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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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 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!

The Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach is a beautiful property off the beaten track. Ideally, I advise you to stay 2 nights to fully enjoy the complex. Even if you don’t have a status, you will have a beautiful villa like the one I had.

And then you could possibly go to the other property, The Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert, located about 15 minutes away. That’s what I did! Report to follow 😉