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What are the 10 best Ritz-Carlton hotels in or near Orlando? Whether you are looking for the nightlife of Miami, the sunsets on Naples beach, the Walt Disney World Resort, or Universal Orlando theme parks for the family, or whether you just want an overnight pre or post-cruise, there is a Ritz-Carlton hotel in or near Orlando that should work for you.
Ritz-Carlton is one of the most luxurious Bonvoy brands. Marriott recently merged with Starwood, so their hotel portfolio also includes The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Westin, W Hotels, EDITION, Sheraton, and the Four Points by Sheraton as well as Marriotts, JW Marriotts, Courtyard by Marriott, and more. Ritz-Carlton and The Luxury Collection, along with St. Regis, tend to offer the most luxury properties, so you can quickly pick the best in an area by selecting one of these brands.
The best way to get a discount, special offers, free benefits, and ultimately the cheapest rate at a Marriott Bovoy including Ritz-Carlton hotels is to book with an official Luminous and STARS travel agency like our luxury travel concierge. Luminous and STARS programs offer extra benefits to guests who book via a Luminous and STARS travel agency. Plus, you still get all your Mariott Bonvoy loyalty points.
Book your next Ritz-Carlton stay via our luxury travel concierge, and we can secure you all our free VIP benefits on top of your own status and membership benefits for no extra cost.
1. Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando is your best luxury hotel choice in Orlando under the Marriott umbrella. Interestingly, this hotel is linked and walkable from the JW Marriott in Orlando. Stay at the Ritz-Carlton, and you can even use the lazy river at the JW Marriott.
This Ritz-Carlton is located in the Grande Lakes part of the city, within a short free shuttle ride to Disney and Universal (included with the resort fee of $35 USD per day). The resort fee also includes Wi-Fi, phone calls, the driving range, some kid’s activities, access to and floaties at the JW Marriott lazy river, shuttle transport to Disney and SeaWorld (reservation required at least 24 hours in advance), and one-hour bike rental.
The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from Orlando Airport (MCO), and parking fees are around $40 USD per night if you have driven to the hotel.
I would choose this hotel because it offers luxury near the theme parks AND an excellent club lounge. It also has three wonderful pools, a Ritz-Carlton Spa, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, and 11 dining options. You can also use the lazy river next door at the JW Marriott, which kids and the young at heart will love. The Ritz-Carlton Spa is also not to be missed, with its 40 treatment rooms, salon, private heated lap pool, and healthy spa café. Of note, the JW Marriott does not have a club lounge. Hence, you do better booking into a Club Room at the Ritz-Carlton and then taking advantage of the magnificent lazy river at the JW Marriott during your stay whilst retaining access to the RC club lounge.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is ideal for families, providing convenient access to nearby Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios attractions; plus, the Ritz Kids program is a favorite, and special excursions like kayaking, fishing instruction, and eco-tours allow for adventures while remaining in this 500-acre resort.
The highlight for me is the pool, both here and next door at the JW Marriott, with its lazy river and the incredible views of the resort holiday fireworks from the club lounge balcony.
The club lounge is on the 14th floor and is classic in design with orange and cream tones, mainly orange soft furnishings and creamy marbles. The long, thin room is shuttered to one side with windows. The buffet here is delicious and filling. You can take a tour via the video on the Ritz-Carlton website.
2. Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort
While not in Orlando, both Ritz-Carlton’s in Naples are excellent, and both have club lounges. The Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort is ten minutes away by car or resort shuttle from The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach is an impressive five-star with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows and chandeliers. It is ideal for families, weddings (there is a marvelous Vanderbilt Ballroom), and conventions. It is much larger than the golf resort up the road and more impressive.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort feels like a country club. It seems to appeal to the older generation who likes to enjoy golf or treat their families, including the kids, to a slice of country-club style luxury in a golf setting. A nice touch is a cart of cocktail samples during happy hour and a gelato cart.
Whichever resort you choose, the shuttle between the resorts means that you can enjoy all the amenities of each resort, so you won’t miss out on one by choosing the other.
They say: “Marvel at the stunning views from one of the private balconies at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, with three miles of immaculate beach to explore. Here on the Gulf of Mexico, guests are pampered with championship golf, 2017 Best of the Best award-winning family program, a world-class spa, two swimming pools, an array of beach activities, and seven distinctive restaurants. Each of the resort’s 450 guestrooms and suites offers Frette linens and a private balcony for stunning Gulf views. As for the golf, tee off on the Tiburon Golf Course, designed by Greg Norman. The 51,000 ft² spa is a welcome retreat with 33 treatment rooms.
Pros of the Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort include:
- Stunning Gulf of Mexico views from your room
- Gorgeous beach reached by a wooden walkway
- Super pool with water slides for the kids
- Excellent spa and fitness center with its many exercise classes
- Drop-off, supervised kids’ club for those aged 5 through 12 years & children’s scavenger hunt. Excellent activities are included in half and full day sessions. Animal education with real-life animals along with snacks and crafts to take home are all included
- For teens there is a video game room at the Beach Resort
- Beautiful sunsets
3. Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, is a 4-star, 5-diamond resort that features 2 championship golf courses, 3 award-winning restaurants, and rooms with 37-inch flat-screen TVs. The Gulf of Mexico Coast is 10 minutes away. Every elegant room offers a spacious work desk and a private balcony with resort or golf course views. The marble bathrooms include spa toiletries and bathrobes.
Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples’s Tiburón Golf Course boasts a 36-hole course and provides free putting lessons. Guests have free access to the outdoor pool, 4 tennis courts, and a well-equipped gym.
Pros of the Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort include:
- More peaceful, smaller resort
- More personal service
- Better value (usually cheaper)
- Golf
- Nice family suites
- Padded playroom for kids
- Video game stations, a small movie theatre, and a playground for young children
- Golf and excellent golf tuition for kids and adults
- Tennis courts
- Golf resort views
- “Camping Out” package for your children, which is basically a tent set up in the room with a space book and activities, a star-producing night light, and a telescope
4. Ritz-Carlton South Beach
The Ritz-Carlton South Beach is an oceanfront luxury hotel inside a historic property designed by Morris Lapidus in the Art Deco District’s heart. It features a wonderful swimming pool, a stunning art collection, a modern spa, and an excellent Spanish restaurant, Tatel.
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach club lounge is located on the 10th floor and is reserved for Ritz-Carlton Club Level guests, only those staying in rooms on the ninth and 10th floors. Five daily food presentations feature select dishes off the menu of Bistro One LR, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, and biweekly cooking demonstrations from chef du cuisine Luis Quant and pastry chef John Martinez.
A mixologist prepares seasonal cocktails for guests at a weekly Cocktail Action Station. Other events, such as trunk shows, Espa product presentations, and wine and Champagne tastings from select vineyards, are also included if you have club lounge access.
5. Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne
Just 9 miles/ 14 km from the main Miami airport, this tropical island oasis is set on the eastern shore of a unique island that offers guests a tranquil haven, surrounded by golden sands (which are sometimes thin and seaweedy), gentle waters, and towering palms. With a décor inspired by West Indies Colonial design, the 12-acre oceanfront resort captures the beauty of its waterfront setting with floor-to-ceiling lobby windows that offer the first dramatic glimpse of palm gardens and the Atlantic Ocean.
450 guest rooms, including 37 suites, 64 Ritz-Carlton Club level rooms, and suites, each overlooking the water or gardens. All guestrooms and suites welcome guests with feather beds and down comforters, Frette linens, and comfortable, Caribbean-inspired furnishings.
This hotel is not in central Miami and is instead 20-30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach, so if you’re looking for nightlife, you may find this hotel on the quiet side. In the holiday season, the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, attracts families, so expect bustling restaurants and communal areas. You can escape the madness in the adults-only pool, but be aware that the whole hotel is a bit crazy, particularly on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
6. Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
With white-sand beaches, museums, dynamic dining, and more, Sarasota is both an exciting urban destination and an elegant coastal retreat. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota bridges these two worlds with unparalleled luxury and experiences. Enjoy exclusive access to The Beach Club on Lido Key, an onsite spa, championship golf, spacious suites and guest rooms, and 60,000 ft² of indoor and outdoor event space at this Gulf Coast destination.
7. Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami
This is the smallest Ritz-Carlton in Miami, with just 124 rooms. Inspired by the ocean, The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour is surrounded by water on the very northern tip of Miami Beach. This Ritz-Carlton hotel doesn’t have a club lounge or floor, but it is a great luxury hotel choice in this part of Miami.
Located near both Miami International and Fort Lauderdale International airports, the waterfront hotel offers a desirable address in the heart of the city’s most exclusive, Bal Harbour. Guests can spend lazy days at the beautiful pool or take in the beach scene from floor-to-ceiling windows and the private terrace of their luxury guest room.
Within the hotel is the 10,000 ft² waterfront Exhale Bal Harbour spa and fitness studio with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, personal training, and group exercise classes. Two Tesla charging stations, Two restaurants: Artisan Beach House and Water’s Edge featuring poolside alfresco dining and an elevated outdoor pool and private luxury cabanas overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, along with beach lounge chairs and beds, umbrellas, and cabanas available for rent. There is no club lounge here, but this hotel remains another excellent choice in Miami.
8. Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale
The Ritz-Carlton club lounge in Fort Lauderdale has easily the best club lounge on Fort Lauderdale and is located on the oceanfront, with the beach across a two-lane road fronting the hotel. You can reach it via a sky bridge, which will take you directly from the hotel’s 3rd floor to the public beach. The pool is on the hotel’s 7th-floor pool and is surrounded by loungers and palms.
The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge is an ultra-exclusive space open to guests at The Ritz-Carlton who book the Club Experience. The lounge is luxurious, with marble floors and large sofas. The food here is excellent and varies depending on the time of day. It includes fresh fruit, cheese platters, hot hors d’oeuvres, freshly baked cookies, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. We think that the lounge is well worth the expense as it adds another dimension to the hotel.
9. Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Nestled on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is a haven of unspoiled coastal beauty and Southern charm. Whether you prefer to try an 18-hole championship golf course, wiggle your toes in the sand or enjoy the warmth of a beachside fire, this Ritz-Carlton is the perfect hideaway.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa offers various special services, including body treatments, massage therapies, facials, and salon services inspired by natural seaside elements.
There is a mass of history on this island, from the nearby Fort Clinch State Park featuring swimming, fishing, and boating as well as tours of a historic pre-Civil War fort, The Amelia Island Museum of History, presenting the complete history of Amelia Island.
10. Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove
The city’s golden age of glamour weaves seamlessly with modern elegance at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami. Between Biscayne Bay and downtown, the hotel honors the classic cocktail bar at The Commodore, offering a story-driven menu and live music. At the villa-like spa, organic honey from the Florida Keys is highlighted in signature treatments. The accommodations are sophisticated and bright, with balconies overlooking Miami or the water.
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