Secrets St. James Montego Bay

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Virgin rating

Junior Suite Ocean Front Room
Seaside Grill
Piano Bar
Pool
Preferred Club Junior Swim Out Room
Junior Suite Bathroom
Coco Cafe
El Patio
Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean Front Room
Preferred Club Master Suite Bathroom
Preferred Club Pool
Preferred Club Bar
Himitsu
Oceana
Desires Music Lounge
Barracuda
Bordeaux
Blue Mountain
Promenade
Spa Hydrotherapy Pool
Spa
Theater
Junior Suite Ocean Front Room
Seaside Grill
Piano Bar
Pool
Preferred Club Junior Swim Out Room
Junior Suite Bathroom
Coco Cafe
El Patio
Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean Front Room
Preferred Club Master Suite Bathroom
Preferred Club Pool
Preferred Club Bar
Himitsu
Oceana
Desires Music Lounge
Barracuda
Bordeaux
Blue Mountain
Promenade
Spa Hydrotherapy Pool
Spa
Theater

The hotel

Everything is luxury at Secrets St James. This adults-only resort holds an exclusive, breathtaking location in Montego Bay's stunning peninsula, and guests here will enjoy the experience of Unlimited Luxury® - from wait service at the pool and beach, to an extensive range of restaurants and bars, and free-flow access to the facilities at neighbouring Secrets Wild Orchid, there's so much to enjoy. If you need a break from gazing at the crystal clear waters, head out onto them instead, with an assortment of water sports available that will make it impossible to get bored. There's also nightly live entertainment, theme parties, and even cooking and dance classes on offer, meaning that you're bound to be left with plenty of incredible memories. And for those seeking ultimate relaxation, the 15,000sq ft Spa is the perfect place to indulge. This resort is so special that you won't want to leave, but if you do, you'll find that Montego Bay's 'hip strip' is close by, as are multiple Championship golf courses and local attractions.

Amenities

  • Kayaking
  • Scuba Diving
  • Snorkelling
  • Tennis
  • Water Skiing
  • Windsurfing
  • Anniversary and special occasions
  • Honeymoon
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Games Room

Where is it

Situated on the peninsula of Montego Bay, surrounded by the breathtaking Caribbean Sea. Transfer time from Sangster International Airport: 25 minutes.

Hotel information

350 suites, with elevators in every building. All rooms feature classic decor, a private, furnished balcony or terrace, 55" flat screen cable TV, mini-bar refreshed daily, coffee maker, bathrooms with double vanity, separate WC, separate shower, hot tub, luxury bath amenities, hair dryer, TV speaker controls in bathroom, armoire, electronic in-room safe, bathrobes and bedroom slippers, clothes steamers, alarm clock with MP3 docking station, nightstands with reading lamps and telephone, desk with telephone, sofa, ceiling fan, motion sensor air-conditioning, 24-hour room service (hours may vary), Secrets Box for private room service delivery and complimentary WiFi. 

Junior Suite Garden View rooms have garden views, and either 1 king-size bed sleeping a maximum of 2 adults, or 2 double beds sleeping a maximum of 3 adults.


All Inclusive

Guests enjoy Unlimited Luxury® services including

  • Limitless access to gourmet a la carte dining options, without reservations required
  • Unlimited international and domestic top-shelf spirits
  • Unlimited natural fruit juices and soft drinks
  • 24-hour room and concierge service (room service hours may vary)
  • Pool and beach wait service
  • Mini-bar with soft drinks, juice, bottled water and beer
  • Daily maid service
  • Endless daytime activities and live nightly entertainment
  • Theme parties, oceanfront bars and entertainment venues
  • No wristbands required
  • All taxes and gratuities included
  • Free WiFi

Junior Suite Ocean View rooms have ocean views, and 1 king-size bed sleeping a maximum of 2 adults, or 2 double beds sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Junior Suite Ocean Front rooms are in an ocean-front location with stunning, direct ocean views, and 1 king-size bed sleeping a maximum of 2 adults, or 2 double beds sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View rooms feature ocean views, and preferred club benefits, with 1 king-size bed sleeping a maximum of 2 adults, or 2 double beds sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View Swim Out rooms feature ocean views, preferred club benefits (including complimentary butler service) and direct swim-out access to swimming pool, with 1 king-size bed sleeping a maximum of 2 adults, or 2 double beds sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean Front rooms are in an oceanfront location with stunning, direct ocean views, hot tub on the terrace (as well as hot tub in bathroom), a spacious living room and dining area with seating for four, preferred club benefits (including complimentary butler service) and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.


Preferred Club Benefits 

  • Private check-in and check-out
  • Complimentary Butler service (for guests staying on Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View Swim Out category or higher)
  • Soaking tub with padded covers for lounging on terrace
  • Private Preferred Club Lounge
  • Preferred Club status and amenities
  • Access to dining, activities and amenities at Breathless Montego Bay
  • Private concierge service
  • Private pool for Preferred Club guests
  • Daily continental breakfast in the lounge
  • Afternoon hot and cold hors d'oeuvres
  • Exquisite desserts and fine liquors in the lounge
  • Complimentary internet access in-suite
  • Complimentary computer access in the Preferred Club Lounge
  • Complimentary newspaper in the Preferred Club Lounge
  • Upgraded mini-bar service
  • Upgrade bath amenities
  • Steam press

An expansive range of 10 restaurants (1 buffet, 7 a la carte, and a cafe) and 9 bars and lounges. No reservations required. Restaurant openings rotate throughout the week. Restaurants include World Café (international restaurant, breakfast and lunch), Barefoot Grill (light lunch), Blue Mountain (authentic Jamaican-Caribbean fare, dinner), Bordeaux (a la carte French cuisine, dinner), El Patio (a la carte Mexican Cuisine, dinner) Himitsu (Asion fusion a la carte, dinner), Oceana (fresh seafood, lunch and dinner), Portofino (Italian cuisine with wine cellar, dinner), Seaside Grill (poolside a la carte with ocean views, lunch) and Coco Café (coffee and snack bar). Bars include Barracuda (pool and beach bar, with signature cocktails), Showtime (theatre bar), Sugar Reef (pool bar with cocktails), Marlin Bar (open-air bar), Revive Bar (spa fruit and juice bar), The Lounge (lobby bar with live music ), Rendezvous (lobby bar with live music in the evenings), Piano Bar (Cuban-themed lounge with live piano music), Desires (sports bar and dance club, late night) and Manatees (swim-up bar).

Regular entertainment day and night, including live music in lounges, and nightly entertainment at the Theatre (which features comfortable seating, bar service, and air conditioning).

Pool and beach waiter service. Large, free form swimming pool (partially heated). Private pool for Preferred Club guests (partially heated). Three outdoor hot tubs. Gift shops. Game lounge. Live entertainment. 15,000 sq ft Spa* with massage cabins, whirl pool, steam room, sauna and more. Fitness centre, with cardio equipment and weight room. Darts. Giant chess board. Bicycle tours. Aerobics. Bocce ball. Jogging trail. Cooking and dance classes. Tennis. Introductory scuba lesson in the swimming pool. Watersports, including guided snorkelling, paddleboarding, water polo/pool volleyball, wind surfing, kayaks, catamaran*, water skiing*, parasailing*, wake/knee boarding*, tubing*, banana boats*, boat tours*, deep sea fishing*, and glass bottom boat*. Authentic Jamaican jerk chicken and beef patty carts at the beach and pool daily.

Complimentary WiFi. 24-hour room service (hours subject to change). 

*Denotes local charge. 
Dress code: most restaurants require guests to wear cover-ups and no sleeveless shirts when dining. A ‘casual elegance’ dress code is in place when taking dinner at Bordeaux, El Patio, Himitsu and Blue Mountain, with gentlemen required to be dressed in long trousers, with dress shirts or collared shirts, and women can wear dresses, shirts or blouses, and trousers, with no flip flops or sleeveless shirts.
Please note: this is an adults-only resort, and bookings with guests under the age of 18 will not be permitted.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (6082)
  • Very good (2136)
  • Average (983)
  • Poor (451)
  • Terrible (337)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Skip this resort

Nov 14, 2024 Cammy304691

I would not recommend this property. The lack of communication and knowledge from staff was astounding. We were met by our “person” who told us we just needed to ask for anything and she would take care of it. She did not. She tried to make a reservation for Hibachi for us and presented us with “2 at 6:30 and then 3 at 7:00”. We are a group… Read more
I would not recommend this property. The lack of communication and knowledge from staff was astounding. We were met by our “person” who told us we just needed to ask for anything and she would take care of it. She did not. She tried to make a reservation for Hibachi for us and presented us with “2 at 6:30 and then 3 at 7:00”. We are a group of 5; we are not splitting up. We asked her to make reservation for 5 at a restaurant so we could celebrate birthdays; cake was ordered. Went to restaurant and it was closed (workers strike). No communication even though we inquired. Oh, and they tried to charge us for the cake!!!! Rooms were not made up because of strike. No room service. Only one restaurant and buffet place open to accommodate St James/Wild Orchid. (Also, we were preferred members!) got locked out of room for an hour because battery died in lock mechanism. We had to wait for someone to come. Mind you, we needed to catch a flight. No sense of urgency. They ran out of tequila, water, ice…. Drinks were so watered down I didn’t get tipsy once in four days. Entertainment was good but again, no communication on time changes, location changes or cancellations due to weather. They actually just stopped in the middle of Karaoke without saying a word (it had started to drizzle but then stopped). The next thing we knew, they were taking instruments off stage. Not a word. Spend your money elsewhere! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Go somewhere else !

Nov 13, 2024 Mike6090 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This resort is terrible. Employees are miserable and their service is very slow. On the third day of our trip, the employees went on strike. This place is a disaster. The property is in poor condition, the service is horrible and we ended up leaving the resort to go somewhere else. We will never return to this property or any other Secrets… Read more
This resort is terrible. Employees are miserable and their service is very slow. On the third day of our trip, the employees went on strike. This place is a disaster. The property is in poor condition, the service is horrible and we ended up leaving the resort to go somewhere else. We will never return to this property or any other Secrets property. I highly recommend the Excellence resorts as an alternative to this dump. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Subpar food sloppy service and grumpy staff!

Nov 13, 2024 RomDom New Hamburg, Canada

WOW FIRST of all we are still here! Food is awful subpar! Salad bar same at every restaurant! No variety! Basic lettuce, tomatoes, olives cheese beet salas one pasta salad and some mushroom salad. Food overcooked and dry and not warm! It’s true no AC in any restaurant! HOT AS balls! I am disabeled in a wheelchair and resort confirmed they have… Read more
WOW FIRST of all we are still here! Food is awful subpar! Salad bar same at every restaurant! No variety! Basic lettuce, tomatoes, olives cheese beet salas one pasta salad and some mushroom salad. Food overcooked and dry and not warm! It’s true no AC in any restaurant! HOT AS balls! I am disabeled in a wheelchair and resort confirmed they have wheelchairs! Got here and got a rusty chair only one brake operational! Asked for new one and they said they don’t have whchairs! Asked me where I got it! Ur kidding right! Asked me for email as to who confirmed the whchair cause they didn’t hav them for guests! I scraped my shin cause only one brake worked! Showed them the name of person who confirmed it! Still no action, basically deal with it! It’s true people put towels down and at 2pm still empty! We went for lunch and someone stole my lounge chair! BRUTAL! Jerks! We have 10more days here! ugh STAY AWAY! The poor reviews are true! WE TRAVEL 2x a year , been to Dreams last yr in PCANA and its way better! SHAME ON HYATT! I’ll NEVER BE BACK TO A SECRETS after this trip! Jerk chicken is good, Seaside Grill-yuck! Everything covered in mayo and tastless! Schrimp tacos were melted processed cheese with 2 schrimp! AWEFUL! My hubby can eat anything but he said food bland and yuck! Buffet is small and so far repetitive! Definitely not a 4 star! WORKERS are grumpy and don’t care! It’s too bad! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Total Awesomeness, Cherished Memories

Nov 12, 2024 A9952XPjackn

We visited Secrets Resort St. James in October 2024 we spent 5 nights, celebrating our 10th anniversary, and it is safe to say we had a wonderful time. We booked our stay as Preferred St. James guests, and this place was great. When we arrived, we were welcomed by the concierge front desk team who quickly welcomed us, however, the room was not yet… Read more
We visited Secrets Resort St. James in October 2024 we spent 5 nights, celebrating our 10th anniversary, and it is safe to say we had a wonderful time. We booked our stay as Preferred St. James guests, and this place was great. When we arrived, we were welcomed by the concierge front desk team who quickly welcomed us, however, the room was not yet ready and we were exhausted, so we had lunch and we met Melissa who told us more about the resort, she was very courteous and detailed in explaining the amenities, we were always looking forward to seeing her, my wife loved talking to her. We were also met upon arrival by Derwin, the butler who was very welcoming and treated us to a rendition of his jerk chicken song. Our room was great, very clean and spacious, with a beautiful Pool/Ocean view, it was so relaxing for us. We also had access to the Breathless property by Secrets, where we had breakfast almost every day, and access to the rooftop pool where we met the Bartender Nadine who kept the glasses full and gave great suggestions, she was awesome and was very helpful Toney the rooftop pool attendant was also very welcoming and helpful. The restaurants were great but our favorite for dinner was the Bluemountain Restaurant, The spa was great, and we enjoyed every minute of our massage and the use of the sauna and steam rooms. Overall this was a 5-star vacation for us. Special mention must be made of Derwin who went above and beyond to surprise us when he decorated our room we felt so special, thanks to all the Secrets Resort staff, mainly; Derwin the Butler, Mellissa, and Deandra from the front desk, Sashoney from the St James preferred bar and Nadine the bartender from the rooftop bar as well as Tony, these people made the vacation very special and we will return. (The entertainment was great, and the silent party was hilarious). New York traveler. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Horrible

Nov 12, 2024 Seena C

Do not book or come here! Terrible place with terrible service. We are staying here now (Week of Nov 11 2024). There is a workers strike occurring, management seems completely irresponsible of hospitality of staff despite making multiple requests to speak with them to rectify some issues noted with the room, service and the noise from the strike.… Read more
Do not book or come here! Terrible place with terrible service. We are staying here now (Week of Nov 11 2024). There is a workers strike occurring, management seems completely irresponsible of hospitality of staff despite making multiple requests to speak with them to rectify some issues noted with the room, service and the noise from the strike. They are hiding and don’t care about guests including club members like myself who have bought into their unlimited vacation club. WARNING - DO NOT BOOK. Save your money and go somewhere else!! Rundown hotel, room stinks, can’t use water from the pipes to brush your teeth, food sucks. No water or coke at bars, no towels if you go swimming, long wait times to check in, have breakfast, and on top of all, management that is not responsive and irresponsible for supposedly a 5 star resort. I cannot even justify 1 star for this place. Read less