Naples Hotel Awarded A Spot On Coveted National List

Tripadvisor, just announced their annual Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Hotels Awards. One Naples Hotel awarded a spot on the coveted national list might just surprise you. The Inn At Pelican Bay got the 25th highest ranking in the country based on Tripadvisor reviews.

The award might surprise you because it is not one of the usual suspects when it comes to these kind of accolades. The Inn At Pelican Bay is just accross from Mercato Shops in North Naples. The award review says, "Inn at Pelican Bay stands out for its beautiful grounds, unique amenities, and personalized service."

The awards are based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings specific to each subcategory. They were all posted on Tripadvisor during a 12-month period begining on January 1, 2023.

"Our Best of the Best Hotels are marvels, acclaimed by thousands of travelers for their remarkable service, stunning design, and wealth of amenities that redefine what it means to have an exceptional hotel experience," said Dan Mitchell, vice president & general manager hotels, Tripadvisor.

The No. 1 hotel in the US is the eco-friendly Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, California .The boutique hotel has over 6,000 reviews. Guests comment on the hotel's contemporary feel, premium amenities and personalized attention from the staff. Here is a round up of the top 10.

Find the rest of the top 25, including Inn At Pelican Bay, here.

These annual awards not only rank hotls nationaly, but also internationaly. The Top Hotel in the World designation is Hotel Colline de France. It is a boutique hotel in the middle of the Brazilian mountain town of Gramado.

In the meantime, congrats to Inn at Pelican Bay for being named one of the Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Hotels Awards.

Florida has some amazing hotels, some of the best hotels in the USA, and I have been to many of them. Here in Estero I stayed at the Coconut Point Hyatt. In Naples I've been at both Ritz Carltons. The Seminole Casino Hotel in Immokalee has suites on the top floor that are just amazing.

Outside of Southwest Florida, my favorite in Orlando is The Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney. The place is so amazing you'll not even care if you make it to the park. I've stayed at the legendary Fontainebleau on Miami's South Beach, but I'd put them second behind the Junior Suites at W South Beach. That felt more like a luxury apartment that it did a hotel room.

So did any of those hotels make the top 25? No, they did not. Not that they aren't amazing in every way, but Florida is just on top of things when it comes to luxury accommodations. That's why they show up so often on these lists.  As Zach Watson, senior travel editor at U.S. News states "The 2024 Best Hotels rankings offer travelers dependable options to stay for every type of trip, balancing location, amenities and quality service to ensure an enjoyable experience."

For the second year in a row, Acqualina Resort & Residences in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, takes the No. 1 spot, setting itself apart with its oceanfront pools, memorable dining and Mediterranean-inspired decor. The beautiful hotel is located on 4.5 beachfront acres in Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach. If you're planning on a stay, maybe check your finances first. The best price I could find for 2 adults was $1,599 a night. That's for a room that doesn't even face the ocean, but, as the website states, breakfast is included. Ok, I'm going to back off on judging that price too soon. The breakfast does look absolutely amazing.

Plus, I took a look ahead to see how much number 2 on the list is charging.

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida. A legendary Miami Beach-area hotel that offers guests stellar service and unique experiences at its world-class spa ranks No. 2. Now keep in mind, we are in full season here in Florida. These are going to be some of the most expensive rates of the year. That being said, I found an oceanfront room on booking.com for $2,720 a night. That view is incredible.

Always mentioned as one of the best hotels in the country, this Orlando resort takes the number 7 spot. Perhaps what's bringing it down a notch is the construction of a residential development nearby. I did see a "construction discount" on the price, so they're definitely aware of it. It's still a Four Seasons hotel, and it's still amazing.

Rounding out the top 10 of the list is the Faena Hotel. US News states "Rooms are decorated in a modern, South American style and come outfitted with sleek wooden furnishings and colorful accents." I did find a room for $1,140 a night, but spring for the extra and get the ocean view and a balcony. Because of the hotel's location, rates will also fluctuate based on events in the area. 

The Setai Miami Beach finds itself at number 11 on the list. If you enjoy the water, you're in luck. The hotel is not just on Miami Beach, but boasts three on-site infinity pools. I did find a room for $1,080 a night, but expect double that rate if you want the ocean view. This is the ocean view.

Down a few spots, to number 17, is The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. This resort, 10 miles north of South Beach has amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. And being a Marriott hotel, likely boast some of the cool tech like the W South Beach has like automated controls of the lights, blinds, and thermostat. Best price I could find was $1,299 a night but if you know someone who works for Marriott, ask them about the hotel's "friends and family" discount. 

Finishing up their top 25 list, at number 25, is The Breakers Palm Beach, an Italian Renaissance-style resort on the coast. if you're looking for an active stay, this is where you'll find it. Two golf courses, four pools, and 10 Har-Tru tennis courts. If you'd rather relax, they have a private beach. So, if you want a top notch resort hotel on the Atlantic, but don't want Miami, here it is. There's also a lot of history, here. I did see Booking.com have a room for $1,290 a night. But again, I'm writing this in February, when rates are usually the highest. 

The full list of 25 can be found here.