LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort

Locate at the water's edge in Naples Florida is the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, this luxury resort offers a private, white sand beach, full-service spa and rooms with flat-screen TVs. A stay here also includes access to the private LaPlaya Golf Club, located a few miles away.

Although the rooms at LaPlaya are spacious, if for some reason you feel you need more room, there are 8 suites available in the original building. These suites are on the ground floor and, when you walk out the sliding glass doors you are immediately on the beach. There is usually a waiting list for these rooms.

We were fortunate to have a room with a private balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, which provided some romantic sunsets. All rooms feature a fully-stocked minibar and flat-screen TV. Complimentary Internet service lets you keep up with what's going on in the rest of the world. Our bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub/shower combination which provided soothing relief after a tough day on their world class golf course.

One of the few areas the public has access to at this private resort is Baleen, LaPlaya's on property restaurant. Baleen is very popular in Naples and it is hard to get a table on a weekend night during "the season." After sampling their food, I know why. The Lobster Risotto was fantastic; plenty of lobster and the risotto was perfect with its forest mushrooms, fennel and fresh truffle sauce. One thing that's a must try is their key lime pie with vanilla/orange whipped cream. It creates a very unique taste. If you're looking for something to just nibble on, you can order from the Baleen Bar. Be sure to try the lobster wontons or tropical nachos, both are house specialties.

With the golf course being located off property, this place is all about the beach; after all, LaPlaya is situated on some prime beachfront real estate. While you're soaking up the rays on the beach, feel free to hail one of LaPlaya's beach butlers. These folks are dedicated attendants who will bring you everything from cold drinks to towels. Guests of the resort have a myriad of water sport equipment at their disposal for rental: bodyboards, floats, kayaks, pedal boats, Catamaran sailboats, wave runners, and parasailing. If you want to keep the sand out of your feet, the hotel also has 3 outdoor pools and a Jacuzzi.

If working out is your thing during vacation, check out the 4,500-square-foot fitness center which includes an upstairs studio with a wood floor, BOSE music system, and windows overlooking the pools. The first floor has all the latest weight machines and free weights.

In case you haven't had enough relaxation during your stay at LaPlaya, visit SpaTerre and pamper yourself with a massage, body wrap or aromatherapy treatment. There's also 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space that can accommodate up to 500 guests; perfect for corporate getaways and weddings. The conference center has 6 meeting rooms and high-speed Internet access is available. The spectacular LaPlaya Golf Club is a great way to incentivize workers and impress new clients.

Our stay at LaPlaya was quite memorable. Great accommodations, great food, an outstanding location and fantastic golf. Can life get any better? For more information on LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, visit them online at www.laplayaresort.com.