Ritz Orlando Vs. Ritz Naples?
 

Anyone stayed at both these properties? As posted in another thread, the wife and I are looking for one day away for R&R and the spa use...has anyone stayed at either or both and used the spa and pool areas? Any comments would be appreciated?!?!

I've stayed in both. In fact, we just came back from the R&R weekend that you are looking for.

The Ritz Naples feels just like a luxury conference hotel. The hotel itself is beautiful, but big. Valet parking, front desk staff, etc. was a zoo. There tend to be a lot of conferences here, so be prepared for large groups of people running around with nametags. The staff is helpful but generally looked dazed just from the amount of people. My wife got a massage and loved it, while I sat by the pool (There are two, one for families and one for adults.) and read. Very, very relaxing. If you go, try to get a room with a view of the water. The sunset is incredible. This is a very good hotel for R&R, at least once you get your car parked. Rooms were nice, but not spectacular.

Orlando was also nice. Didn't use the spa, but the grounds are great and the staff is very good. Use of the JW Marriott pools next door is a bonus, as they have some great ones (including a lazy river).

I'd recommend the Naples hotel for R&R.

Mike

Thanks Mike! Very good Information...couple of questions if I could:
-Does the Ritz in Orlando have it's own pool?
-how is the food at these hotels?
-is there anywhere else you would recommed within a 2-3 hour drive of Sarasota?

Thanks again for your help!

Ritz-Carlton, Orlando Not rated!?!

There are 2 R-C in Naples:

Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort 4 Mobil Stars :-:
Ritz-Carlton (on the beach) 5 Mobil Stars :-: :-:
Bus-shuttle between the two hotels

R-C Golf Resort hosts Greg Norman's "2004 Franklin Templeton Shark Shoot Out" on Nov. 8-14, 2004 :rolleyes:

N.Y. Times article about Naples http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/14/tr...070&oref=login

I would assume that all Ritz-Carltons have a pool! ;)

The Ritz Carlton, Naples (on the beach) has several good restaurants; the "The Dining Room" is excellent.
I personally like "Gumbo Limbo", direct on the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/sh_di...267881,00.html

The Ritz in Orlando does have its own pool. It is typical Ritz--very nice, a little small. From what I remember, there is only one.

Food at both appears to be fine, but we didn't eat at the hotels too much. We had the buffet breakfast at the Ritz in Naples, which was included in our room rate. While it wasn't cheap if you had to pay for it on your own, it was very big and could easily serve as a combination for breakfast and lunch. The Dining Room also looked nice, although we did not eat there. Drinks and food at the pool looked reasonably priced. For dinner, we drove around the corner to Fleming's, a reasonably nice steak place. Good food, excellent wine list.

In Orlando, there were so many places to eat that we did not eat at the hotel. One recommendation is a relatively new restaurant called Seasons 52 (about a year old). The menu changes on a weekly basis based on what is freshest--excellent food, reasonably priced. Definitely try the flatbreads.

Mike

bsdstone, wherever you decide to go, make sure you are able to get the spa appointments you want before you commit to the property. My wife, daughter and I just had a wonderful weekend at the RC in Key Biscayne, but spa appointments were hard to come by, and basically impossible at the last minute. I suspect this could be an issue at the properties you are considering.

What? :confused:

I've found that these are really the only good Luxury hotels in the area...not a big fan, but when you have limited choices, you gotta do what you gotta do!