The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

Perfect break from the frigid cold. Hotel was busy with the President's weekend but still plenty of beach and pool space. Service was friendly and efficient. They get your lounge chair ready with towels and umbrella. Pool and beach have sunscreen and water station. The family pool is busy as expected with kids but the adult pool was very relaxing and quiet and heated to a perfect temperture. The one hot tub is in this area so not over run with kids. The ocean water temperature in February was in the 70's and definitely warm enough to swim for northeast folks. Our ocean front residential suite accommodated us well with a king bed and double sofa bed. There is even space for a rollaway if needed. The kitchen had full size appliances and everything was like new. So nice to have water and ice dispenser in the room. Housekeeping did a wonderful job. They leave you bottled water everyday. The breakfast buffet was plentiful with fresh fruit and pastry with an assortment of hot items. There was an a la carte menu but the buffet suited us well. Food available at the beach and pool with service is a plus. This is a Ritz so prices are as expected.

I have stayed at this resort several times in the past. It is in a tired condition ahead of a May closure for much needed renovations. I would think twice before staying before it reopens. They seemed to have given up on anything other than critical maintenance….stained carpets in hallways, blood stains on the white fabric headboard in my room, etc.

Honestly, this is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed at and absolutely worth the insanely high price tag. We went on a very busy weekend, but the service was awesome. There were so many random kids activities that popped up (baby animal petting zoo, crafts, mermaids at the pool, Sonic wandering around taking photos and high giving kids at breakfast) and random free things you would wander upon (ice cream, wine, more wine, guac and chips). The restaurants were great and well priced and the beach and pool service were well staffed and immediate. There are touches that have left other luxury hotels like Prosecco at check in that still exist here! The only downside is this is one of the hotels where it's like a WWE throwdown for chairs at the family pool and lots of people leave a kids shovel, a book, or a singular piece of hair to claim 6 chairs at 7am and don't come back until 10. We did get off the wait list for a beach chair after 3 hours (after arriving at the pool at 9:30) so they definitely clear them, but they might want to be more aggressive with the chair situation during high booking periods. (This was only an issue at the family pool, the adults pool and beach were less of an issue.) I would absolutely recommend this hotel - my kids begged us to return, which isn't necessarily true of every resort we've been to!

Back after 5 years. Ocean facing suite with club access a real treat! Big thanks to Mike, Olivier and the team in the Club room who were just great - Mike remembering us from our past stay! Hope to return next year after the re-furb. Big thanks also to the concierge team who arranged for Anthony to take us - reluctantly! - back to MIA.

Fabulous and attentive top-notch staff! Magnificent musicians in the lobby! Beautiful ocean views! BUT the hotel is dire need of renovation. Our room was musty/moldy smelling and the a/c in the ballroom where our conference events were held also smelled musty/moldy. Other conference rooms were freezing (HVAC issues?) The decor looked weathered and worn. One team member told me that renovations are planned in the coming months, but they are sorely overdue. This hotel is not up to Ritz Carlton standards.