Vanderbilt Beach Resort

Back when there were no paved roads in the area -- in 1968, to be exact -- the Vanderbilt Beach Resort sprang to life. It's since been upgraded and modernized, and now includes two buildings -- the hotel building and the condo building. Gulf Shore Drive runs between them -- the condo building, tennis courts, and boat dock are on the Vanderbilt Lagoon side, while the hotel, Turtle Club restaurant, and pool are on the beach side facing the Gulf of Mexico. Both sides offer great views -- east views of the bay, and sunset views of the Gulf. Interiors are simple, and fairly predictable -- there are lots of tropical details, beachy accents, and an overall homey vibe created by warm colors and lots of rattan. With a popular restaurant and beach views from patios and outdoor spaces, the resort feels light and breezy. Of course, the main draw here is the hotel's location right on the beach, which is beautiful and expansive, with white sand and high-quality lounge chairs and towels delivered to guests by beach attendants. Expect to see plenty of families here, as well as couples on a beach getaway.

Situated in the southwest corner of Naples, this hotel sits on the stretch of land with Vanderbilt Beach and the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Vanderbilt Lagoon to the east. The surrounding area is full of high-end residential properties, and stays fairly quiet. There are a handful of restaurants and cafes within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. Otherwise, it's a five-minute drive to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, a 10-minute drive to Naples Museum of Art, and a 15-minute drive to downtown Naples. Naples Botanical Gardens is a 20-minute drive from the hotel, and Southwest Florida International Airport will take 35 minutes to reach by car.

There are 32 rooms at the Vanderbilt Beach Resort, split between two buildings. On the beach and facing the Gulf of Mexico, the hotel offers efficiency rooms with kitchenettes. These are simple and a bit dated -- the look is tropical, for sure, but while the rattan furniture is well kept, it's not exactly au courant. Expect to see lots of chunky details, like thick frames and palm-leaf lamps, as well as white duvets and heavy maroon bed throws. These rooms are a bit small, but come with two queen-size beds, flat-screen TVs with cable, DVD players, and large windows with solid wooden blinds. The kitchenettes are include full-size refrigerators, sinks, microwaves, stove-top ranges, toasters, coffeemakers, dishware, utensils, and small tables that seat four. 

Suites are much larger, with more modern kitchenettes, separate bedrooms, living areas with sofa beds, and love seats. Most of these rooms do not have balconies. Condos, on the other hand, are enormous, with large, furnished balconies, full-fledged living spaces with large, beautiful kitchens complete with ovens, dishwashers, and granite countertops. They are decorated in warm colors, and have framed tropical prints and table coverings, large solid-wood dining tables, and washer/dryers. The look in these units has a homier vibe, and darker wood furnishings that appear a bit more fresh, if not contemporary. Bathrooms in all units have attractive dark tiling and large glass showers. Condos add a second bathroom with shower/tub combos. All rooms have free Wi-Fi.

Given its small stature, it's perhaps not surprising that features don't run too deep here, but what's on offer is nice enough. There's a small but pleasant heated outdoor pool surrounded by lounge chairs -- the space gets both sun and shade. The hotel also sits on a beautiful stretch of quiet beach, with attendants handing out towels and lounge chairs. While there is no spa or fitness center, the hotel does have its own tennis courts, contributing to the overall condo-complex vibe here. Bike rentals are also available, as are paddleboards. The hotel is home to the Turtle Club, one of the area’s most popular restaurants in the area, serving fresh seafood and seasonal gourmet dishes for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is not served at the hotel, but free coffee and pastries are available in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and free covered parking is available to guests. There's also a computer for those to use who haven't brought their own.