Hotel Review: Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey

It took just 15 minutes to drive from busy Los Angeles Airport to the serene Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey. The hotel only had valet parking at $40 with no self-park option, but at least the attendants were right there and ready to assist. There were two cheerful people behind the desk at check-in, and due to a slightly later than usual arrival there was no line at all.

Even though I just purchased a regular room I was upgraded to a Harbor King Suite without asking. The lobby area was a large and inviting space, but I was just off a flight and wanted to eat and go to bed so I turned left to the elevators that whisked me up to my room.

Opening the door I was greeted by a foyer area with an illy coffee machine.

There were also complimentary bottled waters.

The room had soft carpeting of a deep gold color.

A 42″ Plasma TV sat on top of a dark wood chest.

The cream-colored walls and dark woods were a nice contrast. I think Ritz properties usually have extremely comfortable beds and this one was no exception.

The room felt quite large at 625 square feet. The TV swiveled so if you wanted to watch TV in bed you could.

Bedside there was a small clock next to the phone that was both unobtrusive and didn’t have a bright screen.

A tall plant in the corner was a welcome sight.

There was a nice lounger near the window that had a lamp and small table thoughtfully placed nearby which made it a comfortable chair for reading in.

There was a seating area with couch, coffee table, chair, and more lamps.

Gilt-edged pictures hung on the wall.

The room was decorated in varying shades of blue and gold in a Nautical theme, perhaps as a nod to the California Marina just outside.

The bathroom was stocked with Asprey amenities.

There was a single sink with lots of counter space.

The counters and floor were done in marble.

There was a thoughtful addition to the bathroom – a vanity table with chair and mirror.

The part of the room I disliked most was the shower/tub combo with a curtain. Most Ritz-Carlton suites come with a bathtub and a separate shower with glass shower door.

The best part about the room was the view. There was a sliding glass door that led to a balcony, and if you needed to work at the desk it was placed so you had a clear view outside.

The waterfront views were gorgeous.

A little fog came in, and with such a great vantage point you could watch it softly cover the landscape.

There were jogging trails alongside the property that made for good exercise. The hotel provides jogging maps and early in the morning a staff member stands outside and hands out bottled water to runners.

There was a cool ocean breeze so I left the sliding glass door open for a while to let some ocean air in the room. It was quiet outside, and every now and then I’d hear the soft clanging of a boat against a slip.

I ordered a lobster salad from room service, which turned out to be one of the best lobster salads I’ve ever had. I was surprised to see so much lobster and it was delicious.

I was there for just one night so I didn’t have time to check out the swimming pool this time. This is not the hotel to stay at if you’re wanting to do sightseeing, since the Santa Monica Pier is 15 minutes away, and both Rodeo Drive and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre are more than 30 minutes away. I like the quiet Marina though, and Venice is just a 10 minute walk away. The views were great from the room, the staff was friendly and helpful, and I would stay here again.