My wife and I are going to the Naples area in May. I'm curious about two properties.


First, I'm interested in the Inn at Pelican Bay. How nice is it? Is it well-located? Is the price reasonable? Any recommendations on rooms/views?

Also (and I know this probably an apples-to-oranges comparison), how does it compare to the Marco Island Marriott?

Thanks in advance.

Wow, that's more like comparing apples to watermelons, and the Marco Marriot is the watermelon. Personally I can't imagine staying in Marco. But if all you want to do is lounge on a nice beach and eat in the hotel, and other hotel and tourist restaurants, it might be fine. The Marriot is basically a huge convention hotel, although it is lovely. The Inn at Pelican Bay is very upscale and nice, not on a beach, however, and about 5 or 6 miles from downtown Naples if that means anything to you. More of a nice business man's hotel. I also like the newer Inn on Fifth (same builder/owner) right on the heart of Fifth Ave. South, with all the trendy but good restaurants, etc, and walking distance to the beach.

Patrick --

Thanks for the info -- I'll see what I can find on Inn on 5th.

Question for Patrick:
If not Marco, where would you suggest in late April. We were considering Marco, but after reading your reply, I am not sure that's the best place to go. Would appreciate any suggestions.

I am not a resort person, so if you are into resorts, take what I say with a grain of salt. Again, I suppose Marco is alright if you want to stay in a big resort hotel and lounge on the beach, but it is not abounding with great restaurants, shops, or any attractions at all. For the beach resort type area, you could not beat Sanibel-Captiva, far nicer than Marco. But I'm not sure where you could get reservations at this date for April or are you talking about 2001?

Patrick;
Thanks for your reply. We are looking for a low-key place with good restaurants. I am not into shopping on vacation, I am one of the few women who hate to shop! We are also traveling with our daughter who will be almost 2. We are planning on going after Easter, so there are rooms still available.

Soon as I saw daughter that is "2" I thought Sanibel. Really is a great place for kids. No high rises...low key..some wonderful seafood restaurants and is so child friendly. Kind of a hassle free place. South Sea Plantation in Captiva is the nicest place to stay. They run some motels (Sanibel is mostly motels but it has an island away from it all feel) on Sanible as well. It isn't St. John or Hawaii but a nice safe beach with lots of things to do and the weather will perfect then.