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The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey
4375 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-5400
The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey is Los
Angeles' only AAA Five Diamond waterfront hotel.
In Marina del Rey, the land of boats, beaches
and Los Angeles, we are surprised to discover only one hotel with a 5 Diamond
ranking. In Beverly Hills they have three Five Diamond properties and yet, no
beach. In Orange County at Dana Point, they have two Five Diamond hotels, a
Ritz-Carlton at the beach and a resort with a golf course on site.
So why is this unassuming
building on the bay in Marina del Rey worthy of a 5? First off, the staff
exudes the service and can-do attitude you'd hope to find throughout the
Ritz-Carlton global family. If you've never stayed at a Ritz, you really need to
try it once. And this hotel seems to be more affordable as Ritz-Carltons go so
it would be a great test model. Let's say you want some packing tape for a box
you need to ship out. We called room service and got packing tape in short
order. That's a small request but if you are not accustomed to service, it
proves an example.
The Ritz on the bay reflects
its audience and their needs. The hotel has spent its valuable space on
athletics. With so many professional athletes visiting the city, the need for
gyms is extremely important. You'll notice that the Ritz and nearby Four Diamond
boutique hotels such as Loews and Le Merigot JW Marriott hotels in Santa Monica
have focused on creating gyms.
Next, you'll discover the
swimmer's dream, a 25 meter lap pool overlooking the bay. Having been a
lap swimmer who needed to put in 4000 meter per day, this editor used to stress
over finding accommodations with lap pools nearby. It was seldom easy to find a
pool while traveling.
In addition to the gym and
pool, there are two lighted tennis courts and two basketball courts. If you need
a spa experience such as massage or treatment, the hotel is equipped with top
notch professionals to provide a first class experience.
You have your bases covered
if you're an athlete on the road. For average folks, the hotel rents
bicycles and other items for beach fun. There's a paved path that
stretches from Redondo Beach south of the hotel past Santa Monica. You can get a
sizeable workout on a bicycle or blades, but if you're trying to see the entire
coastline, you may need a good portion of the day to ride the path round trip.
The hotel sells out on
special events such as holiday fireworks shows as it offers one of the best
seats in the house for views as the City of Los Angeles Harbors & Beaches
department serves up a great fireworks show. Near the hotel in the summer are
free concerts, too.
If you want a special getaway
in exciting L.A., you can stay overnight and book a dinner cruise on the the
Hornblower Yacht. We sometimes just drive to Marina del Rey for the yacht cruise
but it would sure be fun to spend the night at the Ritz so we could linger and
explore. The Hornblower Cruises are offered regularly and usually require
reservations. We consider the Ritz Carlton - Marina del Rey one of the great
California beach resorts. Here are few of the offerings
at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey:
The Fitness & Massage Center
with Simplex Tuff
Stuff weight machines, Life Fitness cardio machines, free-weights, exercise
balls, mats, locker rooms and dry saunas. The Massage and Fitness Center
also offers massage and body treatments, Epicuren facials and luxury spa gifts.
tennis court and bike rentals, in-room fitness bags and portable CD players.
Los Angeles' Only Waterfront Pool is a 3,200 square foot heated outdoor pool
with a rectangular shape for lap swimming. It features a sand-colored stone tiled pool
deck, teak lounge furnishings, cabanas and a separate whirlpool area.
Two
lighted tennis courts located at the marina are lighted for
night play. Tennis courts are available on a first come, first serve basis with
a fee charged and racquets and balls available.
Bicycle Rentals are
available so you can explore Venice Beach next door, Waterside Marina Shopping
Center or Abbott Kinney Boulevard, which boasts boutique style shops and fine
art galleries.
In-Room Fitness Bags for guests who prefer to work out in their guest
rooms feature Yoga, Pilates and Free Weights. Each bag has the appropriate
equipment for each workout activity, a bottle of water and face towel. Guests
can check out fitness bags by visiting the Fitness & Massage Center.
Great Dining is served at
Jer-ne Restaurant + Bar, where New World cuisine features gourmet meal
preparations with beautiful views.
The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey Reservations |
