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LUXURY HOTEL • 450 ROOMS & SUITES Hotel Review written by Debbi K. and William D. Kickham, Esq., October 2008 The Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, Naples, offers a remarkable experience. Eye-rolling. That describes our decadent experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Beach Resort in Florida. Yes, it was eye-rolling. But not the frustrated kind – ours was the type of experience you have when, for example, you indulge in an exquisite warm chocolate-cake dessert (as we did in The Grill, the resort's amazing restaurant). It's so divine that your eyes roll back into their sockets. That's pretty much how our entire experience went. Everything was exquisite and wonderful. One case in point – Debbi desired a Diet Lemonade at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, just a few minutes away, which for some reason was unable to be accommodated. Yet, just an hour later, when we sat down at The Grill at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort for dinner, our charming waiter, Aldemar, pro-actively asked, “Would you like a diet lemonade, Mrs. Kickham?” Now that's service – and the kind of remarkable service that the Ritz-Carlton is famous for. Here's why. "Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen" is the Ritz-Carlton credo. We were regaled with amazing tales of outstanding service such as we experienced, which reflects this credo. We came to learn that every employee "owns" any problem that comes his way, and he or she is given carte blanche of up to $2,000, if necessary to "make it right." Like the time when one couple forgot their baby's stuffed animal. The staffer tending to them one night overheard the parents discussing what they had forgotten, so he took a quick trip to the hotel gift shop, made a purchase, and presented the amazed parents with a tiny teddy bear. It's that kind of individual empowerment that takes a hotel experience from reliable to remarkable. The Ritz-Carlton also has its own CIA-like computer program, where it reports on and inputs information on every customer need and requirement – so that visitors can expect over-the-top personalized service. It's such attention to detail that sets this hotel business apart from its competition. When you book your reservation, you'll also receive a pre-visit courtesy call, so that anything you need for your trip will be available when you arrive (for example, special foods, if you have food allergies). It's no surprise, then, that the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, Naples, was recently honored with the Mobil Five-Star Award – one of only 41 hotels in the States and Canada to achieve Mobil's highest rating. And of all the Ritz-Carlton's around the world, the Naples property is considered the flagship of the company – a welcoming choice for all of the Fortune 500 and 100 CEOs who visit the site for business – and who happily return with their families, many of them on their own private jets. (The Ritz-Carlton offers in-flight jet catering too.) ACCOMMODATIONS 450 guest rooms include 70 exclusive Club level rooms and 35 suites, all with a view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico We were happily installed in a beautiful Club Level room. Its terrific advantage is that the Club Level offers access to the private lounge with a dedicated concierge and four daily food presentations. We have experienced all kinds of club floors – but this one beats ‘em all. Breakfasts offers a wealth of hot and cold food items; lunches offer pre-made sandwiches and all varieties of cheeses and meats (the competition usually doesn’t serve lunch); and delicious hors d'oeuvres and cordials later in the day. We especially savored the “cookie humidor” – a self-contained glass-enclosed case featuring several varieties of thick gourmet cookies that are the size of mini pizzas. They are ginormous – and the talk of the town! There’s also all kinds of liqueurs and wines, plus trays of chocolate-covered almonds and other candies. Our room was a masterpiece featuring an all-marble bathroom, double sinks, robes, Bulgari amenities and of course, a view of the ocean. Management sent us an adorable seashell creation made of spun sugar, filled with turtle-shaped caramels and chocolate seashells, all created by Norman Love Confections (Love used to be the Ritz's corporate pastry chef until he went out on his own). Crave more? Love's creations are available downstairs in the Gourmet Shop, where you can also get a delicious gelato. DINING As Southwest Florida's only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant, the Artisans experience at the Ritz-Carlton features exceptional regional seafood with style. An innovative menu allows each guest to choose portion size and specific entrée items. You can enjoy live music, art-inspired surroundings and a selection of more than 1,600 wines. We particularly enjoyed – and will always remember – our outstanding dinner in The Grill, a beautiful room complemented with oil paintings of sporting life, mahogany walls and leather banquettes. Bread baskets included soft, warm pretzels. This superb steakhouse offers Dry Aged Delmonico starting at $42 and served with your choice of five gourmet sauces. The fish selections and grilled scallops, also starting at $42, also came with your choice of five sauces – lemon caper, hollandaise, teriyaki, citrus-almond vinaigrette and lobster Armagnac. Aldemar, our server, offered impeccable service – when Bill splashed sauce on his shirt, Aldemar was there with even before Bill could get his napkin to his chest. Side orders include morel mushrooms, potatoes au gratin, and creamed spinach. Having a special birthday or anniversary? Inform your server and the person of the hour will be presented with a chocolate card imprinted with gold greetings. There's also a private dining room adjacent to the main dining room, which seats 22 and is ideal for weddings, anniversaries and corporate events. And when you get your bill, it's presented on a silver platter along with your server's business card – to make your experience even more personalized. Other dining options include The Terrace serving Italian fare; the poolside café offering sandwiches and salads, tropical drinks and smoothies; Gumbo Limbo (named after the tree) serving Caribbean cuisine, and the Lobby Lounge serving afternoon tea and beverages. ACTIVITIES Spa Two heated pools Golfing privileges just three miles away at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort: a championship 36-hole course, named Tiburon, designed by Greg Norman Multimillion-dollar art collection of 250 pieces that can be viewed during self-guided tours Four lit tennis courts 3 miles of white-sand beach Sailboats and catamarans available Debbi was overwhelmingly impressed with the 51,000-sq.ft spa offering more than 30 treatment rooms, a conservatory, fitness center and wellness programs. The spa offers every amenity known to man – the usual suspects along with SPF 30 sunscreen, makeup remover, and flatirons, to name a few. The waiting room has a lovely array of teas, fruit juice, dried fruit and trail mix. Debbi enjoyed the Signature Elements Treatment ($275) although she had to chuckle when the masseuse informed her, as part of the treatment and after asking her a few questions, that Debbi's “element” was that of Metal – someone who holds back her feelings. (Debbi hold back a feeling? No way.) We settled on labeling Debbi a Wood – someone who is assertive, driven and a leader. (Now you're talking.) In this beautiful treatment, Debbi was buffed, sloughed, and de-puffed – with a specialty bath, dry-brushing, and an energizing massage with hands, bamboo sticks, and lemongrass oil. Did she find more balance afterward? Well, is the Ritz on the Gulf of Mexico? Another great advantage of the Spa is that it offers “Visage” created by Betty Ann Murphy. We actually have been a fan of Visage for a long time – Betty Ann previously lived in Westwood, Mass. – our home town – and Debbi tested Visage at Betty Ann's hair salon many years ago. Visage is a special one-hour beauty consultation ($125) offering analysis of your hair, makeup and clothing, so you can make the most of your appearance. Before and After photos are also part of the process, so you can see the remarkable results. We heartily recommend it! Another impressive addition to the Ritz-Carlton is its Nature's Wonders – a new family program designed to share amazing natural discoveries with young guests aged five to twelve. Not just a hotel amenity – Nature's Wonders is an actual mini-museum. And if your kids find something interesting on the beach, they can bring it to Nature's Wonders and look at it under the microscope (while wearing a miniature white lab coat the resort provides, of course). The program allows kids (of all ages) to explore many fascinating aspects of nature, to include sea turtle nesting, butterfly gardening, mangroves, alligators, wildlife, and conservation. LOCAL ATTRACTIONS Located on 20 beachfront acres overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Ritz-Carlton, Naples is often credited for "putting Naples on the map." Naples offers an elegant small-town ambience with a world-class concert hall, gourmet dining, superb golf, fishing, yachting, sailing and upscale shopping. Naples visitors can expect to find unique treasures ranging from original artwork by the masters to designer fashions. Third Street South, Naples' business district at the turn of the century and now a recognized historic district, serves as the premier shopping venue, with more than 100 distinctive shops, art galleries, outdoor cafes and restaurants. Love the water? You can explore everything from a sunset cruise aboard the Naples Princess yacht to a nature cruise on the Gordon or Cocohatchee rivers, or a private charter to either the Ten Thousands Islands or the Gulf. Golfers can indulge their passions in some 90 courses in the area, many of which are private yet accept "snowbird" residents who are only in the area in the peak months of January through April. Each February, Naples is home to the annual Winter Wine Festival, which they claim is the most successful charity wine auction and festival in the world. In 2008, for example, the event raised $14 Million in just four hours. The three days of festivities include wine tastings, vintner dinners at private homes, auction, lunch extravaganza and celebration brunch. And if you just can't get enough spa, the first Golden Door Spa to open on the East Coast in the States opened in 2007 at Naples Grande Beach Resort. GETTING THERE AIRPORT: Southwest Florida Int'l Airport (RSW) - 45 minutes' drive. HOTEL ADDRESS: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Beach Resort 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road Naples, Florida 34108 HOTEL RESERVATIONS | BOOK FLIGHTS | CAR RENTAL |