The Ray, Curio Collection By Hilton

The Ray, Curio Collection By Hilton, in Delray Beach, United States, has established itself as a Michelin Key Selected property, frequently praised for its distinctive design, vibrant atmosphere, and prime location within the Pineapple Grove Arts District. It blends modern luxury with laid-back coastal charm, offering a sophisticated yet playful experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general sentiment for The Ray is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "beautiful," "well maintained," and having a "great vibe" that often exceeds expectations. Review platforms show strong ratings, including an 8.7 Excellent on Booking.com (based on 161 reviews), an 8.6 Excellent on Agoda (based on 333 reviews), and a 4.5 out of 5 average rating on TripAdvisor (from 465 reviews). Guests often express a desire to return, highlighting the hotel as "highly recommended" and a "charming boutique hotel with incredible service." However, a few lower ratings exist, often citing specific service or facility issues.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love several aspects of The Ray. Its design is a standout, characterized by a "Tropical Modernist" style with large-scale sculptures, immersive art installations, and living walls, creating a "stylish, cool property" with unique aesthetics. The rooftop pool deck with its upscale bar and restaurant, Rosewater Rooftop by AB, is a major draw for mingling and enjoying views. The presence of dining curated by a Michelin-starred chef, Akira Back, is also a significant highlight. The service and staff are frequently commended for their friendliness and attentiveness. Its location in the Pineapple Grove Arts District, just two blocks from Atlantic Avenue, is highly valued for accessibility to local attractions. Amenities like the complimentary beach shuttle, beach chairs, umbrellas, and hotel bikes further enhance the guest experience.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at The Ray are described as "clean, spacious, comfortable beds" and "very clean." They feature a "crisp and contemporary with relaxed, eclectic accents" design, often with private balconies or terraces that allow guests to enjoy the fresh air. Accommodations are thoughtfully designed with custom-made furniture, handwoven rugs, chic glass furnishings, and vibrant wallpapers, including "Barbie" inspired artwork. Upscale in-room amenities include 65-inch 4K Smart TVs, Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso coffee makers, eucalyptus linens, Frette bath towels and robes, and Byredo bath amenities, along with a selection of premium minibar items. While generally praised, some guests have reported issues such as finding hairs or dirty floors in their rooms, and low water pressure in bathroom sinks.

4. Dining Experience

The Ray offers a diverse and high-quality dining experience. Akira Back, helmed by the world-renowned Michelin-starred chef of the same name, provides a modern Japanese, multi-sensory dining journey with dishes inspired by Chef Back's Korean heritage and global travels. The Rosewater Rooftop by AB offers a more "boisterous" experience with hot and cold bites, creative mixology, and often a DJ, making it a lively spot. Campi Italian transports diners on an Italian voyage with age-old favorites, in-house made fresh pastas, and tableside flambéed Fiorentina steak in an Upper East Side-inspired setting. For a more casual setting, Ella, the lobby lounge, provides artful bites, avant-garde drinks, and live music. A coffee shop, Stingers, offers artisan espresso beverages, teas, grab-and-go food, and pressed juices for breakfast. However, some guests have noted the absence of a full-service restaurant for breakfast and no room service.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at The Ray are consistently lauded for their "exceptional" and "impeccable" service, described as "friendly, helpful, and welcoming." Specific individuals like Gwen and Tom at the front desk, and Peter the valet, have been singled out for going "above and beyond" and making stays "memorable." Many guests report feeling like "family" by the end of their stay. However, there are isolated reports of less satisfactory service, including a front desk agent being unhelpful when a guest raised concerns about room discrepancies. Some guests also mentioned issues with staff resolving noise complaints from rooftop events.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Ray boasts an "excellent" and "perfect" location in the vibrant Pineapple Grove Arts District of downtown Delray Beach. It is ideally situated just two blocks from the bustling Atlantic Avenue, known for its shops, cafes, and nightlife, and approximately a mile from Delray Public Beach. Guests appreciate being within walking distance to numerous restaurants and bars. The hotel provides convenient amenities like a complimentary shuttle service to the beach, along with beach chairs and umbrellas, and hotel bikes, making beach access easy despite not being directly on the ocean.

7. Value & Pricing

The value for money at The Ray generally receives good ratings, with an 8.1 on Booking.com and 7.6 on Agoda. Rooms can range from around $202 per night, with prices varying significantly based on room type and season, with some premier rooms costing upwards of $700+ per night. Guests should be aware of a daily resort charge of approximately $44.07 per accommodation, per night, which includes amenities like guest internet access, designated beach access with chairs and umbrellas, beach bags, hotel bikes, and shuttle service to downtown Delray Beach. There is also an extra charge of $150 per pet, per stay, for those traveling with animals, and covered valet parking costs $42 per night.

8. Common Complaints

While generally positive, several recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Noise: Some guests have experienced significant noise disturbances from rooftop parties and weddings, especially in rooms located close to the rooftop, which could continue late into the night.
• Cleanliness: A few reviews mention finding hairs and dirty floors in their rooms.
• Maintenance Issues: Occasional reports of broken air conditioning (though often fixed the next day) and low water pressure in bathroom sinks have surfaced.
• Breakfast Limitations: The breakfast offering is a small coffee shop, which some guests found insufficient, wishing for a full restaurant breakfast or room service.
• Overbooking: There was one instance reported where Hilton allegedly overbooked and "canceled" a reservation, switching guests to a lower category.
• Discrepancy with Photos: One guest noted that the photos shown on Booking.com did not match reality, and the reception staff was unhelpful in addressing the issue.

Sources

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