I booked The Ryder because of its location, great reviews, and rare perk of having a pool, but the reality has been frustrating and disappointing.
There are only 11 pool loungers for the entire hotel, and they’re usually gone by 8:30 AM. Most other seating is reserved for people buying day passes or cabanas, and the pool is completely open to the public — by 1 PM, it was packed with non-guests. The pool was definitely “clubby” and not relaxing or kid friendly. Hotel guests are clearly an afterthought here.
Rooms are cute and spacious, but you can hear everything through the walls, there’s no fridge in the rooms, and the layout isn’t accessible especially with only one elevator. The garage of “free” gear sounds great, but everything’s snatched up early, making it more of a gimmick than an amenity. I was horrified to find out at check out that we paid a $35 amenity fee each day.. for what exactly? We were better off staying somewhere else and paying the $30 pool pass that is available to the public.
What’s especially frustrating is that I now suspect the glowing reviews are heavily curated. I’ve spoken with other guests who feel the same way I do, and it’s hard not to believe that negative reviews are filtered while influencer content is paid for.