The Ritz and Tysons Galleria - General/Recommend

The very first time I had ever stayed at a Ritz Carlton was in New York City directly across the street from Central Park during my senior year of high school. Blessed enough to have experienced not only the beautiful Central Park view from the room we had but also enjoying the one-bedroom suite that was as spacious and elegant as a one-bedroom apartment! Then the overall top of the line customer service of full "turn down and tuck in service" and the chocolates on your pillows and concierge with the house car (which was a Bentley by the way). Definitely memorable times and moments during that stay and experience.

Why do I even mention that? Well as odd as it may seem the next time I'm staying at and am not only blessed enough to enjoy another stay at a Ritz location but then to be able to frequent it! Well, it's more than a decade later and I have my kids with me. So not only years later but it's on a non-planned moment where my family and I finished dropping off my sister at the airport to head back to Texas and the storms were pretty strong and dark! SO, instead of the almost two-hour drive back home in a pretty badly developed storm, turns into a mini getaway weekend and on Mother's Day weekend no less.

(image above not mine but a snapshot from Google Maps)

(both images above not mine but a snapshot from Google Maps and from Google pics)

The Ritz in Tysons Corner is pretty accommodating, comfortable, and a great location to many things in the area! It's truly ideal because of the easy access point in directions no matter where you're traveling from. Their staff are both smart, kind, ideal, family friendly, respectful, and very considerate starting at the host/check in station all the way to the restaurant chefs and staff all in between. If you're traveling with family (little ones in tow I mean), they are a hotel that's fully prepared for your needs with the provided cribs and friendly staff to both greet and assist you with your little ones. They even have these little tasty party favors in the evenings (whether during the week or weekend) for guests of all ages-it's really so quaint how they have it set up in the lobby outside of their bar and lounge/restaurant on the upper floor. 

Disclaimer though! My kids aren't like many other kids their age and I discipline them in the moment, so don't go giving them bad reviews because YOU don't have a handle on your little ones/kids - you KNOW who you are parents! Yea, you parents that don't believe in disciplining or just let you kids run around all over, scream, create tantrums, and wail their heads off all - yea NOTHING like my kids because even I hate that shit. Moving on!       

I never did stay in their suites, but it does leave me wanting to go back again for a nice R&R in one...no their simple guest rooms were very accommodating and spacious enough for our needs without a doubt. Their room service is exemplary not only in how it's visually plated but also in tastes/flavors and the fresh quality of their ingredients. They do offer a turn-down service and yes, they do provide chocolates. They did so many wonderful things for the Mother's Day weekend that it was pampering as hell that's for sure! 

Image above is the room service that we ordered for my kiddos. 

On a separate stay we were able to try out the full brunch buffet at the upper floor restaurant. First of all, the restaurant has an elegantly rustic feel with windows everywhere for plenty of natural light and comfortable seating everywhere! The buffet meal provided had plenty of options and this next part isn't necessarily because of the restaurant or Ritz itself, but it speaks to the quality and great staff that they've hired. See due to the amount of adventuring done before, my kids were given a slack on getting ready and waking up. So, it was a little crunching of time for the brunch time, at least before it ended anyway. My youngest was with me and it seems impressed all of the staff with her manners and mannerism that they began to wait on her hand and foot and once I mentioned that my other kiddo would be appearing soon as well, they began making sure that I would have what I needed to feed my oldest even before my oldest arrived and before they began cleaning up the buffet area. Truly endearing and sweet considering that the restaurant was almost empty, and they were just basically waiting on my family and me. So, when my mom arrived with my oldest, my youngest and I went to take a stroll, especially knowing that we would be going on the drive back home and sitting in the car for a little while.

The best part of this particular location in the Tysons Corner area of Virginia/Washington D.C. area is that it connects to a large indoor mall (basically a Galleria Mall) called the Tysons Galleria.

 

(image above is not mine but from a Google search)

Why does it matter so much that it connects to the mall? Well for starters, for those of you who don't plan but have spontaneous moments (like we did the very first night and first time staying here, and we had literally just the clothes on our backs) it helps to have literally any and all stores accessible to you! The coolest part is that there aren't just stores but a few good restaurants located inside the mall-the best part of the large multi-floor Galleria Mall is that since it connects to the Ritz, when the mall shuts down and locks up for the night it's not locked or hidden from the guests at the Ritz. The doors that lead from the Ritz to the mall are open for a VERY long time so even after everyone is gone and probably to bed, you can still walk off perhaps a late meal at the bar or a late meal from room service. Those same doors are also opened VERY early so if you aren't one to work out in their fitness room, then you can easily go use the stairs and walk a few miles in the mall - and yes for the record we actually saw a good chunk of guests (older mind you) that were up early and walking around before anything was open and way before the mall doors open to the public or those that were outside of the Ritz. Really a great setup and it helped with all the walking that my kids and I love to do! 

Everything really was within arm's reach every time we stayed and the fact that the Tysons Corner shopping center and other restaurants located outside of this particular location were just as easily accessible as far as commute goes, well I really can't express how awesome it all is! I know that if you're from the DFW area in Texas and know or been to the Galleria Mall off of the tollway and 635, then this Galleria Mall truly does knock that one out by the longest stretch! 

If you're going to stay in the Washington D.C. area or perhaps visit the area and some hot spots I highly recommend staying at this location; whether it's for pleasure, fun, couple getaway, or just a little R&R - yeah, I would definitely recommend it... 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman