The St. James Hotel

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for The St. James Hotel

Courtyard
Lunch and dinner served
Interior
Exterior
Room, 1 Queen Bed, Balcony, River View | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Breakfast available
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Gym
  • Air conditioning
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

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1200 Water Avenue, Selma, AL, 36703
  • Edmund Pettus Bridge
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Museum of Slavery and Civil Rights
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • National Voting Rights Museum
    ‪8 min walk‬

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, River View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 2 Double Beds, Balcony, River View

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Balcony, River View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room, 2 Double Beds

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible Bathtub

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Roll-in Shower

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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About this property

The St. James Hotel

3-star Selma hotel walkable to Museum of Slavery and Civil Rights
Along with a restaurant, this smoke-free hotel has a 24-hour fitness center and a bar/lounge. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a business center, a meeting room, and dry cleaning are onsite.
The St. James Hotel offers 55 air-conditioned accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and coffee/tea makers. Flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and desk chairs. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a 24-hour fitness center.
The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Business-related amenities at this 3-star property consist of a business center and a meeting room.

Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access. This business-friendly hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness center, a terrace, and a vending machine. Complimentary self parking is available on site.

The St. James Hotel is a smoke-free property.

Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM and on weekends between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
Sterling Restaurant & Bar - This restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking available
  • Onsite parking includes off-street options

Food and drink

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekdays and 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM on weekends; USD 4 to 20 for adults and USD 4 to 12 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • Sterling Restaurant & Bar

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Laundry facilities
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • Business center
  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Elevator
  • Phone accessibility kit
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Valet for wheelchair-equipped vehicles
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business center
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1832
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Laptop workspace
  • Laptop-compatible safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately USD 4 to 20 for adults, and USD 4 to 12 for children

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

St James Historic America
St James Historic America Selma
St James Hotel Historic Hotels America
St James Hotel Historic Hotels America Selma
Historic St. James Hotel Selma
Historic St. James Hotel
Historic St. James Selma
Historic St. James
The St. James Hotel Hotel
The St. James Hotel Selma
The St. James Hotel Hotel Selma
St. James Hotel Selma Tapestry Collection by Hilton

The St. James Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 145 out of 291 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 73 out of 291 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 39 out of 291 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 18 out of 291 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 16 out of 291 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Ketrenna

Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Sabrina

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Room was very nice; staff was courteous and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

rita carol

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely property. There's a beautiful courtyard that is surrounded by all the room doors. Spacious balconies for each floor surround the building. The surrounding area is that of a downtown that has fallen into ruin. Lots of empty builds. Not pleasing to look at, but the hotel is a beauty despite a downtown that is long gone I paid a few dollars extra to have a room on the river side. It is so nice to eat my breakfast on the balcony while looking at the historic Edmund Pettis bridge which is a block away. The room doors need a coat of paint, but otherwise the property is beautiful. I would definitely stay here again
The balcony
The Pettis Edmund bridge in the background
Outside the 1st floor rooms in the river side.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

MICHAEL, GENESEO

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel itself is amazing, the staff is friendly and the view inside the courtyard and from the balcony were historically breathtaking.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Theola

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Elizabeth

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Limited parking. It looks like it could be a beautiful property - IF - some money was invested in it and the city as a whole. The building connected to it looks to be falling down. Being held up by beams and trusses. Seems like there was one worker per shift, who was hiding. Phones in room didn't work. Worker said it was due to a previous storm. Was not made aware upon check in and also wasn't given internet password. Didn't have any towels in the room upon arrival. Reserved 2 rooms. For one of them, the door wouldn't lock and the other the door wouldn't open. Had to search for a worker, because the phones didn't work in order to call to Front Desk. Worker proceeded to fault me for the key not working by saying I was storing it near a credit card and causing it to lose the program. Breakfast in the morning was the bare minimum and no worker around to approach. The workers, seriously, do not seem to want to be bothered. Selma is in a sad state, considering the history. This trip was to visit my mother's grave for Mother's Day, but this "hotel" depressed me more than that.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beware when making reservations.

Beware when booking. I booked a balcony over the river. Upon arriving they were sold out. There were 5 cars in the parking lot when I left this morning at 5am. When leaving, there was no drop box or anyone behind the desk. Had to leave my room key under the mouse and call them when I was on the road. Beautiful place, clean and comfortable and probably the safest option in Selma. Also, the staff was not at the desk upon arriving, had to wait 10 minutes, and when said person walked in they smelled of weed and talking on their cell phone while waiting on me.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Patricia

Traveled with family
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Wendy

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

4/10 Poor

CHRISTINE

Traveled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Although there was a heavy gas smell as we walked to our rooms, we were told, "No problem. It's only in the courtyard." The rooms surrounded the courtyard so, indeed, it was a problem. Although we were told breakfast came with the room, there was no breakfast available nor were we given any credit. No working TV. No TV remote. No working telephone. No one at checkout. Room keys expired before we checked out. The incidental charges of $50/room times 2 rooms ($100) were not used but still charged so I need to notify my credit card about having them removed. Hotel was being closed for renovations as we checked out.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

They Gotta Do Better

There were uncovered outlets and patches on the walls. The food was meh and I paid for breakfast but the cook called out. Staff was not noticeably friendly and I left with 3 bug bites on my arm and one above my eyebrow after sleeping in the bed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Dedrick

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Virginia

Traveled with family
Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful Hotel Should Pay Attention to Details

There was a cockroach in the toilet (still alive, but it had been there a while) to greet us, no light bulb in one of our two lamps, and no conditioner in the bottle when I went to take a shower. The nice woman who checked us in gave us the wrong room number also. There was someone in the room, so we had to go back downstairs to figure that out. Otherwise, the hotel is absolutely beautiful! It was hard to see at night though-more outdoor lighting on the hotel NAME should be prioritized.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

James, Summit

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The St. James Hotel is a beautiful historic building. The options in the area were limited, and the service was slow, probably because we are in the south. I would have liked to have foldable luggage racks, and the drainage of the sink was slow. But I would not want those commas to detract from a beautiful historic building. The room was large and clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness
Our stay was marred due to the fact that we had to wait over 30 minutes to check-out as there were no staff at the registration desk.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Raymond

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

David

Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2024

2/10 Terrible

Gloria

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

4/10 Poor

Jay

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Terence

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julius

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with family

Wrong Room

We arrived late at night and were placed in a double queen room even though we booked a King Room. When we got to the room on the 3rd floor we called the front desk and explained the room was not the one we booked, she told us to come downstairs and it would be fixed. However after getting back downstairs with our 1 year old and all of our stuff we were told the room could not be changed back because a manager changed the room. First because of us being two adults and a child, then it was changed based on the price we paid (idk where they got the price from it wasn’t the same as anything we paid). Our room was changed three times without us being notified. First from a King Bed to a King Bed with a couch, then to a double queen room. We were given the option to either cancel the reservation and wait to get our money back or basically just deal with what we had. We were only in town for two days so we didn’t want to cancel, rebook, and wait. Even though there was a king bed room available when we arrived, they couldn’t put us in that room even though it was what we booked and it showed on our reservation. I suggest calling and double checking that you are getting the correct room before arrival or you might be stuck in a room you don’t want or find functional.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Cristine

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Quaint historic hotel

It’s a historic hotel with character. It was reminiscent of New Orleans so it has potential, however it’s Selma. The hotel is lovely and quaint. We felt like we were the only ones there. We certainly were the only ones in the dining room. The bed was fabulous and the room was spacious.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024