The Ritz Carlton Ft. Lauderdale, FL/USA, seems less posh than the buzzing RC South Beach, and less cozy family-style elegant than the newly refurbished RC Key Biscayne, but I felt nevertheless welcome after a long long flight from BER/MUC to MIA and a long limo ride from the airport to my hotel. Check-in was smooth and friendly, plus: I got a nice upgrade, an oceanfront residential suite on the 16th floor: Two big rooms – living room and sleeping room, a huge bathroom with jacuzzi tub, shower, wc, and an extra wc, a dining table + chairs, 2 huge tv monitors, several couches and easy chairs, and a full kitchenette – with nespresso machine, smoothie maker, toaster, micro wave, oven, fridge, and all the equipment you’d need to cook and dine. But then, more than I needed or used during my short stay, especially since I had access to the club lounge, where I could enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and desserts. One of the best features of my grand and beautiful suite – which seemed to have at least 80 sqm – was the huge double balcony, with an extraordinary view to the Atlantic, the pool and the beach, and its deckchairs, chairs and table. I felt tempted to spend the next weeks here. I loved lying in the huge king bed (2.40 x 2.40 m), balcony doors open, and listen to the waves crashing on the sand. A beautiful sound, indeed.
Another praise refers to the swimming pool – a huge deck on the 7th floor outdoors, with – again - a nice view to the beach (and beach access, of course), the fitness room, which is very well equipped, and the spa, which I did not try out, but which seemed nice and offers lots of services. Ritz Carlton hotels are – as far as the furniture style & bathrooms are concerned – a bit old-fashioned in their style, I’d say based on my experience of different properties of this chain in the USA, but I guess that this is meant to remember the elegance of another era. And different from other hotels or hotel chains, which try to preserve the aura of the past, Ritz Carlton offers enough sockets and USB connections in the room to charge the equipment we are all carrying with us these days. I am pretty sure that I will be back at the Ritz Carlton Ft Lauderdale, should the occasion arise. Although I was a bit disappointed by the Club Lounge, this time. The Club is an extra feat that the Ritz offers for a considerable extra amount of money. Whereas the Club in Fort Lauderdale has all those delicious meals five times a day plus snacks & non-alcoholic beverages all day (from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) you find at the other properties – I’ve stayed at Miami South Beach, Orlando Grande Lakes and Key Biscayne, among others – this one actually lacks the warmth and presence of the other lounges. I missed the warm welcome I received at the other lounges. In Fort Lauderdale all I got upon entering the club – the first day, but also the days after – was a polite nod in passing, and several times – especially in the morning – no club manager was present or reachable at all. So, if I book the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale again, I’ll probably reserve without the Club extra.
