Inn at Pelican Bay

From the outside, the Inn at Pelican Bay doesn't look like the upscale hotel that it is. Its location off a busy road, with its parking lot adjacent to the parking lot of a CVS and supermarket, make it initially feel like a lower-end chain hotel. Inside, though, is more elegant -- the vibe feels authentically Florida, with a dose of "convention hotel" thrown in. During our visit, there was a company getaway being hosted here. The hotel also attracts those visiting family and friends who live in the adjacent planned Pelican Bay community, as well as families and couples in town to hit the beach and golf courses. The large lobby features polished marble floors, high ceilings, molded walls, and a crystal chandelier suspended above a piano.The lobby leads out to InnCognito's Lounge, which features high-stool seating indoors plus an outdoor patio with tables and chairs. Other exterior features include a lagoon pool surrounded by lounge chairs and a large lake with a fountain feature at its center.

The Inn at Pelican Bay is located on the shores of a small lake, a minute's walk to both a Publix Super Market and Pavilion Shopping Center. There are multiple chain restaurants immediately nearby, including a Ruby Tuesday's and Buca di Beppo, and it's a few minutes' drive or 10-minute walk to the Mercato shopping center. The beach is a four-minute drive away, and the hotel offers a free shuttle. Most visitors will find a car is necessary, especially if they want access to some of the popular golf courses in the area for which Naples is known (there are over 80 in total). It's a five-minute drive to Naples Museum of Art, and a 15-minute drive to Old Marine Marketplace at Tin City (a touristy shopping mall with several restaurants). Both downtown Naples and the Naples Nature Center -- with plenty of hiking trails -- take around 16 minutes to reach by car, while it's just a tad longer a drive to get to the Naples Pier, a great sunset-viewing spot. Naples National Golf Club takes just under half an hour to reach by car. It's a 20-minute drive to Naples Municipal Airport and 38 minutes by car to the Southwest Florida International Airport.

The Inn at Pelican Bay features 100 rooms and suites, all of which were renovated in 2016. Decor is uniform across categories and classic in style, with off-white walls featuring large photographic prints, beige carpeting, and dark-wood beds with poster-style headboards and blue-and-cream floral bed throws. All rooms have either a king-size bed or two doubles and come in Lake View, City View, and Luxury categories. Lake View units add balconies and double-sized sofa beds with gingham upholstery, while the larger Luxury King units have spacious bathrooms with separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs (Luxury Doubles keep to the shower/tub combo format found in lower categories). Features found across room types include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, terrycloth robes, and Wolfgang Puck-brand coffeemakers. Microwaves are available on request. 

The Inn at Pelican Bay has a decent assortment of features for a hotel of its size, including a concierge, on-site bike rentals, and a 24-hour business center. A daily resort fee is tacked on, but includes hotel-wide Wi-Fi as well as a continental breakfast served at InnCognito's Lounge, just off the lobby; dishes typically include fresh fruit, breads, cereals, hard-boiled eggs, and waffles (guests can make their own from a waffle maker). Free tea, coffee, and cookies are available in the lobby until mid-afternoon every day. Other features include a medium-sized fitness center with cardio and weight machines plus free weights plus a large outdoor lagoon-style pool overlooking the lake. The hotel also offers a boardroom and has tie-ups with a nearby banquet hall for larger events. There's no proper restaurant for lunch and dinner, but InnCognito's Lounge does offer cocktails in the afternoons (it's an honor bar system).