Sarasota trip report. Ritz with little kids...
Mar 18th, 2006 | 04:54 PM
#1
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Sarasota trip report. Ritz with little kids...
Just back from one of our best vacations ever... I LOVE Sarasota. We'd never been and didn't know too much about it, but got a very good deal at the Ritz Sarasota so decided to go. I could see myself making it an annual trip - I think Sarasota has so much to offer.
We travelled with our two kids, a 4 year old and 4 month old. The pool at the Beach Club of the Ritz was fantastic for a small child- the zero entry feature was wonderful for her. The pool was so great for little kids as it is fairly shallow for the most part and only deeper in a small section. She could navigate a large part of the pool on her own which she got a charge out of. The facilities at the Beach Club are amazing. We used the locker room for showers on a few occasions. We had meals at the pool, drinks at the pool, dinner at the Beach Club Grill - service was always good (not so at the main hotel, but at the Beach Club, nothing but exceptional service). The Beach Club is 4.5 miles from the hotel - you can take the shuttle from the hotel or you can drive. If you drive the valet parking is free (this is what we did so that we were on our own schedule).
We had a suite at the hotel. Quite spacious - it accomodated our family of four very well - more than enough room for a roll away bed and a crib. The room was very clean and nice (tripadvisor reviews slam this hotel - we did see some of what people post about and understand the poor reviews - I can expand if anyone wants to know the bad, otherwise I will focus on the positive).
As for Sarasota, we ran out of time before we ran out of things to do... We absolutley loved the Ringling Museum. Definitely a highlight of the trip. They opened a new wing in January which houses the most amazing Circus model. The artist worked on this model for 50 years!!! and it was just installed. Everything at the museum is very well done and everyone we encountered could not have been friendlier. We also loved John Ringlings mansion Ca d'Zan -- we particularly enjoyed picnicing under one of his Banyan trees - there is a nice little snack bar next to the mansion where you can buy food and drinks to enjoy on the terrace or elsewhere. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to view the art collection in the main part of the musuem which is supposed to be world class.
We also took in a Red Sox Spring Training game (being from Boston this was a thrill for us). I recommend calling the box office for tickets. I got much better seats this way versus what was available on their website. Our seats were in section 209 - ask for this section... right behind home plate and in the shade (nice when you are with little kids!!!).
We visited the Mote Aquarium and really enjoyed our time there.
On our last day, our flight wasn't until 8 pm out of Tampa Airport so we went to Busch Gardens... not too crowded and lots of fun. My daughter particularly liked Dragon Land and the Stanley Flume Ride.
Tampa Airport, by the way, is one of the easiest airports to get in and out of... the rental car access is super easy (probably you notice things like this a little more when you are travelling with little kids).
As for dining, our rate at the Ritz included dinner each night so we didn't dine out - mostly we had room service in the room after the kids were bathed and in bed. Room service was excellent (and frankly, better than the restaurants at the main hotel) - food quality very good and delivered promptly. We had a couple breakfasts at a cafe in St. Armands Circle - the Blue Dolphin Cafe - very nice. Did just a tiny amount of shopping in St. Armands Circle and really enjoyed that area.
If I can answer any questions please let me know.
We travelled with our two kids, a 4 year old and 4 month old. The pool at the Beach Club of the Ritz was fantastic for a small child- the zero entry feature was wonderful for her. The pool was so great for little kids as it is fairly shallow for the most part and only deeper in a small section. She could navigate a large part of the pool on her own which she got a charge out of. The facilities at the Beach Club are amazing. We used the locker room for showers on a few occasions. We had meals at the pool, drinks at the pool, dinner at the Beach Club Grill - service was always good (not so at the main hotel, but at the Beach Club, nothing but exceptional service). The Beach Club is 4.5 miles from the hotel - you can take the shuttle from the hotel or you can drive. If you drive the valet parking is free (this is what we did so that we were on our own schedule).
We had a suite at the hotel. Quite spacious - it accomodated our family of four very well - more than enough room for a roll away bed and a crib. The room was very clean and nice (tripadvisor reviews slam this hotel - we did see some of what people post about and understand the poor reviews - I can expand if anyone wants to know the bad, otherwise I will focus on the positive).
As for Sarasota, we ran out of time before we ran out of things to do... We absolutley loved the Ringling Museum. Definitely a highlight of the trip. They opened a new wing in January which houses the most amazing Circus model. The artist worked on this model for 50 years!!! and it was just installed. Everything at the museum is very well done and everyone we encountered could not have been friendlier. We also loved John Ringlings mansion Ca d'Zan -- we particularly enjoyed picnicing under one of his Banyan trees - there is a nice little snack bar next to the mansion where you can buy food and drinks to enjoy on the terrace or elsewhere. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to view the art collection in the main part of the musuem which is supposed to be world class.
We also took in a Red Sox Spring Training game (being from Boston this was a thrill for us). I recommend calling the box office for tickets. I got much better seats this way versus what was available on their website. Our seats were in section 209 - ask for this section... right behind home plate and in the shade (nice when you are with little kids!!!).
We visited the Mote Aquarium and really enjoyed our time there.
On our last day, our flight wasn't until 8 pm out of Tampa Airport so we went to Busch Gardens... not too crowded and lots of fun. My daughter particularly liked Dragon Land and the Stanley Flume Ride.
Tampa Airport, by the way, is one of the easiest airports to get in and out of... the rental car access is super easy (probably you notice things like this a little more when you are travelling with little kids).
As for dining, our rate at the Ritz included dinner each night so we didn't dine out - mostly we had room service in the room after the kids were bathed and in bed. Room service was excellent (and frankly, better than the restaurants at the main hotel) - food quality very good and delivered promptly. We had a couple breakfasts at a cafe in St. Armands Circle - the Blue Dolphin Cafe - very nice. Did just a tiny amount of shopping in St. Armands Circle and really enjoyed that area.
If I can answer any questions please let me know.
Mar 18th, 2006 | 05:07 PM
#5
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 238
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hi, i booked the package from their website. it was the dinner for two package (which i haven't seen posted as of late). i booked the package in july of 2005, for travel in march of 2006 - I think this is why the rate was so good ($429 for a suite, with dinner for two and bottle of wine each night (up to $150), plus free valet parking).
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