Ed

I am taking my wife to the Ritz for a week, leaving next Saturday. Will we need to make reservations ahead of time for the restaurants? <BR><BR>Also . . . is there a section of rooms that we would want to request or a section that we want to avoid? <BR><BR>Also . . . I realize there are two beaches. Are there refreshments and beveridges provided at both?<BR><BR>Thank you!

Mary

Ed;<BR><BR>There's only one beach that I ever saw while there last summer. There are beverages available near the beach and pool.<BR><BR>I would make reservations of some type ahead of time if you could. Just to cover yourself.<BR><BR>Unless you've opted for a suite there's really no &quot;better&quot; area. If you did then I'd ask for a 3rd or 4th floor room on the most north east building.<BR>.......then you'll hear the waves at night. Have fun!

jam_man

Ed,<BR><BR>Check with the hotel today on how full it will be. If 70-80% you will only need to make reservations for White Witch and Jasmine in advance. Horizon and Mango should not be a problem. If you are on the phone to make res at the first 2, won't hurt to do all your nights at the same time. You can cancel and shift around with 24 hour notice, but would be a shame to find you had been shut out by not calling ahead of time.<BR><BR>There is only one beach at RC, and there is continuing service from a crew that keeps roving through the beach chairs ready to take your order.<BR><BR>The RC does have arrangements with the Rode Hall beach club and there is a regular shuttle there. I didn't go there, but think I remember otrher posters saying there was drink service there. However!!!!! the drinks there are on a cash basis. I'm almost positive I remember that you can not sign the drinks to your room at the Rose Hall Beach Club, while you can at the beach at RC.<BR><BR>Ask for rooms in the 40 series on the 3rd or 4th floors, as those are the ones closest to the beach and the wave sounds.<BR><BR>I don't think there are any rooms to avoid, but other posters may have experiences such that they'll offer another opinion.<BR>

Ed

Thanks for the info!<BR><BR>Does the beach get crowded? Are there plenty of chairs or do you have to get up early and reserve a spot?<BR><BR>Can you dine outside at any of the restaurants?

Paul

The beach can get crowed at times (as can the pool) So you might want to get up early.<BR><BR>You can dine outside at 2 or 3 of the restaurants.

jam_man

Ed,<BR><BR>The pool and beach crowd level is in direct relation to how full the hotel is. When we were there the hotel was maybe 50% full. No problem at pool ar beach, no matter when you arrived. That having been said, there were people who went down around 7 or 7:30 to stake out the 'Prime' location. The they went to breakfast ot whatever and came back at 10 or so, leaving those chairs empty until they arrived. I felt there were very few bad locations, so it didn't make any fdifference to me where we ended up, but I had to laugh at the scurrying around those folks did.<BR>However, on the day we left, the hotel went to 100% occupancy, and that's whe the scuffles for chairs began. I'm glad we left then. I think that week would have been a real pain.<BR><BR>You can dine outside at Jasmine, Horizon and Mango. Jasmine and Horizon also have an inside, air-conditioned area. Mango is open to the air, with a high ceiling but the feeling is 'outside'. There are tables not under the ceiling that have umbrellas, should it sprinkle.<BR>White Witch is similar, with a slightly lower ceiling, but open on three sides with large window areas (only the windward side ones have glass, the others are empty). Again here, there are tables out from under the ceiling that have umbrellas. You can easily ask that the umbrella be lowered so you can dine under the stars.<BR><BR>Oh, and I hope you are going on the all-inclusive program. If not, be prepared for some shockingly high prices.

ohmy

yeh what they charge for a drink at RC anyway? I bet they high huh? And food? Man I bet they ream you comin and goin on the food prices. Lordy that is one spensive place hih? Better off going to an all clusive me tink coz that RC gonna rip you rat off as laff all way to de bank mon.

stumped

I've read the above post a half dozen times, and I still can't figure out what it means.<BR>I guess it's supposed to be funny, but I'm not sure how.

mb

<BR>Ed,<BR>When I visited the Ritz this fall it wasn't very crowded so reservations weren't necessary. I imagine they might be this time of year.<BR><BR>Get an Oceanfront room, ours was listed as Ocean front but had a better view of the pool/ lawn.<BR><BR>Take a shuttle to Rose Hall Beach Club. About 5 minutes down the street. Much better beach, but it is a cash bar. Go snorkelling there. Our day at the Rose Hall Beach club was a positive experience.<BR><BR>Have fun.<BR><BR>