The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

We visited The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah with the genuine intention of considering it for a future stay. At the moment, we are staying at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, where this is our second stay, and based on our positive experiences, we were seriously considering switching to Ritz-Carlton next year. Unfortunately, the experience during our visit was extremely disappointing and left us feeling uncomfortable and even humiliated. From the moment we arrived, the attitude at the reception made us feel unwelcome, as if our presence was an inconvenience rather than that of potential future guests. We were offered a short buggy “tour” of the resort, which in reality was no tour at all. We were driven at an uncomfortably high speed through the property, without any explanations. When my husband politely asked the staff member to slow down and explain, he was clearly annoyed and unhelpful. Within less than four minutes, we were brought back to the reception without having seen or learned anything about the resort. What made this even more disappointing is that we have stayed three times at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, where we received an exceptional and truly unforgettable experience. Knowing that both hotels belong to the Marriott group, it is difficult to understand how the level of service could be so dramatically different. At no point were we asked any questions or offered assistance. For a hotel of such international reputation, this level of indifference toward potential guests is shocking. Sadly, this visit completely changed our perception of the brand.

Probably the best hotel I’ve stayed at. Amazing friendly staff, relaxing and beautiful rooms. Private pool, scenic garden and direct access to the beach. It’s is expensive but if you fancy a special treat you can’t go wrong here. Shout out to Ahmed at reception and Amir the concierge who made our stay so memorable.

Beautiful property, very good service, tasty food. Delicious breakfast and good dinner menu. Quiet location, good views of the gulf.

We have had a great experience staying at The Ritz Carlton in Ras Al Khaimah. It’s a relaxed beach vibe. The food was EXCELLENT, Chef Rahul made us a bespoke curry which was the best we have ever tasted and we are used to good curries from Bradford, UK. The jewel in the crown for us are the exceptional service received from the staff, they are polite and always happy to see you, remembering your name and details of what you like to order. In dining: Arun, Arun S, Angelica, SU, Abdul and Mo were stand outs, thank you. Sandeep was always on hand with a buggy at any time day or night. We went outside of the hotel to eat by buggy and then picked up whatever time we wanted. The rooms were impeccably cleaned every day and turn down service, thank you to Winnie and Simon. Amazing massage from Joyce in the spa. Our only issue was that there were elements of the hotel that needed a refresh: cushions, blinds, paintwork etc I think renovations are underway in the villas. Thank you we’ve had a lovely stay. Sally Shore

Our stay was perfect… from the moment we stepped out of the car and were greeted by friendly valet, to the very end when we reluctantly had to leave. The epitome of luxury! It was a seamless check-in, followed by a short (very exciting for the children) ride in the golf buggy to our room. Trees lined the pathway as we walked to our private villa, with the view of the sea straight ahead. Waiting for us in our room was a small feast! The children were thrilled to have marshmallows and strawberries to dip into melted chocolate, and then the adults were enthused by the chocolates, welcome drinks and cheese platter! Our room was beautiful! Floor to ceiling windows throughout, leading out to our own private area which included a bath, a private pool and a seating area. As you walked further down the pathway, there were sunbeds in a Cabana type structure, amongst trees and other greenery. The perfect haven! Lying here listening to the waves and reading my book was an absolute dream! The children loved taking their buckets to collect shells, and the lifeguard at the beach was great! He brought over some “special shells” that he knew would be a hit with the children, and gave them some more bags to collect even more shells. The lady at kids club was warm and welcoming, and the children instantly took a shining to her. She made friendship bracelets, applied face paint, sang, and made lots of arts and crafts with them. In the evening, we had dinner on the beach. It was January, so the weather was a little cold. But there was a warm and welcoming fire to keep us cosy. With the fire burning and the water glistening in the moonlight, a calm serenity took hold. The setting was nothing short of perfect. We ordered the seafood platter which was rich in flavour, with the lobster being the best we have tasted! As we were eating dinner, it struck me… all those blinds need to go down before we get the children to bed! However, fear not… when we arrived back at the room, the turn-down service had already taken care of this. Slippers by the bed, dates on the bedside table, low level lighting… a perfect end to the most perfect day! I was then able to sit outside with the cheese platter and my kindle and fully embrace this moment of luxury. In the morning, we had breakfast included. Seeing that it was an alacarte menu brightened my morning. I ordered avocado on toast and added some hallumi, mushrooms and hash browns. It really was absolutely fantastic food quality. I then enjoyed a biscoff lotus croissant complemented by my coffee. Sadly, we only stayed the one night so I could not partake in the mimosa breakfasts which were calling my name. Next time, I will be sure to book two nights instead! We had the most amazing staycation and I hope to go back again in the near future to relive this experience.