Item: The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach
Rating: 8.6
Author: Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Booking

After a night at the Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection Resort, Ajman, I decided to go a little further north to try The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, also for one night.

In January, a night cost 70,000 points or over $1,800. I naturally chose to use Marriott Bonvoy points!

Review : The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach | Marriott Bonvoy - ritz carlton ras al khaimah al hamra beach tariff

Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points to stay for free at over 7,000 hotels worldwide is to be a Marriott Bonvoy American Express (and/or Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express^MD Card) cardholder.

In addition to the great welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott locations.

And each year, you’ll earn a free hotel night certificate (35,000 point value) as well as 15 Elite nights towards your Marriott Bonvoy status.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
FeaturedMarriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offer Up to 110,000 pointsEnds Sep 22, 2026	Apply NowCompare
FeaturedMarriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$150	Welcome offer Up to 110,000 pointsEnds Sep 22, 2026	Apply NowCompare

Alternatively, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points with American Express Membership Rewards credit cards. You can transfer Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy points at a rate of 5:6 (50,000 Membership Rewards points = 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points).

For example, with the American Express Cobalt^MD Card, you earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar of purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, bars, convenience stores and home delivery. It is one of the best credit cards in Canada for travellers. Find out why here.

Check out this page for all the welcome offers on cards that earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Location

The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach is located approximately 1 hour’s drive north of Dubai, halfway between Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. It is located in the emirate Ras Al Khaimah.

Review : The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach | Marriott Bonvoy - the ritz carlton ras al khaimah, al hamra beach---

Checking-In

Once the car is parked on the free parking lot of the hotel, I go to the reception on the sea front. Even if you’re a Titanium Elite Marriott Bonvoy member, you don’t get many benefits at Ritz-Carlton hotels: no upgrades, no breakfast.

Despite this, I was still eager to see what this luxurious establishment looks like!

I gave my Marriott Bonvoy^™ American Express^® Card as collateral and to pay for my stay there. With the Marriott Bonvoy^™ American Express^® Card, you earn 5 points per dollar for all your spending at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

This is the best credit card to have if you stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels frequently.

FeaturedCompare

Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Annual fee: $120
Our valuation: $990Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 110,000 points; Ends Sep 22, 2026

Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points with the current offer:

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$120

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437

2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

A butler will take care of my suitcase and accompany me on the boat towards the complex and its villas. Note that there is a land path between the reception and the villas. The boat therefore makes a better impression at the finish!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PvrUok5hwI

The Villa – The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

The establishment has only villas: mine will be the 25, type « Al Bahar Tented Beach Pool Villa » (the basic version).

Bedroom

As soon as the door is opened, I am amazed by what awaits me.

First, on the right, the villa, made of exotic wood and large windows allowing to enjoy the environment from any place in the room.

This villa had one room with 2 single beds, convenient for friends traveling together.

Just behind the bed is a small desk.

As you can see on this picture, from your bed you have a beautiful view of the immediate surroundings of the villa. Also note the large TV screen that can retract into the cabinet.

As a welcome gift, a box of chocolates with the hotel’s logo. A nice touch!

Also note that the Ritz are known to indicate the name of the hotel on the room card . Handy for people – like me – who collect them!

Bathroom

At the back of the villa is the bathroom. In fact, there is no delimitation with the room for access to the sinks. On the left is a very large shower, on the right the toilet.

Naturally, we find all the Asprey London brand accessories, typical of Ritz-Carlton hotels.

Terrace and private pool

Let’s go outside!

A private swimming pool is located on the terrace, with Pergola type deck chairs. Also note the presence of a huge bathtub that faces the front door of the villa.

Then, a path leading to the beach stops under a shaded area that invites you to relax after a swim in the sea or the pool.

Then you arrive on the beach where you won’t really be bothered by your neighbors!

I enjoyed going to watch the sunset and sunrise from the beach. And look at the night lighting on the terrace, highlighting the bathtub in particular!

Common areas – The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

Gym

The hotel has a gym with quality equipment. We appreciate the natural light and of course, the view!

Spa

At the end of the complex is the spa. To get there, I chose to borrow a bicycle available to all clients. It is possible to receive different treatments while enjoying the sea view.

Petanque and hammocks

In January, it was about 25 degrees, which is a perfect temperature to enjoy the outdoors. For the amateurs of petanque, a ground of balls (not shaded) is available.

No sooner had I decided to play a game than a butler arrived to bring me a fresh bottle of filtered water. Nice attention!

Several hammocks are placed along the path leading to the villas.

Breakfast – The Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

Breakfast is served at the resort’s Shore House restaurant. The exotic wood decor and beautiful bay windows are found in the air-conditioned room. I prefer to have my breakfast on the terrace.

This is also where you will find the bar as well as the common pool (not very useful for this one since each villa has its own pool as well as the beach).

Normally, breakfast is served as a buffet. But with the pandemic, the service was adapted to be offered at the table. It costs about $45 per person for an all-you-can-eat formula.

After such a sumptuous breakfast, we were full for the day!

If you make purchases in the bars and restaurants of your hotel, do not forget to charge these expenses to your room bill. So you’ll earn up to 17.5 points per dollar based on your Marriott Bonvoy status!

And when you check out, pay with your Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card to earn 5 points per dollar!