The Ritz-Carlton name is already synonymous with above and beyond service, luxurious privilege, and prestige. In fact, it might even be considered the epitome of all of the above.
… Which makes it hard to believe that there’s a level even higher than the industry standard the brand has set. Because the best-heeled book the Club Level at The Ritz-Carlton resorts in the Caribbean, a not-so-secret (but somewhat secret) elite experience within the already sumptuous upmarket hotels.
Our sources tell us, “This refreshed oasis is often referred to as a hotel within a hotel, where a dedicated concierge attends to individual needs in a well-appointed, relaxed lounge environment.”
Available only at select The Ritz-Carlton resorts, here are the destinations you want to recommend and book for the absolutely most discerning, VIP clients.
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
Recently reimagined down from new culinary experiences that include housemade pasta and a daily pop-up bar to custom artwork and the island-inspired designs in all of the 320 guestrooms, suites, and corridors, there’s now even more to love about Aruba. The Club Level, whose rooms and suites are all gathered on the 7th floor of the hotel, received a big portion of the attention to updates. These feature design motifs inspired by the locale’s mix of beach, sea, and desert, with an organic color palette of beiges, blues, and greens alongside natural woods and granite. All accommodations have been updated, and king guestrooms have been upgraded with pull-out sleeper sofas for additional flexible accommodation, too, so that more can enjoy the same ocean views.
More to the point, though, the Club Level lounge on the top floor offers an array of five food presentations daily, which includes breakfast, lunch, midday snacks, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts and cordials in the evening. It’ll be hard to pass by the Cookies & Candy display, but do keep a lookout for local Aruban treats like pastechi, coconut rum cake, and locally made peanut brittle and coconut candies.
There’s also a business center with a printer, plus numerous places to work or unwind, indoors or outdoors. For anything more, guests can just ask the dedicated Club Concierge. The lounge is open from 7 AM to 10 PM – perfect for watching a sunset if the balcony of a Club Level room feels too removed.
Curious as to why crowds flock to Aruba? Click here to read more.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
The 2,400-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite’s redesign just made a lot of industry headlines for its Champalimaud Design interiors, which features an updated color scheme that echoes the sand beyond, calacutta turquoise marble floors, and sweeping views of iconic Seven Mile Beach.
However, guests needn’t book this uber-luxe lodging to enjoy the updated but signature sumptuousness of The Ritz-Carlton. Modern design also accents the distinctive island inspiration that informs the Club Lounge, where up to two guests per Club Level room have access to the third floor lounge that offers complimentary cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages, a juice bar during breakfast for custom smoothies and juices, available laptops, and plus, comfortable seating. Choose from indoors or a quiet terrace that overlooks The Great Lawn. Families will love that there’s a special area with arts and crafts and even an à la carte menu just for kids so that adults can enjoy all the spoils of the Club Lounge without worrying about childcare. Additional guests 13 and up are $85 a day at time of publication, and just $45 for children 5 – 12.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
Another recently redesigned property, this beloved resort now features exciting new updates such as the Archipelago Journey, an immersive food and entertainment-focused experience that offers different market-style cooking stations with local food inspired by the surrounding islands. While this is available every Friday, those who stay into the week will be rewarded with access to the Sea to Sails dining experience, which allows guests to choose their fresh catch practically off the boat and from the beach, to be custom-prepared by the culinary team. Diners can enjoy this and accompanying live music every Tuesday.
But for every other day of the week, the Club Lounge delivers in plenty. This robust Club Lounge expands to offer omelet stations and breakfast meats in the morning, going far beyond Continental classics. Also slightly different from the other Club Lounges by The Ritz-Carlton, they skip midday snacks to offer heavy hors d’oeuvres at dinnertime, a light lunch after this hearty breakfast offering, and a dessert buffet in the evening. Reconfigured indoor and outdoor seating with stunning views of the Great Bay and space-sensitive table placement give Club Level guests lots of room to enjoy the feast … or the games available upon request.
The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos
Set seafront on the see-through waters of the Caribbean on Grace Bay, this contemporary property is an exceptional, guaranteed modern choice – especially after they only just opened June 2021. which we featured in this Marriott update.
Of course, even better is choosing Club Level accommodations, where spacious layouts and oceanview balconies are upgraded to include access to their exclusive Club Lounge. There on the 9th floor, overlooking sweeping vistas of the ocean beyond, a daily rotating menu with five service times keeps guests happily noshing and sipping from 7 AM to 10 PM daily. Continental breakfast, lunch, light snacks, hors d’oeuvres, and cordials and desserts ensure no gaps for allowing hunger in. Refreshments and cocktails are complimentary for Club Level guests, as they are at all The Ritz-Carlton properties that feature this amenity.
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
This one’s a bonus pro-tip for savvy travelers: The Tradewinds Club at this sister resort in Aruba offers a similar level of service, privilege, and amenities to the Club Level and Club Lounges of The Ritz-Carltons. This category of rooms features floor-to-ceiling windows, but guests can get even closer to glittering waters by unwinding in a cabana by the adults-only H2Oasis adults-only pool or on the private beach, where complimentary snacks are also served.
At the Tradewinds Club lounge, light meals are served five times daily, on the house, but it’s worthwhile to make sure you’re in attendance between 6 PM and 9 PM – that’s when the premium open bar is available.
Love Club-level access? Explore what it means with this roundup of ALGV notables.
