Naples Resort One Of 2 Florida Hotels To Make Travel + Leisure “It List”
Travel + Leisure just announced the 19th annual It List. Only 2 Florida hotels made this prestigious list of Top 100 in the world, and one of them is a Naples resort we know well.
The 2024 Travel + Leisure “It List” is the best new and renovated hotels across the globe, which for the first time includes newly launched luxury cruise ships. The selected hotels and cruise ships span 39 countries across six continents. Naples and Tampa were the 2 Florida entries on the list out of the only 36 total from the United States.
“The 2024 It List is a celebration of transformation and discovery, spotlighting hidden gems and reborn icons across the globe, as well as luxury cruises for the first time,” said Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure. “These hotels and ships are destinations in their own right, providing not just accommodation but a profound sense of connection, comfort, and delight far from home.”
Palihouse Hyde Park Village, Tampa, Florida
Palihouse is located in the Hyde Park Villiage section of Tampa Florida, a shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Shops, restaurant, a cinema, and even a 24/7 cupcake ATM! Staying at Palihouse has been compared to “staying at a friend’s house.” It’s truly a boutique stay with accommodations listed as “36 stylishly-appointed King and double-bedded Queen guest suites feature kitchenettes, custom dining tables, gallery art walls, brass Waterworks fixtures, and bespoke library seating in most rooms.”
And The Naples Resort On The List: The Ritz-Carlton
Perhaps extensive renovations were planned, or maybe because Hurricane Ian made it absolutely necessary, but the updates made to the Naples Ritz Carlton has truly added new life to the Naples resort. In what is rumored to have been more than a $100 million dollar renovation, the resort reopened July 6th, 2023 with an expansive new Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, a new resort lobby, new dining choices, new pools, bungalows, and cabanas along with extensive redesigns to all the resort’s 474 guest rooms and suites.
“We are proud to welcome our Ladies and Gentlemen, loyal guests, and new visitors, as well as the incredibly supportive local community to The Ritz-Carlton, Naples once more,” said Ritz-Carlton Area General Manager, Mark Ferland about the reopening. “It is an honor to bring this incredible transformation to life at our iconic resort. The stunning redesign coupled with new experiences invites guests to celebrate their memories and create new traditions.”
Not resting on the accomplishments of 2023, The Ritz Carlton Naples resort opened their newest restaurant – Nolita – in March of 2024.
Nolita at the Ritz Carlton Naples resort
How the It List hotels and cruise ships are selected: over the past year, the editors reviewed hundreds of new and renovated properties across the globe, which were then narrowed to just 100 in total. Each hotel has been vetted by Travel + Leisure editors and contributors. The full list of 100 can be found here.
Confessions Of Crazy Things Taken From Hotel Rooms In Florida
An email crossed my inbox this week that was titled, The Expert’s Guide To What You Can And Can’t Remove From A Hotel Room. I immediately thought, ‘Do we really need a guide for this kind of stuff?’ Then, I reached for the moisturizer in my purse that had Walt Disney World Resorts on it. It sparked a conversation with a friend whose family owns hotels in Southwest Florida and another who has been in hotel management for decades including properties in Fort Myers, Naples and Key West. You won’t believe the crazy things taken from hotel rooms in Florida.
These espresso cups are so cute. They were in a room I stayed at in Europe and would’ve made a nice souvenir. However, I left them behind like a good girl.
I get it. You are having a great time on vacation and want something to remember it by. Back in the day you could swipe a matchbook with the hotel logo. Some still have pens and notepads. Then you look over and see the cool coffee mug, robe, fill in the blank here. You think, ‘Surely they won’t miss this one.’ Then I hear my mom saying, ‘What if EVERYONE took just one? Then there wouldn’t be any to take.’
I put the question to friends on Facebook. Here are a few confessions of the things taken from hotel rooms.
- Toiletries
- Toilet Paper
- Do not disturb signs
- Pool and bath towels
- Sheets and blankets
- Pillows
- Bathrobes
- Drapes
- Chandeliers
- Television
- Iron
- Ice Buckets
- Hair dryer
- Salt and pepper shakers
- Dishes and coffee cups
- Couch
- Bible
Jeff Webb is the area general manager for Home2 Suites in Fort Myers, Naples and Nashville. Over the course of his 37 year career in the hotel industry he has seen some pretty crazy things. One of the most bizarre happened in Key West. Housekeeping called him to a room which had been cleared out. Literally. Everything single thing in the room was stolen. He says that is why televisions and even some artwork is bolted down in hotels these days.
Finally, getting back to that original email. It was from Mark Johnson, the founder of H18NY. He says, “Before you put anything you’re not sure about into your suitcase, remember you can always ask hotel staff if it’s okay to take.” Here are some general guidelines from both Jeff and Mark.
Toiletries and Stationary
These are meant for you to use and are OK to take. Especially if the toiletries were opened and used during your stay. A friend of mine keeps a bag of them and puts them in her guest bath so there is always something there for visitors to discover, use and maybe even take for themselves to keep the cycle going.
Food and Drink
Mostly yes. For instance, it would be OK for me to pocket the pods from this coffee maker pictured below. But not the coffee maker itself. By the way, this was the best in room hotel coffee I think I’ve ever had. It was at Bardessono in Yountville, California. Then there is the mini-bar. Feel free to clear it out. You’ll be charged handsomely for that one.
Linens
Nope. I get it, the sheets and the pillows gave you the best night of sleep ever. But they need to stay. I know we always need beach towels living in Florida, but those you got from the pool should stay too. Definitely that plush robe as well. I’ve had so many great robes including a leopard print one at hotel in Portland, Oregon. NO, it did not end up in my suitcase. Most hotels will sell their bathrobes and some sell their pool towels too.
Electronics
This should be a common sense “don’t”. But apparently that is not the case. Never take cable boxes, hairdryers, irons, or lightbulbs. Yes lightbulbs. Keep the TV and its remote and the batteries in your hotel room. It’s not going to work with your television anyway. Also do not remove the clock/radio or tablet. These things are not souvenirs.
Miscellaneous
If your room provides a small sewing kit it is generally thought to be OK to take. It is typically part of the bathroom ‘amenities’ anyway. So are slippers. They are designed for single use and great to use on the plane. Toss them when you depart. However, if you hotel still has an ashtray, you should leave it along with glasses, mugs and dishes. Artwork belongs to the hotel too. Don’t take it or any other décor, including furniture.
