Arrival/Check-In: The entrance to the 450-room property is impressive and welcoming. Valet attendants promptly took our car and luggage. We arrived a bit early, expecting a nearby meeting, which ultimately was canceled, giving us time to relax and have lunch before our room was ready. After dining, we returned to the hotel and soon our luggage arrived along with a few thoughtful amenities from the property — a pleasant start to our stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.
Guest Quarters: Our room, 824, faced the Gulf of Mexico and overlooked the pool complex between the hotel and the water. The staff had placed two framed photos — one of our two Dalmatians, Elle and Beau, and one of us — sourced from our social media posts, as well as a bottle of wine and a large dog biscuit we saved for our pups. Those small touches made the room feel personal and welcoming.
The room featured a king-sized bed and an overstuffed chair tucked into the far corner near double French doors that opened onto the balcony. To the right of the doors was a desk, and opposite the bed a credenza held a flat-screen TV, minibar and coffeemaker. A hallway extended from the main room to the entry, with a double-door mirrored closet and a small table with a lamp. The bathroom, accessed from the hallway, had dark hardwood flooring, a marble-topped vanity and a marble surround for the bathtub. The tub served as the shower and used a shower curtain rather than a glass enclosure. Asprey bath products and a small glass jar of cotton balls and swabs completed the bathroom amenities.
Services/Amenities: The resort offers an extensive array of amenities: three miles of sandy beach with chairs and umbrellas, two heated outdoor pools, a full-service Ritz-Carlton Spa with more than 30 treatment rooms, a fitness center, tennis courts and several well-curated gift shops in the lobby. Dining options include Gumbo Limbo, a relaxed Gulf-side restaurant with outdoor seating ideal for taking in the view between beach breaks. We had a memorable dinner at Terrazza, the hotel’s Italian restaurant; both of us ordered bronzino, which was cooked to perfection. While I didn’t get a chance to play golf, guests have access to Tiburón Golf Club, a Greg Norman–designed course nearby.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ A beach walk was enjoyable despite windy conditions and a red-flag water warning.
◆ Gumbo Limbo serves an excellent conch chowder.
◆ The property underwent a three-month renovation in 2013 that updated all guestrooms.
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
Naples, FL 34108
tel 239 598 3300
ritzcarlton.com