Hotel Escalante or Ritz-Carlton Naples???
 

If you could stay at either hotel, which would you pick. We will be staying in Naples for a couple of days to visit friends upon our return from Disney.<BR><BR>I can't decide which hotel is the better choice. I had decided on the Ritz, but after reading some of the posts about the Escalante, it sounded very nice. The patios remind me of a hotel is Taormina, Sicily we stayed at. It know it is not on the beach, but as long as we go to the beach for a couple of hours on a day, I guess the pool will do. Any input will be appreciated.

Hotel Escalante is a very short walk to the beach although there won't be any services there except for a snack shop located at the Naples Pier which is a short walk south of your location.<BR>The Escalante is within walking distance to many shops and restaurants on 5th ave and also the 3rd street south area. Don't know about the pool at the Escalante but the pool area at the Ritz is very nice. Recently re-done and the spa is to die for. You'll be limited as far as restaurants within a short distance and the &quot;Old Naples&quot; downtown atmosphere isn't available like at the Escalante but, if it were me, I'd stay at the Ritz for the best beach with facilities and the best pool area. If you have children with you, they'd be happier at the Ritz. The Escalante is more of a couples retreat.<BR>

As a Naples resident, I often recommend Escalante, mainly as the place to stay for a quiet getaway within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of Fifth Avenue. There is no comparison to the Ritz in terms of elegance and resort facilities, however. If you want lots of service and plan to stay at the resort for meals, spa, and pool then you couldn't beat the Ritz. But if you are looking for a pretty but quiet getaway with the buzz of various upscale and trendy restaurants and don't mind the short walk to the beach then you'd probably be very happy at Escalante. According to the two recent reports you would be wise to spring for a larger than standard room at Escalante. And actually the walk to the beach through the mangroves from the Ritz is probably just as long or even longer as the walk from Escalante, but you do have a beach view at the Ritz, not at Escalante.

I know the two hotels are probably totally different. I didn't mind paying the price for the Ritz because I realized I am paying the same price for the hotel we are staying at in Disney, and I'm sure it's not anywhere near as nice as the Ritz.<BR><BR>I usually like to stay within walking distance to the shopping and activities because it seems like more fun. But, maybe the kids would enjoy the Ritz better. I have to look into the pools at both places. The Ritz doesn't show too much in the way of pictures on their website, but I've heard it was very, very nice. The Escalante sounds really pretty, and if we did go, I guess we would get the 1 bedroom suite with the walkout patio because I think they do not have two beds in their regular rooms. It's also nice to have the extra space, although it's only two nights.

At the Escalante, does anyone know what is the difference between the Lanai 1 bedroom suite and the regular 1 bedroom suite?

Hi Mers,<BR><BR>I have stayed at both hotels many times and I say hands down for a trip with kids the Ritz is the best choice. The rooms are MUCH larger than Escalante and there are two pools (lap and other). The beach is right in back of the hotel (Patrick is thinking of the Registry hotel when he speaks of the long walk through the mangrove trees). While Escalante is nice, I find it is more for times when visting people you know who live in the Olde Naples area. It is a beautiful hotel, but the rooms and pool area are small. Rooms barely fit two people. The Ritz is a RESORT - the best way to go if you have kids. Walking to 5th Ave shops from the Escalante gets old very fast and there is little for kids to do at the hotel. If you do end up staying at Escalante - do get the room with a lanai (outdoor space) this makes the room slightly less cramped. Hope this helps :)

Thanks for all your help everyone.

My Favorite Naples hotel is the Ritz Carlton on Vanderbilt Beach- GREAT pool area, even with kids- and RIGHT on the BEACH..Plus the beach has those neat paddle boats ,or windsurfing that you can rent that the kids love....<BR><BR>Hotel is FABULOUS!! If you are there on a Friday nite, try the Seafood Buffet in the restaurant....INCREDIBLE!!!

So, is the Ritz actually right on the beach. I thought it was set back some???

The beach is maybe 75-100 yards from the back side of the Ritz. Not far at all....

It's a walk in the park - Have fun! You'll love the Ritz.<BR><BR>An interesting, casual beach-lunch diversion (other than the great beachside restaurant at the Ritz) is The Turtle Club at The Vanderbilt Inn. It is just a bit north of the Ritz, on the other side of the public part of Vanderbilt Beach. Take a walk on the beach and stop there for lunch. Great seafood chowder too, if that idea hits you right. They have a beach-side webcam too. It's sometimes fun to talk to family on the cell phone, while waving hello in the cam on the Gulf (link it through NaplesNews.com).<BR><BR>Happy Trails,<BR>Paul

Did you look at LaPlaya Beach Resort? It is just a tad North of the Ritz and is right on the beach. Very nice pool area.

Just a minor clarification. I am not thinking of the Registry when I mention the walk through the mangroves to the beach. That is true at the Ritz as well. That is the place I am thinking of. It is a delightful walk on a boardwalk, but it is quite a walk regardless.<BR>My elderly mother couldn't do the walk when we thought it would be a great spot to have an early light dinner. Maybe not a bad trip for some, but it is quite a jaunt.

Patrick,<BR><BR>I've stayed at both the Registry and the Ritz and you can't compare the distance to the beach at these hotels!<BR><BR>While the Ritz is perhaps 500 meters from the sea - reached through the gardens and over a very short boardwalk, the Registry is about 1.5 km on a very long (and beautiful) boardwalk! That said, the Registry does have a free little electric shuttle &quot;train&quot; to the beach, but there can be quite a line for it on the way back to the hotel as it also serves the public parking lot adjacent to the hotel.<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Andre

OK, and you know what, the walk to the beach from the Golden Gate Holiday Inn Express is even further, but so what? What are we discussing the Registry for -- if was never part of this discussion? My comparison was the walk to the beach from Escalante as compared to the walk to the beach from the Ritz. I still stand by my original statement, that although the walk to the beach from the Ritz is lovely, the walk to the beach from the Escalante is really probably no further!! The Registry is not part of this discussion to my knowledge.<BR><BR>Yes 500 meters is probably about right. That's the length of five football fields plus, too much for my mother. Don't be fooled that you can walk out the door of the Ritz and be on the beach. OK?

Patrick,<BR><BR>The Registry was mentioned in two posts on this thread and I thought it was important to clarify how different their locations are as far as beach access is concerned.<BR><BR>I don't now where the Holiday Inn you mention is located (SF??), so can't comment on that ;-)<BR><BR>Besides that, <BR><BR>Andre

Oops... nothing &quot;besides that&quot;....<BR><BR> <BR>Andre

One more questions, does the Ritz actually not have 2 queen beds and only 2 double beds in the rooms???<BR>It looks that way on the website, but I was hoping they just listed it wrong.<BR>Does anyone that has stayed there recall this???

Mers,<BR><BR>Unfortunately you're right - stayed there and it's definitely 2 doubles NOT queens. The Registry has 2 queens and the rooms are larger (if somewhat less luxurious).<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Andre

Well, we are back from our trip. Thanks for all your help. We ended up staying at the Ritz. It was a beautiful hotel. We were actually upgraded to the Club Level - which made the trip even more special. We had a very large room with a dressing area and a very, very large bathroom.

Thanks again for your help.