


•Graciousness and genuine warmth extends from bell staff to housekeeping; from pro shop to dining rooms
•Traditional furnishings and rich fabrics make sumptuous backdrops for the stunning golf course and resort views
•Outstanding dining at the resort’s signature dining room, Lemonía
•A meeting planner’s dream, with 15,000 square feet of meeting space and full conference facilities
•Conveniently located near shopping and other area attractions
Amenities: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples
• 295 rooms, 10 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 4 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access. Restaurant, two bars. Children's activity center. Fitness room. Outdoor pool, whirlpool. Golf, 36 holes. Tennis. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.
Upon my arrival to the resort, smiling valets, a doorman, and a bellman greeted me and whisked me into the cool lobby, where lazy ceiling fans turned overhead and guests were sipping iced tea and tropical-looking martinis. One wall of the lobby is primarily glass, giving me my first view of the picturesque Greg Norman-designed Golf Club.
In no particular hurry to settle in, you can wander down the main hallways and into two lovely gift shops, where you can be tempted by Ritz-Carlton logo items, gourmet treats, resort clothing, gifts, and self-indulgent bath amenities. At the end of the hall is The Bar, where you can enjoy a leisurely drink or play a game of billiards.
Around the bend in the hall is Express(o), a petite pastry and coffee boutique, and the glamorous restaurant, Lemonía, where a woman was playing a soft Broadway tune on a grand piano. From the lobby, I stepped out onto a shaded verandah appointed with vintage green wicker rocking chairs. From here, I took in the stunning layouts that make Greg Norman a master of golf course design. A double staircase leads from the verandah down to an emerald lawn where white Adirondack chairs offer close-up views of the putting green. I followed the path between the golf club and the pool to the Poolside Grill, where the smoky fragrance of grilled fare mixed with the faint scent of sun lotions. A uniformed pool butler glided up with a tray of refreshing piña colada sorbets, compliments of the house.
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples is, first and foremost, a stylish mecca for golf enthusiasts. But it’s also for beach lovers, serious spa-lovers, and just plain lovers, as all the amenities of its sister resort just three miles away, the beachside Ritz-Carlton, Naples, are open to Golf Resort guests. Luxurious private transportation between the two resorts is complimentary and continuous throughout the day and evening.
(+) A golf enthusiasts dream, with the lush greens of the Greg Norman-designed Tiburon Golf Club just outside your door
As for a wedding destination, brides and grooms need only show up. With advance phone conferencing, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples is expert at creating dream weddings, including romantic packages for the often-overlooked wedding night dinner-for-two and romantic touches for the bridal suite.
Guests may book a massage or personal training session in the Massage and Fitness Center, or arrange to have an in-room massage.
Golfers also are given the special treatment when they sign up for a personal Ritz-Carlton Caddy Concierge, who will accompany them on their round, offering course strategy, chasing lost balls, and providing refreshments and chilled towels.
(+) Kids, romantics, and golfers are pampered with special programs that The Ritz-Carlton is known for
Every guest room has double marble vanities, a bathtub, and separate shower, and is appointed in luxurious Ritz-Carlton style, including European bath amenities, Frette linens, and goose down comforters. Guests may also designate non-allergenic foam pillows. I especially appreciated the individual heating and air conditioning controls, the lighted makeup mirror, padded hangers for my delicate garments, and the choice of a lightweight bathrobe instead of the traditional terrycloth robe. Other standard amenities include a hair dryer, CD player, and mini-bar.
Suite sizes range from 470 square feet (the Resort View with a choice of one king or two double beds) and 750 square feet (the Executive Suite, which includes a living room and master suite with one king-size bed) to the grand 950 square-foot Tiburon Suite that has all the above plus a guest bath. The private Club Level on the second floor offers full butler services and five artistic food and beverage presentations each day. Guests are advised to check ahead for Club Level reservations as this level may be closed in the slower summer season. Glamorous new décor is in the works for the 2007 season.
(+) Guest rooms adorned in typical luxurious Ritz-Carlton fashion, many with golf course views
Within a few miles, guests will find a lush botanical garden-turned-zoo and all kinds of waterside adventures from parasailing to dolphin-watching tours. Other delights include sunset dinner cruises and catamaran sails. For Old Florida local color and wildlife sighting, one can go airboating, swamp-buggying, kayaking, or canoeing. For unparalleled bird-watching, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is about 20 miles away but worth the drive. Best of all, the resort’s staff can arrange everything.
Guests at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort receive a real two-for-one experience, as one check-in also earns full privileges at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, just three miles west on the Gulf of Mexico. The beach, with its cobalt-blue umbrellas, casual beachside dining, and attentive beach butler service, is a destination in itself, but there’s much more. This property has a beautiful spa, which takes pampering to the extreme. Surrounded by a rose garden and staffed with genuinely friendly therapists, it’s not the least bit stuffy, either.
The shopping in Naples is star-quality, rivaling even the most chic districts of Worth Avenue (Palm Beach) and Rodeo Drive (Beverly Hills). The boutiques, art galleries, and sidewalk cafes of Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South in Old Naples (about 10 miles away) beckon by day, then the twinkling lights, street musicians, jazz clubs, and theaters lure strollers for a bit of upscale tropical-style nightlife. Closer to the resort are two glamorous shopping experiences: The Village on Venetian Bay (colorful Mediterranean-style shops and restaurants overlooking the water), and Waterside Shops, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and some of the world’s most coveted designer names in jewelry, shoes, fashion, and accessories.
One of Naples’ most beautiful landmarks is the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, featuring a world-class museum and acclaimed resident symphony orchestra as well as ballet, Broadway shows, and a diversified theater and music season. Advance reservations for the shows, especially from January through April, are strongly recommended.
(+) Recreational activities abound, from golfing and tennis to parasailing and canoeing; the resort’s sister hotel offers such amenities as spa and beach access
The Sunday Brunch is nothing short of spectacular. This gourmet experience completely takes over the entire main dining room as well as a private meeting room, a private dining room, and the bar. And there’s still not enough space, so every Sunday the pastries and coffees are moved out of Express(o) and into the main lobby, allowing the little gourmet shop to be transformed into a showcase for a stunning array of seafood and a sushi station. One entire room is dedicated to pastries. Even if you don’t indulge in its decadence, it’s worth a visit, just to look. The Sunday brunch is so expansive it requires a pre-dining tour so guests are sure not to miss anything.
In addition to the Poolside Grill and Express(o) for baked goods and lattes, beverages are served in the Lobby Lounge and in the adjacent lounge, Bella Vista. There’s nightly entertainment in Bella Vista, providing late-arriving guests a musical welcome. A stroll away, at the Tiburon Golf Club, is Sydney’s Pub, a gathering place for lunch and 19th-hole relaxation. And when you’re just too happy to sleep, there are 24-hour room service and on-demand movies.
(+) Top-notch dining options, from gourmet to casual, including a can’t-miss Sunday Brunch
The statistics of the resort speak for themselves: 15,000-plus square feet of meeting space, including a 7,810 square-foot Grand Ballroom, 11 individual meeting rooms, an executive board room, and two private dining room, plus outdoor function areas overlooking the golf club.
(+) Top-notch services available to suit both business travelers working in their rooms and groups in need of conference facilities