Beach Please, Ritz Carlton Resorts of Naples

If you follow along on Instagram, you might have noticed I have taken a quick trip to Naples twice this year.  It’s about three hours from Orlando, so it’s an easy drive back and forth to soak up some sand and surf, check out new restaurants, and enjoy a night of luxury in one of the two Ritz Carlton resorts in the area.

That’s right, the Ritz has two properties, about ten minutes apart.  One is a golf resort, set on the Tiberon course; the other is the beach resort, located right on the Gulf of Mexico.

I stayed at the Golf Ritz for my first visit.  It’s a four diamond resort that has beautiful grounds the moment you pull into the driveway, but lacks some of the flourishes of its five diamond sister down the street.

Dark wood fills the lobby of the golf resort with friendly faces to greet you and escort you up to the room.  The rooms and bed are a little tired, and though we opted for a golf course view room, we could mostly see the resort.  Luckily we didn’t plan on spending much time in the room, instead opting for sunset and a midnight beach visit at Beach Ritz, and enjoying sunrise over the golf course.  The sunrise view is definitely better at the golf resort, and in the future I may head over there just before day break for a coffee and the view.  When you are staying at one Ritz, you are welcome to enjoy all the amenities at the other.

The back patio near the golf course is my absolute favorite part of Golf Ritz.  At night, it has a fire pit that was on until the wee hours of the morning, showcasing a couple bunnies out for a late night snack.  In the morning, the sky was illuminated with shades of pink, purple, and orange for hours.  While sunrise on the beach was cool, this was breathtaking.

For our second trip to Naples, I knew for sure I wanted to stay at Beach Ritz, despite the fact that it is undergoing massive renovations.  When it’s done in December, it’s going to be AMAZING!  And I can’t wait to return then, but I’m jumping ahead, way ahead actually.

I have wanted to stay at Beach Ritz for years.  I don’t exactly know when or how the obsession began, but it was the ONE hotel I knew I had to stay at, despite the fact I don’t love to travel.  We spoke with management and were able to secure a newly renovated room.

My incredibly high expectations coming in were met, and maybe even exceeded.  Pulling in, it’s beautiful, just like the Golf Ritz, but the lobby is airier with fresh flowers and light colors – it’s almost hard to imagine they are about to completely redo it.  Service is more personalized and detailed than the other resort.

The newly renovated room featured light, bright colors.  Ours had a living room with a sofa bed and powder room, as well as a bedroom with a large and stunning bathroom.  The bed was comfortable, but could have used a few more pillows.  I was very comfortable in the room, but really, I just wanted to hang out on the balcony.

Oh.  My.  God.  The view from the balcony of the Gulf left me speechless every time I stepped out.  Whether it was blue sky, bright sun, and crashing waves, the completely unobstructed view of the sunset that blew the view from their beachfront restaurant Gumbo Limbo out of the water, dark skies dotted with stars and the moon, or the cotton candy morning skies, I could not get enough of the sights and sounds of Beach Ritz.

They spoiled us with wine and macaron, and the Moet vending machine is always there for a champagne craving day or night.  The sushi bar Dusk was open pretty late, and had great ambiance and even better cocktails.  Of course, if you aren’t staying on property or don’t have an oceanfront room, Gumbo Limbo is open to the public and has spectacular views and cocktails.  It’s huge, so there is typically ample seating.

Terrazza is the place to grab a tasty morning coffee.  They also have a breakfast buffet, which we did not try, but looked great.  We also did not have a chance to try The Grille, and there is more to come when the renovations are complete.  Fun fact: there was a Ritz in Dearborn, Michigan, and Mom’s 25^th anniversary luncheon with Ford was at The Grille there.  I loved it and remember distinctly that was the first time I had edible flowers.  Sadly, it was turned into a differently hotel shortly after.

I also had a chance to meet pastry chef Lerome Campbell, who was on Holiday Baking Championship in 2018.  I was a big fan now, and I still am, especially since he took the time to chat a few minutes and was so kind.  I remember watching him on the show back then and knowing one day I would make it to Naples and the Ritz and hopefully meet him.  Funny how sometimes things work out.

I also must recommend a walk through the butterfly garden.  It might be unsuspecting at first glance, but it is such a peaceful spot full of bright flowers.  For my second visit, I spent a lot more time hanging out at and enjoying the resort.  Can you tell???  Honestly I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  Who would want to leave a place that wonderful?

While the price point of Beach Ritz is slightly higher than Golf Ritz, for pretty obvious reasons, I would definitely recommend it over Golf Ritz.  I cannot wait to stay at Beach Ritz again, and if you have the chance to, I can’t recommend it enough.  If you have any questions about either of the Ritz Carlton Resorts of Naples, please let me know.  I am happy to help!