When I entered my suite at I set down my suitcase and walked to the balcony. The Florida sun was setting over the ocean and bright pinks, oranges, and reds were melting like wax across the sky. Despite being exhausted from a long day of flying, I didn’t step back inside until the last drop of color flickered into the night.
Only then, did I take in the place I’d call home for the next three nights. I was among the first to stay in this room. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples re-opened in 2023 after a renovation due to extensive damage from Hurricane Ian.
Although tragic, the destruction provided an opportunity for the already luxurious resort to embark on a remodel elevating it from one of the finest beachfront resorts in the United States to one of the finest beachfront resorts in the world. I was lodging in a bi-level suite in the all-new Vanderbilt Tower. The top floor featured a generous living room drenched in beige, gold, and a hint of pastel blue, evoking the ocean, sky, and sand.
This floor also offered a small table, an espresso machine, and a marble bathroom with a walk-in shower. Downstairs, there was yet another private balcony, a king bed with sumptuous linens, and a second marble bathroom with a shower and soaking tub. Both bathrooms boasted Diptyque bath amenities, a small luxury that delighted me almost as much as having two balconies.
My reservation in a Vanderbilt Tower bi-level suite included access to the re-imagined club lounge, which at 4,000-plus square feet.