I know there are several Naples experts here, so I need your help.

Usually for Christmas we go to my husband's dad's in-laws in Boca for a week and then spend the next week with his mother at her condo in Bay Colony in Naples.

This year we are spending the whole thing at the condo in Naples and my husband's dad and his wife and their two teenagers and her mother are coming over to Naples from Boca for a few days to visit us. They were talking about Sanibel, but that seems too far away.

So I am looking for a condo or hotel or resort for them for a few days not terribly far from Naples. Renting for just a few days right before Christmas (I think they will come over around the 22nd and leave the 25th) will be tough for the condo market I'm sure, but I have hope. I just checked vrbo, but was overwhelmed by all the developments. Which one is nice, but not crazy expensive? They don't need to be on the beach since mother-in-law's place is on the beach.

Whew, long winded today, eh?

I can get the Ritz golf resort for $219 a night for those nights. I think that is a steal and a half. Am I right?

Wow. Yes it does sound like a steal. Perhaps because that's so close to Christmas there are no conventions or meetings. I'd grab it if I were you.
Or do they really want a condo with a kitchen and separate living room? How many rooms at the Ritz would they need?

To be honest, condos renting for "a few days" in Naples are far and few between. One week is generally an absolute minimum, if not more.

Would they like being right downtown, near shopping and the restaurants? If so, you might check into Bellasera which has full apartments available by the night, even 2 or 3 bedroom ones.
www.bellaseranaples.com/

yes that does sounds like a steal, esp at christmas time. It is supposed to be a beautiful property- my neighbors stay there every year, and you get to use all the facilities of the Ritz beach (which i would guess is alot more $$).

Thanks guys! I did think that rate sounded great. I did e-mail my father-in-law the Bellasera info earlier. Is that a nice place? It looks nice. A condo-type thing would be good. It will be Dad, Step-Mom, Grandma, 18 year old son, and 15 year old daughter.

I guess it is up to him now. The Ritz goes up to over $400 after Christmas. My mother-in-laws condo is about 4 doors down from the beach Ritz, so that would be handy.

Now have either of you taken the Key West Express to Key West? It would be mother-in-law, husband, me, and our two kids 4 and under. I get a bit sick on boats. Would this be a bad idea? Actually I'm really thinking about sending the mother-in-law home with the kids and the husband and I come back the next day. Ahhh...that would be nice.

Okay, wow, I can get a two bedroom suite at Bellasera for $269 a night. It has a pullout couch, so they could all fit into it. It looks beautiful. Is it?

Kelliebelle- the tripadvisor reviews of bellasera are very positive. Also, if NeoPatrick suggested it, I would bet it's nice-- he's the expert on Naples.

Bellasera is only a couple years old and is quite nice. It's right near downtown, but a couple blocks from where Fifth Avenue starts. It's more a hotel operation than condos or a resort, but nice. I'm not going to say it's as luxurious as the Ritz (either of them) but it's nicely done.

I've never done the Key West Express. First of all it's about an hour and a half drive in season up to Ft. Myers where it leaves from. It often hits bad weather and doesn't return the same day, so you need to plan possibly getting stuck in Key West. Where to stay at Christmas if that happens is a real trick. And yes, a number of people do get sick on the boat.

I have done the Key West Express once and had no issues. Really enjoyed it. My parents did it a 2nd time and had issues with sickness, not getting outside seats and decided it was better to drive.