Naples, FL trip report -- Ritz Carlton
 

Just returned from a heavenly few days at the Ritz beach club in Naples, FL and thought I'd do a trip report.

We took JetBlue from NYC to Naples. It was easy and on-time. It is about a 30 minute drive from the airport to either the Ritz beach club or the Ritz golf resort (Tiburon) in Naples. We went straight to Tiburon as we were had an afternoon tee time. The course is good, but challenging. It was in excellent condition in Feb. In fact, I thought the fairways looked like greens. We saw a panther (!) run across a fairway. The clubhouse is lovely.

We stayed at the Ritz beach club in an oceanview room. We were "upgraded" to this room because they could not give us a king room. Unfortunately, this means that we had 2 double beds. The room was large, with a small balcony directly overlooking the 2 pools and with a side view of the ocean. It was beautifully appointed and the bathroom is a nice size.

The resort has 2 pools -- one is a lap/exercise pool and the other is for families. So, those traveling without kiddos can get some quiet. They also have a non-private beach with cabana service.

The lobby, lobby bar is spectacular and the service is just what you'd expect of a Ritz. The staff is extremely courteous and everyone does what they can to accommodate.

The spa is one of the most beautiful I've ever been to. They have the usual spa services, along with a whirlpool, sauna, steamroom, cold plunge, hot plunge, salon, private balcony overlooking the pool, etc. My massage was great. As I happened through the salon, I saw a woman getting a cute haircut and immediately wanted it. Although the hairdresser was fully booked, he agreed to work through lunch to fit me in! That's what I call service!!

The food we ate at the Ritz was very good, although somewhat pricey (as you might expect). We had breakfast at the Terrace restaurant, lunch at the Gumbo-Limbo (on the beach), drinks at Gumbo-Limbo for sunset (a must!) and a poolside lunch that was quite good. We did not eat at either of the 2 upscale restaurants.

All in all, I loved the Ritz. My complaints are that it is valet only parking -- no self parking. And, of course, the price of food, drinks, etc.

For meals, we ate at Chops in old Naples (thought it was good -- not great), Roy's in Bonita Springs (good, fun, try the Hawaiian Martini) and an Italian restaurant whose name escapes me.

Thanks for a great trip report. I LOVED staying her for business meetings - and really suffered sticker shock for the preceding two days I was there on my own dime. Drinks and meals were very pricey - but very good. The location, amenties, service and beach were amazing!

Did you go to the spa at the GOLF resort or did you head over to the Beach resort?

We stayed at the beach resort and I used the spa there. I don't know if there is a spa at the golf resort or not. The spa at the beach resort is, quite literally, one of the nicest I've ever visited. It is pretty new, but just a beautiful facility.

Very interesting about the spa. I know a couple of years ago it had received some "bad" reports and they totally redid the facility and hired new people. Must have made a big difference.

I'm so glad you had a nice time!
Whenever I return "home" I always visit the Ritz and am astonished by it's beauty. Every year my family walks through the lobby at Christmas time and we enjoy a light dinner outside looking at the lights

I also remember as a teenager sneaking into it's pools as well.... I guess It is time to apologize for that ;)

FYI -- my friend tried to get a gift certificate to the spa at the Ritz after I had such a nice experience there. Apparently, its use is restricted only to hotel guests.

i'm going to the ritz in may for a work trip with my husband. am interested in the prices at the hotel for food since based on your notes the prices are steep. we will be there one day ahead of the group but we have a per diem for meals - how much are we talking for b'fast, lunch and dinner?

Kugs -- it is pricey in the way that eating at the hotel is always a little pricey. You will pay about $20 for breakfast (a little more for room service or the buffet), but there is a little coffee/gelato bar that sells bagels, muffins and coffee (lattes and espressos too) where you can get something quick and easy for about $6.

You will also pay about $20 pp for a basic lunch at the Gumbo Limbo on the beach -- burgers, salads, sandwiches. My grouper sandwich was delicious. It is probably slightly more for the poolside restaurant, which was also delicious.

We didn't eat dinner at any of the restaurants, but their menus may be posted on the Ritz's website.

OK, I see that the menus for the Grill and the Dining Room are posted on the Ritz-Carlton website, but do not include prices. My friends described the Grill (the more casual of the two) as a great "special occasion" restaurant, so I'm going to guess it's pricey. They did say it was very good, though. The Dining Room can only be more expensive (and, I believe, is jacket required, so that always gives you at least *some* indication of the price).

The Ritz used to be quite popular for locals. Frankly, I think we are discouraged from going there these days. We used to be able to self park, go out to the beach bar and enjoy a nice sunset and a couple of drinks. Now there is no self-park. We must use valet, pay a fee and tip, and wait for our cars like everyone else.
I had heard too that the facilities of the redone spa are only available to hotel guests.
I suppose such moves have helped to reduce the number of locals showing the Ritz to their gawking houseguests. That's a good thing for hotel guests.

Oops. You were posting when I was, lisettemac. The Grill has always been my favorite. It is dark and beautiful, panelled and like a wonderful library or men's club. Yes it is pricey. Frankly I think it is just as pricey as the Dining Room, and I'd personally never consider dining there without a jacket. I think of it as quite formal, but more intimate than the big "ballroom" atmosphere of the Dining Room. The last time I looked at the menu for the Grill Room, the cheapest entree was a grilled chicken breast which was somewhere above $30 ala carte. That should give you an idea.

There is also a much lower priced restaurant downstairs facing the pool. I forget the name -- The Terrace, maybe? Or The Cafe?

If you are staying at the Ritz and would like a more casual, inexpensive
lunch or dinner you are almost across the street from Buzz's Lighthouse.
Well known for their Grouper Ruben, its worth finding. Ask the valet
for walking directions, its real close.

The "panther" you saw was surely a bobcat. The Florida panther is so shy there is no way one would have ventured onto a golf course. And they are so very very rare -- but bobcats are aplenty.

Thanks, Tandoori Girl. Bobcat, panther, either way my reaction is still -- YIKES!

Apparently anything is better than running into the dreaded "red tide" including a bobcat!

topping for shanemandd

If you can swing it, I recommend Club level as Ritz Club serves substantial hors d'oeurves all day and champagne as well as wine and cocktails. This makes life very easy when you are spending all day at the resort and then going out for dinner. For a family, it could actually save $ as meals in the resort are expensive.

The spa has made huge strides from my experience there of a few years ago. I went last winter as I stayed with a friend who has opted for several weeks intermittently at the Ritz than the expense of a beach home. Probably will save them huge amounts of money over the years. What a way to live. Non-guests are not welcome at the spa.

LMF

LMF, interesting point. When the Ritz in Naples was first being built, the general manager spoke to our Rotary Club. It was no secret that they were trying to pull long time winter residents of The Breakers in Palm Beach to the Naples area. For years many people had "moved into" The Breakers for weeks or even months at a time in the winter and the Ritz wanted that as well, but it never (or rarely) really happened. Your friends are pretty wise. When I think of the upkeep and the expense of many of the multi million dollar houses and even condos in Naples owned by people who some years never even make it down, or use it a week or two, I simply shake my head.

By the way, I missed the point in the original thread about being upgraded to an oceanfront room. This makes no sense at The Ritz because when it was built they did something very unique for the time. All rooms were built facing the ocean, and only the hallways and service are on the back side. It sounds like the hotel screwed up and didn't have a king room, so put them in a double/double and told them the oceanview was an upgrade. Of course, they may have given them a more deluxe room or one higher up as well, but who knows.

Does anyone know if they are still offering free transportation between the golf resort and the beach report? Also, if I am staying at the golf resort, I can use the pool at the beach resort, right?