The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

The location of the hotel was nice.

I did not like the constant banging I heard the entire night I was there. I told the staff about this and told them I wanted to leave. They still charged me for the night I did not stay and did NOTHING to resolve that banging noise.

Everything , comfortable , elegant clean perfect

Nothing

Buena ubicación y el Beach club

Algo antiguo en cuanto a tecnología e instalaciones Pésima atención del front Desk

The service! The atmosphere!

Rooms are great Pool is disgusting

We thoroughly loved our time at the hotel and especially at the beach club. The hospitality was exceptional and everyone, especially Demar at the beach club, made our family time the absolute best we could hope for.

The hotel is beautiful and in a solid spot. The trolley to St Armands/Beach Club is convenient and the staff on the bus is great. The food is decent but service is very slow, we ate at both Jack Dusty’s and Ridley’s Porch multiple times. Our pack and play took 6 hours to get delivered, we weren’t offered champagne at check in even tho we’re premier elite, small things like that prevented it from being a 10/10. I’d like to highlight one member of the staff who was exceptional and reason enough to go back. Carlos at the beach club was everything you want at a luxury hotel. Funny, accommodating, great with kids, and truly went above and beyond. I hope he knows how much he made the trip for us. He even gave us this little floaty for our son!! Thank you for everything Carlos!

Thank you for a great time. This was our 40/41st anniversary celebrations for us and our friends. We love the resort and the reason we do is because of the staff and service. The hospitality is 5 star and the food and amenities are first class. We notified in advance that we were celebrating the anniversary time for both couples and we were so grateful and impressed with the nice chocolate strawberries and champagne provided to us. Rachel in the club was amazing. Bayan was terrific. Alia’s at the beach club always smiling. Brooke at Jack Dusty provided great service. Laura and Demetrius were awesome. Kavanaugh and Todd were so nice. We love the club and thank you so much for a memorable time. We needed this getaway. Thank you to the entire team at the Ritz Carlton. We will be back. Thank you for everything. M and J.

We stayed at this property in the past. It was clean, the staff was accommodating. But this day was quite different. The property is showing signs of wear and deferred maintenance. The hotel is obviously understaffed. Common areas were unclean and trash was overflowing in trash cans and on table tables in lobby areas. Stephanie, the front desk manager extended our stay by one night due to black mold in the hallway on floor six. Also, our mattress in First room was severely torn and tattered. Pictures are attached to the mold and mattress. We went on a sunset cruise that evening and their house Driver drove us to the marina. He said he would be back at 9 PM when the cruise returned to drive us back. I asked him if we needed his card or contact information and he said no, I will be there. The Driver Sean with Dolphin was not there. We stood out in the heat and waited on her Uber and to go order for pizza sat there for 45 minutes until we were able to get to the restaurant to pick it up and bring it back to the hotel. Upon investigation of the two queen beds in our next room, those mattresses were also torn and tattered, and smelled of mold horribly. This is a health and sanitary issue that must be addressed. The staff here shows a total lack of care and unwillingness to do anything about the problems. They actually laughed at my husband when he was telling the story about the driver not showing up. Bottom line that sums it all up is that the tipped employees hold their job in high regard and provide excellent service. But the salary employees seem to be unemotional and unconcern about anything it’s a total opposite experience that we had here a year ago

The first and most alarming thing was the black mold in the hallway on level 6. I even reported this to the front desk manager, and she seemed completely unaffected and showed a total lack of care. Black mold is a very serious issue. My husband was a contractor in Minnesota and is extremely sensitive when there’s black mold present. This can cause serious health issues for folks and should be taken seriously. He has been coughing since our stay. It blows my mind that no one would take this issue seriously or even address it. It was kind of brushed off to the wayside. There was a piece of wallpaper in the hallway, literally peeling off the wall with tons of black mold, see the picture I told the manager, and when we went back in the hallway it was literally just glued back in place, but wasn’t cleaned behind it. This is NOT UP TO RITZ STANDARDS. The second issue was upon returning to our room, housekeeping had left pillowcases in our bathroom sink. The washcloths were not replaced. Overall our return stay to this property led us, disappointed, and frustrated. Had to spend too much time, dealing with contacting the front desk and trying to manage the issues we had instead of enjoying our time here. Thank you for also as a gold elite member we should be getting 2 PM late check out. We had to go down every day to have our key reprogrammed and on our last day they would not guarantee us the late check out. This is frustrating that they can’t communicate and manage things on their end better. Unprofessional and lack of good training. Also, the food at club level was disappointing. It was like cafeteria food. The bloody Mary we had was not even shaken. Rachel at clubs level, Thomas (valet), Shannon and Dawn at the spa were all absolutely amazing. The rest of the staff can learn from these exceptional individual.

Ritz Carlton never disappoints. Great rooms, great food, great staff. Luciana at Jack Dusty was wonderful! We loved her. Great location. You can walk to a lot of things in the area. Very accommodating for someone with a pet. Our dog Lola was treated like royalty.

I was here for an evening event and ended up staying for a few more days because I loved it! The service, the rooms, the location is all fantastic. It is very pricey but you definitely get what you pay for!

Location and facilities

Lack of attention by staff to service needs.

We had a very rough experience at first but beach manager Demar reversed that experience and made it a million times better. He oversees a comprehensive beach operation while still taking time to meet and greet all of his guests. The entire beach staff is second to none and I wish I could employ them at my business in California. Thank you, Demar, for such a great experience here at the RC Beach Club!!!

Local muito bom, beach club sensacional

Gostei de tudo

The beach club and the staff at the beach club - 10/10.

N/A

I loved everything about this Ritz Carlton property. I booked this thru Costco vacations and it was the best decision. It came with free valet parking and a rental car. Once I arrived on the property I was greeted with a glass of champagne and upgraded to a marina view room. The shuttle to downtown and to the beach is convenient and runs all day. This hotel is in a perfect location and everyone was sooooo nice to me. This may be the best vacation I’ve had in a long time. Shout out to Chalee at the front desk and all the staff at the beach for taking care of me. Thank you Ritz Carlton Sarasota!

We had a wonderful stay at the Hotel. Staff is warm and friendly and the Hotel checks all the boxes when it comes to rooms and service. A special shout out to Adriana at the front desk who worked patiently with us to sort out a registration problem.

Extremely disappointed. We got a room for one night specifically so that we could get a cabana at the beach club to spend a special day with family. This was not inexpensive and we naturally expected the experience to be commensurate. A $450 cabana should pretty nice, wouldn't you think? It was literally 4 loungers that were identical to all the others around the pool (the description said that the cabana was for up to 6 people, but there is no way we could have fit 2 more), a stringy hammock that was impossible to lay in and a tiki style roof. That's it. Now please look at the attached photo. That was our $450 view. Our backs were to the pool, there was a *tiny* sliver of ocean visible if you craned your neck, and we could barely relax with the sound of heavy machinery constantly moving up and down the beach that was being repaired. To top it off, the service was even lacking, taking 30+ minutes for drink orders and even longer when we were trying to check out. Admittedly, the food and drinks were tasty, but that's all that was decent about the experience.

I stayed at this hotel for a wedding weekend and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience involving a personal item. During my stay, my diamond earrings went missing from my room. What was most concerning was not just the loss itself, but how the situation was handled. I reported it while I was still at the hotel, and received little to no guidance on what steps to take. There was no follow up from management, and I had to repeatedly call on my own just to check if anything had been done. For a hotel of this caliber, I expected a much higher level of professionalism and care, especially when it comes to guest safety and personal belongings. Even if the item could not be recovered, clear communication and a proper response would have made a significant difference. I am still sick over the loss of my earrings, and this experience has completely eroded my trust. I now refuse housekeeping service in hotel rooms altogether because I no longer feel comfortable having anyone enter my space.

This review is for a Club Lounge access room. Blair, Ben and Beatrix in the Club Lounge provided some of the best service I have experienced in RC lounges. Drinks were perfectly mixed and no request was left unfilled. Arrangements were made for car service to dinner each night. I look forward to returning to this property and experiencing the Club Level again.

Oh dear, I was warned not to book this hotel as the 5 STAR claim was way off mark...and true to others words it was not. Im afraid it wasnt enjoyable at all , in fact it reminded me a little of Benidorm hotels , very noisy , very cheesy , no way did it have class...think Premier in with a pool and you know what its like .TBH I dont think the staff really care as this place...due to its name...gets booked up by many unsuspecting tourists . Never again, I would NOT recommend !!

Beach Club

Service quality, room service not reliable

If you're expecting a 5 star Ritz experience, go somewhere else! Our room wasn't available until 6:30pm; after traveling all day this was frustrating. The front desk didn't even call to let us know; we had to keep going up to ask. The rooms do not get cleaned every day unless you ask... asking for a room to be cleaned in a 5 star resort is a joke. They originally forgot to put a shower curtain in our room... again should a 5 star resort even have shower curtains? The pool service is painfully slow and the drinks are overpriced. The beach club is 15 minutes away, 30 in afternoon traffic but the staff is more attentive there. At 11am they did not have towels available... on a busy holiday weekend.. The rooms need a major renovation and the hotel needs to hire staff. Disappointing for the amount they have they nerve to charge per night.

Crowded and tired hotel. If you are looking for a respite, look elsewhere. Place is packed, wait times are very long, and the poor staff look tired and worn down. We did our best to tip well and overlook issues to not pile on their stress, but it’s clearly an understaffed property. Hopefully the management sees this and institutes some changes.

Misleading Experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota $2,600 for ONE annoying day! I recently stayed at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Florida, with expectations of a luxurious beachside vacation, only to be profoundly disappointed by misleading advertising. The hotel's website prominently features photographs suggesting a beachfront location, which is not the reality. The hotel is, in fact, a 15-minute shuttle ride away from the beach, a service that runs only once per hour. This arrangement is far from ideal, especially for families, as it requires organizing around a shuttle schedule and sharing the ride with strangers. This experience falls short of the luxury and convenience one would anticipate from a Ritz-Carlton stay. To complicate matters, when we decided to relocate to another Ritz-Carlton in Naples for an authentic beach experience, the Sarasota location refused to cancel our reservation and insisted on charging us for a day we would not be present. This lack of flexibility and understanding is disappointing, given the misleading nature of their advertising. While the service met the basic expectations of the Ritz-Carlton brand, the lack of effort to resolve our concerns was disheartening. It’s astonishing that they wouldn’t even consider featuring the shuttle bus on their website to provide a more accurate representation of their location and logistics. For those planning a beach vacation, I strongly recommend bypassing this hotel and heading directly to Naples, where you can truly enjoy the beach without unnecessary inconvenience. Additionally, the club level amenities at the Sarasota location do not accommodate the extended travel time to and from the beach, further diminishing the value of the stay. Though financially recoverable, the time lost and the frustration experienced were significant. It is bewildering that a hotel bearing the Ritz-Carlton name could operate in this manner, which raises questions about the authenticity of this location. Despite offering a 20% discount for the day we won't use, the gesture does little to compensate for the overall disappointment. I urge potential guests to reconsider and choose a location where the promise of luxury and convenience is genuinely fulfilled. Unfortunately, my in-laws, who intended to join us, fell 5 days before our trip, yet the hotel charged a cancellation fee due to their strict seven-day notice requirement. In today's travel climate, a 48-hour notice would be more reasonable. The hotel's lack of flexibility was evident, though they eventually comped our dinner after multiple complaints about the inconvenience caused by the closed club level upon returning from the beach.

The Ritz in Sarasota was nice but for the price you pay you would think that they could afford to spruce up their games in the kids areas. They pool table area had three pool cues and they were all broken. I understand that kids break them but pool cues aren't that expensive and we are paying over $1k per night. A similar situation occurred at the beach. They provide corn hole boards but the bags were so cheap and light that you couldn't even think about throwing them into a slight wind. This Ritz definitely needs to step up their game when it comes to the kids.

We only stayed at this hotel for one night and had a fantastic experience. Kavanaugh checked us in and he really set the tone for an all round wonderful stay. He was welcoming, friendly, professional and a first class representative of the Ritz brand. We were ungraded to a beautiful room overlooking the marina and bay. Our room was spotlessly clean and it was so pleasant to sit on the balcony overlooking the water. We didn’t use the pool or beach club with a quick one night stay, but did enjoy sitting in the pool/garden area. Staff was happy to open up the complimentary ice cream cart . There’s a fun bell ringing and grog tasting at 5pm which we waited for, but it never materialized. On asking, a staff member was so nice in offering us a private bell ringing session, brief history talk and a glass of tasty grog. We ate dinner on the patio at Jack Dusky . Again, staff were friendly and helpful. The bbq tofu was excellent. Had a nice spicy kick to it. This was a wonderful break in the beautiful city of Sarasota.

OVERALL RATING 9.7/10 For context, we are lifetime platinum elite members who average about 40-50 nights a year as both business and leisure travelers. The property and staff at the Ritz SRQ is all absolutely top notch. The helpfulness and friendliness of staff, the bayfront location and the Ritz Beach Club property really makes this an exceptional place to stay! STAFF 10/10 I would like to mention and personally thank Operations Director Bayan Sabermanesh for all the help in coordinating a bayfront room and kindness in offering a late checkout (which we didn’t end up needing, but still appreciate the gesture). I also want to thank Food and Bev Manager Jordan Felgate for hooking us up at Jack Dusty. Thank you both! We visited in early March. The hotel was at or near capacity and they still did a phenomenal job. The staff happily brought us more toiletries, extra towels, etc. Clean, spacious bay front room with a nice balcony. The bathroom was exceptional. Oversized soaking tub and nice separate shower. The food was superb. We had room service, food poolside and over at the Beach Club at Lido Key. Everything was perfect. Dinner at Jack Dusty was 10/10! Here’s a little info for first time visitors: the shuttle to Ritz beach club/St Armand Circle (a bus seating maybe 25-30) runs every every hour beginning at 9 am. You get wristbands for the Beach Ritz. It sits out front from about 15 minute before the hour and leaves promptly on the hour. It leaves the beach club on the :30. It also stops in St Armand Circle. On Saturday when it was busy they had a 2nd bus. Well done. The beach infinity pool is great, but there are kids, if that is or isn’t your thing. The pool at the main property is very warm and there is a hot tub by the marina. We loved them both. The beach, the water, the lounging chairs, the sand, the service at the beach. All are perfect. Just the little things like the beach chair covers. Or a picky drink order - the drink came out 100% correct every time. Thank your wonderful staff and we are very grateful. Kudos to the management for running this property so well!!! We will see you again!

Shaylee - best Tiki bartender!

Ignored in the Jack Dusty Restaurant. Wasn't that busy. At least 10 different staff members walked by attending to a range of small tasks- not so much as a "someone will be right with you".

excelente

preço muito elevado fitness center muito pequeno spa sem acesso gratuito

location

I had to pay at 2500 dollar deposit and it was just me for a week, I still dont have the monies owed back

Overall just a great hotel! Only drawback is that you need to leave the property for the beach area, otherwise we loved it! We had a lovely suite and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful.

A five star four day stay! We couldn’t have been more pleased by the service, views, food and ambiance of The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. A particular thanks to the fabulously hospitable Benjamin Bonkowski, Club Concierge, and Beatrix and Breanna for making the Club Lounge our very warm home base.

I liked this place a lot. First, it's a beautiful property, well-maintained. The staff is all so professional. We had a suite that was laid out very well, with ample space. The furnishings were both elegant and comfortable. Adequate dresser space. There were one-and-a half bathrooms, very nice, and the master had two sinks, which is a big plus. Nice set up at the nearby beach, and the pool set up also nice and relaxed. Very attentive staff. Many hotels - I mean many - that purport to be in this top-tier luxury are pretenders who just charge alot. This place delivers and I look forward to returning.

The halls and entry were very pretty

The room was little better than an average hotel room and almost nothing was complimentary which is a basic expectation at almost all hotels. Bland oatmeal breakfast for $20. A can of Pepsi in the fridge for $6. Parking for $50 per night. For the amount we paid for a very average room, I expected a lot more from this resort and am disappointed.

Wonderful experience at the Ritz Tiki Bar during the New Year’s weekend. From the minute we arrived we were greeted by the bartender, Ryan. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a previous Marriott property and to my surprise he had relocated to this property. The Ritz Carlton has a true star on their staff in Ryan. He is amazing at his craft and a true professional. I will definitely be back to the property because of Ryan. The experience he provides patrons and families is unmatched. Absolutely amazing experience!!! Thank you Ryan!!!

This Ritz location is FANTASTIC!! The Beach Club is a blast, food was good but what really stood out was the service. We did Club level and it was totally worth the additional cost- so kid friendly and the food was awesome (as were the drinks- the Espresso Martinis were fab!). Ben in the Club went above and beyond in every way. He was always ready to help and always with the most authentic smile and kind word. Our kids were 5 and 7 and we had such special breakfasts each morning where we played chess, UNO and a bunch of other games that were available at the Club. They helped us get reservations (Ben even physically walked downstairs to a restaurant to see if he could make more progress to get us a spot!), held our luggage for us, got us new keys when we lost them and on and on. Thank you to the entire team for such a truly wonderful week where we made memories to last a lifetime!!

Older resort, beach is very far and a lot of traffic for the shuttle which is once an hour only. Otherwise what I found is that Sarasota isn’t a great place to go to anyways. Definitely not worth the price, maybe for 1/5th it’s okay. Staff and service was excellent and everyone was very professional, definitely 5 star for that.

Our Christmas stay at the Ritz-Carlton was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by so many staff members, making us feel genuinely welcomed and cared for. The holiday touches were exceptional. We were greeted with welcome champagne, enjoyed free bellinis and mimosas for two hours one day, and were constantly surprised with thoughtful details — free Christmas cookies, beautiful Christmas chocolates delivered to our door on Christmas morning, and even personalized letters from Santa hand-delivered under the door with treats hanging on the handle. Santa and Mrs. Claus were incredibly sweet, and the Christmas events throughout the hotel were adorable and so well done. The decorations were stunning and truly created a magical Christmas atmosphere. The food across the resort was amazing, and restaurant service was excellent everywhere we went. Live music on Saturday night was fantastic — we honestly wished there had been even more of it. The beach club was a highlight — relaxing, beautiful, and fun. Drinks served in coconuts were such a great touch. Raul at the beach club was especially kind and memorable, and Joe, one of the bellmen, was incredibly sweet and helpful. The people truly make this hotel special. We also loved the thoughtful extras like free fishing poles and the incredible welcome snack served on beautiful sand — everything was edible, creative, and delicious. The Candy Cane Café is such a cute idea and very festive visually. The only small suggestion would be to lean even more into the holiday theme with specialty drinks like candy cane lattes or eggnog lattes, as it currently serves regular coffee only. A couple of very minor notes: the pool temperature could be just one degree warmer, and the beach club store could be expanded a bit — but these are small details in an otherwise perfect experience.i also wish the shuttle ran every 30 minutes. Overall, this was one of the most magical Christmas experiences we’ve ever had. The Ritz-Carlton exceeded every expectation. Everyone at the hotel was kind, attentive, and genuinely warm. We can’t wait to return.

Clean beautifully maintained. Would stay here every trip

Huge shoutout to Francesco at the beach club for his outstanding hospitality! The drinks were great and he was so friendly and welcoming!!🤍

Our family of 5 spent 3 nights over the Thanksgiving holiday at The Ritz Carlton Sarasota. We had 3 rooms. It was the most wonderful stay. From check in, the condition of the room and property, the holiday decorations (which went up the day we arrived), all our meals, the beach club- no notes! 10/10. A magnificent visit. This was our 3rd visit in 4 years. I don’t know if there has been a change in management or not, but everything was fantastic. The staff were, to a person, friendly and professional. And, everyone seemed to enjoy their job. The vibe was one of cohesion and good energy. Massive shout out to Zach at the front desk. I had a request that has had other hotels acting like I’d asked for the furniture to be moved. One of our family members wants all alcohol and food out of the minibar/room. It’s a preference. I always dread asking because virtually all other properties (and of similar status to RC) are so ungracious and weird about it. Zach was immediately “Not a problem. I am sending someone right now to remove everything.” He has a true spirit of hospitality and a really special way about him. We interacted with him a few times and I predict Zach will be extremely successful in the hospitality industry (or anything he chooses). Thank you, Zach for being the ONLY person at any property to deal with this request so elegantly. We spent time at the beach club and enjoyed soooo much delicious food. Jack Dusty was also a place with amazing service and food. Our family is all working adults who travel a lot for business and pleasure. We all agreed, The Ritz Carlton Sarasota is a very special place.

I booked a four-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota for late December, totaling around $9,000. When I needed to adjust my dates several weeks before arrival, I contacted the hotel to ask about changing the reservation or receiving a credit. I was informed that no changes or alternatives were possible, even though the stay had not yet taken place. I also spoke with a manager, Sanjee, and my experience was that he was cold, unaccommodating, and condescending in explaining why nothing could be done. I left the conversation feeling dismissed rather than helped. As a result, I am left with a prepaid reservation I cannot use and no flexibility offered. Based on this experience, I personally would avoid booking here and would encourage others to consider whether this property’s service approach aligns with their expectations.

I recently stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota with my wife and 18-month-old, my parents, and some friends while attending a wedding. Beyond just convenience for the wedding, we really enjoyed our stay. We ultimately liked being in Downtown Sarasota on the bay, but also having a nice beach option at the hotel’s separate beach club. Choosing to upgrade to the Club Level also made our stay particularly positive. On the slightly less positive side, the hotel feels a bit dated. It is well-maintained and comfortable, but it’s clear it hasn’t been renovated recently. We were also surprised by poor service from some members of hotel management regarding a guest room issue. Still, our overall impression was favorable, and we would return to this hotel. Pre-Arrival Experience: We were staying for two nights, with the first night booked through a wedding room block, and the second night as a separate normal reservation. Because we also booked a second room for my parents, we had a bit of coordination with the hotel beforehand to make sure things were all set. During the booking process, I connected with Josh, the Group Reservations Coordinator, who was excellent. He took care of linking the reservations and a request for our two rooms to be near each other. His email responses were prompt, professional, and clear, so we knew everything was set before we arrived. I also used online check-in through the Marriott app the day before arrival, which is helpful to receive a notification when your room is ready. Since we had a 5:00 pm wedding to attend, and hoped for early check-in, it was a relief to receive a notification around 11:00 am that both rooms were ready before we even arrived at the property. Arrival Experience: We arrived around 1:30 pm on a Saturday, and the valet and door staff immediately greeted us and handled our luggage. They remained consistently friendly throughout our stay, and the valet service was excellent. Our car was always brought up quickly, and a QR code system to request your car from your phone made it effortless. Every time we requested our car right before leaving our room, it was ready and waiting by the time we were downstairs. Inside, the hotel had what I’d refer to as the classic “Ritz-Carlton” aesthetic: grand, with over-the-top finishes that aren’t the most modern. The lobby features lots of marble, ornate chandeliers, and a showy style of luxury. We generally prefer a more modern or understated look, but this was also exactly what we expected at a Ritz, so we weren’t bothered by it. The lobby was busy, but I was able to check in without a wait. While doing so, the little Ritz Kids coloring area near the desk gave our daughter something to do, which was helpful. At check-in, the front desk agent was friendly, offering a clear overview of the hotel’s services, including the hourly shuttle to St. Armands Circle and the hotel’s beach club. The welcome beverage (a choice of sparkling wine, a mimosa, or water) was a nice touch, and not always something even higher-end hotels provide consistently. My Marriott Gold status was acknowledged, although an upgrade to an “enhanced room”, which is the main benefit at this level of status, wasn’t mentioned or provided. I also asked about adding club lounge access for my parents’ room, since they’d be watching our daughter and friends’ son that evening while we attended the wedding. We thought the club lounge would be an easy place to take them. When I’d inquired about it the day before we arrived via the Marriott app, I was told that club lounge access was $300 per night to add, but at check-in, they offered it for less at $250. We accepted that and added access for one room. Overall, our arrival experience was very positive and had us feeling good about the hotel initially. Although we’ve recently gravitated toward slightly higher-end brands like Four Seasons, Belmond, and Rosewood, where the experience tends to be a notch above Ritz-Carltons, the initial experience here felt comparable to those brands. Unfortunately, some poor service shortly afterward took off a bit of the shine. Room: We had reserved two marina view rooms (one for us and one for my parents), both on the eighth floor, which is the club level. The hotel is on the first nine levels of a high-rise, while Ritz-Carlton Residences are on upper levels. One immediate thing we noticed was that the hallways to the rooms were incredibly cold. Everyone we saw in the hallways commented on how oddly freezing the halls were, which was just odd. Upon getting to our room, my first impression was that it was generic, but perfectly fine. The rooms haven’t been renovated since 2015, so the style feels a bit dated, but everything was clean, comfortable, and in good condition. The décor is neutral and unremarkable, but the essentials were all there: comfortable beds and nice linens and robes. Our room was also very quiet at all times, which is important to us. The bathrooms, appointed in gray and white marble, have a timeless look. The dual-sink vanity had good counter space, and the Diptyque bath products were great to have. I was surprised the bathroom had a tub/shower combo rather than a separate tub and shower, which I’ve found to be more common at Ritz-Carltons in the past. However, the set-up worked fine for us, especially with a toddler, since we just like to have some kind of tub for her. The shower curtain on the tub seemed a little basic/lower-end, but the bathroom was functional and nice overall. Every room has a covered balcony with a table and two chairs. When we stepped outside and compared views between our two rooms, we found our only real issue of the stay. My parents’ room (826), on the even-numbered side of the hall, had a true marina view with expansive water views of the marina directly outside the hotel and Sarasota Bay to the left, along with attractive sightlines down to the landscaped hotel grounds and pool. Our room (833), on the odd-numbered side of the hall, looked out over the hotel driveway and entrance and a nearby parking garage, with only a glimpse of distant water visible between buildings that didn’t actually appear to be a marina. It wasn’t a horrific view, but nowhere near comparable to the actual marina view across the hall. Since both rooms were booked and paid for as marina view, the discrepancy was obvious and surprising. Thinking the hotel had mistakenly put us in a lower-category room (which was particularly frustrating, since we were entitled to an “enhanced” room as elite Bonvoy members), I called the front desk. I was transferred to someone who I believe was an assistant manager of one of the departments, and the interaction quickly became difficult. Although he initially acknowledged the view wasn’t what it should be (and at one point said “I know the room view we gave you is misleading”), he later insisted we had a true marina view, when it clearly wasn’t. Rather than empathizing or simply accepting the feedback and trying to make things better, he argued with me about why I should be satisfied when I clearly was not. He first offered to move us to a room with the better view, which was reasonable in theory, but as I explained to him, not really workable. Our daughter was already napping with a bunch of her things unpacked, and we had limited time trying to get ready before a wedding. I explained our impediments to moving, and that we mostly cared about having paid for an upgraded view that we didn’t feel we received as promised. Compensation to cover the difference in cost between the room types is all we really wanted, not as much an actual change of rooms. The manager was very defensive and kept shifting to explanations that didn’t make sense, later shifting to saying our room was an “upgrade” because it was on the club floor. I’m not sure how it would possibly be an upgrade of any value to be on a floor with a lounge you can’t access. The rooms themselves are no different on the club floor as compared to anywhere else in the hotel. When I asked if he was offering us club lounge access to make it a true “upgrade,” of course the answer was no. When we discussed compensation, from a quick search on the hotel website, I noted that the price difference between a resort view and marina view was about $150 per night while we were there. In my mind, that would be the minimum appropriate compensation (if not more as a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience). Even so, the offers were minimal and never reached that requested amount with this first manager. After multiple holds, I was transferred to Stephanie, the Front Office Manager. While she ultimately resolved the issue, the interaction felt hostile, rather than service-oriented. She had a poor attitude and didn’t seem to want to understand what I was frustrated about. She initially insisted on compensating us for the view difference for only one night, even though we were staying for two nights, which made no sense. Finally, she agreed to the $150 per-night credit I had requested, and also offered us club lounge access at a discounted rate of $200 per night if we also had any interest in adding that. We were interested, since my parents had already been in the lounge and found it to be quite nice. This brought our net cost for club lounge access down to $50 per night. I ultimately felt that the final resolution from this encounter was fair, but the process to get there, including the dismissive attitude from management, was not what I expect from a Ritz-Carlton. The brand prides itself on exceptional service from staff who are supposedly empowered to do whatever it takes to go above and beyond for guests (e.g., the constant articles online about the supposed Ritz-Carlton “$2000 rule”). However, this interaction felt the opposite: defensive, inflexible, and lacking interest in actually understanding our concern or providing service recovery. Despite being in management, the two people I spoke with did not go out of their way even a little bit to understand why we were frustrated or offer reasonable compensation without a fight. I wasted almost an hour of my time going back and forth on the phone before getting to resolution that felt like it was given very begrudgingly. Kids: Since we were traveling with a toddler, children’s amenities and how our child is treated matter to us. Overall, the hotel felt family-friendly, and we were always comfortable having a young child in tow. The small Ritz Kids coloring area in the lobby was helpful during check-in, though we didn’t notice many other kid-focused offerings. Admittedly, we also didn’t really look into specific kid activities they may have had, since our daughter is young and we didn’t really have time for anything extra. We did appreciate that the club lounge staff gave her a Ritz Kids lion stuffed animal, which was a cute souvenir to take home. The hotel does offer cribs or pack-n-plays to have in your guest room. When we requested a pack-n-play, the staff also proactively offered a mini-fridge for our daughter, which was great since the in-room minibar fridge is full and can’t be used for personal items. I had hoped to see other amenities we’ve had at comparable hotels, like diaper pails or baby bath products, but none were provided. At the beach club, they also had pack-n-plays available to set up at your beach or pool chair, which is an excellent option when traveling with very young children. Beach & Pools: As mentioned earlier, the hotel isn’t on the beach (it’s in Downtown Sarasota), but it has a private beach club about 10 minutes away on Lido Key. I was worried that the separation might feel negative compared to a hotel directly on the beach, but it actually gave us the best of both worlds. The beach club is the main feature covered by the $65 per night mandatory resort fee. The hotel runs an hourly shuttle starting at 9:00 am and going into the evening. It leaves the hotel at the top of each hour and departs the beach club to return to the hotel 15 minutes past each hour, but we chose to drive ourselves to avoid relying on the schedule (it would be nice if it went twice per hour instead of only once). The drive was easy, and valet parking at the beach club is included, with very friendly staff to assist and welcome you. I was genuinely surprised by how extensive the beach club is. I had expected a pool and beach access, but there’s also a full-service restaurant, a grab-and-go market, well outfitted locker rooms with showers (a nice option if you want somewhere to go on your checkout day before a late departure), and a tiki bar (currently only partially operational due to Hurricane Milton in 2024). While we spent our time on the beach, the pool looked nice and family-friendly with a zero-entry section. Our beach experience was very good overall. The staff were quick to set up chairs and umbrellas, and the beach itself is quite nice, with calm Gulf water and lots of shells. We ordered lunch and drinks from our chairs, and the food was unremarkable, but totally fine. As the beach got busier, service slowed a bit (the servers were working hard, but constantly going back and forth to the main building, which is a bit of a hike). Adding more staff or runners would help. Still, the beach club was lovely, and we had a great time there with others from our group. There is also a pool at the main hotel. While we didn’t use it, it looks like a pretty basic hotel pool, and the setting along the bay is pleasant. It’s a convenient option if you want to stay on property and skip the commute to the beach club. Club Lounge: One of the highlights of our stay was the club lounge, and I’m very glad we paid to upgrade for access. This was our first time on a Ritz-Carlton club level, though we’ve stayed in club lounges elsewhere. The offerings here were more impressive and well-executed than most hotels would offer in a similar club. The lounge itself is a pleasant space on the 8th floor, with a variety of tables and couches for seating, as well as a large balcony overlooking the marina, with additional seating for outdoor dining. Food was available nearly all day. Breakfast included standard continental items, fresh fruit, smoked salmon with all the accoutrements, and several hot items like quiche, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. It was essentially a slightly smaller version of a standard hotel breakfast buffet, and was mostly good. Lunch was also pretty substantial. The day we were there, they had multiple salads, soup, sandwiches, snacks, and a fun make-your-own pizza station. Between lunch and dinner, there were grab-and-go packaged snacks, and in the evening, hors d’oeuvres were offered. We didn’t make it for hors d’oeuvres, but my parents did, and said it leaned more toward fancier appetizers than a full meal. Late-night desserts were also offered, and included little dessert bites and ice cream, which we enjoyed. I would say the food quality in the club lounge was solidly good. It wasn’t super noteworthy, but it had a nice variety and was always well presented. Drinks were a strong point in the club lounge. The fridge was always stocked with bottled water (still and sparkling), sodas, and beer. There were also multiple wines available at all times, including Nicolas Feuillatte champagne and a machine with eight wines to pour by the glass. Having actual champagne was all we needed to be happy, and the other wines were fine. The lounge also offered a small list of signature cocktails, such as an espresso martini and an old fashioned that the staff could make, and they’d usually have a pre-made cocktail available in a drink dispenser, such as rum punch. The club staff members were excellent. Rachel, who manages the lounge, was particularly professional, helpful, and enthusiastic, and clearly loves hospitality. She provides impeccable service. Beatrix was also especially kind and helpful to us and our daughter at breakfast. The service was extremely attentive (at times almost overly so). The staff truly didn’t want us to lift a finger, which older guests seemed to love, but it occasionally felt over-the-top and borderline embarrassing for us. I’ll take that any day over poor service though. That said, having the club staff available for any stay-related requests was fantastic. Rachel confirmed a 3:00 pm late checkout for us in seconds, sparing me from dealing with the main front desk after our earlier issues. At checkout, I was able to easily review our final room bill directly in the lounge. The staff also act as full concierges. While we didn’t use that service, we saw other guests getting very detailed assistance with dining and activities that sounded in-depth and helpful. We absolutely loved having club access, and I think it’s well worth the upgrade cost if you’ll spend time on property and take advantage of the food and drinks. With a toddler, it was especially great having easy access to snacks and meals just down the hall at all times. Dining: The main hotel restaurant on the lobby level, Jack Dusty, feels like a classic hotel restaurant, with a pleasant indoor dining room and a large outdoor balcony. We stopped by the bar one evening, which was lively on a Saturday night. The bartenders were efficient and drinks were good, so I had no complaints based on that brief visit. I wish we’d made it to Rufa, the hotel’s outdoor lounge and tapas concept along the marina. The seating areas and firepits looked great, and our friends who were hosting their wedding in Sarasota recommended it, but we didn’t make it there on this trip. Additional dining is available at the beach club. Ridley’s Porch, the main restaurant there, is open for dinner on weekends and serves lunch daily. It looked very nice, with lovely Gulf views. Staff Service: Staff service at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota was generally very strong and aligned with the friendly, attentive standard we expect from Ritz-Carltons. Ritzes aren’t always the most modern hotels, but they usually hit the right chord with service, and that was largely the case here. The valet and door teams were great, the club lounge staff were excellent, and everyone we encountered at the beach club was friendly and helpful. The only negative experience we had with service was tied to our room view issue. The two managers I dealt with during that situation were surprisingly the rudest employees we encountered. They showed little interest in understanding our concern and wanted to do the bare minimum to address it, far below the Ritz-Carlton service we’re used to. Thankfully, everyone else we interacted with after that was wonderful. Location: We don’t know Sarasota all that well, but the Ritz’s location felt very central to everything we visited. Being downtown meant easy access to parks, great water views, and plenty of dining options in walking distance. Most places we went were very close: it was about a 5-minute drive to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens or St. Armands Circle, a 10-minute drive to the private beach club or the Ringling Museum, and around 15 minutes to Siesta Key. Sarasota airport (SRQ) is also just 10 minutes away, which is incredibly convenient. We flew out of Tampa instead, and the 90-minute drive with afternoon traffic at the end of our trip made us wish there had been a suitable flight from SRQ. Overall: Overall, our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota was positive and enjoyable. While some parts of the hotel, including the rooms, feel a bit dated and unremarkable, everything was nice and comfortable. A disappointing room view and poor service related to that initially put a damper on things, but we quickly bounced back and enjoyed the rest of our stay. The club lounge and beach club were definite highlights. We also loved exploring the area and celebrating our friends’ wedding, and would return to both Sarasota and this hotel.

Room and team excellent.

Booking.com and The Ritz have both charged my credit card, fault has been admitted however remains unresolved.

Upper management was very kind following my negative experience and my departure before my stay even begin. They offered me some Point compensation. Not a lot. So I do not want to shame them excessively. However, it was not the welcome that I would have expected from the Ritz and in fact, it was a very negative experience and so I asked to be released from my reservation and went to another local hotel that was quite lovely. Lower level management seemed very inexperienced and unable to manage their front desk. Staff and Club level staff.

This place is unbelievably mediocre. Nowhere close to the seven other Ritz-Carltons I've stayed in. Bellman was going to "follow us" with luggage. Had to call twice Food in the executive lounge was old. Most of it was soggy. Even the caramel popcorn had been damaged by humidity, and it was in a package. There was a wedding party outside. It could be heard a mile away. It happened to be on our side of the hotel. This made sleeping impossible. The furniture is what you would find in a Marriott. I should have stayed in the Hyatt in downtown St Pete. Much nicer, at 25% of the cost.

Stunning! I happened to spend a night at the property as my first stop on a roadtrip to nowhere — I was upgraded from a club room to a Bay View Suite. The view from the suite couldn't be beat. And the Beach Club is paradise. Right from my booking, to the champagne on check-in, to the lounge, I was cared for, looked after, and pampered right through my stay. Front desk manager Micah deserves a special shout out for sending a lovely welcome gift to the suite, and for giving me an impromptu tour of the property when I went down to thank him. Even as a long time Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite member, service can sometimes be variable, the crew at the Ritz Sarasota definitely brought their A game. I will be back. :)

Staff is very helpful and friendly, always available to accommodate requests. Going extra miles to celebrate special occasions. Beach and pool service is very good with fresh water always available, suncream and even after sun. The market shop at the beach is very convenient selling food and toys/beach clothes .

Distance from the beach is less convenient though there is shuttle every hour . Food choice can be improved

Husbands birthday.

Always a pleasure staying at this hotel. Good location, great service and a good restaurant.

The Ritz Carlton is not the nicest hotel I have ever visited but the hospitality is unmatched. Not a single bad experience. Everyone we encountered was welcoming and gracious. Room and bed are extremely comfortable. Quiet halls. Gym is well equipped with modern equipment. The only things I would change are: 1) a yoga studio or place to stretch at the gym 2) move the smoking area farther from the front entrance. For an upscale hotel, one should not have to inhale cigarette smoke while waiting for your car.

Terrible. I called specially to add my kids to the reservation. They told me ok and asked for one name, never said an additional word. Waited for my children to arrive and then turned them away. Then lied and said it was only allowed for 1 person, could have said that but didn’t and the. Didn’t even have my son’s name which I literally spelled out for them. Save for $2-3k for one night and go somewhere that respects their guests. If you don’t live there or stay every weekend they don’t give a c*** about you. Dismissive and liars, not a good combo. Save your money and go to the Westin

Love the property! Well maintained.

Loved staying at this hotel! I was hesitant because it wasn’t on the beach but they have a shuttle that takes you straight to their beach location with a great pool! Staff was incredibly friendly

Everything was good, safe ,quiet I did not shopping

So lucky to be able to spend a few days at this beautiful resort during this (September ) the "off season". Resort was extremely quiet and it felt as if we had the resort to ourselves . The staff is wonderful (less formal than Naples) and cheerfully provides beach towels umbrellas and towels "with pleasure" and a smile . Wasn't sure how I would feel about needing to take shuttle to beach club but it was easy breezy . An ice cream boat stopped by the beach one day to the surprise and delight of everyone at the beach . Opted to eat at the hotel and were not disappointed. We loved the sunset and tapas at Rafa. HEADS UP: There will be a new hotel being rebuilt next to the beach club . Not sure if the construction will effect the peace and quiet on the beach ? .

We had a short 2 night stay for a mini early anniversary getaway. I was skeptical because of the mixed reviews but, we had an exceptional stay. They upgraded our room and it was clean and comfortable. Valet always had our car ready with waters every time we had to leave the property. The front staff were incredibly nice and even sent up a bottle of bubbly for us which was such a nice gesture. Their beach club was beautiful! It was a short 10 minutes away but they valet your car so it wasn’t a big deal that it was not on property. They had beach chairs and umbrellas which we utilized and the beach is so beautiful! We spent half a day here and we had the best time. They also have nice bathrooms and showers inside the beach club for you to use. We had lunch at Ridley Porch and their mahi mahi sandwich was delicious. We can’t wait to come back!

Love

One of my fav spots

We stayed here in 2016, and the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota was fantastic then. This time we stayed across the street, at the Westin, but decided to have lunch in the restaurant. I realized that it was slow season, but we encountered a dark reception area, with nobody at all manning the reception area. The waitress at the restaurant had to be reminded three times to bring me a box of matches. Then the kitchen workers came out with my wife's main course and, instead of asking if they could take the plate away and then putting down the food, they said, "Could you move your plate out of the way so I can put this down?" My wife was shocked, and you would think that in a place like this you would have one "point of contact", the way it always used to be. The food was also mediocre. Outside, the pool area was rather shabby and "sad-looking". There were no workers outside anywhere. The whole experience was unexpectedly bad, left a sour taste in our mouth. Compared to the fantastic service and wonderful atmosphere at the Westin across the street, this was extremely disappointing.

The property is pretty rundown for a Ritz-Carlton Hotel... The room we booked had a horrible balcony view...

The beach club was amazing and it was nice to have cold water everywhere and towels for the beach and pool. Amazing views for sunset.the rooms were quiet and comfortable.

It would be nice to have some healthier options for meals and also smaller less expensive options. The food was ok yet expensive.

From the time we arrived at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota, we felt at ease. John the Valet was attentive and careful. Kavanaugh and Blair at the front desk went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and cared for, everyone really went the extra mile to accommodate us and make my husband feel special on his birthday. We had excellent drinks (“smoking jacket” recommended if you’re a bourbon lover) and the best tuna tartare we have ever had at Jack Dusty’s. We took the comfortable and convenient shuttle bus to the Lido Key Ritz Carlton beach club and were immediately placed in comfortable waterfront chairs with chilled bottled water and beach front food and drink service. The water was beautiful and clear and the pool was nice too. We stopped inside Ridley’s Porch to get out of the heat and have a drink and we were greeted by the very warm and welcoming bartender, Cyrene. We enjoyed the mahi sandwich and the donuts (fresh made and super delicious). We finished the day at the main hotel and saw a gorgeous sunset and had some amazing drinks with Jillian at Rufa. My husband loved the “golden eagle” served in a smoked glass case. Everyone was so professional and dedicated. Turndown service and room service breakfast all delivered with care. We can’t wait to go back. Naples Ritz Carlton and Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay have always been at the top of my Ritz favorites list, but I’m adding Ritz Carlton Sarasota. Highly recommend. Advice, make reservations for dining, golf, spa, cabanas, this is also a residence hotel with members. The staff is hardworking and dedicated, treat them well.

From the second you walk through the door you realize this is not a ritz Carlton at the top of their game. The wait time to check in was almost an hour. Staff was not the friendly knowledgeable people you are use to at other Ritz Carltons. The facilities were beautiful but you go to the Ritz for the service, and apparently this location doesn’t understand the meaning of the term.

This is the first time I have stayed at this hotel. The Ritz-Carlton has a name for providing the best service and they delivered on that in every way! I was able to check in 2 hours early and they automatically upgraded my room without me asking. The staff was so gracious and helpful. The resort itself had everything I needed. I could have literally never left the hotel and still had a great trip! This is my new go to hotel when I'm in Sarasota.

The property needs a bit of maintenance and upkeep

It was beautiful

Cleanest

Definitely not 5 star property but more like 3-4 stars. Property needs a significant upgrade as it is stuck in the late 90s. Dirty carpets on premise (6 floor). Chipped walls and furniture through out the property. Leaking pipes in the restaurant area. Zero attention to details from staff. Long wait for food in the restaurant. Food greasy and bland.

Hreat

First I want to start by saying., The Ritz at Sarasota FL has lost their quality.. The day of my arrival., I asked the car bell guy if he could please help us load our luggage onto the cart since we had a long trip & we were all so tired., He said OK gets the cart places by the vehicle takes the tip goes around the vehicle.. by than my son already had taken out the luggage’s out the vehicle and put it on the cart himself. So than he takes off.,? what happened to bell service? we check in I get a connecting room with my guest that i was checking in with.? We were not asked if that is something we wanted? that is normall something your asked at check in? I didn’t know until we got to our room.. Than once we settle in the room we realize the AC was not working well.. I tried expressing all of this to the manager & all she had to say was “ I’M SORRY “.. ?

We are in room 718 , This “Ritz Carlton” in Sarasota does not even FEEL like a Ritz Carlton, it feels more like a holiday inn than anything, There’s no service, there’s only two restaurants but one of them open only at 4 pm which is Jack Dusty’s, The food is mediocre, and there’s just nothing really special about it. I was very underwhelmed when I got to my room, seeing that it was tiny, and the bathroom was dirty. There was a yellow border across the bathtub, and it was full of dark stains. But, if you want to go to the beach, you can take the shuttle that the resort offers to their beach club. But the earliest shuttle is at 9:00 AM, so I couldn’t go as early as I wanted. In addition to all of that, there’s also CONSTRUCTION that ruins your view from your balcony. You can’t even enjoy a nice coffee on the balcony without having to hear the loud and annoying construction. So, because I was left with no other choice and no other activities to enjoy, I went to the pool with my son and we couldn’t because the pool was very dirty and full of WORMS. Yes, WORMS!!! You would think that if you get in the pool you would get sick from something like that. I would have never expected something like this from a Ritz or any other Hotel because not cleaning the pool is a serious health safety issue. Even after I told the front desk about how dirty the pool was, they did nothing about it and no one was sent to go clean the pool. The only thing you’re paying for here is the brand name of the hotel. The club lounge is also VERY expensive and for no reason because it’s 350$ base price for 2 adults, only to be underwhelmed once again by bland sushi, old veggie spring rolls, ham and cheese sandwiches, and chips. The only “benefit” you really get are the unlimited drinks but still not worthy 350$. I am so disappointed in this hotel, I was expecting the best experience ever but instead I was SCAMMED and this is not worth your money at all. Stay away and be Healthy!

Very clean and organized I will highly recommend it.

I just returned from an amazing seven-day getaway at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, and I can honestly say it was one of the best vacation experiences I've ever had. From the moment I arrived, the outstanding service set the stage for an unforgettable week. Checking in was seamless, thanks to Juliana at the front desk. Her warm welcome and friendly attitude made me feel right at home. Juan, the bellman, was just as impressive, quickly bringing our luggage to our room with a smile. The attention to detail was remarkable; the entire valet team was exceptional, ensuring my car was always ready when I needed it, all while maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor. The pool area was a serene oasis, with fantastic service that made lounging in the sun even more enjoyable. I also spent time at the Ritz Beach, where the high level of service continued to impress me. Every staff member went above and beyond to ensure my comfort and satisfaction. I did encounter a minor issue with a delivery, but Stephanie from the front desk resolved it quickly, showcasing the hotel’s commitment to guest satisfaction. My vacation was filled with relaxation, and I cherished every moment. The highlight was definitely the spa experience. I treated myself to a deep tissue massage with Freddy, who provided exceptional service and left me feeling rejuvenated. Overall, my week at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, was nothing short of extraordinary. I returned home feeling refreshed and revitalized.

The services at Front Desk, the restaurant or more so at the beach don’t reflect the Ritz Carlton Brand.. We spent the weekend prior time the Ritz in Naples… completely different😔😔 Will Not Recommend Ritz at Sarasota. We had dinner at St Regis on Saturday… away much better experience.😍

The Ritz Carlton is a five star hotel with service the second to none. This was our third summer stay there and each time it seems to get better and better. Loved everything about it from the room to the pool to the amenities in, especially to the staff.

Lovely hotel, the attention from staff was excellent. I really enjoyed their delicious food and amazing views. The beach club was an excellent add on to my stay. The pool was amazing and the private beach was stunning!!

It was an excellent location

Check in was atrocious and from our guests comments this seems to be a common ocurence

Buen servicio disfrute la estadía

Such a welcoming environment with great amenities. The beach club is also phenomenal and all of the staff at both the hotel and beach club were wonderful.

The front desk staff was amazing. Zack was very helpful with dinner recs and even got us a room upgrade 10/10. From front desk to door or restaurant everything met our expectation.

Really outstanding service. I was a repeat customer so they comped my drinks at the pool. The private beach is fantastic. Food was also excellent and the rooms were well appointed. Highly recommend. Ben in the club lounge was amazing.