Naples, FL Travel Guide: Best Hotels & Things to Do

This Naples Florida Travel Guide wouldn’t be complete without a good beach day.

The beaches are one of the biggest reasons to visit Naples.

You can spend a lot of money on activities in Florida, but a beach day can still be one of the best days of the trip.

Naples has miles of Gulf Coast beaches where you can swim, walk, look for shells, watch the sunset, or simply spend a few hours doing nothing.

Before heading out, check parking availability and fees. Beach parking can be one of those little vacation expenses that adds up if you’re going every day.

I also wouldn’t assume you have to visit the same beach for the entire trip. If you have a rental car, explore a few different areas and decide which one you like best.

And don’t overlook sunset. You don’t have to book an excursion every evening to have something memorable to do.

I like a beach vacation, but I don’t necessarily want to sit on the beach every day.

Naples gives you plenty of other choices.

You can explore Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, spend time shopping, take a boat or wildlife tour, visit gardens and nature areas, or simply find a restaurant and enjoy a slower afternoon.

Boat tours are especially worth comparing in Southwest Florida. Depending on the trip you choose, you may find dolphin-watching, sunset cruises, shelling trips, fishing charters, and other ways to get out on the water.

Before booking an excursion, look at how long it lasts, what’s included, where it departs, and the cancellation policy.

A $10 cheaper tour isn’t necessarily a better deal if another gives you more time on the water or includes something you’d otherwise pay extra for.

You can compare more ideas on our Excursions page.

Naples has plenty of restaurants, but eating out for every meal can become a major part of your vacation budget.

I would rather save money on some meals and have room in the budget for the restaurants I really want to try.

Look for happy hours, early dining specials, lunch menus, prix-fixe options, and restaurants away from the most expensive tourist locations.

If your hotel includes breakfast, take advantage of it. If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, even having breakfast or lunch at your rental can make a noticeable difference over a week.

Our Restaurant Deals page has more ideas for spending less when eating out, while the Dining Guide focuses more on finding good places to eat and avoiding tourist traps.

If you’re deciding between Naples and Marco Island, I wouldn’t say one is automatically better.

They offer different vacation experiences.

Naples gives you a larger selection of restaurants, shopping, hotels, and things to do. Marco Island can feel more like a traditional beach getaway, especially if your priority is spending time near the Gulf and getting out on the water.

You also don’t necessarily have to choose only one.

If you’re staying in Southwest Florida for several days and have a car, Naples and Marco Island are close enough that you can visit both.

I would compare accommodations in each destination before booking. Sometimes the hotel or vacation-rental prices may help make the decision for you.

Visit our Marco Island Travel Guide if you’re considering both.

Whether you need a rental car depends on where you’re staying and what you plan to do.

If you’re staying in a walkable area and mostly want restaurants, shopping, and the beach, you may not need to drive constantly.

But if you want to explore more of Southwest Florida, visit Marco Island, try different beaches, or take excursions departing from other areas, having a car can make the trip much easier.

Compare the total cost before deciding.

The rental rate is only part of it. Add airport fees, hotel parking, gas, tolls, and any other charges.

On the other hand, relying on rideshares for an entire vacation can add up too.

Check our Car Rentals page and compare both options based on what you actually plan to do.

The best time to visit Naples depends on what matters most to you.

Winter is popular for a reason. Southwest Florida attracts travelers looking for warm weather while much of the country is cold. But that popularity can also mean more people and higher accommodation prices.

Other times of year may offer better prices, but you’ll need to consider heat, humidity, rain, and hurricane season.

I wouldn’t choose travel dates based on hotel prices alone.

Think about the weather you want, how much you want to spend, and how comfortable you are with crowds.

Our Best Time to Visit tool can help you compare the seasonal tradeoffs before choosing your dates.

I would start by looking at the whole vacation rather than trying to save $20 on one part of it.

Compare flight dates first. Then look at hotels and vacation rentals for the same dates. If changing the trip by a day or two lowers both airfare and accommodations, that can make a much bigger difference than finding one small discount.

I would also decide which activities are actually important before booking everything.

You don’t need a paid excursion every day.

Mix beach days and free or inexpensive activities with one or two experiences you really want to do.

The same goes for restaurants. Save on some meals so you can spend more on the ones you’re excited about.

Use the Trip Cost Calculator before booking to see what airfare, accommodations, transportation, restaurants, and activities could cost together.

That’s how I prefer to look at a travel deal.

The cheapest hotel or flight doesn’t automatically make the cheapest vacation. What matters is what the entire Naples trip is going to cost and whether you’re getting the vacation you want for the money you’re spending.

That’s the philosophy behind this Naples Florida Travel Guide — help you enjoy Naples without overspending.