The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

Located off the coast of Miami, Florida, The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne is a family-friendly hotel and resort on Key Biscayne island. Having just checked out of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort which was only a 25-minute Uber ride to The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, I had low expectations from this hotel.

I booked a Resort View Guest Room 1 King Low Floor room with Balcony using 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, but thanks to my Titanium Elite Status which got me an upgrade to a Corner Suite. An Oceanfront 1 Bedroom Executive Suite with 1 King Sofa bed, 1.5 bathrooms and balcony. As at the time of my stay, the cash rate for the suite was $665.

I arrived at the empty lobby at 5:00pm and breezed through check in.  In a couple of minutes, I was holding the Ritz Key to my Suite 739 in my hands. 

The 800sqft Executive Corner Suite features a sectional sofa which can be converted into a bed, a Ritz Carlton King size bed in the bedroom which was absolutely comfortable, 2 LCD TVs, 2 balconies, with each of them overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also a work desk and ergonomic chair in the suite to get some work done as well.

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Although the bathtub in the bathroom wasn’t that impressive, the bathroom itself was spacious enough to feature a separate bathtub, a walk-in shower, a double-vanity sink, as well and a walk-in toilet. The half bathroom in the living room also has plenty of room to move around. And if you have stayed at different luxury hotels, you’re probably used to seeing a phone next to the toilet. While it’s considered a symbol of luxury, the purpose of those phones is simply for emergency. In case anyone slipped or got trapped in the bathroom and need some help.

One of the things I look forward to in a luxury hotel is a comfortable robe to tuck into after a long day exploring the hotel. While I felt comfortable enough in the provided Ritz Carlton branded robe at this hotel, I must say it wasn’t as comfy as the Frette robe provided by The St. Regis Atlanta. 

Since I haven’t stayed at a Ritz Carlton hotel for quite some time now, I was curious as to what bathroom amenities would be provided. The Ritz Carlton still offers Asprey bath products.

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Due to Covid-19, some amenities were temporarily unavailable as at the time of this review. The Lightkeepers and Cantina Beach restaurants were opened to guests, while Rumbar was closed during my visit.

Although it was closed, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the 1940s Havana-style bar and lounge right from the moment I stepped out of the elevator. With high ceiling fans and rich-dark woods and sultry ambience coupled with a vintage inspired lounge seating, the Rumbar would sure make a great atmosphere to sit and enjoy some live-band music while sipping on a favorite drink.

With 2 separate pools at The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, that means, you can choose to enjoy Miami’s weather in the Adult Only pool or spend some time at the Family pool. And with the beach being just a few steps away from the pool, you can choose to have the best of them all. The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne did not leave out the young guests, as the hotel provided something also for the kids. Being a family-friendly hotel, you’ll find kids and the young adults getting themselves wet in the Splash Pad.

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Should guests continue to pay Resort Fee since majority of hotels are currently offering limited services? Well, I’ll leave that for you (readers) to answer. As a guest of the hotel who paid the $45.20 ($40 resort fee + $5.20 taxes and fees), you’re entitled to Free Wireless Internet, 2 Beach Chairs and a Umbrella, Fitness Class, Bottled Water, and Spa Access to Soaking Tub, Sauna, and Steam Room (assuming they’re available), and some Watersport Activities such as Kayak, Pedal Boat, and Paddleboard. There were also bicycles available at the hotel, probably for rental, since they were not included in the resort fee amenities.

Although some areas of the hotel looked dated and some features seems to have seen better days, one of the things I commend The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne for was the High-Speed Internet. With download speed of 92.68Mbps and upload speed of 115.32Mbps, this indeed is one of the fastest internets I’ve seen in a hotel. The WiFi at this hotel passed The Points Engineer’s WiFi test.

The Fitness Center at this hotel offers cardio fitness equipment, elliptical bikes, free weights, treadmills, and lots more.

Feel like shopping without leaving the hotel? The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne has a boutique onsite that caters for just that. Looking through the entrance, you could tell that the Coastal Boutique is well stocked.

In conclusion, this wasn’t a bad way to churn 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. While there wasn’t anything spectacular about this Ritz Carlton property in my opinion, the suite upgrade was a generous touch from the hotel since a complimentary suite upgrade is considered a treat at any Ritz Carlton property. The ladies and gentlemen (staff) of the hotel was friendly and courteous, especially those at the beach and pool areas. Although some amenities at the hotel feels old and more of a typical Marriott hotel, and guests like me really didn’t get value for their $45.20 resort fees, but it was still an okay stay.

Have you stayed at The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne before? Share your thoughts below: