Attending small business retreat at Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. I understand there is a shuttle from the Golf Resort to the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort. We will have limited access to a car (12 people/2 vans). Are there shops, restaurants, and sights in walking distance of either the Golf or Beach Resort?

We stayed at the beach resort last summer. There are no shops, restaurants, or sights (other than the beach) within reasonable walking distance except for what is at the Ritz. It is in an area of condos, away from downtown Naples. The beach resort has a casual dining room, a more formal dining room, a restaurant next to the pool (open only for lunch, I think), and a resort closer to the beach. There were a couple of shops selling sundries and resort wear.

oops, meant to say restaurant closer to the beach...

There is nothing within walking distance of the Golf Resort. The closest restaurants to it would be outside the entire Tiburon complex where it is located, but you'd want to go by car. Those restaurants would be Sanibel Steakhouse (nice, pretty upscale), Stonewood Tavern and Grill and Sam Snead's Tavern. The last two pretty casual dining.

From the Beach Resort you can walk to Turtle Club, a casual beachfront restaurant which is literally on the beach, and a really casual "dive" with great casual food on a dock overhanging the bay (Buzz's Lighthouse). Go for the Grouper Ruebens and beers there -- good for lunch. You can also walk to Daruma Japanese steak house (presentation teppan tables -- fun with a group) and there is a separate sushi bar and piano cocktail lounge.
The Ritz normally will make reservations and shuttle people to the trendy restaurants of Fifth Avenue in nearby Naples.

You know, now that I think about it, twelve people having sushi and giant rum drinks in the cocktail lounge then all at a big teppan table half-sloshed laughing at the guy chopping the stuff on the grill sounds like a heckuva lot of fun.

Thanks to both of you. We arrive late April. Thursday night, dinner at Ritz, Friday golf/spa and business meeting, then dinner at Edgewater Beach Resort. Saturday is pretty free, so I think I'll do spa at Ritz, then lunch at Turtle Club. Will try to get to Art Museum. Several of us will probably get together and have dinner. I've read great things about Campiello's, is this the spot? If the other don't want to spend the big bucks, should I suggest Tommy Bahamas? Then we leave Sunday, probably around 12. Let me know if there's anything I musn't miss. Thanks again. Annie

Campiello's is THE spot, in my opinon. But I don't know what you mean by spending the "big bucks". It isn't expensive. Most entrees are around $20. Drinks and extras are reasonable. That's part of its success. Do make a reservation ahead though. Tommy Bahamas is a little more casual and cheaper, but doesn't do reservations and requires a long wait in season.

By the way, your dinner at the Edgewater should be very nice. It's a great spot.

I agree, stick with Campiello's, it is worth it and not very expensive...great atmosphere...Tommy's is cool but better for lunch and families.

Patrick and Bali Girl, thanks for your suggestions, just got back, we had a great time, though with a few bumps in the road. I took 14 co-workers for long weekend (Th-Sun). Received a phone call from Delta at midnight (Th) telling me our flight had been cancelled, so everyone caught different flights and mad our way to Naples as best we could. That resulted in cancelling our group dinner that night at Tommie Bahamas, but several of us made it there anyway. We had a delicious dinner just before a huge rainstorm. The ribs were great (though not our BBQ in KC), and that was the first of many fruity (and "rummy") drinks of the weekend (I wasn't driving). Stayed at the Ritz Golf Resort, which was quite lovely, and the service was just great. In fact, we couldn't get over how friendly everyone was in Naples. The next day did a spa at Ritz Beach, then headed to see the beach. That presented the major problem for me this weekend, though only due to my stupidity. Sat down to take a look at the gulf, and visited with some people. Seems like I was only there for a few minutes, but that Florida sun is stronger than it looks, and I now have sun poisoning and can still barely walk because my legs are so swollend from the burn. That evening we went to the Edgewater Beach Resort, and had dinner at their Club, very "old Florida" feel, had a lovely meal, and saw a beautiful sunset. Then, more rain. Saturday we went to the beach, but I stayed wrapped in towels under an umbrella. Wanted to walk to the Turtle Club, but just couldn't with my legs in such bad shape. Then more rain. Went to Campiellos Saturday night. The tortellini, short ribs, and veal tenderloin were simply wonderful. Everyone just loved their meal. So, travel was crazy, Naples was a bit rainy, I was quite miserable, but it was still a just a great weekend. Thanks for your input, look forward to visiting your oasis again.

Just returned from 5 days at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort. Great facility, great golf course(s) and a friendly staff.

Two major complaints: the main restaurant, Lemonia, was way overpriced and the food was barely "average". The second complaint was that the pool does not appear to be heated and after just one day of rain it was really cold, despite 90 degree weather.

The Shuttle Service to the Beach hotel is great and its definitely worth taking advantage of.

There are some great restaurants in downtown Naples, Chops, Campiello, Vergina that are worth visiting.