The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey

The good: Shantel checked us in and was very helpful, polite and professional. We also had massages booked at Sisley Spa and the service was good, although the snacks in the waiting room were lacking. The bad: The entire hotel seemed like it was operating understaffed. We were there on a Saturday in August which I would think they would staff accordingly for but it was clear they did not. The bad service started at the restaurant.. we were seated at a table with Rosy and after bring us water and coffee, she never came back. She attended other tables near us but never checked on us. After 30 minutes of waiting, we had to ask another employee to take our order. After waiting another 30 minutes we had to cancel our order because we were going to be late for our massages. After the massages, we headed to the pool. I asked the pool attendant if there were 2 chairs available and she pointed to 2 that were not together and she said you can move them together. I asked if there was an umbrella and she said no. After finding an umbrella myself, I moved it to our spot and she then came to help me open the umbrella. The food/drink service at the pool was very understaffed.. you had 2 servers and 1 bartender serving around 100-140 people. AJ was our server and she was very polite and apologized for the wait. Back at our room, we called and asked for another robe that never came. On a sidenote, it was my birthday, which Shantel acknowledged at check in, but that was it. Our usual Ritz experience is they usually send a treat to your room or at dinner... There was none of that. We have had great experiences at other Ritz properties, including Laguna, downtown LA, and we also recently sailed on the Ritz c Carlton Yatch collection and had an amazing time... But we will never return to the marina del Ray location.

The location of the hotel cannot be beat. You can get to Playa del Rey and beaches easily. A marina view room is great. Watching the boats from your balcony is a great way to relax. They will be starting a renovation very soon.

I stayed 1 night, just shy of a $1,000, with a view of the marina for my bday. The hotel needs updating. My suite had only 1 trash can, no microwave, no coffee maker, a cake slice just sitting out on a table uncovered, a large mysterious storage room next to my closet. I will not return.

2/5 Stars: This Property Simply Doesn’t Feel Like a Ritz-Carlton I am currently staying at The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, and unfortunately this has been one of the most disappointing Ritz-Carlton experiences I have had. To be clear, this is not a bad hotel. The marina location is pleasant, the rooms are comfortable, and the food has actually been quite good. The problem is that almost nothing about the service feels like Ritz-Carlton. The disappointment started at check-in. I arrived about 20 minutes before the published 4:00 PM check-in time, and my room was not ready. I ultimately waited nearly two hours while being repeatedly told it would be ready “momentarily.” What stood out was not the delay itself. Delays happen. What stood out was the lack of ownership. Not one person checked in with me proactively. The first time I sought an update, I found myself standing at the front desk while the associate who had originally checked me in was assisting another guest. She did not even acknowledge my presence. When the room was finally ready, a manager called my phone and instructed me to return to the front desk, where I had to wait in line again to obtain my key. That pattern continued throughout the stay. Room service was generally fast and the food was good, but most orders arrived incomplete or incorrect despite clear instructions submitted through the app. Small details were consistently missed. I also experienced recurring issues with my room key and door lock that required additional trips to the front desk and a delayed engineering visit that ended without a fix or even a precautionary battery replacement. The pool experience was equally surprising. On a slow day with attendants present, I selected a chair, settled in, and watched multiple staff members walk by without so much as a greeting. Eventually I retrieved and set up my own towels despite multiple attendants being present. Again, not a major inconvenience, but not what I expect at a Ritz-Carlton. I had a similar experience in the boutique. After explaining that I had forgotten some resort wear and was looking for a swimsuit, shorts, or a tank top, I was largely left to search the boutique on my own for 15–20 minutes. The associate eventually pointed out a small display of tank tops, but there was little effort to assist or help find alternatives. Even some of the traditional Ritz-Carlton touches were missing. The minibar was completely empty upon arrival and required guests to request stocking. While minor on its own, it reinforced the feeling that the property lacks the attention to detail typically associated with the brand. No gummy bears in sight! IYKYK! What makes this disappointing is that these issues occurred across multiple departments over several days. Rather than a single service lapse, the experience reflected a broader pattern of inconsistency, disengagement, and lack of ownership. For travelers deciding between this property and the Marriott nearby, I would have a difficult time justifying the significant price premium. The accommodations are fine. The food is good. The service, however, is simply not what the Ritz-Carlton name promises.

Stayed here for the last 2 nights of our LA trip given its proximity to the airport and ocean access. I wasn’t wild about the amenities or rooms, the entire property didn’t feel like it had been revamped or redone in ages and our room felt pretty “meh” and there was dust all over the nightstands. Lobby bar and pool facilities were average at best. My take is that this is fine for a 1 night stay in and out of LA but not a vacation stay or anything to expect a wow factor out of amenity or room wise.