I’m still waiting to be blown away by a Ritz-Carlton. My first RItz experience was in Kazakhstan (see This Is Kazakhstan?). My second was in Tenerife (see We’ll Make It Better, The Second Time Around). Both were good, but fell short of that epic luxury experience that one would expect from the luxurious name ‘Ritz-Carlton’. My most underwhelming experience at a Ritz was on Amelia Island, a barrier island off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. To be clear, I did not seek this place out myself. I was there for a work conference.
What made it so bland?
The Hotel Itself
The hotel was built in 1991. It felt like 1991.
The Room
The room was dated. There were no elements of luxury. I do not understand how a standard room goes for 1k a night. Even the $350 block rate was excessive.
The Bathroom
The shower was standard. The toilet was in this tiny space.
The View
I was upgraded to an ocean-view room. While the view was nice, I am spoiled by my daily ocean-view from my villa in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.
The Pool
This was a standard pool that you would find at any Sheraton.
The Beach
People come to Amelia Island for the beach? Although it was pretty early in the morning, there are so many better places in the world without the outrageous price (including Puerto Rico).
Laws
For such a hand-off state, they sure are sensitive about nature.
The Restaurants
Once you’re on the Island of Dr. Moreau, it’s not easy to get off that island. This makes avoiding extortionist prices difficult. I had hoped to gorge on free breakfast as a Marriott Lifetime Elite, but free and Ritz-Carlton do not go together. Fortunately, food was included in my work conference. On one occasion, I foolishly joined lawyers richer than I for dinner at the hotel post open bar. I was traumatized by the amount the finger-food dinner cost. Luckily, I was spared having to pay.
The Bracelet
The hotel does not have room keys. Instead, guests have to wear a bracelet that opens their doors. I am not a fan of this, though I did like that I could boast my importance by waving my bracelet around those rich lawyers with inferior status.
The Coffee
$4 for an espresso? I will stick with the pods in my room.
Resort Fee
When’s this bullshit going to stop?
And Now for the Good
- The Gym
The best part of the hotel is the gym. Although I bring my own equipment, I can say that a typical gym-goer will be impressed by this gym.
- Putting Green
I spent most of my time entertaining myself on the putting green.
- Service
The hotel is not luxurious, but the service is excellent. Everyone was warm and inviting. Even the woman who said breakfast is not included went out of her way to sympathize with my desire not to spend money.
- Mercedes
The day I checked out, I found out that there is a way to get off this cursed island. It is with a complimentary Mercedes provided by the hotel.
Overall
Are people who can afford to stay at hotels like this unaware that there are much better ways to spend their money?
I haven’t stayed there but visited the Ritz for an EK marketing do once. I’ve stayed elsewhere on Amelia island, my wife like the shops in Fernandina Beach. There’s also a good aviation themed restaurant at the Omni, with lots of AA memorabilia.
Plenty of stuff on or off the island, as long as you have a car…
I’m hoping you weren’t being critical of the environmental notices about the dunes. On the one hand, those dunes help protect buildings and people from storm surge during a hurricane. And on the other, we are stewards of and dependent on this planet; preserving the systems/animals that keep our home in good working order is an imperative, moral and physical.
On the contrary, I admire the respect for the dunes and wildlife. It’s the governor’s other policies that are suspect.