Naples on a Budget
Jumping dolphin by Steven Skelley
Naples on a Budget
Naples, Florida, USA
The Gulf Coast paradise with excellent accommodations and attractions for every vacation budget
by Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong
Naples, Florida has a reputation as a playground for the wealthy. Twenty, thirty and forty-thousand square foot homes line the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. Tour guides gladly point out the gated communities where Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg reportedly have homes. What people may not know is that this Gulf Coast paradise has excellent accommodations and attractions for every vacation budget.
Here are our picks for Naples On A Budget!
Tamiami Trail (pronounced tammee-amee) is the main road running parallel to the Gulf of Mexico coastline. It connects many of Naples tourist attractions and accommodations and it is a great place to start your Naples adventure.
Accommodations:
The Gulfcoast Inn is a great find for those on a budget. Located about halfway between North Naples and Old Naples, it offers an excellent starting point for your vacation day trips.
We asked J.J. Dinunzio, Office Manager of The Gulfcoast Inn, what makes it unique. He said, "The Gulfcoast Inn is the classic Florida place to have fun and relax. Close to everything. Our guests have always commented on the friendly and helpful team members, as well as the great pool area."
The Gulfcoast Inn has a large, heated swimming pool in a very tropically decorated courtyard. Harold’s Place poolside tiki bar offers both drinks and food. Judging from the number of people enjoying lunch and cocktails there during our visit, it seemed to be a very popular place.
The Gulfcoast Inn’s Best Deal In Naples package includes –
• Two nights accommodations
• Dinner for two people on one night at either Fujiyama Steakhouse or Noodles Italian restaurant
• One cocktail or beverage each for two people
• Continental breakfast
This package is just $199 + tax. Dinner can not be used on New Years Eve, Valentines Day or Easter.
We enjoyed this package. Our poolside room was comfortable, clean and well equipped.
For our dinner, we chose Fujiyama Steakhouse on the hotel grounds. The dinner was one of the best we have had anywhere in Naples and the tableside chefs were entertaining for diners of all ages. There is a good reason Fujiyama Steakhouse has won awards for best Asian cuisine in Naples!
Gulfcoast Inn
2555 Tamiami Trail N
Naples, FL 34103
239-261-6046
800-330-0046
gulfcoastinnnaples.com
[email protected]
Fujiyama Steakhouse
2555 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL 34103-4408
239-261-4332
www.naplesfujiyama.com/
Things to see and do –
Naples Beaches
Naples has miles of Gulf Coast beaches for travelers to enjoy. Beach parking, changing rooms, restrooms and snack shops are available at numerous parks beachside. Metered street parking is available on many of the beach access points The Naples Pier is a favorite tourist spot. People gather each and every night to applaud the beauty of the Gulf Coast sunsets. The beach at the Naples Pier has restrooms, a snack bar, sand volleyball courts and metered parking. Other beaches include Vanderbilt Beach Park, Lowdermilk Beach Park, North Gulfshore Boulevard Beach and Clam Pass Beach Park. Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park offers beautiful beaches with beachside picnic tables. It is located just north of Clam Pass in North Naples. For more information on Naples beaches, visitwww.naples-florida.com/beach.htm
Naples Zoo
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is situated in a forty-three acre botanical gardens that opened in 1919! Not only can guests view dozens of exotic animals and even feed giraffes, they can enjoy multiple daily presentations including –
• Alligator Bay Feeding
• Meet the Keeper Series,
• Jungle Larry and Safari Jane’s Snakes Alive!
We especially enjoyed the Primate Expedition Cruise where we boarded a boat and a guide cruised us alongside islands inhabited by monkeys, lemurs, and apes.
Admission is $19.95 for adults. $12.95 for ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted for free.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
1590 Goodlette Rd
Naples Florida 34102
239-262-5409
napleszoo.com
Naples Trolley Tours
The Naples Trolley runs seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. It is ahop-on, hop-off tour that allows guests to explore Naples sights and then reboard at their convenience for more adventures. The trolley drivers are knowledgeable of Naples’ history, attractions, celebrities and folklore. Our driver was not only knowledgeable, he was actually funny. We enjoyed our tour and we were able to spot the places we wanted to return to later.
Naples Trolley Tours
1010 6th Avenue South
Naples, FL 34102
239-262-1914
naplestrolleytours.com/
Riverwalk Tin City
If you like shopping and riverside dining, you’ll love the unique Riverwalk Tin City. Located on the Gordon River in Old Naples, Tin City opened in the 1940s as a working dock and factory. In the 1970s, it was transformed into a quaint shopping and dining facility with rustic seaside décor.
1200 5th Avenue South
Naples FL 34102
239-263-2734
www.riverwalktincity.com/
Fifth Avenue South
Located in the heart of Old Naples, Fifth Avenue South is the area’s famous upscale dining and shopping center. It’s a great place for an after-sunset stroll past fashionable shops, art galleries and European bistros.
Naples Princess Dinner Cruise
Guests of the Naples Princess Dinner Cruise experience “spectacular homes, breathtaking sites and natural beauty of Naples Bay and Port Royal.” The cost is $55.95 for Adults and $27.95 for Children - Ages 3 to 11. During our cruise, Tony Avalon offered his show The Sounds of Sinatra while guests enjoyed drinks from two bars and food at the ship’s buffet. At sunset, may guests took their cameras to the open decks for a chance to photograph the perfect sunset.
Naples Princess Dinner Cruise
550 Port O Call Way
Naples, FL 34102
239-649-2275
www.naplesprincesscruises.com
The Dolphin Explorer Cruise
About thirty minutes south of Naples is the gorgeous gem called Marco Island. It has some of the most beautiful beaches Florida has to offer. It also has The Dolphin Explorer Cruise which may be one of the most enjoyable and educational things we experienced in southwest Florida.
Chris Desmond is a Master Mariner who is also the Founder & Director of the 10,000 Islands Dolphins Project. He serves on the Advisory Committee of International Eco-Tourism Society. Since 2006, Chris has scientifically studied “the abundance, distribution, movement, association patterns and behavior of bottlenose dolphins of Southwest Florida.”
Chris and his assistants take guests through the Gulf of Mexico and backwater estuaries to observe marine life in an “up close and personal experience.” Guests are shown photos of local dolphins which can be identified by their unique dorsal fins. The boat was filled with squeals of children’s laughter and excitement as guests of all ages sighted various identified dolphins. Several times, dolphins followed our boat and jumped high out of the water displaying an acrobatic show that everyone enjoyed and photographed.
We highly recommend The Dolphin Explorer Cruise!
The Dolphin Explorer Cruise
239-642-6899
E-mail [email protected]
Located at Marco River Marina
951 Bald Eagle Dr
Marco Island, FL 34145
www.dolphin-study.com/Home.htm
Parks
Naples has a variety of parks to enjoy free of charge. You can find a list of parks and their amenities at www.naples-florida.com/parks.htm
Conclusion:
Naples, Florida is an upscale community with a history as a playground for the wealthy but it is also a great place to vacation for travelers on any budget.
Watch our video about Naples On A Budget below.
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2011 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: [email protected]
Keywords: Naples, FL, travel, Gulfcoast Inn, Naples Zoo, Dolphin Explorer, Naples Dinner Cruise, Riverwalk Tin City, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong,
Naples, Florida, USA
The Gulf Coast paradise with excellent accommodations and attractions for every vacation budget
by Steven Skelley & Thomas Routzong
Naples, Florida has a reputation as a playground for the wealthy. Twenty, thirty and forty-thousand square foot homes line the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. Tour guides gladly point out the gated communities where Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg reportedly have homes. What people may not know is that this Gulf Coast paradise has excellent accommodations and attractions for every vacation budget.
Here are our picks for Naples On A Budget!
Tamiami Trail (pronounced tammee-amee) is the main road running parallel to the Gulf of Mexico coastline. It connects many of Naples tourist attractions and accommodations and it is a great place to start your Naples adventure.
Accommodations:
The Gulfcoast Inn is a great find for those on a budget. Located about halfway between North Naples and Old Naples, it offers an excellent starting point for your vacation day trips.
We asked J.J. Dinunzio, Office Manager of The Gulfcoast Inn, what makes it unique. He said, "The Gulfcoast Inn is the classic Florida place to have fun and relax. Close to everything. Our guests have always commented on the friendly and helpful team members, as well as the great pool area."
The Gulfcoast Inn has a large, heated swimming pool in a very tropically decorated courtyard. Harold’s Place poolside tiki bar offers both drinks and food. Judging from the number of people enjoying lunch and cocktails there during our visit, it seemed to be a very popular place.
The Gulfcoast Inn’s Best Deal In Naples package includes –
• Two nights accommodations
• Dinner for two people on one night at either Fujiyama Steakhouse or Noodles Italian restaurant
• One cocktail or beverage each for two people
• Continental breakfast
This package is just $199 + tax. Dinner can not be used on New Years Eve, Valentines Day or Easter.
We enjoyed this package. Our poolside room was comfortable, clean and well equipped.
For our dinner, we chose Fujiyama Steakhouse on the hotel grounds. The dinner was one of the best we have had anywhere in Naples and the tableside chefs were entertaining for diners of all ages. There is a good reason Fujiyama Steakhouse has won awards for best Asian cuisine in Naples!
Gulfcoast Inn
2555 Tamiami Trail N
Naples, FL 34103
239-261-6046
800-330-0046
gulfcoastinnnaples.com
[email protected]
Fujiyama Steakhouse
2555 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL 34103-4408
239-261-4332
www.naplesfujiyama.com/
Things to see and do –
Naples Beaches
Naples has miles of Gulf Coast beaches for travelers to enjoy. Beach parking, changing rooms, restrooms and snack shops are available at numerous parks beachside. Metered street parking is available on many of the beach access points The Naples Pier is a favorite tourist spot. People gather each and every night to applaud the beauty of the Gulf Coast sunsets. The beach at the Naples Pier has restrooms, a snack bar, sand volleyball courts and metered parking. Other beaches include Vanderbilt Beach Park, Lowdermilk Beach Park, North Gulfshore Boulevard Beach and Clam Pass Beach Park. Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park offers beautiful beaches with beachside picnic tables. It is located just north of Clam Pass in North Naples. For more information on Naples beaches, visitwww.naples-florida.com/beach.htm
Naples Zoo
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is situated in a forty-three acre botanical gardens that opened in 1919! Not only can guests view dozens of exotic animals and even feed giraffes, they can enjoy multiple daily presentations including –
• Alligator Bay Feeding
• Meet the Keeper Series,
• Jungle Larry and Safari Jane’s Snakes Alive!
We especially enjoyed the Primate Expedition Cruise where we boarded a boat and a guide cruised us alongside islands inhabited by monkeys, lemurs, and apes.
Admission is $19.95 for adults. $12.95 for ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted for free.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
1590 Goodlette Rd
Naples Florida 34102
239-262-5409
napleszoo.com
Naples Trolley Tours
The Naples Trolley runs seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. It is ahop-on, hop-off tour that allows guests to explore Naples sights and then reboard at their convenience for more adventures. The trolley drivers are knowledgeable of Naples’ history, attractions, celebrities and folklore. Our driver was not only knowledgeable, he was actually funny. We enjoyed our tour and we were able to spot the places we wanted to return to later.
Naples Trolley Tours
1010 6th Avenue South
Naples, FL 34102
239-262-1914
naplestrolleytours.com/
Riverwalk Tin City
If you like shopping and riverside dining, you’ll love the unique Riverwalk Tin City. Located on the Gordon River in Old Naples, Tin City opened in the 1940s as a working dock and factory. In the 1970s, it was transformed into a quaint shopping and dining facility with rustic seaside décor.
1200 5th Avenue South
Naples FL 34102
239-263-2734
www.riverwalktincity.com/
Fifth Avenue South
Located in the heart of Old Naples, Fifth Avenue South is the area’s famous upscale dining and shopping center. It’s a great place for an after-sunset stroll past fashionable shops, art galleries and European bistros.
Naples Princess Dinner Cruise
Guests of the Naples Princess Dinner Cruise experience “spectacular homes, breathtaking sites and natural beauty of Naples Bay and Port Royal.” The cost is $55.95 for Adults and $27.95 for Children - Ages 3 to 11. During our cruise, Tony Avalon offered his show The Sounds of Sinatra while guests enjoyed drinks from two bars and food at the ship’s buffet. At sunset, may guests took their cameras to the open decks for a chance to photograph the perfect sunset.
Naples Princess Dinner Cruise
550 Port O Call Way
Naples, FL 34102
239-649-2275
www.naplesprincesscruises.com
The Dolphin Explorer Cruise
About thirty minutes south of Naples is the gorgeous gem called Marco Island. It has some of the most beautiful beaches Florida has to offer. It also has The Dolphin Explorer Cruise which may be one of the most enjoyable and educational things we experienced in southwest Florida.
Chris Desmond is a Master Mariner who is also the Founder & Director of the 10,000 Islands Dolphins Project. He serves on the Advisory Committee of International Eco-Tourism Society. Since 2006, Chris has scientifically studied “the abundance, distribution, movement, association patterns and behavior of bottlenose dolphins of Southwest Florida.”
Chris and his assistants take guests through the Gulf of Mexico and backwater estuaries to observe marine life in an “up close and personal experience.” Guests are shown photos of local dolphins which can be identified by their unique dorsal fins. The boat was filled with squeals of children’s laughter and excitement as guests of all ages sighted various identified dolphins. Several times, dolphins followed our boat and jumped high out of the water displaying an acrobatic show that everyone enjoyed and photographed.
We highly recommend The Dolphin Explorer Cruise!
The Dolphin Explorer Cruise
239-642-6899
E-mail [email protected]
Located at Marco River Marina
951 Bald Eagle Dr
Marco Island, FL 34145
www.dolphin-study.com/Home.htm
Parks
Naples has a variety of parks to enjoy free of charge. You can find a list of parks and their amenities at www.naples-florida.com/parks.htm
Conclusion:
Naples, Florida is an upscale community with a history as a playground for the wealthy but it is also a great place to vacation for travelers on any budget.
Watch our video about Naples On A Budget below.
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2011 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: [email protected]
Keywords: Naples, FL, travel, Gulfcoast Inn, Naples Zoo, Dolphin Explorer, Naples Dinner Cruise, Riverwalk Tin City, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong,