Florida is one of the country’s ultimate golf destinations, with numerous areas boasting top-tier golf, but I’ve always had a special spot in my heart for Naples, on the sunny southwest Gulf Coast. My husband worked at a golf club there for two winter seasons early in our relationship, and I used to relish the opportunity to escape the cold New York winter for a few days to visit him in paradise-like temperatures.
Fall is also a great time to visit the area, as it receives very little rain, and October and November temperatures average in the low- to mid-80s. With a charming downtown, great restaurants and an abundance of beachfront resorts, it’s also the perfect place for a romantic golf getaway. Here’s how you can take your trip for less than $2,500.
From East Coast airports like JFK and BOS, you can fly direct to the Fort Myers airport, RSW (which is about a half-hour drive to Naples), for as low as $213. From a West Coast destination like LAX, you’re looking at about $300 per person — plus a layover. From Chicago, Spirit Airlines will get you there for an incredible $158 (price via Kayak).
So let’s say you can expect to spend around $250 per person, for a total of $500 in airfare.
Since the RSW airport is still a bit of a drive from Naples proper, renting a car is a good idea. A midsize SUV from Budget will only set you back $133 (price via Kayak) for a long weekend — a pretty smokin’ deal if you ask me!
Total spend: $500 + $133 = $633
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There are so many beautiful places to stay in Naples, but I’m partial to the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Formerly operated by Waldorf Astoria, the resort has a complimentary shuttle to a beautiful white-sand beach, a nice pool area, and is perfectly situated about six miles north of Naples’ ultra-fun 5th Avenue shopping and restaurant district.
At $260/night (via Expedia) plus a $37 daily resort fee, a three-night stay will cost you $892. You can definitely save a few hundred dollars by staying elsewhere, but the Naples Grande sets a very romantic tone.
Total spend: $633 + $892 = $1,525
You can’t visit Naples without teeing it up at the home of the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship and the PGA Tour’s QBE Shootout: Tiburon. Two Greg Norman-designed courses await you there, and green fees are a pretty reasonable $149/person.
A great Day 2 option is Lely Resort Golf and Country Club, where the Flamingo Island course features a showstopper par 4 that is completely surrounded by water. The best part? Green fees start at $59.
Total green fee spend: $416
Total spend: $1,525 + $416 = $1,941
The 5th Avenue dining scene is a must when in Naples, and it’s hard to go wrong. I also love Riverwalk in Tin City, which inexplicably has just three stars on Yelp, but I recall it as having the best fried calamari and pesto aioli dipping sauce I’ve ever tasted. It’s also near Shane’s Cabana Bar (visible in this story’s lead photo) — a great place for a pre- or post-meal beverage.
You have plenty of room left in your budget for some splurgy dinners, so give this breakdown a try:
Day 1 arrival dinner: $80
Day 2 golf course lunch: $50
Day 2 splurgy dinner: $150
Day 3 golf course lunch: $50
Day 3 splurgy dinner: $150
Miscellaneous breakfasts and snacks: $70
Total dining spend: $550
Total spend: $1,941 + $550 = $2,491
And there you have it! A fab, three-night, two day golf trip for two in Naples, Fla. for under $2,500! Ready to book? Happy travels!
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