Hotel Review: The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
The Ritz-Carlton brand has a strong identity. The Ritz-Carlton brand emphasizes its luxurious and exclusive guest service and experience, starting with its iconic blue color. The elegant and refined stay experience comes with a high price tag and points redemption rates can be increased depending on which property you visit. However, the unmatched service and opulent amenities can be worth a splurge for special occasions. When I visited Atlanta for a very special staycation, my girlfriend and I decided to stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. The stay was absolutely delightful, and even though I didn’t get upgraded to a suite, the hotel reminded me why having a high Marriott elite status can make the stay experience more enjoyable.
Chandeliers and marble interior are quintessential characteristics of luxurious Ritz-Carlton properties.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. On top of the elevated offer, a new cardmember can earn up to $200 back at U.S. restaurants. AMEX is not stopping there; Until 12/31/2021, cardmembers will get a monthly statement credit of $20 when they spend more than $20 at restaurants each month. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities. If you are interested in getting the AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant Card, I advise you to act fast since the elevated offer will expire on 05/12/2021.
The Bonvoy Brilliant comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The Bonvoy Brilliant Card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 Elite Night Credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
I have another Marriott Bonvoy credit card: the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. On top of the elevated offer, a new cardmember can earn up to $150 back on eligible business purchases made within the first three months of card membership. AMEX is not stopping there; Until 12/31/2021, cardmembers will get a monthly statement credit of $15 when they spend $15 or more on monthly wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. services providers. The eligible purchases include shipping, restaurant, wireless telephone, and gas station purchases made in the U.S. The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points. If you are interested in getting the AMEX Bonvoy Business Card, I advise you to act fast since the elevated offer will expire on 05/12/2021.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is the only Marriott business card on the market. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The Bonvoy Business Card’s annual fee is $125 and offers decent benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status
As you can see the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
Lobby & Check-In Review
When we arrived at the hotel, I was greeted with a big chandelier hanging above the general check-in area. The chandelier had a translucent cover around it, and I thought it hampered the opulent look of the chandelier.
The hotel should remove the cover around the chandelier and let it shine!
Next to the lobby, a small retail shop and a concierge desk were tucked away. The shop was selling Ritz-Carlton branded clothes and accessories, which may be good gifts for those who love the Ritz-Carlton brand.
This would a great spot to buy souvenirs for Ritz-Carlton enthusiasts.
Although I checked in using the Marriott app, I still wanted to receive physical keys. Since one of the perks of being a Titanium Elite member is getting complimentary upgrades at Ritz-Carlton hotels, I gently asked for an upgrade. Unfortunately, I was only upgraded to a room on a higher floor because of the lack of available suites.
Th lobby didn’t have many seating options for lounging around.
In addition, as I checked in, I mentioned that today was my girlfriend’s birthday and the front desk agent offered to send something unique to my room, which made my stay experience more exciting. After checking in, we toured the first floor, home to the hotel’s bar, Lumen Bar, and cafe, Jittery Joe's.
The bar was crowded with guests during peak hours.
AG, a steakhouse with a southern flair, was on the second floor, and it was open for delicious dine-in service.
Jittery Joe’s only open in the morning so head down early if you want to enjoy a good cup of quality coffee.
We had dinner scheduled with friends, so we didn’t have an opportunity to try either the restaurant or the bar. However, I appreciated complimentary peach and vanilla jelly beans to celebrate spending a night in the Peach State.
The peach and vanilla jelly beans were very appropriate for a hotel in Atlanta.
As we explored deeper into the lobby, we found ourselves in a foyer surrounded by various 18th-century portrait paintings. It was such a beautiful area and seemed as if I was in a museum.
I was glad I found these paintings and wish that the front desk informed me about them when I checked-in.
There was a grand piano as well, and I could easily imagine myself listening to live music while appreciating the art.
A grand piano was also present, easily conjuring images of enjoying live music amidst the appreciation of art.
The foyer was connected to the adjacent building and opened up to an airy, indoor plaza. We weren’t sure if the plaza was a part of the hotel, so after passing many chandeliers, we headed to our room on the 19th floor.
The foyer extended into the adjacent building, leading to a spacious, open-air indoor plaza.
Bedroom Review
An oversized wall mirror was situated by the room entrance, along with amenities such as house slippers, a shoehorn, and an umbrella. I always appreciate when a luxury property goes one step further when providing accessory in-room amenities. These are certainly not important for a comfortable stay, but they make a difference in streamlining the lodging experience.
It actually rained in the afternoon, and the umbrella came in handy for us.
The highlight of the room was the bed; It was one of the most comfortable and plushiest beds I’ve slept on. Each side of the bed had a spacious nightstand, and of course, even the nightstand’s body was made of marble.
The mattress was heavenly, and the comforter was so soft.
There were only two electrical outlets and one USB port by each bedside, and it was cool seeing a Tivoli clock radio, which also served as a Bluetooth speaker.
I loved the retro look of this Tivoli clock radio/speaker.
Across from the bed, a TV was wall-mounted above a classy dresser that discreetly housed a mini-fridge as well as a Nespresso machine.
The dresser elegantly hid in-room amenities.
The mini-fridge was stocked with overpriced alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
I was able to make some room to store complimentary water bottles.
On top of the dresser, a menu for the honor bar and additional snacks and beverages were waiting to be consumed.
A bottle of Fiji water was $6, and of course I opted for complimentary water bottles.
I was very happy to see a Nespresso machine, and it was very thoughtful of the hotel to provide us with takeout cups so we could get caffeinated on the go.
When I found out my room had a Nespresso machine, it immediately made my stay better.
Then, I found a welcome amenity waiting for us, consisting of an assortment of fresh fruit and a kind letter from the front desk manager. It was a small but kind gesture, and thoughtful attentiveness like this is why I keep returning to Marriott properties as a loyalist.
It was nice of the hotel to accompany a plate and utensils for the fruit.
The work desk was rather small, and because the lamp was placed in the middle of the desk, the surface space was significantly reduced.
The placement of the desk lamp was poor, as it took away a good chunk of work area.
At the end of the room, there was a lounge area with a lounge sofa and a marble table. While the sofa was comfortable, due to its odd shape, I wouldn’t recommend sleeping on it.
The couch had am interesting texture and was comfortable.
The sofa had a velvet-like texture, and while the marble table was gorgeous, there were some water stains on the surface, which was disappointing.
It was dissatisfying to see water stains on the table at the Ritz-Carlton property.
The view from the room was a typical city view, and I was actually able to spot the Candler Hotel on the left side. It’s amazing how the Candler Hotel was once the highest skyscraper in downtown Atlanta in the early 1900s.
If you are looking for a luxury stay with modern interior design, check out the Candler Hotel.
As I finished the room tour, I heard a knock on the door. To my girlfriend’s surprise, we were given a bottle of champagne and delicious chocolate-covered strawberries to celebrate her birthday. It was such a kind gesture from the hotel, similar to what I received at the W hotel in Austin, TX. I truly appreciate it when a hotel recognizes elite members and takes care of them. Both items were delicious, and I can’t wait to spend my birthday at a Marriott property so I can be “surprised” with a special treat.
It’s always great when a hotel treats elite members with special perks.
I didn’t experience anything negative with the room until night because we learned that noise-proofing was nonexistent. It was somewhat expected since the building was old, but we could hear everything from the room next door as well as any sound from the hallway. The stay would've been exceptionally outstanding if the hotel could reinforce noise-proofing measures.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom had more marble than any other area of the room. The illuminating mirror was huge and provided ample lighting to the room.
You will see marble everywhere in the bathroom.
I wish there were two vanities, but with the single vanity, there was plenty of countertop space to disperse personal toiletries and belongings.
The lighting from the main mirror really illuminated the room quite well.
The walk-in shower used a sliding glass door, which significantly reduced water drippings when coming in and out of the shower.
The sliding shower door kept water out of the bathroom floor, but the screeching noise from the shower was disturbing.
It had standard and hand-held showerheads, and unfortunately, every time I used hot water, the shower made a screeching noise. The water pressure was great, and small details, such as a footrest and an unnoticeable drain, were nice touches that elevated the shower experience. The toiletries were by Asprey, and while the products were good, I preferred the Le Labo collection I used at the Fairmont in Austin and the Park Hyatt in NYC.
It was great that the hotel included a bottle of mouth wash as a toiletry item.
Gym Review
The gym was located on the fourth floor of the hotel. Upon entering, the refreshment area with patterned marble flooring displayed towels and cooled water bottles for gym users.
If you need some water, you can come to the gym to take some cool bottled water.
All gym equipment and tool were brand new TechnoGym machines, and cardio machines were positioned along the wall with opaque windows.
I wish the gym windows were clear so I could look outside when working out.
I presumed the windows were hazy to provide privacy to the hotel guests, but it felt airless. Of course, there were two Peloton bikes for cyclists.
Peloton bikes offer online streaming classes, and they can get quite challenging.
I was happy to report that the fitness center had a Smith machine. I like the trend where upscale hotels take weightlifting seriously and have either a Smith machine or a full squat rack.
Having a Smith machine will open so many doors to new workout routines.
The standard dumbbell rack had weights up to 50 lbs, and there were two adjustable benches on a padded rubber mat.
The weight area was neatly organized and clean.
Next to the benches, kettlebells and gym balls were available for use.
The hotel should provide more foam rollers for the gym.
Other lifting machines were scattered throughout the floor.
The TechnoGym equipment was very modern, and it took me a few tries to figure them out.
One interesting section of the gym was an air-conditioned dance studio. It was a small room, but it was a considerate way to accommodate all types of gym users.
I’ve never seen a dedicated dance studio at a hotel gym before.
One issue I encountered with the fitness center was that I couldn’t enter it late at night, despite the advertised 24/7 access. In the morning, the access issue was resolved and I was able to use the gym without a problem. Lastly, the gym was slightly small for the size of the hotel. However, its neat and thoughtful curation of gym equipment and space made the gym more personalized and special.
Though it was advertised as being open for 24/7, I couldn’t gain access after 10 pm.
Summary
The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, was an excellent property. The interior of the lobby was grand and welcoming, and all the staff members were kind and helpful. The mattress was heavenly, and the hotel placed and used marble whenever they had a chance. The bathroom was bright and clean, and the sliding door of the walk-in shower was a clever idea that I hadn’t experienced much at other hotels. On top of that, the in-room welcome amenity and the “surprise” treats like champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries made me feel valued as the hotel recognized me as an elite Marriott Bonvoy member. Though I couldn’t gain access to the gym during advertised hours and experienced noise issues from adjacent rooms and the hallway, my stay was exceptional, and we would gladly return to the property when we visit Atlanta again. I highly recommend the hotel to anyone looking for a luxury stay in downtown Atlanta.
