Naples, Florida
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
Gulf-front High-Rise
What it is
A 447-room mega resort on the Gulf of Mexico, with eight restaurants, two al fresco pools (including a kid’s splash pool) and a ginormous 30-room spa.
What it isn't
Just for grown-ups. Littles can join Nature’s Wonders to explore its 11-tank on-site aquarium and ogle preserved reptile skeletons alongside pro conservationists.
What we think
For families and romantics that long to “have it all”, Ritz-Carlton, Naples, steps up. Anything you could require is on offer here, whether you want to play 18 holes on a Greg Norman-designed golf course (guests have access to Tiburón Golf Club) or try glassblowing with artist Conrad Williams (available December-May). Guest rooms themselves are every bit as well-stocked, with amenities like 400-thread-count cotton sheets and goose down comforters, iPod docking stations, curated mini bars, plus bathrooms finished in marble. While Coastal View rooms will suit just fine (with 434-square-feet of breathing room and a personal balcony), we recommend upgrading to a 680-square-foot Beach Front Suite for its sitting parlor, powder room and prime panorama from one of the resort’s towers.
You're here because
Honestly? You’re feeling a little lazy and want to unplug, and the Ritz-Carlton’s eight restaurants—including Terrazza, where you can sup on braised short ribs on their gulf-front terrace—means you’ll never have to leave the premises if you don’t feel like it.
The Moment
After a morning swimming in the calm surf, you head to the spa for an Organic Seaweed Leaf Wrap—and feel, once you’ve emerged from your chrysalis, like aphrodite arising from the ocean.
Restaurants & Bars
The Grill - Steakhouse
Gumbo Limbo - Floridian cuisine
Bites - American regional, small plates
Terrazza - Classic Italian, family-friendly
The Poolside Cafe - Pool cuisine
H2O Spa Cafe - Seasonal organic
Dusk
The Lobby Lounge & Bar
Family activities
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Golisano Children's Museum of Naples
Nature's Wonders - eco-programs in the hotel
Sun-n-Fun Lagoon Water Park
Vue - Visual User Experience
Location
27 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport, and within a day trip of infamous Sanibel Island—famous for looking for shells along the shore in the “Sanibel Stoop” position.