mxylplik2

Looking for a quiet, relaxing vacation with my wife in September in Florida. What I want is a really nice resort with nice pools. Here is where we've been and what I liked about each and this may help with figuring out what other options I should explore.

South Seas Plantation - Captiva and Sanibel are nice quiet islands, pretty good selection of restaurants - nice beach (Captiva is without the shells) and nice sunsets. Resort not crowded.

Hyatt Coconut Plantation - Bonita Springs - nice lazy river ride, not a lot of kids, nice selection of pools between timeshare and hotel; nice restaurants in Bonita Springs as well as Naples. Resort not crowded when we went.

Ritz Carlton - Key Biscayne - what more can I say - its Ritz. Really didn't like the beach (seaweeds) but pool area was nice. Quick access to Miami, where there was a large selection of restaurants.

Basically, I want to go somewhere where it is luxurious (but not Little Palm level) and we can relax by the pool/ beach and go to nice dinners. Beach would be nice but is not necessary. Hotel room doesn't need to be large but it has to be very clean and updated. Thanks!

padams421

The Ritz on the beach in Naples
The Inn & Club at Ponte Vedra

TahitiTams

Hi mxylplik2..
Just curious since I live on the beach on the West coast but isn't hurricane season still going strong in September?
I would hate to see your quiet, relaxing vacation with your wife be a disaster because of some darn wicked storm..
Come out to the West coast where it will be beautiful with no chance of any storms and luxurious resorts with what you want..
I do wish you all the best!

egret

The hurricane season is still very strong in September. Late November/early December would be a better time, if you can go then.
I also vote for the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.

mxylplik2

I usually plan the trip at the last minute (e.g., book the night before I leave and check the weather). If there is a chance of hurricane, I go somewhere where the weather is good. Last year, I was supposed to go to Hyatt in Bonita Springs but I was weary of heavy storms so I cancelled and used miles to go to Cancun where the weather was beautiful. I know that won't always work out because the airfares could be really high but the hotel costs are usually the same. Thanks.

Annabel

I would reconsider Florida in September. It is actually the peak hurricane month due to the warm waters and the jet streams.

I would also take South Seas Plantation (Resort) off your list. I was just there last month. The place is far from being done and is a disaster. There were no restaurants open, nothing convenient. The population there is not vacationers but construction workers. There is a long stretch of the property between the main house and the dock at the end of the resort that has not been cleaned up from the hufficane 2 years ago and it looks like a burned out disaster area. Do not go by the pics on their website. I don't know where those pictures were takes because they definately were not taken on the property and we were all over that place. We had reservations last month and were shocked when we went to check in. Major construction, big trucks and most of the units and pools not even close to completion. We got our money back (BTW even their "special" was expensive at $289 for beachfront...which was not really beachfront) after looking at 3 different rooms, we went down the road to Tween Waters and had a great time there. I don;t see how South Seas can be done until next year.

PS the nice people here warned me about SSP, but went anyway. Once again they were all correct.

mxylplik2

Yeah - heard about how Sanibel and Captiva looks so different without the trees.

Anyone else have ideas on where to go? Thanks.