Which is the best Ritz-Carlton hotel in Florida? 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 that hits the spot perfectly!
In this article, we review which is best for what and who should go to each Ritz-Carlton and why. You can redeem points at all of these properties or pay for your booking and earn them, but remember to use our luxury travel concierge to get the best possible deal.
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.
Our winners are:
- Best for beach: Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort. This property has a beautiful white sand beach with sunset views. The runner-up would be Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach, which also has a great and stylish beach club
- Best for parks; Walt Disney World Resort & Universal Orlando: The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes
- Best for pool: Ritz-Carlton Naples. This pool is large and tropical with water slides
- Best for restaurants: This is a tough one. We love the sunset views from many of the restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach, but the Miami Beach resort offers great restaurants too. Avoid the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in the school holidays as their restaurants can be full of kids
- Best for club lounges: Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort for the views and extensive food offering, although the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort offers a more intimate lounge with equally good food
- Best for nightlife: The Ritz-Carlton South Beach
- Best for golf: Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort
- Best for sunrise: Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale
- Best for sunset: Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort
- Best Forr History: Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island with the Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach, a charming Victorian town, just 10 minutes away
- Best overall for everything: Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort
- Best for value: Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort as you can use the facilities of the above resort for about half the price, so it is much cheaper
1. Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort
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 like 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, the 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
The club lounge feels intimate and cozy compared to other resorts in Florida, such as the Ritz-Carlton Orlando. It offers 5 meals a day and an excellent breakfast with three hot stations with bacon, scrambled eggs, and pieces of French toast or pancakes. There’s a cold buffet of smoked salmon, charcuterie, fruits and yogurt, and muffins, croissants, and bread. There are also gluten-free options. A Nespresso machine can be used for coffee.
At lunch, there is bread, deli meat, and sliced cheese to make sandwiches, wraps and small sandwiches, chicken, and salad.
The club lounge champagne is Pommery and is available in Brut and Rose throughout the day. Soft drinks and cookies (5 different types) are also available. If you don’t want to head down to the beach, you can enjoy sunset views from the lounge.
In the evening, there are hor d’ouvres and chef-prepared dishes.
2. 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
The club lounge at the Golf Resort is only open for the high season from around the end of December through May. It offers 5 meals a day and an excellent breakfast with hot stations with bacon, scrambled eggs, and pieces of French toast or pancakes. There’s a cold buffet of smoked salmon, charcuterie, fruits and yogurt, muffins, croissants, and bread. There are also gluten-free options. The offering is very similar to that of the other Ritz resort.
It doesn’t have a fancy coffee machine, but breakfast was just as good. The hosts remember your preferences. They offered my almond milk and stevia for my coffee the following morning without asking.
The dinner buffet is more impressive at the golf resort than the beach club lounge with more mains and a guitarist.
Cheapest
In fact, the Ritz Golf Resort rates tend to be around half the Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort, and their family suites are incredibly comfortable. This may be because of the room size. A large, club-level suite at the Golf Resort is around the same size as a guest room with two double beds at the Beach Resort.
Best Pool
Both Ritz-Carlton Naples resorts offer family pools. The Beach Resort is more crowded as it is so much larger but has the beach too, where you can enjoy a beach cabana, which comes with a snack basket, suntan lotion, aloe vera gel, magazines, an ice bucket, and fruit. A nice touch at the Beach Resort is a poolside glassblower on weekends to assist guests in making a special keepsake, and the pool has a waterslide and tropical surroundings.
The Golf Resort pool has loads of pool toys but, obviously, no beach.
Best For Wellness
The Golf Resort has its own fitness room, but the wellness features are much better at the Beach Resort. There are several fitness classes offered each day, mostly for a $25 USD fee, including spinning and pilates classes. The Beach Resort has the best spa, which has just had a facelift. It is huge, with treatment rooms, a cafe, a mineral pool, a terrace, and a large boutique.
Best For Sunsets
The west-facing location of the Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort offers spectacular sunsets overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Best Rooms
A large, club-level suite at the Golf Resort is around the same in size as a guest room with two double beds at the Beach Resort, so the Beach Resort rooms are larger.
Best Restaurant
The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort Gumbo Limbo is the highlight for its sunset views and early evening for drinks on Vanderbilt Beach. Dishes include seafood, salads, and burgers.
Mezzo is probably your best pick at the golf resort, with Mediterranean-influenced cuisine and a guitarist playing luxury resort-style tunes.
Both resorts also have an excellent “Grill” with nice seafood and meat dishes and a kids’ menu too.
3. 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 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. 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.
4. 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.
450 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. 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.
The beach here is somewhat disappointing, narrow, and full of seaweed, and golfing options are limited too. Crandon Park nearby is a very nice but overpriced municipal course full of quite bad golfers, costing around $160 USD per round.
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne club lounge gets excellent reviews and offers food presentations daily, breakfast, lunch, mid-day snacks and fine selections of wines, liqueurs, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages. There is complimentary wireless in-room Internet access for Club guests along with the pressing of two garments daily.
This exclusive lounge is on the 9th floor and features an endless array of beverage and culinary offerings throughout the day, coupled with the finest personal service. Views from the lounge and adjacent Club Level guest rooms boast stunning panoramas of Key Biscayne and Biscayne Bay.
We highly recommend booking a room on the Club floor. It will almost undoubtedly work out cheaper than booking a standard room as you have all your meals catered for, for free, and the food in the lounge is excellent. A full breakfast buffet is served daily. Sandwiches are provided for lunch, and heavy hors-d’oeuvres for the early evening (lobster, crab, and other delicious offerings). You may choose to eat all your meals there and will certainly use it for breakfast and snacks and, of course, alcoholic drinks, which are available 24/7. You can choose from wine, Champagne, beer, spirits, and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the day.
Kids are welcome here. The lounge has a dedicated kids’ room, which is fully stocked with classic board games, TV entertainment, puzzles, and more. Glass candy jars hold a variety of delectable delights, such as the Executive Pastry Chef’s cookies.
When comparing the lounge and property to the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, the lounge is marginally superior. Still, the beach, and the golf and the sheer busyness of this hotel let it down compared to other Ritz-Carltons in Florida.
5. The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami
This is the smallest Ritz-Carlton in Miami, with just 124 rooms. The ocean inspires from nearly every corner of The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, which is surrounded by water on the very northern tip of Miami Beach. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel doesn’t have a club lounge or floor, but it is a great luxury hotel choice in this part of Miami.
They say: Whether visitors are seeking a quiet retreat from the everyday or looking for a unique destination for a wedding or event, this coastal sanctuary is the perfect setting.
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. From art and outdoor adventure to shopping and professional sports, visitors can explore top attractions just moments away. Those who prefer a leisure-intensive agenda 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.
6. The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes
The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando is a great luxury hotel choice. It 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, and shuttle transport to Disney and SeaWorld (reservation required at least 24 hours in advance) and one-hour bike rental.
The hotel is next door to the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. It’s 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 nearby 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 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 here 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.
7. Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale
The Ritz-Carlton club lounge in Fort Lauderdale is easily the best club lounge on Fort Lauderdale and is pictured above. This is our top choice for club lounges and hotels in Fort Lauderdale until the new Four Seasons opens, which will then take the top spot.
The hotel itself 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 rooms aren’t noteworthy but do 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 that the lounge is well worth the expense as it adds another dimension to the hotel experience. The lounge is equipped with 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.
8. 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 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).
9. 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.
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