison d’etre is to oil the wheels so that each client’s holiday runs smoothly from start to finish. They have to have the patience to cope with every conceivable type of person and situation and consequently they must be consummate negotiators and diplomats. If there turn out to be problems or perhaps a medical emergency, the reps will be in the front line to get things back on track before you can blink an eyelid.
The services on offer to travel companies, tour operators and wholesalers, as well as to all corporate and incentive travel group include:
• Hotel Recommendations
• Contract Recommendations
• Hotel Reservations
• Airport Meet & Greet Service
• Limo, tax, van and coach transfers
• Welcome Package
• Tours & Excursions
• Reconfirmation of Flights
• Customised Client Services
• 24 hour access and emergency cover
Of course St James Travel can also handle your clients’ transfer needs by providing limos, executive cars, taxis, vans and coaches. All their vehicles are air-conditioned and guides/escorts are available for vans and coaches. |
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Antigua Tours
St James Travel & Tours will arrange or book Antigua tours and excursions (including Antigua shore excursions) to suit you or your party's requirements, as well as those of corporate groups.
Below we set out just a few examples of the regular excursions that the company recommends. Arrangements can be made in advance of your arrival or you can simply call St James Travel & Tours once you are on Antigua and ask for their assistance to make all the reservations for you.
Tropical Adventures
Offering a variety of excursions including Island Safari for off road tours in open top jeeps and Kayak Antigua, a paddling eco and snorkel trip. They also offer a number of sailing trips.
Wadadli Cats - popular 60-66ft catamarans offering a choice of day sails which include the the 60 mile Circumnavigation trip of Antigua, a snorkelling trip to Bird Island, a Cade Reef trip again for snorkelling with lunch on the beach, and a Triple Destination trip which takes in Green Island for a picnic, then sail on to English Harbour where a taxi collects guests and drives up to Shirley Heights for the Sunday party with return trip back to hotel by taxi. Barbecue lunch and drinks included. From US$85-100 per person.
Antigua Paddles Kayak Eco Adventure
A half day trip exploring the North Sound Marine Park by kayak and motor boat, plus reef snorkelling and a hike at Bird Island. Minimum age 7 yrs.
Estate Safari & Classic Jeep Tours
Choose from the off–the-beaten track estate safari or the more historical classic tour in air-conditioned jeeps. Lunch included. From US$65-90 per person.
Caribbean Helicopters
See Antigua from the air with either a 15 minute half island trip or a 30 minute full island tour. They also operate a 45 minute aerial tour of Montserrat and its volcano. A donation from each Montserrat trip goes towards aid for Montserrat. From US$75-190 per person.
Excellence
A day trip to Barbuda are operated by the luxury high speed catamaran. There is a choice of either a tour of Barbuda by sea or a land tour and includes lunch (lobster when in season extra cost) and drinks. From US$120-140 per person.
Please read our printable guide to Antigua for more details of some of the places mentioned. It illustrates well the breadth and depth of this island, which has an unexpectedly large number of things to do and places to visit. If you wish to go ‘private’, any tour can be adapted and arranged to suit individual requirements and a vehicle to suit the number in your party will be provided.
Please note that the above prices are subject to change at the supplier’s discretion. |
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Island Hopping
Antigua is well served by international flights and is a hub for regional airlines, so there are endless flights heading north and south along the island chain. The island is also well positioned geographically in that it is close to islands that are completely different in nature, some physically different, being mountainous and much lusher, others with a different culture, French and Dutch. Finally, there is Antigua’s sister-island Barbuda, which makes an interesting foil to the larger island.
A day tour of the nearby volcanic island of Montserrat, travelling across by the Opale Express a high speed ferry, operates every Tuesday and Thursday. The day includes a tour of the island with a trip to view the live volcano Soufreire and visit the observatory, plus visits to various historic sites with a drive through the rainforest and includes lunch. US$120 per person.
Caribbean Helicopters also offers 45 minute aerial tour of Montserrat and its volcano. A donation from each trip goes towards aid for Montserrat. US$190 per person.
Day trips to Barbuda are operated by the luxury high speed catamaran Excellence. There is a choice of either a tour of Barbuda by sea or a land tour and includes lunch (lobster when in season for an additional US$15) and drinks. From US$120-$140 per person. |
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Weddings & Event Planning
St James Travel can organise anything from the simplest to the most extravagant Antigua wedding, tailoring it according to your requirements. You have the services of an experienced wedding co-ordinator in Antigua throughout.
Whether you are staying at a hotel or villa, they will hold your hand to make sure that all the paperwork is completed as it needs to be. If you have chosen a Antigua villa wedding they will liaise with the villa management company to ensure that everything runs smoothly. If you wish to marry in a church with a traditional reception or have a Jewish styled wedding complete with a “huppa” on the beach, they will attend to every detail.
The main components of the company's service for your Antigua wedding are likely to include:
Meeting you (the couple) as soon after arrival as wished to discuss all points, including the trip to the Ministry and the co-ordination of all ancillary requests.
- Round trip transfers to the Ministry
- Special licence fee
- Wedding cake
- Bottle of sparkling wine
- Obtaining registered copy of the Marriage Certificate
- Full services of a wedding co-ordinator at all times
- Two witnesses are required on the wedding day, and will be provided if necessary.
Of course every wedding plan is created to suit each couple but, in addition to the above, here are a selection of basic plans:
A Classic Wedding Plan
• 8” Wedding Cake
• Bottle of Sparkling Wine
• Small Bridal Bouquet (Tropical Blooms)
• Groom’s buttonhole
COST US$750
Frills and Bows
• 12” Wedding Cake from a choice of Vanilla,
Chocolate and Rum-flavoured
• Bottle of Champagne
• Medium Bridal Bouquet
• Hairdresser for wedding day
• Groom’s buttonhole
• 24 5x7" photos in an album with negatives
• Round-trip luxury transfer for your wedding day
COST US$1,350
Indulgent
• 2-Tier Traditional Wedding Cake
• Bottle of Champagne
• Large Bridal Bouquet
• Groom’s Buttonhole
• Hairdresser and make-up for day of wedding
• 3-course a la carte candlelight dinner with one
glass of champagne and 2 house drinks during
dinner at Carambola Restaurant
• 36 5 X 7 photos in a wedding album with negatives
• Complimentary 4 hour VIP Island Tour
• Round-trip luxury transfer for your wedding day
COST US$2,000
Legal requirements for getting married in Antigua are:
- Valid passports are required for UK/European residents. US citizens can produce valid passports or original or certified copies of the applicants Birth Certificates along with photo ID such as a drivers licence or state issued ID card.
- Proof of status: if single a declaration is signed in Antigua, if divorced, original Decree Absolute papers must be produced or a certified copy both must have the court seal where the Decree was issued.
- If widowed, the Marriage Certificate and partners Death Certificate must be produced.
- If either party is under 18 years of age, he/she must have written parental consent.
- Legal proof must be presented if either party has changed their name by Deed Poll.
Wedding ceremonies can be performed between the hours of 6am and 8pm.
Church Weddings may require special documents and permission from the church authorities where you wish to be married. Contact should be made well in advance to make arrangements and may involve contact with your church back home. In the case of Roman Catholics, couples are required to attend pre-nuptial counselling and proof of this is required from your priest back home. |
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Corporate Travel / Incentives
Antigua is ideal for large or small gatherings, offering some first class properties and along with a good selection of leisure activities, with very good air-links and is a major hub serving the north eastern Caribbean, both internationally and regionally, making it easy to get to. Where accommodation is concerned, our featured hotels and resorts each has a different style and atmosphere, and can provide suitable space for meetings.
St James Travel & Tours have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the groups and incentives market. They will help to locate the right venue for your needs and can offer the following the following services: Destination Teasers, Tours & Excursions, Theme Parties, Cruises, Sports & Games, Gifts, Dine Arounds, Banquets and Spouses Programmes. They can also arrange Customs Brokerage, Audio-visual equipment and press coverage. |
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More Details ...
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with St James Travel & Tours, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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All the information on this page comes to you free of charge. Please don’t forget to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you contact ST JAMES TRAVEL & TOURS to organise your ground arrangements, Antigua weddings, Antigua tours and Antigua shore excursions as our service to you may depend on how frequently our name comes up as a point of reference. |
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