Had a great weekend in Palm Beach at the Four Seasons last June and am considering trying the Gulf Coast this June.

In order of importance: swimming at the beach, restaurants, shopping or more accurately window shopping at high-end stores, interesting architecture.

Would either Naples or Sarasota fit the bill? Should I stick to Palm Beach?

Any hotel recommendations for Naples or Sarasota? Considering the Ritx Carlton for Sarasota

TIA

The Ritz Carlton in Sarasota is lovely but it's on the bat so you have to take their shuttle (or drive) to the beach. On the other hand, you're right in Sarasota so you can easily window shop on foot. If you want to be right on the beach, your choices are Lido Key, Longboat Key, and Siesta Key. All are nice beaches,

The shops in Sarasota and St. Armands (Lido Key) are nothing like the shops of Palm Beach. Downtown Sarasota has funky shops that are anything but high-end.

OTOH, Naples has 3 areas of high end shopping: Fifth Avenue, Third Street South and what now is one gigantic "purse" mall: Waterside Shops. (Gucci, Hermes, Vuitton,etc all have independent stores here)among many many others.

I love the beach in Sarasota and Long Boat Key Club is very nice, but it doesn't have fabulous room service like a Ritz, or a great spa, like a Ritz. I'd select the Ritz Carlton (beach one) in Naples or perhaps the smaller hotel: La Playa. La Playa is right on the beach without the natural barrier and has a lovely spa and the dining room is beautiful. Restaurants in Naples are as nice as Palm Beach in my experience.

Ritz Carlton in Sarasota is nice but about 2 miles from the beach as it is in the downtown area of Sarasota. That would take it off my list, as my favorite thing is to walk the beach early each morning with my coffee. HG

Thanks to both of you.
Looks like PB is for us. Also, getting to Naples from LA is an ordeal.

Right, ho, HG--Wodehouse fan in FL?

Cheerio-have a restorative on the beach on me.
HotT.

what ho to you hotticket. Very few here have gotten the Wodehouse/Bertie Wooster ref from my name.

Have a great time in Palm Beach. I love Worth Avenue. TTFN Honoria

HG,
You might get a kick out of this:
http://debatableland.typepad.com/the...dehouse-p.html

"Getting to Naples from LA is an ordeal".

Huh? No it isn't. We fly AA nonstop from LA to Ft.Lauderdale and take the easy drive across Aligator Alley to Naples -- maybe an hour and a half. Since it takes us more than half of that to drive to downtown Naples from Ft. Myers airport, where you'd only be getting connecting flights to LAX anyway, it seems like a no-brainer to us.

I really like Sarasota - Siesta Key is my favorite beach in Florida.