The Ritz-Carlton, Abama

We booked the Ritz-Carlton Abama through a British Airways package, which overall worked out really well. BA were especially helpful on the disability access side – I’d had ankle surgery a couple of weeks before, and their team were attentive, quick to respond, and even available on WhatsApp 24/7 to help make changes to plans mid-holiday. That part was excellent. The flights themselves, however, were pretty ordinary. Service on BA has become more like a budget airline – no complimentary water, tea, or coffee, which feels wrong on a flag carrier (perhaps we’ve just been spoiled by Qantas…). Next time I’d at least consider booking separately and looking at an airline like easyJet to save money. That said, without BA we might not have ended up at this unbelievable resort – and that made the whole package worthwhile. The Ritz-Carlton Abama is just about as relaxing and beautiful as it gets. There were families, couples, business groups and conferences while we were there, but it never once felt crowded or noisy. There’s so much space, so many pools, and so many places to relax that you can always find peace and quiet if you want it. Highlights for us: • El Mirador restaurant – a personal favourite. Watching the sunset from there is a must-do, and the food is outstanding. Definitely book in advance (weeks ahead if you can). Our waiter, Sebastian, looked after us brilliantly. • The gym – genuinely excellent, far better equipped than most hotel gyms, which was important to us. • The spa – my girlfriend had a massage with Laura, who she described as the best she’s ever had. • The staff – special mention to Cecilia at the main bar, who couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful. • Accessibility – the hotel staff were fantastic about helping me get up and down the hill after ankle surgery, whether it was to El Mirador or down to the beach. The October weather was also perfect: mid-20s every day, sunny and clear. Exactly what we’d hoped for. A couple of small notes for improvement: the acoustics in the Citadel can mean you hear activity early in the morning – we were woken around 6am a few times, possibly by laundry carts. It didn’t bother us much (we were up for the gym anyway), but might be frustrating if you’re hoping for a lie-in. Also, while we didn’t mind the conference vibe, it would have been helpful if reception had mentioned that our corridor was near some of the “office” areas. Yes, drinks and extras were on the expensive side, but not outrageous compared to London prices. And honestly, the level of service, the quality of the facilities, and the general sense of calm made it more than worth it. We came home feeling completely recharged, and it’s easy to see why so many guests we spoke to return twice a year. This was one of our favourite holidays, and we’d definitely go back.

It’s a beautiful property with very helpful and friendly staff. They are all very attentive. As an older couple, we found the blasting music starting at 915 am and going on sometimes until 11 pm , obnoxious. There are a ton of young families , many with infants so many of the exclusive restaurants have kids running around and a lot of noise. Not exactly serenity but our suite and terrace with ocean view was wonderful .

Had a truly fantastic stay at the Ritz Carlton, the amenities were second to none and the choice of restaurants were impressive. The staff were really friendly attentive and helpful.

The perfect beach getaway. Impeccable service and food. Spend a peaceful day at the beach club on Abama beach. William the beach tram driver is very friendly and informative. The whole beach staff is excellent especially Rolando & Bella. Dinner options were excellent from Michelin star restaurants to the elegant lobby bar where we loved the pizza. Xtoko by MB was our favorite but each restaurant was excellent and destination worthy on its own. The breakfast service was excellent. After a few days they knew exactly how we liked our coffee, omelettes, etc. A special shoutout to Rogelio, Ruth & Gabriel.We enjoyed 10 days and wanted to extend our trip. We will definitely be back

The good - our room was large, housekeeping is very good, bathroom is huge, shower water pressure brilliant. Great service at the main bar, and the people at Veranda were very welcoming and friendly. The not so good - attention to detail is lacking. Some examples: One morning the jug with milk for coffee had lemons floating in it - how does that happen? Surely they check the jugs are clean before filling with milk? Umbrellas around the swimming pool are ripped, I'm told new ones are on order, but it's not acceptable. The only toilets at the swimming pool were closed one day, and then had no electricity the following day. When I complained and said it wasn't acceptable, the staff member just said ' I agree with you'. In brief, not what you would expect from a 5* hotel.