The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

The facilities at all Ritz-Carlton Resorts are generally very nice. I was somewhat disappointed with the service at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island however. We stay a Ritz properties quite often with the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota being our favorite. The service in Sarasota stands head and shoulders above that of Amelia Island. We typically will book or upgrade to Club level, in the case of Amelia Island, it's simply not worth the cost. Other than Stephanie, the Club level attendant on the morning shifts (which went out of her way to attend to guests and make sure they were happy), the rests of the staff gave off the vibe that they wanted you to leave. Food selections were generally empty with staff not showing any interest in restocking. Club level at Amelia Island also includes a "Club Beach area", which I still don't understand what it provided. Getting a drink at Amelia Island while at the beach is like chasing a unicorn. I tried and tried and finally gave up and walked up the beach to the bar. I did manage to track down one attendant at one point and she made it a point repeatedly to let me know that drinks here in the "Club area" were not free. I responded that I wasn't expecting anything for free and could I please have a menu.......... crickets, she never came back. The valet was another issue. We called down ahead of time for our vehicle and yet had to wait in the valet area for nearly 45 minutes. Again, very disappointed. If you're a Ritz-Carlton fan like we are, do yourself a favor and choose another property with better management.

Just spent about 24 hours at Ritz Amelia island. Resort is very nice and what we’ve come to expect at Ritz properties. Gorgeous setting, room and hotel and grounds were spotless and service was 5 star, no questions. However, after 3 meals we felt the food was very very subpar. And since nothing else is really walking distance we stuck with eating at the hotel. Today got just burger and a salad with chicken. Burger was seriously like a hockey puck on a stale bun. Salad with chicken ($18 extra) was gross dark meat chicken. Fries came with an awful seasoning. We sent back and asked for no seasoning but all we got was a fresher order of fries but again with seasoning. Didn’t feel like complaining again. Chips and guacamole was good. Not sure if we would come back really because the food was that bad. But the hotel and beach and service are magnificent.

We had an exceptional stay at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island and throughly enjoyed the first class service offered by Celeste and Chase in the Club as well as the Club Beach and greatly appreciated Jack with all of his assistance with our check in and checkout. This is a beautiful property and an amazing place to celebrate our 39th Wedding Anniversary.

We had a wonderful stay overall at the Ritz Amelia Island and really enjoyed our holiday. The hotel is in a fantastic location with a beautiful, long stretch of clean beach, breathtaking sunrises, and plenty of wildlife to see including turtles and birds. Our room was comfortable and well maintained, and the restaurants were excellent with delicious food and attentive service. The spa was a highlight of our stay and is definitely worth visiting. That said, there are a few areas where the hotel could improve. Many of the concierge and front desk staff appeared to be new, so they weren't always able to answer questions or provide helpful recommendations. Check-in was also quite slow due to long lines. If the hotel knows a large number of guests are arriving, having more staff available at reception would make the process much smoother. One issue that was disappointing was room management. We were told by staff that the hotel frequently overbooks rooms, so guests who have reserved a specific room type or location may not always receive what they booked. That's something to keep in mind if having a particular room is important to you. We didn't get the room we booked which made it cramped for our family in the one we were given, however the assistant manager went out of her way to make sure we were taken care to make up for the room issue. Overall, we had a great vacation thanks to the beautiful setting, excellent dining, and outstanding spa.

I had sent two emails to Greg Cook (the GM) and Nanette Rapuzzi. Sadly there was no reply from either about the praises for certain staffers who have better customer service skills than the management team. That being said, here is the message that was sent in hopes that it reaches those mentioned. I did knock off one 'bubble.' The Ritz-Carlton leadership should know better and acknowledge the time a guest spends to share praises. Hi Greg, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to take a moment to share some praise for several team members who made our recent stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, so memorable. My wife and I have visited every year since 2021 for the XXXXXXXX (redacted). She works for XXXXXXXX (redacted), and since I work remotely, I’m fortunate to tag along on her trips. This year, we stayed from May 17 through May 21, and once again, your team made the experience special. I especially want to recognize Shannon Chamberlin, Front Office Coordinator. From check-in to check-out, Shannon was wonderful — even when I forgot what room number right after checking in and rushing back downstairs for a quick meeting. (she can tell you the story 😊 ). She also brought me a little birthday celebration and included a handwritten note, which was such a thoughtful touch. I understand she has not been with the property long, but she is already a shining star. She has a bright future in hospitality. Keep it up, Shannon! I also want to recognize Chase at the front desk for being very customer-friendly and welcoming. At the Beach Bar, Rush provided wonderful service and was super friendly and engaging throughout our visit. At the pool bar, Bradley delivered great customer service — and of course, we could never forget that mustache. Jordan, our pool server, also deserves recognition. I can’t say enough about his customer service. At Tidewater Grill, James Burgess continues to stand out as one of the most caring team members at the resort. Thank you for giving him his opportunity. It means a lot personally. I’d also like to recognize Avery Lott for being friendly and attentive and Aleigha Flores for providing spot-on service. Please pass along my appreciation to each of them. The people at your property are a big part of why we look forward to returning every year.