The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

It Was All A Dream My Ritz Carlton Naples review is based on a September off-season experience. This would be a very different review had I stayed in February so be mindful that the time of year would make a difference. Some people don’t mind crowding, I avoid it at all costs. My husband and I spent our first married vacation on Vanderbilt Beach 38 years ago. We stayed in a small and inexpensive motel on Vanderbilt Beach a few doors down from the Ritz Carlton. Everyday we would walk to the Ritz for lunch. We returned to Vanderbilt Beach for several years and every day would walk to the Ritz for lunch. We vowed that someday when we had enough money we would return to Vanderbilt Beach and stay at the Ritz. This year the stars aligned and we were able to make a dream come true. Location - Vanderbilt Beach is the best beach in Florida IMHO. Sunset is my number one priority and it doesn’t get any better than a sunset on Vanderbilt Beach. Check-In - Katie checked us in. She is adorable. We were lucky to get early check-in, but again, it’s a Monday during slow season. I wouldn’t expect this on high season. Katie assigned us a beautiful beachfront room. Even as a lifetime titanium Bonvoy member I have learned not to depend on upgrades. I book the room I want. We had a high floor room with a beautiful view. Thank you Katie. Room - I loved the room decor. Coastal blues and creams. Easy on the eyes. Katie had a refrigerator delivered to the room immediately for a cake I had made. It surprised me that there were not double sinks in the bathroom. Not a problem, but I do enjoy that luxury. Everything was comfortable - the bed, the robes, and the oversized chair. The balcony was not large, but it was fine for osprey and sunset watching. Dining - We did not leave the property during our stay. We tried every dining venue on property. Sofra - A open air poolside Lebanese inspired restaurant. The best dining value ever. $39/pp for a fun Lebanese feast. Chicken skewer, lamb/beef gyro like plate, dumplings, and rice pudding. Frankie was the best server. He had such a nice way about him. Thank you Frankie. The Grille - A steakhouse off the lobby. Our least favorite venue. The room has no windows or natural light. The service was slow. Food was average. Don’t order the Au Gratin potatoes if you are expecting Gruyère cheese. They are smother in mozzarella cheese. Potato Pizza. Yuck. The Lobster Bisque was the best item I ordered. I should have stopped there. No wow factor on the steak or salmon. I guess I expect Capital Grille and I get disappointed. The piano entertainer was great. She played all my favorite songs. Nolita - Indoor/Outdoor Poolside all day dining. We never made it to breakfast, but I have heard good things about the buffet. We enjoyed lunch outside. The tomato soup is excellent. The pizza was good. The hamburger was good. Our server, Juliana, was super sweet and efficient. Gumbo Limbo - Outdoor Beachside Restaurant. Gumbo Limbo has a varied menu and we liked everything we ordered throughout the week. We had dinner one evening and both order blackened grouper tacos. Very good. Our server, Mitchell, was fantastic. Very engaging and friendly. Thank you, Mitch. In-Room Dining - Very pricey with service charge and delivery fee which is the norm at every up market hotel. I think it was Melissa who helped me a she was great. Service was fast. Beach Service - The beach service is outstanding. It’s hard work to walk the sand all day. There is a dedicated beach menu, but since it was slow season we could order off the Gumbo Limbo lunch menu. We loved the coconut shrimp, buffalo wings, Caesar salad, and grouper sandwich. The lobster quesadillas were ok. Not enough lobster. The chips/salsa/guacamole were so good. The salsa especially. We had a couple different beach servers - Leo and Isla who were great. There is one very special server on the beach, Yelena, who rocked our world. Yelena is the greatest ambassador for the Ritz brand. It was Yelena’s mission to make sure we had the most special five days on the beach. She could not do enough for us. We would blink and she would have set up water, ice, tables, etc. She set up special sunset chairs for us. Yelena made a huge difference in our stay and our time at the beach. Thank you, Yelena, for our prizes and special attention. Swimming Pools - Heaven. Totally empty! I can’t imagine what it looks like when the hotel is full. Hundreds of chairs. The lap pool is a great perk. I was afraid I had set my expectations too high, but the hotel exceeded them over and over. Every team member from valet to housekeeping to dining were excellent. I appreciate all the special prizes we received for our anniversary. Those chocolate covered strawberries were lovely. Thank you to guest relations for spoiling us. In 38 years of marriage we have travelled the world and stayed at many five star hotels. Our most relaxing and special memories have been on Vanderbilt Beach. Thank you to the Ritz Carlton Naples for the most luxurious dream week on the beach.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Job Gatchell, the Manager of Meetings and Special Events at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples Beach Resort. From the moment our conference planning began, Job was incredibly friendly, accommodating, and kind. His welcoming demeanor and professional expertise put us at ease immediately. It is clear that the Ritz-Carlton is fortunate to have him on their team, as he exemplifies the high standards of service and hospitality the brand is known for. Job truly went above and beyond to ensure our conference was a success. A highlight of his exceptional service was during our Hocus Pocus-themed evening event. He was instrumental in coordinating and assisting with every detail of that night. No request was too much for Job – he even personally helped us transport all of our boxes and elaborate decorations from our guest room down to the ballroom, ensuring everything arrived on time and intact for the event. His proactive approach and “can-do” attitude meant that any potential issue was resolved before we even had to ask. We were consistently impressed by how thoroughly he anticipated our needs and took care of them with a smile. Thanks to Job’s dedication and outstanding support, the entire conference ran smoothly and was one of the best we’ve ever been a part of. He coordinated logistics seamlessly, accommodated last-minute changes with ease, and always checked in to make sure we had everything we required. Many of our attendees commented on how well-organized and pleasant the event was – a direct reflection of Job’s hard work behind the scenes. His kindness and professionalism set a positive tone for everyone, and it would not be an overstatement to say that he was the reason our conference was so successful this year. We are extremely grateful for everything Job did for us during our time on the property. His combination of warmth, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to excellence made our experience truly exceptional. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Beach Resort is very lucky to have a manager of his caliber, and we want to formally recognize and thank him for his extraordinary service. We look forward to the opportunity to work with Job and the Ritz-Carlton team again in the future, knowing we will be in excellent hands! ------ During our stay, our team also received truly exceptional service from Carole Nabbie in the Business Center. We faced last-minute printing needs for important meetings, and Carole handled them swiftly and professionally. She ensured every document was perfectly formatted under pressure, demonstrating remarkable efficiency and a calm demeanor that kept our project on track. Beyond her technical expertise, Carole’s infectious kindness and uplifting attitude made a huge difference. She met each of our many requests with a genuine smile and a can-do spirit, turning a potentially stressful situation into a pleasant and productive experience. Carole even anticipated our needs by offering helpful suggestions and going above and beyond to assist us. Thanks to her outstanding support, our work went seamlessly. We are extremely grateful for Carole’s help — she is an invaluable asset to the Ritz-Carlton team, and we highly recommend seeking her assistance at the Business Center during your next trip to Naples. ------- We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Lexi at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort in Naples during the recent Florida RIMS Conference. From the moment my team and I arrived, Lexi provided an exceptional level of service that truly elevated our experience. She was consistently professional, attentive, and incredibly helpful—ensuring all of our food and beverage needs were met with care and precision. Whether we were in the lobby or coordinating with various teams, Lexi was always present, offering support with a warm and welcoming demeanor. What stood out most was how she made us feel like family. Her genuine kindness and thoughtful approach created a comfortable and enjoyable environment for everyone. It’s rare to encounter someone who blends hospitality and professionalism so seamlessly, and Lexi did just that. We were all highly impressed by her dedication and grace under pressure. She is a true asset to the Ritz-Carlton team. Thank you, Lexi, for making our time at the Ritz so memorable every year!

We booked a week at the Ritz Naples for my husband’s birthday and were so disappointed in part of our stay. When staying at an upscale property like the Ritz it comes with certain expectations. Such as the entire hotel will be open. When we booked our reservation nowhere on the Ritz site nor the Marriott site did it state that there would be construction going on. Leaving some areas without power and restaurants/bars that would not be open. Although it was considered the slow season, we expected a fully staffed hotel. For example, we called to get our car brought up to the front. We called valet twice and the front desk once and no one answered the phone. We also had a complementary upgrade to the club level. When we arrived, we were told the club level was shut down. Why at any time would you shut the club level down for your best customers?? The property is beautiful, the majority of the staff were amazing! However, had we known in advance that we would be getting limited service and options we would have chosen another destination.

Stayed here with a large business group. Plusses: Renovated rooms are comfortable and well detailed Lots of closet and drawer space Well insulated - did not hear other guests In room Nespresso Nice beach setup with umbrellas and lounge chairs Minuses: The usual lies about no late checkout available when the hotel was 1/2 full the next day. After staying there for 4 nights. $100 day use charge for using the steam/sauna within the spa. In addition to the daily resort fee of $70 or so. Front desk attitude - not welcoming and see late checkout comment. Dear Ritz Carlton: You need to spoil business groups with all requests. They are the ones who maintain the hotel revenue stream.

I just wanted to express our gratitude for the wonderful service we had with the Photography Concierge at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples. Every aspect of their service was friendly, helpful, and professional - from booking, the actual session, to the ordering phase. Sharon, our photographer, made the session a ton of fun and we were able to make such nice memories taking pictures at sunset at the beach. The pictures she took will soon be displayed in our home, and we are so grateful for them. Thank you!