A week before I was to check into the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Tiburón—a luxury golf resort on the West Coast of Florida—my husband canceled. While my sister and niece quickly swooped in to save my weekend away, I wondered what else we’d do besides play golf, which we don’t do. As it turned out, the Ritz-Carlton’s appeal extended far beyond sports.
The lush inland property boasts two restaurants, a lounge, a coffee shop, a spa, a children’s playroom, a fitness center, and an impressive outdoor pool area. It’s a huge draw for families looking to relax on a hot summer day and includes a large pool surrounded by cabanas, a meandering lazy river, a kids’ splash pad and three mega waterslides. Food and drink service is available whether you’ve opted for a lounge chair or secured a cabana, which I recommend if you’re spending the day by the pool. They’re shaded and equipped with a TV, couches and lounge chairs and a mini fridge stocked with water and snacks. They also throw in a complimentary fruit platter.
Typical of other Ritz-Carlton properties, the accommodations are at once modern and traditional, with marble accents and touches of dark wood that underscore the overall country club vibe. Our king room was expectedly spacious with a separate sitting area and half bath. The Diptyque-stocked bathroom was spectacular—wonderfully large with a double vanity, shower and soaking tub. (Many hours were spent here, not missing my tiny single-sink situation back home.) The living room opened up to a balcony overlooking the front of the property and its palm tree-lined entryway, with a partial view of the golf course.
Like at all Ritz-Carlton properties, the service throughout our stay was excellent. We received two small flutes of champagne at check-in to toast our arrival while our bags made it to our rooms. During our day by the pool, our server held our cabana and refreshed our ice and drinks while we escaped to our room for a nap. Following a brief incident with a fire alarm on our floor, everyone was treated to complimentary, barista-made coffee at eXpress(o). And valet parking never took more than five minutes to retrieve our car—a huge plus when traveling with squirmy little ones.
Sports are a big theme here: The property has two 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf courses, and it recently added the Mouratoglou Tennis Center Naples Tiburón—renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou's first dedicated teaching facility in Florida. But there's still plenty to do and other ways to unwind on property.
Neighborhood
The sprawling property is surrounded by greenery—think rolling hills, palm trees and two pristine golf courses, which are certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. It’s about 10 minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico and Naples’ famous white-sand beaches.
Nearby
Ritz-Carlton, Naples: Tiburón’s beachfront sister property is about three miles away. Go here for a sunset dinner at Gumbo Limbo, located right on the sand. As a precaution, the restaurant shuts down at around 9pm during turtle nesting season (March through October), so make sure to book on the earlier side to enjoy the views.
Lulu B’s Diner: This kitschy ‘50s-style diner serves a very inexpensive breakfast and one very good breakfast burrito.
Time Out tip
Ditch your car and opt for the free shuttle service to Tiburon’s beachfront sister property instead of driving.