Back in 2018, my husband applied for the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. This card is no longer available to new subscribers, but you can get it through product exchange from another Marriott Bonvoy card issued by Chase.
Until recently Marriott Bonvoy card changesWe debated whether Ritz-Carlton The card is worth its $450 annual fee. Each year, one of the reasons we decide to keep the card is the Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificates it offers.
Information about the Ritz-Carlton card has been independently obtained by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Unlike most other club lounges at Marriott Bonvoy property, you cannot access the Ritz-Carlton club level lounges via Marriott Bonvoy’s Elite Status. As TPG’s Summer Hull put it: The Ritz-Carlton is a Marriott hotel brand where elite benefits don’t really apply.
After enjoying the club lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore for two nights this spring with a Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificate, I wanted to try more Ritz club lounges – Carlton. Here’s what you need to know about Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificates and where I’m considering using them.
Everything you need to know about the Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificate
Before we dive in, let’s discuss what you should know about the Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificate that is considered a privilege of the Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. After all, even existing cardholders who have these certificates in their Marriott account won’t find much information about the certificates or how to use them.
Each certificate is valid for club level upgrades for stays up to seven nights at the Ritz-Carlton with club level. Not all Ritz-Carlton hotels are club-level, so check brand’s website for participating properties before you target a particular hotel or resort.
You must reserve a specific seat before attaching a Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificate. As a result, you cannot use a club level upgrade certificate when placing a prize, and you will usually have to pay at least the standard rate.
The price you have to set may only apply to certain room types, so you may have to book a higher room type. But you can usually set a price that also qualifies for $100 property credit that Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card and Ritz-Carlton card holders receive it at the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis when staying at least two nights.
One person commented on one Regular posts by Miller note that you may see the qualifying price for the upgrade certificate on the Marriott website if you enter “Z38” in the promo code box before searching online. However, when my husband called to apply one of his upgrade certificates for the holiday we booked with code Z38, the phone agent stated that he could not apply the certificate to the booking. that room.
The phone agent canceled our online reservation and made a new booking that cost a little more per night. The agent said we should call to book the next time we plan to apply for the upgrade certificate, as there is no way to set a qualifying price online. However, looking at prices online will give you an idea of approximately how much the agent will quote for your stay when you call.
Related: Here’s why the Ritz-Carlton’s club-level rooms are still so unique
What’s so special about the Ritz-Carlton club level
Typically, there are two aspects to a Ritz-Carlton club level upgrade: club-level accommodations and club-level lounges.
Club-level rooms are usually the same size and interior as standard rooms and are located only on the upper floor or the club floor. I don’t put a lot more emphasis on getting a club-level room than a standard room.
The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge is where the real value for the Ritz-Carlton club upgrade certificate is provided. The Ritz-Carlton club lounges are a step up from the nicest club lounges you’ll find at other Marriott brands (hence why you wouldn’t have access to the lounges). Ritz-Carlton club level as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite hotel or higher). With club-level access to the Ritz-Carlton, you’ll often enjoy premium services such as concierge services in the lounge, business spaces, business services, and private check-in and check-out.
On top of that, you will have access to the reception space and different culinary demonstrations every day. According to the Ritz-Carlton website, the club-level lounges offer “up to five complimentary culinary presentations per day including breakfast, appetizers, drinks and desserts”. If you plan to work remotely or spend time at a hotel, you can get a lot of value out of these presentations.
Related: Rustic Blends Subtle: A Review of The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
The least expensive Ritz-Carltons where you can use a club level upgrade certificate
Not all Ritz-Carlton hotels are club level. Based on Ritz-Carlton website69 hotels are available at club level: 35 in the Americas, 19 in Asia, 8 in Europe and 7 in the Middle East.
I used Marriott’s flexible date search for all 69 properties to find rates. Some of these properties cost up to $1,000 a night. But some offer modest rates, especially if you’re traveling on off-peak days.
Here are some of the least expensive Ritz-Carlton properties I’d consider using a club upgrade certificate in the Americas and Europe:
And here are some of the least expensive Ritz-Carlton hotels I’d consider using a club upgrade certificate in the Middle East and Asia:
- The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore: 11,310 Indian rupees (about $139) per night (next August).
- The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street: 1,199 Chinese yuan (about $168) per night (for most stays from Friday to Sunday).
- The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur: 852 Malaysian ringgit (about $186) per night (on most days).
- The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan: 2,845,920 Indonesian Rupiah (about $187) per night (this October).
- The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen: 1,385 Chinese yuan (about $194) per night (for most stays from Saturday to Monday).
- The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin: 1,442 Chinese yuan (about $202) per night (for multiple stays Monday through Wednesday).
- Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai: 1,451 Chinese yuan (about $202) per night (next May).
- The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal: 809 United Arab Emirates dirhams (about $220) per night (this December).
For each of these properties, the price listed is the cheapest (including taxes and fees) that I can perceive that will grant access to $100 property credit stay two nights or so. For larger China, however, I’m only looking at rates in 2023 as that area remains mostly closed to US tourists. I would expect we would get a similar quote, or maybe a little higher, if we called to book a qualifying rate for a $100 property credit and a club level upgrade certificate.
Related: 14 cities where you can book luxury hotels at budget prices
Key point
Rates at the least expensive Ritz-Carlton hotels where you can use a club upgrade certificate have increased from what I remember seeing in 2019. Even so, if you have the dates Flexible, you can earn a modest price at various Ritz-Carlton establishments.
I enjoyed my two night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore earlier this year and would consider returning if I had plans in India and could do so at a modest rate. But I was eager to try another property with the Ritz Carlton club-level lounge.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is a solid choice as the hotel is bookable for under $200 a night most days. But, if I wanted to try a Ritz-Carlton in the US, I would probably try The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City because it has views of the Pentagon from its club lounge.
Of course, compare the lowest price you can book with the price you need to book to apply your club upgrade certificate to make sure club lounge access is worth the difference . Also, check out how much it would cost to instantly book a room or suite at the club level. However, unless you plan to stay at Ritz-Carlton hotels with club-level lounges more than three times a year, booking a qualifying rate and then applying an upgrade certificate club would be very reasonable.
