Review: Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) – The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles, California)

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Editor’s Note: The following is a review of American Express’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program as utilized at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey. This post is NOT a complete review of The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey.

During our recent stay at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, we utilized the benefits of the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program (FHR).

Did FHR really enhance our stay? Read on to find out.

Review: Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) – The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey

Click here to read about the American Express Platinum card adding a new $200 FHR annual perk

About The Fine Hotels & Resorts Program

First, a quick refresher on the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program.

Click here to read more on Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts Program

Click here for reviews on Chase’s Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection

How To Use FHR

You’ll need a premium American Express Platinum credit card to gain access to the FHR program.

Both the American Express Platinum card and the American Express Business Platinum card will grant access to FHR .

The Benefits Of The Fine Hotels & Resorts Program

American Express’s FHR program is an under-utilized benefit for many Platinum users, but it provides tremendous value when used at the right hotels at the right time.

The standard perks of the FHR program include the following 6 benefits:

The Benefits Vary By Property

The “unique amenity” at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey was a $100 food and beverage credit.

Additionally, the “daily breakfast for two people” benefit was a $80 credit for use at the Cask & Plow restaurant.

About The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey

At A Glance: The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey

• Official Website: The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey
• Average Nightly Cost During Stay: $448.41
• Loyalty Program: American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR); Marriott Bonvoy
• Loyalty Category: N/A
• Discount Applied: American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR)
• Room Type as Booked: 1 Room, 1 King Bed
• Room Upgrade: Deluxe King Guest Room
• Resort Fee: N/A
• Parking Fee: $55 nightly (Valet only)

Booking/Redemption

About The Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey

The Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey was built in 1984 and has since become a popular luxury resort in Los Angeles County. The resort has undergone several renovations to maintain its high standard of quality, including a complete renovation in 2018, which included all guest rooms and suites, as well as public spaces.

Location & Parking

Located on the picturesque Marina Del Rey, the resort offers stunning views of the marina and the “westside” of Los Angeles. The resort is conveniently located near LAX airport and within easy reach of popular tourist attractions such as Venice Beach and Santa Monica.

Valet parking is available for the nightly rate of $55. Self-parking is not available.

FHOP Tip: If you are keen to save $55 on parking, you are in luck. Directly across the street from the Ritz is a municipal parking lot that allows overnight parking for a very small fee.

Lobby

Front Desk & Check-In

The small front desk area did not have an active dedicated line for FHR guests – but, in reality, it didn’t make a difference as the lines were only ever about 2 people deep.

FHR Welcome Letter

Room Key

FHR Room Upgrade

We did receive a nominal room upgrade to a Deluxe King Guest Room on a higher floor.

Deluxe King Guest Room Walkthrough Tour

Elevator Area

Hallway

Bedroom (Promotional Photo)

Room Entrance

Bedroom

   

Living Area

Room Amenities

Closet

Bathroom

Balcony

Our room came with a sliver of a balcony (just big enough to stand on) with an excellent view of the Westside of Los Angeles.

View From The Room

  Dinner: Using The $100 Food And Beverage Credit

The dinner options at the resort include Cast & Plow, which offers a variety of fresh seafood dishes and other fine dining options. The restaurant also features a wide selection of cocktails and fine wines, as well as stunning views of the marina.

We opted to use our $100 food and beverage credit on In-Room dining (see below).

In-Room Dining Menu

Dinner

We arrived pretty hungry, so we decided to go big on the In-Room Dining Menu with our $100 credit. The NY Strip Steak & fries was excellent, very buttery and cooked to perfection. The Bolognaise was delicious as well.

When it was all said and done, we were confident we made the right choice in opting to use our credit on room service.

 

Breakfast At Cask & Plow

Cask & Plow was the signature all-day restaurant with an entrance in the lobby.

Breakfast options at Cast & Plow include a delicious assortment of pastries, fresh fruit, and made-to-order dishes. The breakfast options were plentiful and included something for everyone.

Cask & Plow Breakfast Menu:

For breakfast, guests had a choice of ordering a la carte or going with the buffet option called “The Weekend Market Table” which went for $34 per person.

Breakfast: Using The $80 per Room Breakfast Credit

We ended up going with “The Weekend Market Table” buffet option which was not only delicious, but almost entirely covered by our FHR breakfast credit (see the receipt below).

The Bar At Cask & Plow

The Property Interior

The Gift Shop

The Hallway Art Gallery

The Property Exterior

Marina Del Rey

The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey (At Night)

Swimming Pool

The resort features a large swimming pool with plenty of loungers, as well as a hot tub and poolside bar.

Sisley Spa

FHOP Tip: What’s Nearby: There are plenty of things to do near the resort, including shopping at nearby Venice Beach and Santa Monica, as well as exploring the many excellent restaurants, art galleries, and museums in the area. There are also activities to do in the marina like biking, paddle boarding, swimming, and sometimes even swimming with Leopard Sharks at Mother’s Beach (depending on the time of year).

Late Checkout

Another benefit of the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program is the late checkout option, which we used to enjoy the resort for a few extra hours before our departure.

The Bottom-Line Review: Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) – The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles, California)

We enjoyed our Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) stay at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey. The resort, although older, had a great recent remodel and is a private and unique place to stay in a wonderful part of Los Angeles.

I’d guess – based solely on my check-out experience where it seemed every guest was ensuring they received all their FHR credits at the front desk – the FHR program at popular at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, and it’s no secret why.

The Weekend Market Table breakfast buffet option at Cask & Plow was great, and our $100 food & beverage credit paired perfectly with the delicious dinner we had ordering off the inspired In-Room Dining menu.

The staff at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey were friendly, efficient, and professional – and this includes the wonderful staff at Cask & Plow.

The one negative of the FHR program at The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey was the lack of a “real” room upgrade when the hotel did not appear to be at capacity. For some reason, this appears to be a Ritz-Carlton FHR thing almost universally across the board.

Nevertheless, the The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey is a top-notch resort that offers a high level of luxury and comfort. The resort’s beautiful marina surroundings and impressive amenities made utilizing the benefits of the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program a no-brainer, making our stay even more enjoyable and allowing us to make the most of our time at the resort.

Final FHR Rating: 8.75 out of 10.