Christmas in Miami/Naples, Florida.
- Thread starter Prophet
- Start date
Hmm whilst true that parts of Naples are upscale and have overpriced restaurants price/quality ratio. I did see quite a few, how shall I put it, down and outs and rough areas.
I did like the laid back Naples though it was beautiful and beaches some of the best in Florida.
Just hope you got the ESTA before the 14 bucks charge....
I renewed mine start of the month.
Last edited:
Hmm whilst true that parts of Naples are upscale and have overpriced restaurants price/quality ratio. I did see quite a few, how shall I put it, down and outs and rough areas.
I did like the laid back Naples though it was beautiful and beaches some of the best in Florida.
Just hope you got the ESTA before the 14 bucks charge....
I renewed mine start of the month.
There are very few down and out areas to Naples? You sure you went to Naples? Yes Fort Myers has bad parts, but Naples for the most part and we are talking 95% here is very very upscale. More golf courses than anywhere else in the world, more upscale shopping than anywhere I've been too, and more cleanliness than anywhere I've been too also. http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jun/15/forbes-report-wealthy-fond-moving-collier-county/
Also resturant prices are the same if not cheaper than everywhere else.. 5th Av South (outrageously upscale), you can grab a meal for two with a bottle of wine for $30 bucks.. Tell me anywhere in England where you can sit down for a meal for two with a bottle of wine for 20quid ?
Last edited:
I'll be landing at 5:30pm is local time then picking the rental car up. Not sure if I'll drive straight over or stay in a cheap hotel and drive the next day? What's it like driving at dusk across the US41?
I didn't! Applied last night
You'll be driving at night and won't see much on the US41. You may aswell get on the I75 and nail it.. You'll be in Naples by 8pm.
Also i recommend just getting to your destination as in Naples, having a sleep and start enjoying yourself the next day..
That sounds like a good plan.
I was thinking of getting over to Naples, spending new years etc there then maybe having a 3/4 day drive back across the state taking in all the sights.
thedoc46 - Which part of Naples to you live in? I'll be staying just off Orange Blossom Drive. Could you point me towards any must visit place in the local area? Also I'll be travelling light so a couple of decent shopping centers would be great as I plan to buy most of clothes I'll be wearing.
As sad as it sounds I've been researching where Dxter is filmed so I can visit lol.
at the last episode of season 5!
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 2,734
- Location
- Nr Colchester, Essex
Key West is a really nice place, has a Colonial / Caribbean feel. Can get overrun if there are a lot of Cruise ships in.
It's very different to the rest of Florida and you can spend a couple of days there. The drive is nice although it's about 300-400miles from Naples, hotels are also pretty pricey.
http://www.doufos.co.uk/lightroom/florida/content/index_3.html
Some photos there, end of page 3 -8.
Yes Key West is lots of fun.. My recommendation is to take a boat trip from Naples. It's 4hrs as apose to having to drive all the way down through the Everglades into Homestead, then up for a LONG and frustrating drive up US1 into Key West. It's single lane half the time with traffic lights, lots of stops, takes foreever, albeit the scenary can be nice.. There's a seven mile bridge at one stage, which was used in True Lies the movie.
Did you see my post at the end of the previous page?
thedoc46 - Which part of Naples to you live in? I'll be staying just off Orange Blossom Drive. Could you point me towards any must visit place in the local area? Also I'll be travelling light so a couple of decent shopping centers would be great as I plan to buy most of clothes I'll be wearing.
Hey Orange Peel, Orange Blossom is a nice part of town.. Right bang in the center so you can get to all parts of Naples quite easily..
OK places to visit..
Well any part that is West of US41 is probably some of the most pristine and well kept realty of the USA.. If you really want to see how the other half live, go visit Port Royal. Which is just south of Olde Naples. Get on Gordon Drive and keep heading south. There's plenty of billionaires that live down there !
3rd Street South and 5th Avenue districts are both very upscale and very nice to go visit, but be warned dining prices can be a little high as these area's cater for the wealthy. A must visit though.. Very pretty down there.
Mercato is a new shopping district that has just opened up off US41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road. They have quite a few bars that are full of Cougars
If that's you kind of thing? Younger crowds tend to head more towards places such as Pelican Larry's BUT some do make it into Blue Martini and The English Pub that are in Mercato. Remember though Naples is not a party city.. But it is a friendly one.. Its very easy to drum up some conversation with the opposite sex, especially if you are a Brit !!!For everyday best deals in shopping in Naples, just go visit Coastland Mall, you'll find some blinding deals in there, such as Ralph Lauren shirts for less than $20 if you catch a sale on. Or if you can take a small 20mile trip up north visit Coconut Point, Town Center in Estero & Miromar Outlets Both of which are around Junction 123 on I-75
Another very upscale shopping area is Waterside Shopping, which is just off Pine Ridge Rd. Though that's quite upscale and not somewhere you can go to find a deal if you know what i mean.. But its very nice to at least go visit and perhaps drink a beer in one of their bars.
For the beaches, if you can brave the current spate of cold weather we are having.. My recommendation is Lowdermill Park, Naples Pier, Clams Pass and Vanderbilt Beach Road. Naples probably has some of the finest beaches in the whole of the USA. The sand is sugar white and feels as soft as flour.
There are not many places to avoid, perhaps East Naples, can be considered the lower end of the scale, but still a lot nicer than most places you'd expect.
One thing you'll immediately notice is how friendly everybody is and everyone smiles and nods at each other when they walk past. Its just a common courtesy there. Don't be shy to talk to anyone, they are all up for a bit of banter, and enjoy the glorious sunshine, even though the temps are a little on the low side at the moment. They'll probably rise in a day or two..
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Feb 2008
- Posts
- 11,114
I hate you all, you lucky barstewards!
*jealous*
*jealous*
Great stuff. I'll make sure I get to the places you've mentioned
We've got some stuff planned with my mate but I'll have a few spare evenings so will want to check out the night life. Not bothered about crazy night clubs as I'd rather hit a few bars or a club that's a little nicer than the usual meat markets.
I play for a Basketball team called the Cougars so may wear the t-shirt and see if I can pull one lol.
Last edited:
nothing to add apart from
/green with envy.
Naples was my fav part of florida. Cool, chic european prices for american food. kinda hard to beat really. Of all the places in florida this was my fav. Only annoyance was friday night getting a table at any decent resto was a pain in the ***.
Restos in naples are like standard belgian restos so good quality food.
rest of Florida doesn't seem to be able to cook fresh food for some reason
/green with envy.
Naples was my fav part of florida. Cool, chic european prices for american food. kinda hard to beat really. Of all the places in florida this was my fav. Only annoyance was friday night getting a table at any decent resto was a pain in the ***.
Restos in naples are like standard belgian restos so good quality food.
rest of Florida doesn't seem to be able to cook fresh food for some reason