The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee

I've stayed at this hotel from the first weekend it was open. I'm giving it a one star because of the excessive rates and fees they charge. Since Marriott purchased the Ritz brand this hotel has lost a lot of what made it special. Not only are there excessive room rates (that's always been a thing and no surprise with Ritz properties) but now the resort fee. Not really sure it's worth what you have to pay for that. But now as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member you now have to pay $500 per day if you want lounge access, something that is supposed to be a comped benefit of being a Titanium level member. Seems they're becoming very greedy. Charge more, give nothing. People are super nice and friendly but this lounge access fee is pure greed.

We truly enjoyed our stay at the hotel. The relaxing lake view made our vacation even more peaceful and enjoyable. There were plenty of activities for the kids, which kept them entertained throughout our stay. We also loved all the restaurants we dined at. Every meal was delicious, and the service was outstanding. We found ourselves going back to Gaby’s several times because we loved the casual atmosphere and great food. The staffs even remembered our names, which made us feel so welcome. A special thank you to Michelle for being so kind and thoughtful. She even remembered our kids’ names, which made our experience extra special. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommended!

After several decades of staying at various RC locations, the Oconee location has fallen from our family’s vacation list. Our bar is fairly low these days, and we also understand that the RC chain can no longer be compared with the pre-Marriott days (which was amazing), but with this last visit, we are sadly left back to either the St Regis (not all), a few RCs and the smaller non-chain high end hotels. The sad state of the elevators was beyond anything I have ever seen in an RC property - the beeping sound was closely akin to life support sounds and the motor was on its last leg - they should start having guests sign a waiver before taking a step into the looming tower of terror. Sadly, the room wasn’t really clean. The room’s carpeted area had barely been vacuumed, the hard-floor areas had not seen a steamer or mops for several stays, and the outside of the fridge had white marks all over it (among other minor items). Pro: Sheets and towels were clean. If you do go, do not waste your money with the club level. Fortunately there are a few other very rare gems in the RC collection with decent food and staff, but this is not one of those. I hate to be so blunt, but an IHOP for breakfast, would be better dining compared to the food items being served at the club lounge. We get that inflation has struck every aspect of our consumption rich society, but what’s sad to see is even the small things like eggs replaced with reconstituted powder - gross. Food that was supposed to be hot, was mildly lukewarm. Even something as simple as a dessert spoon was unavailable, bizarre to the say the least. For rooms that are $1500 per night, that’s rough. What was also odd was the checked out attitude for most of the club staff. No one ever even made an attempt to remove our plates, or to replenish food unless prompted. It’s obviously a management driven issue since as I stated, there are still a few rare RCs left out in the wild with decent food selection, and caring staff. Notable exceptions for dining were Linger Longer and the Italian restaurant, both had excellent food. Not sure what happened to Gaby’s, but the food was pretty rough. Pros: it is a nice quiet property, with outdoor experiences for the entire family.

What an amazing family vacation! My husband and I travelled with our 2 year old son and this was the best vacation we have had as a family!!! The Ritz at Lake Oconee is so family friendly… from the restaurants, the playground, the zero entry pool, everything is catered to families. Special shout out to Michelle who served us drinks and lunch at the kids pool and Laura who served us breakfast at the club on the 5th floor. My husband and I want to book a 2nd trip in August. Absolutely a 5 star experience for the parents with such a family friendly atmosphere!

We just spent a few days here as a family and left already planning our return. The setting is the star — the resort sits right on Lake Oconee, with gorgeous grounds, easy water access, and pools that kept our kids happy from morning to night. But the staff made the trip. Everyone we met was warm, genuinely attentive, and went out of their way to make our kids feel welcome — the kind of anticipatory service that turns a nice stay into a memorable one. It works equally well whether you're traveling as a couple or with little ones: plenty to do together, and just as much room to relax. Couldn't recommend it more highly.