Let me be very clear: I am not a fan of traveling to or through Miami, Florida. While I love the beach and thriving food scene, there are plenty of other places closer to home in Jacksonville that offer something similar. For me, the joy of a beach trip isn’t being hounded by spring breakers, tourists in neon-colored tank tops, or the hours of traffic it takes to get through a town to the beach , but to find rest and relaxation while I listen to the gentle sound of the waves crashing on the sand.
But as a cruise and family travel writer, it’s hard to skip this South Florida city. I recently traveled to Miami for two back-to-back cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and Regent Seven Seas Grandeur and needed a place to stay for a night between the two sailings. That’s when I discovered the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour.
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Even though this beautiful resort is located on the same small barrier island as South Beach and Miami Beach, it seems like another world away, even though the actual distance from the tourist hotspots to the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbor is only only 16 miles. . The laid-back atmosphere of this upscale Miami neighborhood gives it more of a cozy feel than a bustling tourist town. And even better, the resort was rated four stars by the Forbes Travel Guide and received great reviews from Kayak and Tripadvisor, so I knew I was in for a treat staying here.
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Since the hotel is located on the northern tip of the barrier island, no matter what type of room you have or where in the resort you are, you will likely have a water view . From the lobby, you can see the beach from the large windows at the back of the welcoming space; and rooms offer views of the ocean or Intracoastal Waterway.
The resort property isn’t huge, so it’s easy to get around. All the main amenities like restaurants and the spa are located in a whitewashed tower, with a swimming pool just outside the spa gates. And just steps from the pool is the semi-private beach.
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Before my room was ready, I spent the morning and early afternoon at the beach, where waves were crashing on the nearby pier and surfers were enjoying the big waves. I was surprised to learn that the resort’s amenity fee covered setting up lounge chairs, towels and an umbrella on the sand. For me, this is a big bonus because beach rentals are not always included in the overall cost of a stay in even luxury beachfront hotels. I also loved that even though my room wasn’t ready upon arrival, the beach staff was able to offer me the beach amenities with proof of stay. I just needed to show them my baggage ticket.
After receiving the call that my room was ready, I collected my things and headed back to the resort from the beach. The beach staff remembered that I didn’t have a room key so kindly walked me to the pool entrance, which leads to the lobby, and unlocked the door so I could check in. officially check in and settle into my spacious room. .
The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbor has 95 ocean view rooms and there are only two units per floor, so I was never bothered by noisy neighbors or children running through the hallways all day. night. My 510 square foot room had two comfortable queen beds and a huge balcony that overlooked the beach and the Intracoastal Waterway. Additionally, the room had a small coffee area with free bottled water and a mini fridge.
What really set the room apart for me was the bathroom, which had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean (there were also automatic blinds that could be lowered over the windows for privacy). The marble bathroom was fitted with a large bathtub and rain shower, a separate toilet and a cupboard which could also be opened from the bedroom side of the accommodation.
Lots of amenities, including a secret affogato hour
Besides the beach and pool, the resort offers many other amenities. Although I didn’t get a chance to enjoy the Exhale Spa, just walking past it on my way to the pool made me want to book another stay at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour.
In addition to the beach rental, the $45 daily resort fee also included two daily complimentary cocktails at the resort’s on-site restaurant, Artisan Beach House; access to the station’s bicycles which allow you to get around the neighborhood; and high-level Marriott Bonvoy members can also take a free fitness class.
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My favorite amenity at the resort though was the secret affogato hour. Every day from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the resort organizes an affogato cart in the lobby. The cart is manned by one of the resort’s friendly staff members, who prepares fresh affogato to order. There was also a small assortment of toppings for the espresso and ice cream, including rainbow sprinkles and mini chocolate chips. I chose to put sprinkles on my Italian coffee, which I know isn’t traditional, but I think life is a lot more fun with sprinkles.
Of course, no short getaway is complete without a great meal, and at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbor I chose to try the waterfront Artisan Beach House. The menu ranges from fresh seafood to Mediterranean cuisine. I booked a reservation for a late afternoon lunch, and although the restaurant was almost empty, the food and service was still fantastic.
I started with the Heirloom Tomato Toast, which piled fresh tomatoes and burrata cheese mousse on perfectly toasted bread. For my entrée, I enjoyed grilled fish tacos loaded with fresh white fish and a tangy cilantro crema. Dessert was a must as the chocolate peanut butter cake, which I was able to order to go grab a few bites at the restaurant before leaving and taking the rest to my room. Later, I savored the last bites of my leftover dessert in bed while watching my travel comfort show, Shark Tank.
As someone who travels from hotel to hotel year-round, I found the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbor a perfect blend of luxury and style, without being pretentious or stuffy. The staff was kind, helpful, and anticipated my needs, and the amenities lived up to the reputation the brand has built. After this trip, I can’t wait to return to Miami for that resort experience.
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