The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale

Rating: 3/10 My family and I stayed here in room 1413 (a "One Bedroom Oceanfront Balcony Suite") for one night in May 2026. Positives: • The location is undeniably strong. Sitting directly across from the ocean, the hotel delivers the one thing that cannot be renovated or rebranded. Our room’s balcony offered a sweeping view of the beach, and it was easily the best part of the stay. • The air conditioning worked flawlessly. In South Florida, that is not a trivial detail. The room stayed consistently cool, which ended up being more memorable than many of the hotel’s supposed luxury touches. • The Ritz-Carlton name still carries weight. Walking into the property, the branding creates an expectation of quality and professionalism. Unfortunately, much of the experience that followed struggled to live up to the logo on the building. Negatives: • The room felt tired and overdue for a refresh. Beige marble, worn carpeting, and stained surfaces gave the impression of a hotel that had been coasting on its address and brand for far too long. • When I filled the bathtub for my daughter, the water came out with a noticeable yellow-green tint. That is not something you expect at any hotel, let alone one charging Ritz-Carlton rates. It immediately raised questions I would rather not have had to ask. • We arrived around 11 p.m. and were greeted by… nobody. As we wrestled luggage through the entrance and held doors open ourselves, there was no doorman, no welcome, and no sense that anyone was paying attention. It was an inauspicious start. • Late-night dining consisted of a grab-and-go market rather than room service. We picked up two wraps that managed to be both soggy and forgettable. After a long travel day, it felt less like a luxury hotel and more like an airport convenience store. • When we requested bedding for the sofa bed, we were handed a stack of sheets and blankets and left to assemble it ourselves. The employee may have been trying to expedite things, but making your own pullout bed is not an experience I associate with the Ritz-Carlton brand. • At roughly $1,400 per night during Fort Lauderdale’s slower season, the value proposition simply was not there. Luxury hotels do not need to be perfect, but they should at least feel luxurious. • The biggest issue is that nearly every disappointment could have been forgiven if this were an ordinary beachfront hotel. It is not. It carries the Ritz-Carlton flag. By the end of the stay, I was left wondering whether Ritz-Carlton leadership has visited this property recently, or whether I need to fundamentally recalibrate what the brand is supposed to represent in 2026.

My husband and I just celebrated our 40th anniversary at this lovely hotel. Everything about the stay was perfect. The hero of the trip was Mr. Reuben Trane, a key manager at this beautiful property. He made sure we had a nice corner room for our stay, sent some treats to our room and as a surprise framed a photo of us to enjoy during our stay. We enjoyed meeting Reuben and thanking him personally. Valuable managers like Reuben move a good trip to a fantastic trip category. I wish there were a ten rating TripAdvisor! Other employees that stood out were Tamisha and Travis at the front desk and Johnathon and Juan who were the pool attendants. Andrea, in the front office, was also very helpful. The rooms are beautiful and clean. Everything was in working order. The food was very good and we enjoyed the morning coffee and oranges in the lobby along with fruit infused water. The pool area was crowded over the Memorial Day holiday yet the pool staff made sure everyone could find a seat. The beach attendants were very helpful as well yet we loved the beach view from the pool deck. The location of the hotel is nice as there is a natural flat walking area right outside the door. Don’t miss this property. We didn’t visit the spa or fitness center; however, I know the Ritz also sets the standard in this area. We will be make for sure. Thank you Reuben and staff for making our time special. We even added another night!

The location is unbeatable, offering immediate access to the beach and picturesque morning views over the ocean. While the proximity to the water is spectacular, the service is what truly defines the experience. Front Desk Manager Reuben Trane was exceptional. Despite our brief two-night stay, our family had highly complex scheduling needs. Reuben handled every request effortlessly, displaying a warm smile and a genuinely helpful attitude throughout. It is hospitality of this caliber that solidifies our loyalty to the Ritz-Carlton brand.

Beach experience was absolutely AMAZING!!! Dylan was so kind! Excellent service and so caring. He paid such great attention to our needs and remembered me from a prior visit. Would highly recommend. Great experience! Food and drinks were also top tier.

Very "old" Ritz, not what you expect. My grievances: 1) Hotel is used and old 2) Receptionist dont care baout your status. Early check-in, forget it. They are trying to help but it seemed that they are incompetent to even get you a downgraded room in early check-in. 3) Room-service is unreliable and calling front office wont help. They will just let the phone ring.