I’ve stayed at many high-end hotel chains across the globe including Occidental Grand, Omni, Four Seasons, and InterContinental. However, I finally checked the Ritz-Carlton off my bucket list when DH (Dear Hubbie) had a company trip to the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee.

So what makes the Ritz so special? The brand became synonymous with luxury and opulence from its early beginnings. Opened by Cesar Ritz in 1897, the Hotel Ritz in Paris provided electricity and private bathrooms for guests. A few years later, Ritz opened the Carlton Hotel in London with a telephone in every room. The brand came to the US when Alber Keller purchased the franchise in 1911. Today, Marriott owns the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company with over 100 hotels in the world.