Hardest Ritz-Carlton Hotels to Book (and How to Secure a Room)
Hardest Ritz-Carlton Hotels to Book (and How to Secure a Room)
Booking a stay at a Ritz-Carlton hotel is usually straightforward—unless you’re trying to reserve one of the brand’s most exclusive, in-demand properties. Some Ritz-Carlton hotels are notoriously difficult to book due to limited inventory, high repeat-guest demand, peak-season sellouts, and strong loyalty or VIP holdbacks.
At Stars Desk, a Top Marriott STARS Agent, we work directly with Ritz-Carlton sales, revenue, and VIP teams to secure space at even the hardest-to-book properties—often with added STARS benefits such as complimentary breakfast, resort credits, upgrades, and priority waitlist access.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
Why certain Ritz-Carlton hotels are so hard to book
The hardest Ritz-Carlton properties globally
Insider strategies to secure a room
How booking with a Marriott STARS agent gives you a decisive advantage
Why Some Ritz-Carlton Hotels Are So Difficult to Book
Not all sellouts are created equal. The Ritz-Carlton hotels below share several characteristics that make availability scarce:
Limited room inventory (often under 150 rooms)
Ultra-high repeat guest ratio, especially among elite and VIP travelers
Peak seasonal demand tied to weather, events, or migration patterns
Strong suite culture, where standard rooms are rarely released
Heavy use of preferred partners and wholesale blocks
Many of these hotels appear “sold out” online while rooms still exist—but are quietly held for VIPs, trusted advisors, or strategic releases.
1. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
Why it’s hard to book: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is one of the most sought-after luxury resorts in the world. With a limited number of villas and a high percentage of overwater accommodations, demand far exceeds supply—especially from December through April.
Peak blackout periods:
Festive season (Dec 20 – Jan 10)
Easter holidays
Chinese New Year
Insider strategy:
Book 9–12 months in advance for festive dates
Flexible villa categories dramatically increase success
Marriott STARS partners can often access preferred inventory and priority upgrades
Stars Desk advantage: We frequently secure villas during “sold-out” periods by working directly with resort revenue management and leveraging our STARS production history.
2. The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Why it’s hard to book: With just over 130 rooms, Ritz-Carlton Kyoto sells out quickly year-round. Spring cherry blossom season and autumn foliage are nearly impossible to secure without insider access.
Peak blackout periods:
Late March to early April (sakura season)
November (fall foliage)
Insider strategy:
Avoid searching only by standard room types
Book shoulder dates and let a STARS agent request date compression
Leverage VIP notes and special occasions
Stars Desk advantage: As a Top Marriott STARS Agent, we can submit advance VIP requests and monitor cancellations long before inventory reappears publicly.
3. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
Why it’s hard to book: As a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, Dorado Beach operates on a different level of exclusivity. Many guests are repeat visitors who rebook annually before departure.
Peak blackout periods:
Winter season (January–March)
Major U.S. holidays
Insider strategy:
Longer stays are prioritized over short ones
Villas and suites often unlock availability
STARS advisors can negotiate flexible arrival dates
Stars Desk advantage: We maintain strong relationships with Reserve-level properties, enabling priority waitlist placement and enhanced upgrade success.
4. The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui
Why it’s hard to book: Following renovations and increased demand for Hawaii luxury travel, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua routinely sells out months in advance.
Peak blackout periods:
Christmas and New Year
Summer family travel season
Insider strategy:
Book early and modify later
Avoid relying on points availability alone
Use STARS channels for complimentary breakfast and resort credits
Stars Desk advantage: We often secure premium room categories with upgrades even when base rooms are unavailable online.
5. The Ritz-Carlton Paris, Place Vendôme
Why it’s hard to book: This flagship Ritz-Carlton has a small number of rooms relative to demand, with strong corporate, fashion, and diplomatic bookings.
Peak blackout periods:
Paris Fashion Week
Summer high season
Major global events
Insider strategy:
Avoid searching only standard rooms
Be flexible with views or room layouts
Work with a STARS advisor for VIP release inventory
Stars Desk advantage: Our STARS affiliation allows us to request priority upgrades and VIP recognition not available through standard booking channels.
6. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Zadún, Los Cabos
Why it’s hard to book: Zadún has become one of the most popular ultra-luxury resorts in Mexico, with limited inventory and extremely high repeat guest demand.
Peak blackout periods:
Winter months
Spring break
Festive season
Insider strategy:
Book early and remain flexible on room category
Longer stays unlock better availability
STARS bookings receive higher priority than OTA reservations
7. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
Why it’s hard to book: Despite being in a major city, this property operates more like a boutique hotel, with suites heavily favored by VIP and corporate clients.
Peak blackout periods:
December holiday season
UN General Assembly
Major citywide events
Insider strategy:
Consider off-peak weekdays
Use STARS channels to request pre-arrival upgrades
How to Secure a Room at the Hardest Ritz-Carlton Hotels
1. Book Earlier Than You Think
For ultra-demand properties, 9–12 months is not excessive—especially for festive or peak travel periods.
2. Be Flexible With Room Categories
Suites and premium rooms often have availability when entry-level rooms do not.
3. Avoid Online-Only Searches
Public booking engines rarely show all available inventory, particularly for VIP-hold rooms.
4. Use a Marriott STARS Agent
Marriott STARS agents have access to:
Priority waitlists
Preferred inventory
VIP release rooms
Complimentary benefits not available elsewhere
Why Book With Stars Desk – A Top Marriott STARS Agent
At Stars Desk, we specialize in securing space at the world’s most exclusive Ritz-Carlton hotels. Our clients benefit from:
Daily complimentary breakfast for two
Property credits (typically $100–$200 per stay)
Priority room upgrades
Early check-in and late check-out (when available)
Personalized VIP recognition
Most importantly, we know who to call and when—which often makes the difference between “sold out” and confirmed.
Final Thoughts
The hardest Ritz-Carlton hotels to book are difficult for a reason: limited supply, exceptional service, and loyal repeat guests. But with the right strategy—and the right advisor—you can still secure a room, often with added VIP value.
If you’re planning a stay at a high-demand Ritz-Carlton property and seeing limited or no availability, let Stars Desk, your Top Marriott STARS Agent, handle it. Chances are, we can open doors others can’t.
Ready to secure your stay? Contact Stars Desk and let us do the heavy lifting.
