From Ritz Kid to JFD: Why Marriott Has Always Been Part of Our Family’s Travels

Travel has always been a big part of our family, and over the years, Marriott, and particularly The Ritz-Carlton, became part of so many of those memories. Emma grew up staying at Ritz-Carlton properties around the world. She was our “Ritz Kid” long before she eventually aged out of the actual Ritz Kids program.

When we look back at those trips, though, what we remember most isn't necessarily the hotel room or even the destination. It is the people we met and the experiences we had while we were there.

There are Marriott team members who have watched Emma grow up. People who remember us when we return, who ask about something we talked about during our last visit or who have simply taken the time to get to know our family. Some of those relationships have developed over years and across multiple visits. That is a big part of why we continue to return.

When Emma was younger, Ritz Kids was also a huge part of the experience.

Ritz Kids is designed for children ages 4 to 12 and introduces them to a destination through activities focused on local culture, nature and discovery. The programming can vary quite a bit by property. We have experienced everything from special kids’ check-ins and activities to dedicated Ritz Kids spaces and much more extensive programming, so if that is important to your family, definitely check with the individual property before your trip.

Orlando, Florida

Emma's first Ritz Kids experience was at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, and it remains one of our favorites. They offer morning and afternoon sessions, animals including chickens, rabbits and reptiles, feeding the fish in the lake, crafts and plenty of opportunities for kids to explore the property. Emma has officially aged out of the program, but she still checks in on the rabbit whenever we return.

Orlando is also a great example of how our Marriott experiences have changed as Emma has gotten older. Ritz Kids used to be one of the things she looked forward to most. Now, a lot of our favorite memories there revolve around food.

Knife & Spoon, led by Chef John Tesar, has become a restaurant we return to, and The Art of Kobe was exactly the type of experience we look for through JFD: five courses showcasing authentic Kobe beef with curated wine pairings. Chef Tyler and Chef Hugh made the evening even better because they were incredibly knowledgeable but also genuinely fun to interact with.

Over the years, we have gotten to know so many members of the Knife & Spoon team, and somewhere along the way, they became more than the people we see when we come in for dinner. They became part of our family. We eat at a lot of incredible restaurants, but the places we return to again and again are almost always about more than the food. It is the people we look forward to seeing, the conversations that pick up where they left off and the feeling that we are coming back to people we genuinely care about.

Dubai, UAE

Dubai has given us some of those same memories in a completely different way.

Some of our favorite Ritz Kids memories came from watching Emma play with children from all over the world. They didn't care where anyone was from or whether they spoke the same language. They were simply kids playing together. It is one of those things you remember long after a trip is over.

Years later, food became part of our Ritz-Carlton Dubai memories too. Tamoka, located at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai, celebrates Latin American flavors in a beautiful beachfront setting, but our favorite Tamoka memory went well beyond simply having dinner. We had the opportunity to participate in a master class with the chef.

One of our favorite Tamoka memories came when Chef de Cuisine Ze Sergio Hernandez Ruiz invited us into a Ceviche Master Class. We learned about the different ceviche traditions across Latin America before making a Red Smoked Aguachile Ceviche together, working through everything from balancing citrus and spice to adding texture with fried quinoa and cancha. Ceviche was something we had always loved but honestly found intimidating to make at home, and Chef Sergio completely changed that. He was incredibly generous with his knowledge and made the entire experience fun and approachable. It was one of those afternoons that reminded us why we love experiences like this when we travel. We didn't just leave having eaten something incredible; we left knowing the person behind it, understanding a little more about the food and excited to try making it ourselves.

That is probably the best way to explain how our travels have evolved. Emma's experiences didn't stop when she aged out of Ritz Kids. They just changed.

The little girl who used to walk into Ritz Kids is now the primary photographer behind Jabri Fine Dining. She walks into kitchens, meets chefs, sits at chef's counters and helps us document the experiences we have as a family.

New York City

The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad brings those two parts of our travels together especially well. José Andrés has several concepts within the property, including Zaytinya, Bazaar Meat and Nubeluz, making the hotel somewhere where you can spend quite a bit of time eating without ever leaving the building.

Zaytinya is a restaurant we have eaten at more times than we can count, and the New York location is our absolute favorite. Its Turkish, Greek and Lebanese influences are very familiar to our family, but we love the elevation Zaytinya brings to traditional staples without losing what makes those flavors so comforting in the first place. Falafel, pide, hummus and kebabs cover the table, and there is inevitably more food ordered than three people could possibly need.

For us, this is why choosing a hotel has never been only about having somewhere to sleep.

Of course, we appreciate a beautiful room and a great view. But when we come home, those aren't always the things we talk about. We talk about the people. We remember the team members who have watched Emma grow up. We remember the chefs who took time to talk to her. We remember breakfasts that turned into brunch at the club lounge because they were just that magical.

That is something we think people should consider when planning a vacation. Don't just look at the room. Look at the restaurants. Look at what the property offers for kids. Look at the experiences happening while you are there. Sometimes your hotel ends up becoming a much bigger part of the vacation than you expected.

That is also why becoming an affiliate partner with Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy felt like such a natural fit for Jabri Fine Dining.

We haven't suddenly decided to become a travel site. Travel, food and hospitality have always been connected for our family. From Ritz Kids to incredible restaurants, Marriott has been part of our story for years.

Most importantly, we were Marriott guests long before we were a Marriott affiliate.

Through Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy, travelers can bundle participating Marriott hotel stays with flights and other available travel options. Using our JFD link does not automatically create a special JFD discount. You will see the eligible rates, packages and promotions available through Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy when you book.

If you do book through our link, JFD may receive a commission from a qualifying booking.

Book your next vacation now: https://prf.hn/l/XZy3dbD/

From traveling the world with our little Ritz Kid to watching Emma stand behind the camera as JFD's photographer, it is pretty incredible to see how those experiences have evolved. She may have aged out of Ritz Kids, but Marriott continues to be part of the way our family travels.

And when you are planning your next trip, don't just think about where you are going. Take a little time to look at where you are staying and what is happening there. Some of our favorite vacation memories have happened without ever leaving the hotel.

Once you figure out where you're going, you already know we'll help you figure out where to eat.

Affiliate Disclosure: Jabri Fine Dining participates in the Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy affiliate program. JFD may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this article, at no additional cost to you.