Highlights: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

•The Ritz-Carlton, Naples' warm hospitality and elegant accommodations make this an inviting destination on Florida’s Paradise Coast

•Recent $22 million renovation of guest rooms and suites offers many enhancements, including hardwood floor entries and designer bedding

•Family-friendly environment features Ritz-Kids and Protect Our Little Ones programs, offering children beach activities and day camps

•Staffed business center, more than 35,000 square feet of meeting space, and a beach house for corporate dinners and casual gatherings cater to business travelers

•Mobil Four-Star spa and an abundance of leisure activities available onsite; offsite, guests will find restaurants, art galleries, and entertainment and nightlife venues

Amenities: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

• 463 rooms, 14 story. Check-in 4 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access. Seven restaurants, six bars. Children's activity center. Fitness room, fitness classes available, spa. Beach. Two outdoor pools, children's pool, whirlpool. Golf, 36 holes. Tennis. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, is a beautiful Gulf of Mexico resort with lush landscaping and incredible beaches. This lovely Spanish-influenced designed resort in a stately tropical paradise offers premiere golf resorts designed by Greg Norman just minutes away, as well as natural wildlife reserves in the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands. The hotel's public and private spaces are very elegant and well-appointed. Guests have a choice of the standard suites, with full or partial Gulf or Coastal views, or one of 70 Ritz-Carlton Club rooms and suites, which include the spacious 1,830-square-foot Presidential Suite. This amazing space has a living and dining room and a connecting guest room and three balconies overlooking the Gulf. All rooms feature an elegant Floridian-style décor, with soft natural colors and local Florida art on the walls.

The hotel is a great choice for weekend getaways, honeymoons, or special romantic celebrations, offering a Mobil Four-Star spa, seven different restaurants that serve everything from fine dining to light fare, and spectacular beaches and views of the Gulf of Mexico. Families will also find this an excellent destination vacation resort, with a plethora of beach and outdoor activities for kids, including special day camps, the Ritz-Kids Program, and baby-sitting services.

Business travelers will be delighted to find substantial meeting space, more than 35,000 square feet, and a staffed business center to help them get through with that important corporate meeting or conference so they can hit the green links or enjoy other recreational opportunities.

During my stay, the staff at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples was excellent and attentive in many ways. The hotel also offers several special touches, including complimentary bowls of oranges in the lobby area and orchids placed on the pillows at turndown.

Shopping venues can be found just a few miles away, from unique specialty shops to designer retail stores. Old Naples offers many choices for dining, art, and nightlife entertainment at Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South.

(+) Elegant and gracious ambiance and special touches that appeal to all types of travelers

Guest Services: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

During my stay, the majority of the services at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, were handled in a pleasant and polite manner, especially the dining, pool, and beach areas. Upon my arrival, the front desk was very busy and clerks were preoccupied initially, but the attendant was pleasant and offered petit fours with a special note as a special gesture for my companion’s birthday, which I had mentioned at registration.

Housekeeping service was efficient, although it took a second call to receive the toothbrush and comb I requested, and bathroom amenities weren’t replaced when empty. Special touches at turndown included fresh orchids on the pillows, and the room was kept clean and nicely arranged. Laundry service was prompt, and the quality of cleaning was very good.

The pool and beach attendants were excellent, as were the dining room staff, but the front desk staff in charge of handling my luggage at departure was definitely not up to the standards of a Ritz-Carlton resort. I wasn’t acknowledged, and there seemed to be no clear communication or concern for my needs.

(+) Gracious and friendly service in dining, pool, and beach areas
(-) A few service details related to housekeeping were lacking; front desk not attentive during departure

Guest Rooms: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, recently completed a $22 million renovation of its guest rooms and suites. The 450 rooms include standard suites, 25 suites, and 70 Ritz-Carlton Club Level rooms, including the Presidential Suite.

The newly renovated rooms and suites have lovely hardwood entries, all new carpeting, designer Frette linens, 32-inch flat screen televisions, and twin-sized sleeper chairs. Guests will also enjoy in-room computer and fax hookups and high-speed wireless Internet access, and 24-hour laundry and room service. All suites/rooms have balconies, offering either a full or partial view of the Gulf of Mexico. The spacious marble bathrooms are equipped with Bulgari toiletries. Connecting rooms could use some soundproofing, so guests wanting total privacy might want to take that into consideration when requesting their room.

Club Level accommodations include a choice of the deluxe room, suites with living room and guest bath, or the Presidential Suite with full living and dining room and connecting guest room. All come with private balconies with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. The Club Level also offers many special amenities and has restricted access that requires a special key for entry. There’s a private concierge service and five complimentary food and beverage presentations daily. The Club Level Lounge offers courtyard and Gulf views and has a lending library.

The hotel sent up a lovely chocolate plate with orchids and a note from management upon my arrival, as well as a plate filled with birthday goodies at check-in. Turndown service was the ultimate in pampering, with fresh orchids on the pillows. Linens were exceptionally luxurious, and the beds were very comfortable. The décor’s warm, earth tones provided a classic atmosphere. Overall, my guest room was pleasant and very comfortable, but adjoining doors need to be better soundproofed.

(+) Elegant, classic décor provides comfort and upscale amenities
(-) Adjoining rooms’ doors were not well soundproofed

Facilities & Activities: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, offers three miles of pristine, white sandy beaches for outdoor leisure activities as well as two swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, and the Mobil Four-Star 51,000-square-foot spa for relaxation and a bit of pampering. Golf enthusiasts may visit the nearby Greg Norman-designed Tiburon Golf Course, and children are offered many activities in the Ritz-Kids and Protect Our Little Ones programs.

The spa offers a full spectrum of services can be experienced, from such special treatments as the Golden Shimmer (inspired by an Egyptian ritual using pure gold mineral and Artemisia extracts) to natural herbal remedies for full body revitalization. Prada Beauty skin care products and treatments are exclusive to the spa.

Poolside is a refreshing daily event, with citrus-chilled towels and fresh lemonade and smoothie shooters offered along with light healthy fare. The fitness center is well-equipped and offers Pilates and yoga programs.

Tennis and nature walks are among the many sport activities offered at the resort, and great shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations can be enjoyed just a few miles away in Old Naples. The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is also within four miles of the resort, offering premier performing arts venues.

(+) Abundant leisure activities within the grounds as well as in the surrounding areas, with world-class Tiburon Golf Course just minutes away

Dining & Lounge: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Guests are offered a plethora of outstanding dining experiences at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, from fine dining at the Mobil Four-Star Artisans In The Dining Room or The Grill to more casual dining and lighter fare at The Terrace or Gumbo Limbo. The resort’s poolside café offers light cuisine outdoors with a health-conscious menu. Hors d’oeuvres are served in the Lobby Lounge, and delicious baked goods and specialty coffees are offered in the Gourmet Shop. The Spa Café also serves light, healthy fare of fruit, muffins, and Bento boxes.

Artisans In The Dining Room is one of the hotel’s two upscale fine dining restaurants, serving Mediterranean and French cuisine in a lovely art-inspired setting. The Grill is known for its Midwest beef and vintage wines from the hotel’s own wine cellar. A jacket is recommended, and reservations are required at both venues. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at The Terrace, with a menu of American classic cuisine “with a modern twist.”

The Private Dining Room is the perfect place for a special celebration, offering both intimacy and fine dining ambiance. Personalized menus are available, as is an event coordinator to help plan the evening’s event. The elegant dining room can accommodate up to 22 guests.

I found breakfast service to be bit slow and less attentive than I would have expected. The food was very appetizing and the environment was comfortable, but there was a long wait and a lack of attention to detail and personal service.

Room service was nice and the server was pleasant, but the plate presentation was not as impressive as it was in the resort’s restaurants, and it took 20 minutes for our tray to be picked up.

(+) Excellent fine dining restaurants with ambient atmosphere and vintage wines
(-) Breakfast and room service needs more personal attention

Business Services: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The business traveler will find ample amenities at this hotel, with in-room Internet services, fax hookup, and high-speed wireless Internet access. There is also a staffed business center that is nicely set up with computer equipment, secretarial services, and other technical support.

Business groups will appreciate the more than 35,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot conference center, and the conference concierge and technology butler, who are on hand to answer any special requests.

The hotel has recently added The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach House to its list of business and leisure facilities, offering 3,000 square feet of space that is ideal for elaborate dinners or receptions. The facility has hardwood floors, wicker ceiling fans, and plantation shutters throughout, creating a lovely tropical Floridian ambiance.

(+) Many special services and conference and meeting rooms with state-of-the-art technology, as well as a conference concierge and technology butler available upon request