Rick Culleton

Review of The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gul...

This Ritz is not what it once was. We have been st...

This Ritz is not what it once was. We have been staying at this property for 16 years. Although I fully expect everything to be very expensive at the Ritz, the quality and service at this property is no longer in line with the price tag.

I left Wyld, after having the most expensive dinner in a year, hungry. The lamb chops had about 3 ounces of meat total, and twice that in fat. At the bar I had the most expensive (and worst) espresso of my life. It came from pod.

We paid $475 to have a photographer take pictures for 20 minutes. It took 3 trips to the photography desk. On the 3rd trip the front desk located the photographer working in the coffee shop. Marcelo agreed to take our pictures on his lunch break. When we paid we were told to expect the photos the next day.

5 days later, after several calls and emails I received a message with a login to view photos that were so watermarked they were not distinguishable on my phone.

In that same email was a price list asking us to pay a an additional $675 to $1895 if we were to receive any photos at all. At present, we have not received any photos and are out $475 for the sitting fee, tax and tip.

I wish now we had asked someone to snap a picture with our phone. We have zero family photos of the most expensive vacation we have ever taken.

The spa hasn't been updated in a decade. My wife and daughter canceled their second and 3rd reservations after the first trip and went to a nearby spa that was 'twice as good and half as much'.

I wish we hadn't returned. This trip ruined the memories of all the previous years of what we thought would be a family tradition that transcended generations.

The views here are still amazing. It is some of the best skiing in the world. I believe that these things are what have allowed the Ritz to neglect this hotel while continuing to raise rates.

Rick Culleton
Austin, Texas