The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón

"I just don’t know where to begin. I have NEVER been to a $1,500 a night hotel* in as bad shape as the Ritz Tiburon. My pictures say it all. Frayed carpet, cordless phone from the 1980’s, no smart TV!, thick stem wine glasses, old wooden furniture, and most disturbing of all, blood stained mattresses. Although most hotels now include that offensive “resort fee,” Tiburon takes it to a new level. Driving range included? Not if you want to borrow 2 or 3 beat up clubs . . . that will be $26.50. Beach chairs included? Sure, but if you don’t want to get burned, the umbrella will cost you $26.50. Want to use a bike? It will only be for a couple hours and it will probably take an equal amount of time before downloading and signing up for the 3rd party rental app. The most disturbing part was that we reserved a king room but when we arrived we noticed it wasn’t a king at all. There was a two day back and forth with management until they finally told us it wasn’t a King but an “RV King.” Have you heard of that?? Neither have I. I insisted that it was slightly bigger than a queen but no-one would accept it. I then googled “RV King” and it turns out the name is meaningful. RV stands for “recreational vehicle” and mattresses are frequently modified to fit inside such vehicles. To resolve the issue I suggested that we actually measure it but they declined so I took a picture of my wife laying across it - she is 60” tall (picture attached). Judge for yourself but bear in mind that the bed is bulked up with a comforter. Anyway, management insisted that it was just 4 inches narrower than a king at 72” vs. 76” when in fact it was only a couple inches wider than a queen at 64” vs 60”. Given the condition of the hotel, I wondered how in the world they get such a premium for such an inferior product? The answer as far as I can tell? Seems like the majority of their business is corporate (i.e., people spending other people’s money). Finally one more occurrence that was disturbing. There was some type of water main break in the area during our stay. The local authorities warned against drinking the tap water or even using it to brush teeth. The hotel only informed guests a full day after the incident – we received a letter in our room upon returning to it the following afternoon. Why wouldn’t they have at least posted the issue in the elevator or entrance to the hotel given the health risk?? *To be fair, we got a “deal” at around $900 per night vs the $1,500 for a typical low end room. Management also comped part of the resort fee and the umbrella and golf club rental so I can’t say they didn’t try. That said, they are just working with a dated inferior product and they only survive because Naples is painfully deficient in alternatives. Tip for travelers – the beachfront Ritz seems even worse."

"Spent a night with my girlfriend in Christmas holiday. Overall it’s a pretty decent hotel. The room is great, most of the services are good. We played at the lazy river pool and the slides. They are joyful and reminded me of my childhood. The only complaint I had is about the checkout. The waiting time for checkout is really long. We planned a lunch at 12:00 and we arrived at the lobby waiting for checkout. My girlfriend was waiting while i was working on the luggage. Basically after 20 minutes, it’s our turn to checkout. We merely missed our lunch reservation. A small advice, if you have some plan after checking out, reserve more time."

"Great check in, cribs were already in the room which was very nice, fast Wi-Fi, comfortable beds, friendly staff, easy parking, nice grounds, quick response for service requests. Every staff member said hello, seemed to go the extra mile, opened doors, etc. Unfortunately, there was no hot water for the bathtub or sinks. Barely warm, in fact. The shower was much better. I'm certain that if I told the front desk about the hot water, they would have gotten us another room. But when staying for just two nights with two toddlers, we're not moving rooms."

"Best customer service I’ve ever experienced. Lost a wad of cash, an employee turned it in with no a single dollar missing. Front desk very helpful with business center access and help, and Amazon package was delivered without incident (and without charge). Lobby bar is great and the golf courses rock. Highly recommended this 5-Star property."

"This was my first stay at the Ritz Tiburon Golf Resort. We normally stay at the Ritz Naples Beach Resort, which is newly remodeled and beautiful. But this time we wanted to try the Golf Resort. It was awesome! The service is even better than the Ritz Beach Resort, Naples. I didn’t think that was possible, however, the Ritz Tiburon did surpass the beach resort when it came to service. But you don’t even have to decide because if you stay at one resort, there’s a shuttle to the other. The 2 resorts (beach and golf) are only about 10 minutes apart. And when staying at one resort, you can use the amenities at both! The best part was the Club Level, which had small plates and any beverages your heart desired. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, appetizers, dinner and dessert are served. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! I came to celebrate my birthday and this was a trip I’ll never forget. The concierges in the Club Level were so attentive and amazing. All of us adored them. The weather wasn’t that great, so we basically hung out at the Club Level and ate and drank to our hearts content. The food was so beautifully arranged and displayed. As good as anything served in any of their restaurants, if not better. I can’t believe I forgot to take pictures of what was presented because it was beautiful. Also so much variety at every meal! We tried almost everything. The resort itself is lovely and surrounded by the Golf course. There’s a nice pool, with a little lazy River pool right next to it. The Ritz provides the rafts that you float around in. There’s also 2 water slides and a little kiddy splash pool. Unfortunately I can’t tell you how good the golfing is because I was to busy celebrating and enjoying all the other amenities. I definitely will try the golf next visit. The rooms are spotless and the hotel decor is geared towards the masculine with dark wood and heavy furniture. I highly recommend you try this hotel. Pay a little more for the Club Level because it is well worth it."