Our stay in the Naples Grande Beach Resort – Luxury Hotel Review

In Naples, you can craft your own perfect vacation experience – surround yourself with your own personal blend of luxury, leisure and nature. Grab a burger or eat the freshest seafood in a fine dining environment. Get on a paddle board and glide through mangrove forests with alligators and pelicans, hike through the Everglades waist deep in swamp water, or be pampered in a 5 star spa. For visitors like us, Naples is the perfect spot to experience a mix of everything – wake up in a king size bed, stroll along a white sand beach in the morning sun, go paddle boarding with alligators and hiking through swamps, eat a fresh seafood lunch in a fine restaurant, relax rejuvenate with a spa massage, then watch the sun sink into the ocean with a cocktail in hand. That’s a perfect day!

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

For a relatively small city, Naples has a huge amount to do, ranging from cultural activities, adventure sports, luxury experiences and accommodation and international cuisine. Whether travelling solo, a family break, or a romantic couple’s weekend away, everything you need is right here.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

With the highest number of millionaires per capita in the country, something that Naples does very well, is luxury and quality. When we arrived at the Naples Grande Resort, it seems to rise up in front us from the tree-lined street, surprisingly elegant for its size and mass, with its sloping roof, terracotta tiles and in-set balconies giving it a Mediterranean flavour.

The entrance hall was true to its name, a ‘grande’ triple-height atrium space which focused the attention on the giant waterfall sculpture in the centre.

You can check details and latest rates on Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia or visit their website directly at Naples Grande Beach Resort.

Don’t just take our word for it though, check out their reviews on TripAdvisor

ACCOMMODATION

We checked into our room on one of the high floors, which gave us a commanding view over waterside homes and canals to the left and to the right, Clam Pass Park, Outer Clam Bay and the Gulf of Mexico Beyond. The room was very spacious, with two king size beds, lots of natural light and everything you would expect from a five star hotel room – Refined and luxurious, without needing to shout about it!

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida – Welcome cheese plate

FOOD

With seven restaurants, there’s no shortage of options for dining. We ate in the Catch of the Pelican, specialising in fresh seafood, local ingredients and vegetables from their own on-site garden. We tried the locally caught seasonal Stone Crab claw, pan fried snapper and glazed pork belly.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

AMENITIES

The Naples Grande Resort has three swimming pools, a family pool with a 100 foot white-water slide, an adult-only pool with spa and private cabanas, then one final pool hidden away for exercise and lap swimming.

The sunset veranda is the best place to watch the sun go down over the Mangroves, with a glass of wine or cocktail in hand.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

The Naples Grande Spa is a serious highlight, designed in a Japanese minimalist theme, with an outdoor stone Jacuzzi spa and relaxing sun lounge area. Inside, the theme changes slightly, with the warmth of natural wood walls creating a relaxing atmosphere in the meditation lounge, where we relaxed in Zen lounge chairs and drank cleansing herbal tea while waiting for our Artisan Massage, incorporating a variety of styles and massage techniques specifically suited to our needs. Soothing strokes, firm compression and deep-tissue pressure, all expertly combined through the all-natural and organic therapeutic massage oil.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

In case you’re not feeling all thee outdoor activities and want to stay fit inside, Naples Grande Resort also has an 8000 square foot fitness facility, with views over the water.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

The board walk from the hotel takes you through the Clam Pass mangroves and down to the beach, where there are kayaks and paddle boards for rent.

TIPS

Get a high level room with a view overlooking Clam Pass, the sunset view is spectacular.

Dinner in Catch of the Pelican is well worth one of your evenings. Try the glazed pork belly!

Paddle boarding is the best way to explore the Clam Pass mangroves. I had a four or five foot alligator join me a few minutes!

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

AREA GUIDE

Naples Botanical Gardens

An oasis of nature, these volunteer-run gardens are designed on the line of latitude which runs through the garden itself, so there are five gardens to explore – Florida Garden, Asian Garden, Brazilian Garden and Caribbean Garden – plus a Children’s Garden, Water Garden and Preserve. Check out the butterfly garden and even take part in a Tai Chi class on the main lawn.

Naples, Florida – Naples Botanical Gardens

Sea Salt Restaurant

Try lunch at Sea Salt, famous for its fresh seafood, innovative contemporary speciality cuisine and relaxing beach vibes. Try their local speciality pan fried grouper, tempura prawns, octopus, lump crab….actually, just try everything, it’s all incredible!

Naples, Florida – Sea Salt Restaurant

The Sunset

On at least one evening, take a walk down the boardwalk to the beach and watch the sun set into the ocean, as hundreds of birds, including pelicans, sail past you through a sky painted orange and yellow across the fading blue and the clouds.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

5^th Avenue

5^th Avenue in downtown Naples is the place to go in the night time as the streets a bustling with activity, musicians, street side restaurants, cool bars, but most importantly a happy, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

Naples, Florida – 5th Avenue

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

Fakahatchee is often referred to as the Amazon of North America. A linear swamp 5 miles wide and 20 miles long, filled with wildlife, including the Florida Panther, black bears, Eastern indigo snakes, Everglades minks and diamondback terrapin, white-tailed deer and plenty of Alligators. It’s also home to many rare and endangered orchid species, including the Ghost Orchid. Possible activities include Swamp Hiking, birding, walking, cycling, kayaking and fishing.

Luxury Hotel Review – Naples Grande Resort, Naples, Florida

Pure Naples Sightseeing Cruise

A great way to learn about Naples, a narrated tour of Gordon Pass, the Naples Coastline and the huge mansions that border Naples Bay, with a high chance of seeing dolphins!

You can check details and latest rates on Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia or visit their website directly at Naples Grande Beach Resort.

Don’t just take our word for it though, check out their reviews on TripAdvisor

Note: This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of Paradise Coast for our itinerary in Naples and Everglades and to Visit Florida, the official tourism office of Florida in Tallahassee, and especially Ms. Summer Gilhousen, who arranged the whole trip and coordinated with all the local tourism boards, private companies for our sponsored hotel stays, tours and car rental (all opinions and text are all mine) Thank you!