My husband and I are planning a 4 night quiet get away the first week in July and need advice on whether to go to Naples or Palm Beach. I will be 7 months pregnant with our third child and want to relax and spend time by the pool and on the beach and go to the "spa" and my husband may want to golf. We are looking at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples or the Ritz, the Breakers or the Four Seasons in the Palm Beach area. Will either city be overly crowded? We heard Naples is crowded, but that may just be in winter. We were also considering the new Ritz on Key Biscayne, but are not sure we want to be ariving on opening day!! Too risky?

Naples and Palm Beach are similar in atmosphere. Much of the architecture in Naples is modeled after Naples, Italy. Personally, I prefer Naples because the beaches are nicer. The Ritz is wonderful--it's the perfect place to relax. I would absolutely recommend it over the Breakers, which is a gamble on the room quality. Naples is not at all crowded in the summer. There is a wonderful shopping district downtown. If you do a search, look for recommendations from Patrick, who lives in the area and knows it well.

Definitely the Ritz in Naples! The Breakers, despite recent renovations, is unimpressive, and, unfortunately, so is the 4 Seasons in Palm Beach, the ONLY 4 Seasons I've ever seen that is not up to par! The Ritz Palm Beach is much nicer, BUT, the beaches on the Gulf Coast are MUCH prettier and calmer! (I am only guessing that the beach at the new Ritz on Key B. will NOT be as nice as the Ritz in Naples) So, go with Naples -- you will NOT be disappointed, BUT it will be VERY HOT at that time!!

Patrick usually has great input on Flordia esp. Naples where he lives (and other areas) but I believe his last posting said he would be traveling for the next 3 months and will not have access to the internet. I would suggest keying in Naples and Palm Beach and look for previous postings - that may be helpful. From all that I have read the Ritz in Naples is the place to go! It may be very hot but have fun and relax!

Another vote for Naples!
Be sure to wear tons of high-powered waterproof suncreen - even if you don't usually need it. The sun is brutal in the summer there.

Spent two last summers at Ritz in Naples and it is wonderful!

I live in the Western Palm Beach area. We are going to Naples to spend the weekend the first week in June. Palm Beach is definetly nothing special. Reasons: The east coast has sea-lice in the water (I am not kidding)and the west coast does not. The sun comes up in the East and sets in the West. Sunsets are so beautiful on the beaches of Naple. Unless you get up really early, you will miss the morning sunrise on the east coast. Also, the west coast has dolphins jumping out of the water in the early mornings. Naples has an old time charm about it. West coast beats east coast anyday in my book!

Thanks for the compliments everyone. Yes I am away for the summer and right now am sitting in what is billed as "the largest internet cafe in the world" on 42nd St. at Times Square in NYC. By all means go to Naples. It will not be crowded in July although the Ritz will probably still be full. Yes, it will be frightfully hot (that's why I leave and travel all summer), but if you are relaxing under an umbrella by the pool or on the beach, or sipping a drink at the boardwalk bar at the Ritz, who cares about the heat? And meanwhile, the air conditioning will likely freeze you out anywhere you go inside -- so take a sweater, seriously! I won't post all my restaurant suggestions here, but if you have only 4 nights at the Ritz you couldn't do better than to eat in the range of their four different restaurants. For a super cheap, casual and fun lunch, walk up the street about a block to Buzz's lighthouse for a grouper rueben on the deck overlooking the back bay. One night head down to Fifth Avenue South for dinner at Pazzo or Chops, or to Third St. South at Campiello's.