We are a uk based birdwatching club booked in at the best western naples inn & suites at the end of this month. There are 12 people and I am a little concerned about the damage to the hotel and the surrounding area by that rotten hurricane . Can anybody put our minds at ease. We want to not come to the area if its ok Thanks Ken W Reeves (chairman www.burbagebirders.co.uk)

Mr. Reeves,

From my understanding, Naples faired decently during the recent storm. Did you try calling the hotel?

Because South Florida is so heavily dependent upon tourism, they try to rebound fairly quickly.

ttt if nothing else.

Its a shame that our Naples regular isn't about to provide an update.

I agree with an earlier post that you should call the hotel and inquire. Here’s another number for the Naples Hotel Hotline info: 800-785-8252. Their website has Hurricane Wilma information and Hotel availabilities: http://www.visit-naples.com/

If I were the OP, I would be suspicious that direct reports from the hotel itself might understate the effects or be overoptimistic about the repair schedule, if any.

On second throught: My niece who lives in the areea reports that she has seen birds in her yard that she hasn't seen before in 5 years of living there. With environmental changes and lack of some regular human activities, wildlie also are behaving in unusual ways and showing up in unusual palces. Her crowded suburban neighborhood was host to an osprey for a few days!

I agree about your hotel information assessment. They do the same thing in restaurants who over-optimistically report their offerings in travel websites.

BTW, perhaps you shuld have your niece clean up that mess behind her trailer park so as not to attract wildlife.

LOL, bill she lives in a new development of super-sturdy houses that are built of cinderblock. She lost one roof tile and one panel from her screen poolhouse.

The osprey was attracted to the pond behind her house that usually has a fountain going, but it was stilled while they were without electricity.

I'm sorry to hear about her stilled fountain. I hope she was able to will herself into recovering from such...

12 hours and no Fodorites to respond from Naples...

patrick is not allowed to post here as they didn't like his correcting incorrect information, but if you want the scoop on naples, his email was posted here for an hour or so before the editors deleted that too:
[email protected]
he said he'd be happy to help those with questions.