My family and I booked a one-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach for Mother’s Day, hoping for a relaxing and luxurious experience. Unfortunately, we were so dissatisfied that we ended up checking out the same night around 8:30 pm.
The hotel itself is noticeably outdated. For a brand that markets itself as high-end, the furnishings and overall ambiance felt more tired than timeless. Dining was another letdown — overpriced food that didn’t live up to expectations, and a mandatory gratuity of 18-22% added to nearly every charge, even when the service was lackluster.
What truly ruined the experience was the terrible valet service and the unacceptable customer treatment. The valet manager, Manny, was especially rude and dismissive. When my husband went to retrieve the car and explained we were checking out early due to our dissatisfaction, Manny questioned him aggressively and made him feel uncomfortable, as though we were doing something wrong. His behavior came off as discriminatory and entirely inappropriate for a service-based industry.
To make matters worse, another family member had “self-parked” his motorcycle with VALET and was still charged the full $65 valet fee — yet Manny made a big scene about it, as if it were some kind of inconvenience to them. It was unnecessary and unprofessional.
Needless to say, we will not be returning to this location. Next time, we’ll be staying at the Four Seasons — where hospitality still means something.
