The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The resort’s beautiful and meticulously-maintained grounds offer plenty of space to escape the crowds and enjoy beachfront life in the warm Florida sun. The excellent level of service that helps distinguish this luxury property is immediately evident, as guests are offered welcome drinks as they register in the grand lobby. The cavernous space is bathed in polished marble, with soaring ceilings graced by crystal chandeliers. The hotel attracts a range of well-heeled guests, but corporate meetings and other group events are big business here, and the resort can get quite crowded when they’re in full swing. Prime spots on the beach, at the pools, and even at the bars and restaurants can be hard to come by. The resort also attracts families with kids in tow.

The Ritz-Carlton is located in a quiet and somewhat secluded spot directly on the Gulf of Mexico. A few restaurants are within walking distance of 10 minutes or less, as is Vanderbilt Beach and South Bay Marina. There are plenty of shopping and dining options a six-minute drive from the resort at Mercato. It’s a 25-minute drive to downtown Naples and shopping at Naples Towne Center, and a 21-minute drive to Naples Botanical Gardens. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and the Naples Museum of Art can be reached in about nine minutes by car. Southwest Florida International Airport is roughly a 38-minute drive. 

These modern and spacious rooms are elegant and stylish and feature thoughtful touches, but they’re not overly luxurious or opulent. Light blue walls and carpet mix well with yellow, beige, and brown accents in coastal-theme artwork, padded headboards, and leather benches. Some of the designer-quality, dark-wood furniture has white facing, and even entry-level (Limited View) guest rooms have daybeds or love seats, as well as large desks with leather office chairs and upholstered wood chairs. 

Units are bright and cheerful, thanks to the light color palette combined with ample natural light from floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading out to small balconies (except Limited View rooms). The 35 suites offer more space, and multi-room suites are quite large. Coastal View rooms offer partial views of the beach, while Gulf View rooms feature panoramic Gulf views. 

Amenities are numerous and appealing, and include 42-inch flat screen TVs, minibars, coffeemakers, iPod docking stations, terrycloth robes, slippers, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are generously sized and outfitted with white marble tiling on the floors, vanities, and walls framing the shower/tub combos with curtains. Asprey toiletries are provided, as is free bottled water and daily newspapers. 

The Ritz-Carlton offers an amenities package that reflects its status as one of the top luxury hotels on Florida’s west coast. Cabanas with personal concierge service surround the Junior Olympic-size, saltwater pool that is adults-only. A second saltwater pool is for families, and an interactive kids splash pool and whirlpool also are on-site. The private beach offers more fun in the sun, with bar service and free towels and chairs. Water sports activities such as kayaking and paddle boarding also are available. 

There are seven dining options on-site, including a sushi restaurant, a casual beachfront grill, and a formal steakhouse, and there's 24-hour room service. For wellness, the massive spa has 30 treatment rooms, full-service salon, sauna and steam rooms, and an outdoor mineral pool. Its fitness center has an outstanding selection of the latest equipment, as well as personal trainers and group exercise classes. The resort also has a tennis center with four outdoor courts and tennis pros. Free shuttle service is provided to the nearby Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort that features two Greg Norman-designed courses, which host the annual PGA Tour Franklin Templeton Shootout. 

To keep the kids entertained, the Ritz Kids Program offers supervised activities and there's a hands-on facility designed for learning about area wildlife. The Vue Lounge also offers the latest video games. The resort has a business center, plus more than 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor even space, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.

Parking is valet-only and rather expensive for a property that's not in a downtown area. Valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services, and there's twice-daily housekeeping. On-site shopping options include a gourmet sweets shop, creamery, and a gift shop that sells Ritz-Carlton-branded clothing. Despite all of the amenities, the Ritz-Carlton does not have a resort fee, which a refreshing perk.