What are the ten best Ritz-Carlton Beach Resorts in the United States of America, USA?
Ritz-Carlton is one of the most luxurious brands within Marriott Bonvoy, so you are unlikely to go wrong if you book into one of these hotels. The Marriott brand also includes Luxury Collection, EDITION, St Regis, W Hotels, JW Marriott, and mid-range brands like Autograph Collection, Renaissance, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Design Hotels, and Westin.
Spoiler alert! To get the best deal or discount at a Ritz-Carlton, book via our luxury travel concierge.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Saint Thomas
The US Virgin Islands are part of America, and beach hotels don’t get better than The Ritz-Carlton, Saint Thomas which offers 180 guest rooms and suites each flaunt Frette bedding, and an oceanview balcony or terrace.
It was officially reopened in 2019 after a two-year, $100-million renovation. Saint Thomas’s most upscale address brims with upgrades, including a revamped infinity pool and a new family pool with a fun slide. Also new is the property’s Alloro restaurant, featuring a seafood-heavy menu of traditional Sicilian fare, including house-made pasta, craft pizza, and Italian wine.
An airy aesthetic incorporating swathes of white defines the property’s fresh look, infusing everything from the public areas and event spaces to the reimagined Club Lounge, an upgraded guest experience decked in shiplap and oyster chandeliers (worth the splurge for the private check-in, dedicated concierge, and impressive food-and-beverage presentations that are rolled out all day long).
The resort’s catamaran is also bigger and better—the newly minted 60-foot-long Lady Lynsey II can take 75 passengers on snorkeling sails, sunset dinner cruises, and island-hopping day trips, as well as private parties. Another don’t-miss offering: “Catch and Cook” beach barbecues.
Returning guests will find the same spirit-expanding views across Great Bay, as well as beloved restaurants Sails, Coconut Cove (sip painkillers to a soundtrack of live music in the evenings), and surf-and-turf favorite Bleuwater. During the popular rum-tasting experience, sample locally produced rums infused with flavors like coconut, lemon-lime, mango, passion fruit, and pineapple.
Resort fees also cover garden tours and daily fitness classes, including water tai chi and water-sports gear such as kayaks, Hobie Cats, paddleboards, and water tricycles. (Tip: Adults can get out on the water while children ages four through 12 participate in locally inspired environmental and cultural activities such as iguana feeding and sea-creature crafts, courtesy of the Ritz Kids program.)
2. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Nestled on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is an island bordered by beaches, and the beach in front of the Ritz-Carlton is magnificent! 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 Fort Clinch State Park (10 minutes away) featuring swimming, fishing, and boating as well as tours of a historic pre-Civil War fort, The Amelia Island Museum of History (10 minutes away), presenting the complete history of Amelia Island. You can drive to St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, offering horse-drawn carriage tours, quaint restaurants, and charming boutiques (90 minutes away).
3. Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, was recently refurbished and is situated on 54 lush acres featuring white-sand beaches and lava peninsulas. This is the best Marriott branded hotel in Hawaii and is good enough to compete with the best Four Seasons in Hawaii.
This AAA Five Diamond resort offers 463 beautiful guestrooms, including 107 Residential Suites enhanced with all new décor and kitchens, a full-service spa with a volcanic stone grotto, many dining experiences, land and sea recreational activities with Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment, 36 holes of championship golf, direct access to D.T. Fleming Beach and a three-level swimming pool. The resort is beautiful, but it lacks a boutique feel, and as it can be windy and quiet on this side of Maui. This hotel is one of the best, but it isn’t for everyone.
We consider this hotel to have one of the best club lounges in Hawaii as well as a beautiful resort on the beach and an exclusive golf course. You can only get access to the club-level lounge if you book a club-level room. The club lounge is located near the elevators on the resort’s eighth floor of the Napili Wing.
The continuous culinary offerings throughout the day (breakfast, light lunch, evening hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and sweets), and in the afternoon and evening, you can drink alcoholic drinks of your choice, and staff will make up great cocktails complete with flowers in, all included of course.
The lounge has a dark wood floor, comfy chairs, and sofas. It does look slightly less trendy when you compare it to, say, the Andaz in Wailea or the Four Seasons Lanai with its ultra-modern Asian-inspired decor. Then again, this is all taken into account in the price. The Ritz-Carlton is generally less expensive than the Four Seasons properties in Hawaii and appeals to a more traditional and sophisticated golfing crowd.
When traveling with kids, the value of the lounge is increased as kids under twelve do not usually cost extra. Hence, it is convenient to have a constant array of food available and not to have to stick to mealtimes, so paying for a club lounge is often worth it.
4. The Ritz-Carlton South Beach
The Ritz-Carlton South Beach is an oceanfront luxury hotel inside a historic property designed by Morris Lapidus in the heart of the Art Deco District of Miami. 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. The renovation in around 2017 reimagined the space to create more of a social, lobby-lounge feel, encouraging interactive experiences with guests.
There are five daily food presentations featuring 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.
Worth knowing: The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach implements a $28 USD per room, per night resort fee. Services and amenities included in the fee are Complimentary 5MB wireless Internet access for up to 5 devices in guest rooms, lobby, and most common areas, beach chairs and umbrellas, and beach Activities, including boogie boards, skimboards, beach paddle tennis, bocce ball, and cornhole court, one-hour daily fitness class, 24-hour access to the fitness center.
5. Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort
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. The Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort is ten minutes away by car or resort shuttle from The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach.
Marvel at the stunning views from one of the private balconies at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, with three miles of immaculate beach to explore. On the Gulf of Mexico, guests are pampered with championship golf, the 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.
6. Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale
The Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale 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, surrounded by loungers and palms. The rooms aren’t noteworthy, but all have a balcony. 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, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. We think the lounge is well worth the expense as it adds another dimension to the hotel experience. The lounge has a separate sitting area with a large flat-screen television and DVDs for children who might want to watch a movie, along with computer stations.
7. The 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 (if thin and seaweedy – see below), 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.
Four hundred fifty guest rooms, including 37 suites, 64 Ritz-Carlton Club level rooms, and suites, each overlooking either 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. The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne attracts families in the holiday season, 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. The beach here can be somewhat disappointing, narrow, and full of seaweed.
8. Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Where the ocean meets the marina, The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota offers resort amenities that span the charming city. Guests can unlock indulgent experiences uniquely tailored just for them, sparking guests to return to take in the coastal grace from the beach to the city and beyond. Guests have exclusive access to The Beach Club on the white sands of Lido Key Beach; The Golf Club, a Tom Fazio–designed 18-hole course that is virtually untouched by any residential or commercial land; and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a sanctuary of wellness within the hotel.
9. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
If you’re looking for the best luxury hotel in Waikiki, look no further than the Ritz-Carlton Residences. Waikiki Beach. This is a fantastic property, but it’s worth mentioning from the outset that the hotel itself is not based on the waterfront. There’s no beach in front of the property; instead, it’s a 10-minute walk away.
The highlights of this luxury enclave are the spacious high-end rooms with exquisite views from the floor-to-ceiling windows and the two magnificent pool areas, both recently refurbished, complete with sun loungers that dip their legs into the edge of the pool so that when you get too hot, you can swing around and cool your toes off in the crystal clear waters. There are also fantastic views from the adults-only infinity pool, which is the highest infinity pool in Waikiki. This is a great spot to enjoy a cocktail in peace, and if you splash out on the private cabanas, you can enjoy a TV and minibar by the pool!
The hotel has 552 ocean-view residences, starting with studios and leading up to apartments with four bedrooms, making it a great choice if you’re bringing your family or traveling in a group. Deluxe Oceanview rooms have a kitchenette, a washer, and a dryer.
The fact that the rooms include a washer and dryer might seem odd for a hotel of this caliber. Still, this facility comes in handy as you can clean your clothes from the plane, and with the tropical temperatures, it’s useful to keep up with your washing to stay fresh. There’s also a hub and an empty fridge in each room, so you can stock up from the ABC store with snacks.
The hotel has several restaurants, including Sushi Sho and French and Italian eateries. In this part of Waikiki, you are spoiled for choice in places to eat. Whip up dinner in a gourmet kitchen with Miele appliances, or savor chef Keiji Nakazawa’s omakase-style cooking at Sushi Sho.
10. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Perched atop a rugged oceanside bluff in the San Francisco Bay Area, just 30 minutes from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay delivers a 5-star, luxury resort experience unlike any other. Designed to be both admired and experienced, the hotel celebrates small details with outdoor fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs, a Club Lounge offering local wines, and spa treatments driven by the seasons.
In summer, bring sturdy sandals to manage the steep (but gorgeous) trail down to the beach or to bicycle along the California Coastal Trail, which passes right through the resort.
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