Anybody know about the Ritz Carlton in Marina DelRey??

We stayed at the Marriott in Marina Del Rey and we were not impressed with the area. My husand loves Le Merigot (a Marriott property) which is in Santa Monica; he said it is a much better location.

The Ritz looks pretty nice and it is not very far from LAX

I've stayed there several times. It is ok. Not the nicest Ritz, nothinf real special about it (unlike the Ritz Huntington in Pasadena, CA; that is a very special Ritz). There is an issue w/street noise at the Ritz MDR, because if you are not facing the marina, your room is going to be on a busy st. The pool is nice.

I drive by it daily. My firm has held conferences there. It's a standard higher-end business-oriented hotel-- by no means a typical Ritz-Carlton resort. The R-C Huntington (Pasadena) and the R-C Laguna Niguel (Dana Point) are real Ritz-Carltons from a standpoint of luxury, service and gorgeous surroundings.

Marina del Rey is a man-made marina with no beach to speak of, but it's a highly-developed commercial area with high-rise condos sprinkled here and there. I can think of many worse places to spend a vacation, but in the southern California area I can think of dozens of better ones. Santa Monica comes to mind, for one.

Proximity to LAX is just about the last reason I'd pick a hotel, unless I'm catching a very early flight.

It's nice but not nearly as nice as other Ritz Carltons in the area (like Pasadena and Dana Point). If you want a luxury hotel near the beach, I'd check out Casa Del Mar or Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, as alternatives.

I agree that it is not a resort destination. If you want LA, stay in Santa Monica. If you want a Ritz resort, try Dana Point, about an hour and a half drive south of LAX.

www.seaspritemotel.com

in Hermosa Beach.
I love the place.

being the tripadvisor addict that I am, I'm wondering if generally the whole Ritz Carlton chain isn't a little overrated.

I have stayed in lots of them in the U.S. and I do not believe that the whole chain is overrated. The Ritz Carlton Huntington is one of the fiest hotel properties in the world. The club level there has 5 food presentations a day with your room rate (breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner appetizers with full bar, and after dinner desserts and drinks). The property is physically amazing w/wonderful food, service, and a remarkable spa. It is wonderful. I stay there every chance I get. So is Laguna Niguel. Some Ritz, like Marina Del Ray and Philly, are just not the upper crust ones.

Ritz on Half Moon Bay is very special.

Ritz in Dana Point is also very special.

I totally agree with the posters who say some are fabulous and some are not as great. My favorites are Pasadena, Dana Point and Amelia Island.

The only Ritz I've ever stayed in was in Dana Point, and it was a disappointment. It was about 10 years ago, and the rooms were small and the service we encountered was not good. It's been renovated in the last 2 years, so it'd be better now, maybe. I'd still choose the St. Regis Monarch Beach over the Ritz if I were to stay in Dana Pt.

I've stayed at this hotel and really enjoyed it. Very nice fitness area, great pool, good location to explore the beaches on foot or bike (close to Venice, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beaches).

It's a pretty far walk to the beaches from the Marina del Ray Ritz.