Want to take advantage of Marriott STARS benefits, including a space available room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and more? Contact Ford ([email protected]) for more details. He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. This is valid for paid stays at BVLGARI, EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and St. Regis.
We spent five nights at the 147-room Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos, which I’ve been curious to check out, given that it only opened in 2021. The initial reviews of the hotel online are pretty harsh, so what’s my take?
There’s a lot to love about this hotel, like the location on Grace Bay, the amazing views, the dining options, and the friendly service. Furthermore, it’s awesome to have a Marriott Bonvoy property in Turks & Caicos, as this is a great option for earning and redeeming points.
That being said, the Ritz-Carlton also has some downsides. It’s clear that corners were cut on some of the hotel finishes, particularly in the rooms. Furthermore, the hotel simply lacks a sense of place, from the design, to the on-property restaurants (even if the food was good). Anyway, let’s get into a more detailed review.
In this post:
Redeeming points at the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos
I redeemed points for our stay at the Ritz-Carlton. Marriott Bonvoy will soon be introducing dynamic award pricing, which will likely be a huge devaluation for aspirational redemptions. As a result, I’m trying to redeem as many of my Bonvoy points as possible right now.
The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos is a Category 8 Marriott Bonvoy property, meaning that a free night redemption currently costs anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 points per night, depending on whether you’re staying during an off-peak, standard, or peak period.
Our dates were over the “standard” period, so a redemption cost 85,000 Bonvoy points per night, with the opportunity to get a fifth night free. In other words, five nights cost 340,000 Bonvoy points, or an average of 68,000 Bonvoy points per night.
As a point of comparison, paid nightly rates for our dates were $1,200+ including taxes and fees. Of course it’s worth keeping in mind that at the moment luxury hotel pricing is through the roof, given the pent up demand for travel.
Book Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos with Marriott STARS
If you’re booking a paid stay at the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos, I’d highly recommend booking through a travel advisor affiliated with the Marriott STARS program. You’ll pay the same as the flexible cash rate available on Marriott’s website, and you’ll receive the following additional perks:
- Complimentary full or continental breakfast daily for up to two people per room
- Hotel credit valued at 100USD once per stay
- Room upgrade, subject to availability at check-in
- Complimentary Wi-Fi daily
- In-person welcome
- Personalized welcome amenity and note
Note that Marriott STARS upgrades are prioritized ahead of upgrades through other programs, like Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, which is why I’d recommend booking through STARS. You can earn Bonvoy points when booking a Marriott STARS rate, and can also take advantage of any elite benefits, should you have status.
If you want help with a Marriott STARS booking at the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos, Ford is happy to help, and can be reached at [email protected].
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos location
The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos is located in Providenciales, right on Grace Bay. This is arguably the biggest selling point of the property — Grace Bay is regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, so to have direct access to that is awesome.
The Ritz-Carlton is a roughly 15 minute drive from Providenciales International Airport (PLS). Note that when you arrive at the airport, the only options for transfers are shared, so for $34 per couple you can get a shuttle to the hotel, though it may stop at other places along the way (this added around 15 minutes to the travel time for us).
Alternatively you can arrange a private transfer in advance, though that’ll be much more costly.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos check-in & lobby
As you pull up to the Ritz-Carlton there’s a gate you have to pass through. The hotel no doubt sticks out in the area, given that it’s 10 floors, and most other things on Grace Bay are at most a few floors high. This has been unpopular with many locals, who feel like this takes away from the charm of the Grace Bay area, and I can appreciate why.
From the rear the hotel looks a bit odd, but that’s just because all of the rooms face the beach and ocean, so on this side of the hotel there are only hallways.
From the other side the hotel looks a bit more like what you’d expect.
The Ritz-Carlton has a beautiful open air lobby, which I always enjoy at a beach resort. There was a bit of lobby seating, and then a lobby bar there as well, which I’ll cover in more detail a bit later.
Reception was located just inside the lobby and to the right. There were two separate desks, so that guests could sit down while checking in.
Our check-in process was friendly and efficient, and we were even offered a glass of sparkling wine.
We were informed that we had been upgraded to an oceanfront room. All rooms here have views of the ocean (which is awesome), so the upgrade from an oceanview room to an oceanfront room represented a one category upgrade.
We were asked if we wanted to be escorted to our room (which we declined). We easily found the elevators, which were located inside the building across from reception.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos oceanfront room
I’d say the biggest drawback of the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos is the indoor spaces, and that starts with the elevators. The elevators had a mind of their own, and weren’t very responsive. It was almost a running joke for guests who got in the elevator together, as it’s a mystery where you’ll actually end up.
The hotel has 10 floors, and we were assigned room 3605, located on the sixth floor (there are two separate buildings with residences, so I guess the “3” at the front refers to the building we were in, and then 605 is the actual room number).
Do the hallways really look like what you’d expect at a new Ritz-Carlton? Seriously, there’s no art in them or proper wall treatments, and it feels more like your average apartment building than a luxury hotel.
The good news about the rooms is that they’re quite large, at 442 square feet. The bad news is that they also don’t feel particularly luxurious. Our room featured a long entryway with a closet to the left and the bathroom to the right.
There was tile in the entrance hallway, and then the rest of the room was carpeted.
The room had a comfortable king size bed, and a daybed at the foot of the bed. Ritz-Carltons consistently have comfortable beds, and this hotel was no exception.
There was a wall-mounted TV near the window, a ceiling fan, and at least some art on the far wall.
The curtains to the balcony were manual, and at least added a splash of color to the otherwise dull room.
Along the wall closest to the entrance was a dresser and then a small glass table with two chairs, which also contained a welcome amenity consisting of sparkling wine and some sweets, which was a nice touch.
There was also a Nespresso machine, some water, and some reusable Ritz-Carlton water bottles.
There was no minibar, but rather just an empty mini-fridge.
The bathroom was large, and had double sinks, a soaking tub, a walk-in shower with three different shower head options (which was awesome), and a partitioned off toilet.
Toiletries were from Diptyque, which was awesome. These toiletries were in reusable bottles, which I don’t mind, except it was really hard to actually pump out the liquids.
The highlight of the room was the outdoor space. There was a large patio with two chairs. While it faced the two residences buildings on one side, it also had breathtaking, direct views of Grace Bay.
I loved being able to sit out here, and simply can’t say enough good things about the view and being so close to the ocean. Opening the door in the morning and hearing the sound of waves crashing is just magical.
Rooms were not only serviced daily, but there was also proactive nightly turndown service, which included bottled water and chocolates.
As you can probably tell, I have mixed feelings about the rooms. They’re a great size and have beautiful balconies with unbelievable views. But otherwise the rooms simply don’t feel luxurious, and seem like they could just as easily belong to a Westin.
The rooms need a bit more personality, and ideally some more art or even wall treatments. For that matter, the bathroom could also use towel racks. Funny enough we met some lovely ladies who were staying at the hotel as well, and when we asked them what they thought of the rooms, they immediately brought up their confusion about the lack of towel racks in the bathroom.
It’s pretty clear some corners were cut when it comes to the indoor finishes. On the plus side, the outdoor space is much nicer.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos pools
The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos has two pools, located beyond the three buildings and near the beach. There’s a walkway directly from the lobby leading to these.
One pool is exclusively for adults, and is really well done. It has plenty of seating, and an overall nice design.
There’s a second pool for families. While the pool design as such isn’t as inspiring, I think many will appreciate a separate option for those with kids.
It’s my understanding that the hotel was roughly 80% full when we were staying there, so I was impressed that there was no need to play games to reserve seats. They were always readily available.
I also appreciated that the hotel had a variety of complimentary sunscreen available at the pool, plus water. There are so many beach resorts that try to rip guests off with sunscreen.
My one disappointment here was the lack of hot tubs. I always find it strange when beach resorts don’t have hot tubs, but maybe that’s just me?
Ritz Carlton Turks & Caicos beach
The Ritz-Carlton’s biggest asset is that it’s on Grace Bay, often regarded as one of the world’s best beaches. There’s a path leading directly to the beach, and then the hotel has a setup with lounge chairs, service, etc. There are also all kinds of water sports available.
So, did Grace Bay live up to the hype? I’m not much of a beach lounger, but rather am more of a beach walker, and I have to say the answer is yes. The beach here is extremely long (you could walk over seven miles), and I was amazed by how soft and clean the sand was, and how clear the water was.
This really is a top notch beach, and being able to take an extended walk here every morning was a real treat.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos gym & spa
The Ritz-Carlton has a gym and spa, located on the ground floor near the elevators and the lobby. The gym was very well equipped, with both cardio and weight equipment. The gym also had floor-to-ceiling windows toward the ocean, which was nice.
The hotel also has a spa, and you can find the menu here and the spa list here. We didn’t end up using the spa. We were thinking of getting a treatment on one of our last days, only to discover that the spa is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Oddly the hotel’s website suggests that the spa is open daily from 9AM until 6PM, though obviously that wasn’t our experience. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a beach resort before where a spa is closed for two consecutive days.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos Coralli Restaurant (breakfast)
The Ritz-Carlton has a few dining options, and one of those is Coralli Restaurant, which is located on the beach. This is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and it’s also where pool service is provided from.
While breakfast isn’t included for Marriott Bonvoy elites at Ritz-Carlton properties, we still checked out the restaurant a couple of mornings.
The restaurant has a bit of indoor seating, and then also a beautiful outdoor patio looking out toward the ocean.
You can find the breakfast menu here. One option is to do the buffet for $34 per person including coffee and juice, or else you can order from the menu. Below are some pictures of the buffet.
We ordered a la carte, and had both hot and iced coffee, which were quite good.
We also enjoyed the avocado toast, omelets, and the banana oatmeal pancakes (which we wouldn’t usually order, but a group we met on property told us how good they were, so we decided to give them a try). The food was excellent across the board.
It’s worth noting that the Ritz-Carlton also sets up complimentary coffee in the lobby each morning, which is a nice touch.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos Coralli Restaurant (lunch)
We also enjoyed lunch at Coralli Restaurant, as it’s the primary on-property restaurant that’s open during the day. You can either sit in the restaurant, or in the more casual bar area.
As far as drinks go, there was an extensive wine and cocktail list. They also had some pitchers that could be shared, and we ordered The Tipsy Palmer, which consisted of Maker’s Mark, iced tea, simply syrup, and lemon juice. I’ve gotta say, at $49 this might be the best value alcoholic drinks on property. We both have a decent alcohol tolerance, but my gosh, we were wasted after finishing this. Oops.
You can find the lunch menu here, and as you can see, it includes all kinds of sandwiches, burgers, salads, and more. We ordered the Mediterranean dips to start, and then I had the fish sandwich, while Ford had the doner kebab.
We enjoyed the drinks we ordered from the pool as well.
Across the board food on property was expensive, but not more expensive than I’d expect at a Ritz-Carlton in the Caribbean.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos BLT Steak (dinner)
The Ritz-Carlton has a BLT Steak, as you’ll find at several Ritz-Carlton properties. While not a particularly local experience, BLT Steak does have some great meat. The restaurant is located in a separate building next to the hotel, near the entrance (as a result it doesn’t offer anything in the way of ocean views).
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and we decided to sit outdoors in the courtyard.
I have a bad habit of ordering dirty martinis in places where that’s not a common cocktail, and usually end up disappointed. I tried my luck at BLT since it’s a steakhouse, and fortunately they delivered.
At the start of the meal we were offered some chicken liver pate and popovers. Ford loved the chicken liver pate, while I loved the popovers. Yum.
As far as dinner itself goes, you can find the menu here. To start we ordered the tuna tartare to share.
For our mains we both ordered the seven ounce filet mignons with horseradish, which we enjoyed immensely.
We also ordered some asparagus to share.
At the conclusion of the meal we were offered some warm mini-brownies.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos Casa Nonna (dinner)
On select days of the week the Ritz-Carlton has Casa Nonna, an Italian restaurant. At first I was confused about where this restaurant is, since I thought I had seen the whole hotel, but hadn’t seen the restaurant. Then I realized that Coralli (the breakfast and lunch) restaurant is simply converted into Casa Nonna at night. Ahh…
We sat outside, and what a view!
As you may have guessed based on the name, the restaurant serves Italian cuisine, and you can find the menu here. We were offered some pieces of flatbread to start.
As a starter we shared the calamari fritti.
Then for our mains we split the tortelloni di ricotta and branzino croccante. All three dishes were exceptional.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos Lobby Lounge
The Ritz-Carlton also has the Lobby Lounge, which is open from around noon until late at night. It’s entirely outdoors, and looks out toward Grace Bay, with plenty of seating options.
While you can come here for a drink, the Lobby Lounge also serves sushi, and you can find the menu here. We ordered some tuna with avocado and two sushi rolls, which were all very well done.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos casino
The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos has a casino. We didn’t end up using it, but it’s there. The good news is that it’s in a separate building near the entrance (right next to BLK Steak), so if you’re a guest at the hotel you don’t have to worry about this detracting from the experience.
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos Lady Grace sunset cruise
The Ritz-Carlton has a catamaran, named Lady Grace, which does a 90 minute sunset cruise most nights. This is open to both hotel guests and outsiders. The cost is $129 per person, and that includes drinks and appetizers. Since the sun set early during our stay, the cruise started at 4:30PM.
The catamaran itself is quite nice, and indeed there was an open bar and some appetizers. The staff were friendly as well.
I enjoyed a couple of aperol spritzes.
And the sunset was indeed beautiful…
A few things to note, though:
- The very nice ladies we met on the cruise told us how hotel staff told them “you can get trashed” while selling the concept of the cruise
- I only mention that because some people were really trashed; for example, there was one lady who must have spent a good 10 minutes flicking off a drone and yelling “f*ck you” at it, even though it was very far away (at least I’m going to hope it was alcohol that caused her to act that way?)
- While the cruise offers appetizers, you’d think this place was a Centurion Lounge based on how quick the food was gone; within five minutes there was nothing left
- When the cruise started we were told we’d sail 45 minutes in one direction and then turn around, but in reality we sailed for maybe five minutes, and then just kind of stayed there for a while; I’d guess we got at most half a mile from the hotel during the cruise
Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos service
Overall I was impressed by service at the Ritz-Carlton. A few observations:
- Staff at the hotel are roughly half locals and half Filipinos, which created a really interesting blended service culture; the locals working at the hotel were friendly, as were the Filipinos (as you’d expect, since it’s a very service oriented culture)
- I’ve seen some complaints online about service at the resort being really slow; while service wasn’t the fastest and there was an element of “island time,” personally I didn’t have any issues with service speed
- All bills at the hotel have a 10% service charge automatically added, and then you can tip on top of that; it’s my understanding that tipping in Turks & Caicos is similar to what we do in the United States, so I always added an extra 10%
Bottom line
I’m happy I had the chance to check out the new Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos, which is a great addition to Marriott’s portfolio.
Highlights included the large rooms with beach and ocean views (who doesn’t love hearing the sound of waves from their room?), an ideal location on Grace Bay, friendly service, and excellent food (though at a price, as you’d expect at a Ritz-Carlton in the Caribbean).
The main thing I didn’t love about the hotel was how the rooms were appointed. It’s obvious these rooms were designed on a budget, though I feel like if a bit more effort were put into the rooms (wall treatments, art, towel racks, etc.), this could be a top notch property. The other general issue people have with this property is that it sticks out like a sore thumb. The developers didn’t try to blend into the environment, but rather built something that’s way bigger than just about anything else on Grace Bay.
So, would I return? Yes, absolutely, assuming I were redeeming points. I loved being right on Grace Bay, so being able to redeem points for an oceanfront room with that experience is awesome. That being said, if I were paying the cash rate and weren’t brand loyal, I’d certainly consider other options as well.
What do you make of the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos?
That room is $50-$60 a nite at a beach resort in Thailand!
Wow. What an unimpressive monstrosity! No redeeming qualities. Generic AF.
Found the comment "nothing says Ritz more than wasted tourists cursing at the sky" pretty funny.
My fiance really wanted to go to T&C, and in our research; we found the Ritz Carlton commanded a (cash) premium, consistently. The neighboring hotels must love the Ritz Carlton, as it will allow them to raise their rates.
Unless people have points to burn, this...
Wow. What an unimpressive monstrosity! No redeeming qualities. Generic AF.
Found the comment "nothing says Ritz more than wasted tourists cursing at the sky" pretty funny.
My fiance really wanted to go to T&C, and in our research; we found the Ritz Carlton commanded a (cash) premium, consistently. The neighboring hotels must love the Ritz Carlton, as it will allow them to raise their rates.
Unless people have points to burn, this place looks like a pass.
Unfortunately, secrets out.....and AA is now offering daily flights to Anguilla. Anguilla = a refined Turks & Caicos. Better hotels, better restaurants. When you bake the two off against each other; it is a mystery why people still pick T&C over Anguilla
Is the reusable water bottle free?
We stayed at Villa Renaissance down the beach over Thanksgiving and walked over one afternoon to check the Ritz out. I agree that the lobby and grounds are terrific but the rooms and interior just look depressing. Other nice thing about that area is that there are plenty of walkable shopping and dining options, as well as a grocery store.
This Ritz looks like a decent alternative for a quick weekend in TCI burning points...
We stayed at Villa Renaissance down the beach over Thanksgiving and walked over one afternoon to check the Ritz out. I agree that the lobby and grounds are terrific but the rooms and interior just look depressing. Other nice thing about that area is that there are plenty of walkable shopping and dining options, as well as a grocery store.
This Ritz looks like a decent alternative for a quick weekend in TCI burning points but otherwise stay at one of the villas in the area; same beach, 3-4x the space w/ a kitchen yet half the price of the Ritz.
I also recently stayed at the ritz on points and had similar thoughts. I was also overcharged for taxes and fees — over 3X from what I was quoted in my confirmation. Did you experience this too? I’ve been trying to dispute this along with another incorrect charge with the hotel but am not getting a response.
Hot tubs in a tropical resort? Surely not! =)
Very thorough and helpful review!
I would be interested to know if the adult/ family pools are monitored and enforced. It has been my experience that hotel staff and management are very reluctant to enforce the adult only rule.
This was a great review Lucky. The property was on my honeymoon short list (we ended up at Zemi Beach House in Anguilla) and we'll definitely keep it on the list for future trips.
Stay at the AMAN resort, Amanyara, and you will not be disappointed. First class all the way.
I've seen the Ritz and am not impressed at all, other than the beautiful beach it's on. We stay at the building next door to the Ritz -- the Villa Renaissance -- which in my opinion offers more luxury and space in a more intimate setting with equal or superior facilities. And, it's price is a fraction of the Ritz.
Boy, they put a Pepsi branded cooler out by the pool? How is this a Ritz Carlton? At least throw some palm fronds on the side to hide the garish red/white/blue advertisement.
My favorite part about Turks and Caicos is getting out and exploring the local restaurants, interacting with the friendly locals and seeing the even more beautiful beaches "off the beaten path" like Half Moon Bay. Rent a kayak and a half hour later you're on a nearly abandoned piece of beautiful sand. These Grace Bay all-inclusive places just look depressing to me, especially the Ritz (looks like a prison when you drive past it on...
My favorite part about Turks and Caicos is getting out and exploring the local restaurants, interacting with the friendly locals and seeing the even more beautiful beaches "off the beaten path" like Half Moon Bay. Rent a kayak and a half hour later you're on a nearly abandoned piece of beautiful sand. These Grace Bay all-inclusive places just look depressing to me, especially the Ritz (looks like a prison when you drive past it on the road.) I can't imagine visiting Turks and just staying in one of these resorts the entire time. The island is filled with incredible Airbnbs and VRBOs for a fraction of the price and infinitely more character than this Ritz.
One very stupid question...but from everyone's experience, what's the purpose of the "do you need me to take you to your room" offer?
Is it for tips? Is it just legacy? Given that most people have travelled for years, and the ones who have never travelled probably won't tip thinking it's part of the service, what purpose does this serve anymore given that I've never been "lost"...
(That said...my partner does say I do excessive research ahead of time for everything)
I'd say it's for clearly for tipping and also just in case people think they may get lost. I presume the bags are delivered separately anyway?
@ JP -- This is an excellent question, which I'd like to address in a separate post. Thanks for the idea!
Im sorry but no-way does that look like its worth $1200 a night IMHO, you get better rooms from an all inclusive in family resort in Greece.
Exactly my thoughts. I've stayed at resorts on the Greek islands for a tenth of this price and all the same charm. The Coke branded refrigerator screamed 3 star.
Aside from the food, which looks nice, everything just looks....extremely dull to me and not luxurious. Even the balcony view to me is not very good because it's so far away from the sea and you have directly the other big building to your left, feels more like eastern bloc plattenbau almost.
Comical place.
Awful building, no soul whatsoever, generic restaurants. Sushi in a lobbybar and wasted people yelling during a cruise, what a confusing mess for those nightly rates.
Also the beach looks average? There is literally no scenery or anything, so I am not really sure what makes even that spectacular. Hard pass.
Yikes. I am so disappointed with the St. Regis in Bermuda and with this. I was looking for some nice hotels to stay at in these new destinations I’ve never been and I am put off the photos. Firstly, the beach does not compare in quality to other areas on Grace based on guest images on TripAdvisor and Instagram. The tile by the elevator in the lobby looks so boring and poor. The hallway is...
Yikes. I am so disappointed with the St. Regis in Bermuda and with this. I was looking for some nice hotels to stay at in these new destinations I’ve never been and I am put off the photos. Firstly, the beach does not compare in quality to other areas on Grace based on guest images on TripAdvisor and Instagram. The tile by the elevator in the lobby looks so boring and poor. The hallway is a 4 star hallway. The rooms have boring furniture and carpeting. The only redeeming feature is the stand alone bathtub.
The hotel does look like a monstrosity. It is too far recessed from the beach. That’s a long walk to the beach.
I was shocked and laughed so hard when I realized the rooms in Bermuda (St. Regis) have the entrance that goes through the bathroom to get to the room. I’ve never heard something so ridiculous. These were two of the most prominent new additions to Marriott and it’s disappointing. The Westin in St. John was also renovated a few years ago into something comical. Basically, the Ritz in St. Thomas and Grand Cayman are the only ones I can vouch for in the Caribbean.
It really doesn't look very nice.
I just headed straight to the comment section. Is this where you do your offshore banking ? 1,000 corporations probably use the hotel address as a tax safe haven.
It doesn’t look like a $1200 per night place. BUT I can see that getting away to the ocean and having nice service and food can make it a nice experience hence the 4 stars. For me you summed it up with nice balcony and waves crashing.
If you’re not spending a whole lot of time in the room or corridor it kinda makes sense
Building lacking in style, cheap furnishings, rooms inside look like a nicer Hyatt Place, no real Bonvoy benefits...smells just like Marriott to me!
Meh, rooms def don't seem like a Ritz. Mini cruise looked nice if snacks were plentiful. But the price wasn't bad. I'm always disappointed when resorts like this don't offer local food. Sushi and steak are nice but I want local grub when I travel.
Ben, although I generally agree with your review, my wife and I felt that the food on the property (other than BLT and the burger we had almost daily) was lackluster at best. Although the sushi ordered from the lobby bar was excellent, the hour plus wait for lunch was well beyond island time acceptable. The physical plant of the hotel was perfectly fine. You are in the Caribbean and if you are expecting the...
Ben, although I generally agree with your review, my wife and I felt that the food on the property (other than BLT and the burger we had almost daily) was lackluster at best. Although the sushi ordered from the lobby bar was excellent, the hour plus wait for lunch was well beyond island time acceptable. The physical plant of the hotel was perfectly fine. You are in the Caribbean and if you are expecting the Ritz in Grand Cayman or Aruba, T&C is neither. But, it is still a perfectly fine hotel. The hotel needs to work on F&B (both food quality and staff attentiveness). It has the bones to be great property with some hard work. The core staff members were fantastic, but we have found that a mandatory 10% service charge is an invitation to mediocrity. We spent 10 days there in January and are currently in Aruba. Both great islands, but at the end of the day, we’d go with the Marriott Surf Club. Next month Zemi on Anguilla; we’ll try to do a comparison on Zemi and the Ritz.
OMG…this is THE worst looking hotel I’ve ever seen…except on Aruba…YUCK!!!!!!
This looks like a condo in Florida - definite pass! And those food prices are extortionate. Gotta make up for all the people redeeming Bonvoy points, I suppose...
Does the VW bus have any purpose or just decoration?
Honestly this looks like a Grand Hyatt — 100% not a Ritz Carlton. Depressing rooms, harsh lighting everywhere, and boring restaurants/bars. The only thing this place has going for it is the beach, and I’m sure there are places with a much better value nearby.
I get the reservations about the room. The room looks like a small step down from the JW Marriott Cancun I stayed at during a "I have to take a beach vacation somewhere other than Florida" last year. Though at the JW at least they had some décor in the corridors.
The other plus of a JW over a Ritz (there was one right next door) was the included breakfast with Platinum status. I'll...
I get the reservations about the room. The room looks like a small step down from the JW Marriott Cancun I stayed at during a "I have to take a beach vacation somewhere other than Florida" last year. Though at the JW at least they had some décor in the corridors.
The other plus of a JW over a Ritz (there was one right next door) was the included breakfast with Platinum status. I'll almost always choose a JW over a Ritz, and a St. Regis is a no brainer over a Ritz.
@Lucky - Did you ever re-book your Ritz cruise???
Great Review. Don't forget there is a Ritz in Naples Florida. You could drove there and taken Winston.
Ironically if you look at satellite view the rooms are set much further back from the beach than almost any other hotel on Grace Bay. I can't imagine paying the cash cost for this place given what else is available just yards away.
No resort fee I’m guessing? So at least that’s nice?
Also funny how titanium elites have a special published upgrade benefit at ritz and it’s such a scam that it goes totally unmentioned.
I often stay at Ritz’s and find a wide range in terms of price/experience. For example, the prior Ritz in Lake Las Vegas, in Amelia Island, or in Orlando - more competitively priced and more average experience. However, the Ritz’s in prime locations tend to be expensive and high-end experience (like Grand Cayman or Naples) or even Reserve properties. Surprises me that this one isn’t more expensive per night (in high season) and higher experience...
I often stay at Ritz’s and find a wide range in terms of price/experience. For example, the prior Ritz in Lake Las Vegas, in Amelia Island, or in Orlando - more competitively priced and more average experience. However, the Ritz’s in prime locations tend to be expensive and high-end experience (like Grand Cayman or Naples) or even Reserve properties. Surprises me that this one isn’t more expensive per night (in high season) and higher experience - that location could command it.
I know that recipe!...
1. Build a Westin
2. Give it gym equipment from a Sheraton
3. Add a chain steakhouse
4. Subtract elite benefits
5. Mix well until branded as Ritz-Carlton
6. Charge $1,200 per night and profit.
It's amazing how much Ritz relies only on its name. Obviously too many people have much more money than sense. The only worthwhile Ritz I've ever stayed at was in Langkawi. All others have been a huge disappointment and I've pretty much written off Ritz entirely. I'd love to visit T&C but definitely won't be wasting that many points on such an average property.
Stayed here in November. The only way to stay here is a room with Club Lounge. It makes it like an all inclusive, but Ritz style!!!
Stayed at Grace Bay Club recently and couldn't believe they allowed that monstrosity to be built , heard from a local cab driver the Ritz Carlton owners bribed the local officials to get past the building code where no building should be taller than the tallest palm tree. I have no idea if that is true but would not surprise me. The Ritz truly is an eyesore on Grace Bay.
On a related note, what did you think of the GBC?
Based on this review I think I would do a Marriott stay and enjoy the beautiful beach, as well as finally see the Turks and Caicos’s.
Ben, just stayed at the St. Regis Punta Mita. Excellent use of points, and was also able to clear 5 upgrade certs. A Sun-Friday stay, as well as ambassador status I think helped. Very very nice resort and beach property for Marriott- can’t recommend enough.
Not terribly impressive, but not too bad for a points hotel that's just a short hop from south Florida, I guess.
Was that asparagus as huge as it looks in the photo?
Appreciate the review. Based on that, definitely not going. Other than the beach, looks like there was nothing that made it stand out from any other reasonable hotel in any other similar place.
This room was going for over $1k a night? I guess I really do not get the allure of these luxury properties. Yeah there are some nice amenities and the rooms can be nice but what are you really getting for your money? You pay such a crazy amount for a bed to sleep in, then on top of that you have to pay exorbitant amounts for meals. It's always confused me. When I pay...
This room was going for over $1k a night? I guess I really do not get the allure of these luxury properties. Yeah there are some nice amenities and the rooms can be nice but what are you really getting for your money? You pay such a crazy amount for a bed to sleep in, then on top of that you have to pay exorbitant amounts for meals. It's always confused me. When I pay an expensive cash rate to fly first/business on a high end international airline, I know that my comfort and experience is going to be leaps and bounds above economy and it is all included for the price I paid. With hotels, it is the exact opposite. The more you pay, the less things are included. Just weird. I would be equally as happy at a Hyatt House as I would at this Ritz Carlton ;-)
Nothing says "Ritz-Carlton" like wasted people staggering around a booze cruise yelling "f*ck you" at the sky!
At the end of the day, easy access to pools, nice beaches (along with water sports, booze cruise), restaurants is worth a lot of money to a lot of people, especially in the winter months. You also get a large, comfortable room. Four or five nights in this setting can be a good opportunity to recharge. Remember you may be on a plane for four, five, seven, 10 hours, but you are at this kind of hotel for days.
Great review! Very impressed with this resort and location. I’d use points as my first choice as the cash price seems high.
Impressed why?
@Lucky
So few weeks ago you downplay the devaluation, yet you say here you're trying to burn all your Bonvoy points.
So are we suppose to panic and quickly burn them or not?
@ Eskimo -- When did I try to downplay the devaluation? I literally wrote the same thing about wanting to redeem my Bonvoy points in the St. Regis Aspen review.
@Lucky
From your "Marriott Bonvoy Devaluation: How Bad Will It Be?" post.
-For the average, run-of-the-mill redemption, I wouldn’t expect the elimination of award charts to be bad news
-I’d even expect that many high-end hotels will continue to have award pricing that’s similar to what it is today, at least for much of the year
-Personally I think there will be some unofficial cap on redemption rates
-The good news is...
@Lucky
From your "Marriott Bonvoy Devaluation: How Bad Will It Be?" post.
-For the average, run-of-the-mill redemption, I wouldn’t expect the elimination of award charts to be bad news
-I’d even expect that many high-end hotels will continue to have award pricing that’s similar to what it is today, at least for much of the year
-Personally I think there will be some unofficial cap on redemption rates
-The good news is that I don’t think all aspirational properties will suddenly become outrageously priced.
I mean we all agree devaluation is bad, and we should book asap.
But there is also a difference between
I'm going to xxxxx this year so I should redeem them now.
vs
I'm making a trip to yyyyy just so I can get rid of Bonvoy while there is still something left.
And I guess I'm stuck here on what exactly is your opinion. That post makes me feel like devaluation sucks but no need to panic. Just go to xxxxx but don't go to yyyyy yet.
@ Eskimo -- I didn't take this trip solely to redeem points. I'm simply prioritizing redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points over other hotel points, as I've often done in the past when a devaluation is imminent.
I think you're selectively quoting from that post. I also speculate in that post that redemptions could cost up to 200K points, which would mean that the value for high-end redemptions in peak season would be cut in half. That...
@ Eskimo -- I didn't take this trip solely to redeem points. I'm simply prioritizing redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points over other hotel points, as I've often done in the past when a devaluation is imminent.
I think you're selectively quoting from that post. I also speculate in that post that redemptions could cost up to 200K points, which would mean that the value for high-end redemptions in peak season would be cut in half. That would be a massive devaluation for those looking for aspirational redemptions.
But I also stand by everything else you quoted above. The two concepts aren't mutually exclusive.
There's a middle ground here. I think the most premium redemptions will go way up in price, but that doesn't mean everyone should suddenly redeem all of their Bonvoy points. Meanwhile for those who want to redeem at Marriott's most premium properties in peak season, I absolutely think it's worth locking in an award.
@Lucky
Thanks for your explanations.
Sitting on way too much points. I was saving up for several miles hotel + air package, decided not to buy due to the year expiration. Got Bonvoyed for not buying. And for the same reason, still can't convince myself to burn many weeks in paradise just for the reason to not get devalued.
I guess staying a few months at RI or CY that didn't get devalued is...
@Lucky
Thanks for your explanations.
Sitting on way too much points. I was saving up for several miles hotel + air package, decided not to buy due to the year expiration. Got Bonvoyed for not buying. And for the same reason, still can't convince myself to burn many weeks in paradise just for the reason to not get devalued.
I guess staying a few months at RI or CY that didn't get devalued is not a bad consolation. It would be a weird milestone but should be interesting to reach 75 or even 100 nights with 0 USD spent.
Oceanfront is a big stretch here. Maybe the building in front of you is oceanfront.
@ Sel, D. -- Interesting. I have several criticisms of this hotel, but that's not one of them. But I guess different people view room naming differently. To me an oceanview room is one that looks at the ocean but potentially has an obstruction, while an oceanfront room is one that directly faces the ocean.
To me "Resort View" has no view of the ocean. "Ocean View" has a partial or direct view of the ocean, and "Ocean Front" has a completely unblemished view, with no other buildings blocking your view of the beach and water. These views/rooms would be the closet to the beach. I've seen other hotels use this nomenclature as well. Since you can see another building from your balcony that is closer to the beach, I...
To me "Resort View" has no view of the ocean. "Ocean View" has a partial or direct view of the ocean, and "Ocean Front" has a completely unblemished view, with no other buildings blocking your view of the beach and water. These views/rooms would be the closet to the beach. I've seen other hotels use this nomenclature as well. Since you can see another building from your balcony that is closer to the beach, I would have thought that those views are "Ocean Front" and you would have an "Ocean View".
Well put Mark. I think where this becomes a bigger deal is when you pay for it and have a certain expectation vs. a check-in upgrade. How can a room be oceanfront if another is oceanfronter? Lucky this could make for a good (somewhat) whimsical general post - I know you’ve been unhappy with room descriptions before.
Great to see you back in the review business Lucky! Agree with your conclusion and some of the comments, I'd go to this hotel but only on points given the proximity to Miami (also SoFl-based). However, if I am paying nearly 1k a night (or more!) I think there are better deals to be had in T&C. Also, RC doesn't honor Bonvoy members too well, adding to my reluctance to book at this property.
While I LOVE your blog, your scores are way too kind. 4/5 for this, really? With the exception of being harassed in Greece, have you ever been to a hotel that you didn’t give 4, 4.5 or 5 stars? ;)
@ Lukas -- Hah, there was also Solaz Los Cabos:
https://onemileatatime.com/reviews/solaz-los-cabos/
I hear you, perhaps four stars is too generous. I think the reason I rated it that highly is because a) you can redeem points here, and there aren't many options in Turks & Caicos where that's the case, and it's a decent value on points b) Grace Bay is really beautiful, so the location can't be beat, and c) everyone was friendly...
@ Lukas -- Hah, there was also Solaz Los Cabos:
https://onemileatatime.com/reviews/solaz-los-cabos/
I hear you, perhaps four stars is too generous. I think the reason I rated it that highly is because a) you can redeem points here, and there aren't many options in Turks & Caicos where that's the case, and it's a decent value on points b) Grace Bay is really beautiful, so the location can't be beat, and c) everyone was friendly and the dining options were good.
To me it's easy to decide if a place deserves a 4.5-5 star rating (this place doesn't), though perhaps I struggle a bit more in deciding between a 3.5-4 star rating.
Sounds like the Alila Marea. The rooms were fine but not very inspired, for an upscale beach resort
1200$ a night for this? Wow. Is the whole Grace Bay area overpriced or is this hotel an exception?
@ Mark -- Most hotels on Grace Bay are pricey, though the Ritz-Carlton probably commands a premium over some other places based on the name recognition and global distribution power of Marriott.
I wonder whether this approach is sustainable. The rooms are very average, the hallways no more than 3 stars, the level of detail as regards art and design is low. If a property fails to justify a premium, I wonder how many Bonvoy elites will return and still pay that premium.
Since 2021, I’ve been truly surprised at room prices for luxury hotels with close access from the US (or a part of the US). I think it’s part of the travel reality for a while.
Great looking overpriced Resort Factory. Haha. Thought you didn't like those. Also looks like it basically destroyed any REMAINING lowrise/ambience Grace Bay once had. Yuck
@ MVF -- I'm not usually a resort factory fan, but I have been wanting to visit Turks & Caicos and there's a points angle here, hence the visit.
It seems like they actively avoided any not to local culture. For dinner I can have Steak, Italian or Sushi? The rooms and lobby have zero sense of place. I'd probably stare there on points, but I'd never pay money to stay at a place I could be absolutely anywhere in the world.
*any nod to local culture
Put up a Westin flag and charge $400 a night and it would be a very nice resort, but that just doesn't seem like a $1200 Ritz Carlton to me.
Agree 100%! I would expect so much more at $1,200/night.
Agree completely! That building is just plain ugly.
@Ben did they offer a paid upgrade to the Club level?
Sitting on the balcony offers two great advantages: 1) you have a lovely sea view, and 2) you can't be looking at that ugly building they call a hotel.
Looks too bland especially at the price. Could be anywhere based on the interiors.
And presumably Grace beach was a beautiful spot till they built a huge hotel and apartment complex on it destroying the vibe.
I'm not usually down on their hotels but this is just so meh.
Great review! Those rooms though... yikes. And the building is indeed a massive eye sore, my goodness, how was that even approved? It looks like Miami. You can already tell it's going to age extremely poorly.
Per a friend who lives in Providenciales - the original plan was back in the early 2000's for a Ritz Carlton on West Caicos but it fell through. Then during the '08/'09 crisis, the government panicked and wanted to secure a windfall. They signed this deal sometime in the early/mid 2010's. Completely sold out... You can see the top of the hotel from a big chunk of beach on Grace Bay. If you can swing...
Per a friend who lives in Providenciales - the original plan was back in the early 2000's for a Ritz Carlton on West Caicos but it fell through. Then during the '08/'09 crisis, the government panicked and wanted to secure a windfall. They signed this deal sometime in the early/mid 2010's. Completely sold out... You can see the top of the hotel from a big chunk of beach on Grace Bay. If you can swing it, I'd prefer to stay on the other end at Waymara or over elsewhere (COMO, Amanyara) where you don't have to look at it.
I know I already said it on your "intro" blog, but I have to say it again that it is so upsetting that this hotel was ever approved. As always, it was a great review, however this hotel is a massive eye sore on Grace Bay. There were no highrises before and now this is there... That was a massive part of the allure of T&C. Not to mention it's a casino resort... If you...
I know I already said it on your "intro" blog, but I have to say it again that it is so upsetting that this hotel was ever approved. As always, it was a great review, however this hotel is a massive eye sore on Grace Bay. There were no highrises before and now this is there... That was a massive part of the allure of T&C. Not to mention it's a casino resort... If you are paying cash rates, there are so many other options to choose from before this monstrosity. T&C is one of my happy places and it's such a bummer that this high rise is now on Grace Bay.
Looks pretty average and not something I would pay over $1K a night for. Or burn points at that rate. Those rooms are right out of the RC Resort Factory play book. There is nothing I see that is unique or even attempting at a resort that might otherwise be in Florida. The building is truly hideous.
It is interesting though that they also use Filipinos as staff there. I believe Aman was the first...
Looks pretty average and not something I would pay over $1K a night for. Or burn points at that rate. Those rooms are right out of the RC Resort Factory play book. There is nothing I see that is unique or even attempting at a resort that might otherwise be in Florida. The building is truly hideous.
It is interesting though that they also use Filipinos as staff there. I believe Aman was the first to bring them to Turks and Caicos as the majority of the staff last time I was there, around 2009, were Filipino.
One thought experiment - if this hotel were called a Westin or an Autograph collection, but with the exact same design, restaurants, room fit and finish, amenities, and pricing, would the rating go up to 4.5 or 5 stars?
@ Anthony -- I'd say it would probably get 4.5 stars, assuming rates were actually materially lower.
The issue is I think a Westin would price out at $800 or more in the current environment. Westin hotels in Maui routinely get $1,000. The price is the price, I’m not sure if this is temporary
The views look great! You're right though that the interiors looks something closer to an airport hotel than a luxurious Caribbean resort. Maybe since it's new they haven't gotten to it yet?
@ Vodelhaus -- Yeah, I do kind of wonder if they're still waiting on some interior finishes...
I’ve stayed at Ritz Carlton properties with plainer rooms. Maybe they add some art, but at least the rooms are sizable. At the end of the day, it is a well done property with attractive grounds, good food and beverage, warm weather location, easily accessible to the US, ticks all the necessary boxes for a nice vacation Ritz Carlton resort. For better or worse this is kind of a prototypical Ritz to me, I plan to visit eventually.