Arrival/Check-In: The entrance to the 450-room property is beautiful and grand, and the valet parking attendants were spot-on, taking our car and luggage immediately. We arrived a little early, as I had a meeting to attend nearby. Upon arrival I learned the meeting had canceled, so we had time to relax and have lunch until our room was ready. After our meal we headed to our room, and shortly thereafter our luggage arrived along with some amenities from the property — a nice start to our stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.

Guest Quarters: Our room, 824, offered a view of the Gulf of Mexico and the pool complex between the hotel and the water. We were pleased to find two lovely framed pictures — one of our two Dalmatians (Elle and Beau) and one of ourselves — taken from our Facebook postings; a bottle of wine; and a large dog biscuit, which we took home for our pups. It really added a nice, homey touch to our stay.

Our room included a king-sized bed with an overstuffed chair in the far corner near the double French doors leading to the balcony. To the right of the doors stood a desk, and opposite the bed a credenza held a flat-screen TV, the minibar and a coffeemaker. A hallway led from the main room to the front door; it was long enough for a double-door closet with mirrored front and a little table with a lamp. The bathroom was also off of this hallway, which complemented with dark hardwood flooring. The bathroom featured a marble-topped vanity and a marble bathtub surround. There was not a separate shower, and the tub had a shower curtain instead of a glass enclosure. Asprey bath products added to the amenities of the bathroom along with a little glass jar with cotton balls and swabs.

Services/Amenities: The property offers many amenities, including three miles of beach, beach chairs and umbrellas, two heated outdoor pools, a Ritz-Carlton Spa featuring more than 30 treatment rooms, a fitness center, tennis courts and some nice gift shops in the lobby. The many restaurant options include Gumbo Limbo, a super-friendly, Gulf-side restaurant with outdoor seating to enjoy the view between beach breaks. We enjoyed a lovely fish dinner at Terrazza, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, where we both chose the bronzino, perfectly cooked. Unfortunately, I did not have time for a round of golf, but guests have access to Tiburón Golf Club, a Greg Norman-designed course.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ I had a nice walk on the beach even though it was a red flag day and windy.

◆ Gumbo Limbo serves great conch chowder.

◆ The property closed in 2013 for three months for a renovation of all the guestrooms.

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
Naples, FL 34108
tel 239 598 3300
ritzcarlton.com