We are planning a trip to Naples in February. We are looking forward to checking out the Gulf Coast and are wondering what affordable accomodations are in the area. I've checked most of the postings and the prices are more than we hoped to spend. I understand we are coming during the high season, so perhaps this is part of the problem. We'd prefer a condo over a motel room as we are bringing our teenage son. Since we are coming from the west coast it would be nice to be near the beach. Am I asking too much?

Have you looked into the EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL. It is right on the beach. All rooms are suite that includes a kitchen (Frig and microwave). Couch in living room pulls out. All the rooms have recently been rennovated. I recently stayed there and loved it. Enjoy your trip to Naples. You will love it.

Check out The Caravaggio, it right near the Duomo and a stone's throw from the Bay of Naples. Don't miss Vesuvius!

Did you find my postings from last spring? I found a condo complex not on the beach that offered a very good rate if you booked well in advance. I ended up sharing a hotel room instead, but the place looked nice and the people were easy to book and cancel with. The only cheaper lodgings I found were the motel chains as mentioned in my post.

What was the name of the condo that wasn't on the beach? Was it the Park Shore Resort? We are looking at this one because of the size of the condo and the price is right. It appears to be a few blocks from the beach, but I guess we can live with that.

That's it. I received recommendations for it from this board.

Try the Baymont Inn at I-75 and 951. Ask for the 2-room suite - it's two adjoining rooms, $112 a night for both rooms plus 10% off with AAA. You will have a 20 minute drive to the beach but breakfast is included and you want an inexpensive place to stay.

The Baymont is normally more like a 30 minute drive to the nearest beach in the height of season traffic. There are many similar motels much closer in for the same price. What a horrible place to stay -- in the middle of the truck stop and fast food jungle at the end of Alligator Alley-- for a family wanting to enjoy a "beach" atmosphere in Naples!!!

The Park Shore Resort really is a good option for you. You don't say how long you're staying, but most of the condominiums have a one month to three month minimum requirement -- seldom short stay options. And there just aren't many hotels or motels on the beach -- until you get north to Vanderbilt. There are the Vanderbilt Inn and the Vanderbilt Beach Resort, both more economical solutions than the big resorts.

But now I see that this post is two months old, so I suppose Susan has found something by now.

Patrick: Thank you for the information about the Park Shore Resort. We are in fact booked there for our vacation. Would you mind recommending a few activities in the area that my teenage son might enjoy? We'd like to check out Sanibel and also the Everglades. Don't want to be too touristy, but we do want to have some activities besides swimming in the pool, and shopping. Thanks!