The 7 Most Expensive Ritz-Carlton Properties You Can Book with Points
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Last month, we covered the launch of the upgraded Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, which brought some new benefits that may just make you excited about the luxury hotel chain all over again. Nick Ewen covered the 10 best properties to use your three free nights at (you get these after spending $5,000 on purchases on the card in the first three months of account opening), and today I'll look across the entire hotel chain to find the most expensive Ritz-Carlton properties in the world. While you can't use the free nights from the card at many these properties, you can stay at them for free using Ritz-Carlton or Marriott Rewards points.
You can only use the free nights from the card sign-up bonus at Tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton hotels, but you can use points to stay at any Tier 1-5 location with the exception of the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. You cannot redeem points at Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Residence or Destination Club locations.
Also, keep in mind that you can redeem Marriott Rewards points at Ritz-Carlton properties. The fastest way to earn these is to sign up for the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card, which is currently offering 75,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards earned from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase Ink Plus Business Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve to Marriott Rewards, though I don't recommend that as a best use of Ultimate Rewards.
I researched typically expensive locations around the world in addition to reaching out to some Ritz-Carlton loyalists to find the seven most expensive Ritz-Carlton properties bookable with points.
1. Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
Tier: 5 (70,000 points per night)
Cheapest Daily Rate: $613

Mid-week rates in summer may start at $613, but if you check the calendar for rates through the fall, you're more likely to see numbers in the four figures. The property's prime location — on the corner of Central Park South and Sixth Avenue in midtown Manhattan — offers unrivaled views of Central Park and the city skyline.
2. Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
Tier: 5 (70,000 points per night)
Cheapest daily rate: $420

You'll be lucky to find a night at the Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo at the rock-bottom rate of $420; you're more likely to see prices in the $500-$800 range during the week and $600+ for a Friday or Saturday night. I walked through the lobby of this property once and had a drink downstairs, and the staff and the hotel itself were incredibly impressive.
3. Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Tier: 5 (70,000 points per night)
Cheapest daily rate: $538

Opened in February 2014, this property offers everything you'd hope to experience in the way of Japanese customs and service. The hotel sits on the banks of the Kamogawa river and offers views of the Higashiyama mountains. Kyoto is a fantastic destination to explore while traveling to Japan, and it could definitely be worth splurging (with points or cash) to book a night at this property.
4. Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui
Tier: 4 (60,000 points per night)
Cheapest daily rate: $391

If you pick your dates right, you may be able to score a pre-tax nightly rate of $391 at this property, but there are only a few dates offering such a low price. More likely, you'll end up paying $600 or more for a night at this Hawaiian paradise. The great news is that you can use a free night from the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card here, as it's a Tier 4 hotel.
5. Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Tier: 4 (60,000 points per night)
Cheapest daily rate: $514

At the Bay Area's only luxury resort on the ocean, you'll feel like you're in the middle of nowhere despite being a mere 20 miles from San Francisco International Airport. The property's amenities are too numerous to list in full here, but include two championship golf courses, communal fire pits for s'mores-making, four restaurants and a 16,000-square foot spa. As this is a Tier 4 property, you can use your free nights from the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card here and avoid the prices that routinely skyrocket to over $700 per night.
6. Ritz-Carlton, Boston
Tier: 4 (60,000 points per night)
Cheapest daily rate: $495

This Tier 4 Boston property, situated in the heart of downtown between the theater and financial districts, may have rates starting at $495, but you're more likely to pay $700 or more per night. Many of the 193 rooms and suites offer views of the city skyline or Boston Common, and guests enjoy access to the adjacent 100,000-square-foot Equinox Sports Club (which includes a spa).
7. Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
Tier: 5 (70,000 points per night)
Cheapest daily rate in ski season: $587

Beginning in mid-December and continuing all the way through the first week of April, nightly rates at this property in the Colorado Rocky Mountains start at $587. Rates for weekends and holidays during ski season jump even higher — to $881 or more per night. You might think that award nights would be hard to find with prices and demand so high, but availability is actually fairly decent if you're willing to part with 70,000 points per night.
Bottom Line
Very roughly, you can say the average nightly rate for the above properties is $700, meaning you'll get a redemption value of about 1 cent per point when using Marriott points for free nights. TPG values Marriott and Ritz-Carlton points at 0.7 cents each, so you'll generally get decent value for award nights at the above locations.
You can lower the cost of award stays at the above properties by taking advantage of Marriott's Fifth Night Free benefit. This means a Tier 5 property would cost you 280,000 points for a five-night stay — or only 56,000 points per night — and boost your redemption value per point by 20%. You might also consider using Marriott's new cash and points rewards to pay for your stay.
Hopefully, this post has given you some inspiration for where to redeem Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points or your free nights from the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card!
What's the most expensive Ritz-Carlton property you've come across?
[card card-name='The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card' card-id='221211382' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app


