The Girls’ Shopping Getaway Guide to Naples
If you boast a squad of shopping enthusiasts, there’s no better place for a Florida girls’ getaway than this trendy city and Edgewater Beach Hotel.
From outlet malls to the swanky boutiques of the five-mile pedestrian friendly 5th Avenue South, the shopping experience in Naples is akin to what most women consider an adequate shoe collection: never-ending. But with a vast array of shops to navigate, it can be a bit dizzying, which is why the Edgewater Beach Hotel offers a slew of shopping packages to bring your girls’ getaway to the next level. Add in evenings spent drinking in the sophisticated cuisine and culture of this gulf-side haven, and you’ve got the makings of one memorable Florida girls’ getaway.
Where to Stay
Edgewater Beach Hotel sits right on the edge of the coast but remains central to all of Naples’s 10 (10!) shopping areas. The ideal accommodations to book here for your girls’ getaway is one of the Gulf View Suites. Featuring layouts that accommodate 4 up to 10 people, spacious living rooms, full kitchens, and multiple bathrooms, they’re more like your own personal apartment than hotel room.
Get Personal on 5th Avenue South
A day spent on 5th Avenue South, packed with upscale retail boutiques, is a must. While Edgewater Beach Hotel offers a free trolley to and from the shopping paradise regularly, one of the best ways to truly take advantage of this avenue is to book one of the resort’s shopping packages. The Personal Shopper package is a tailor-made shopping experience where you’re escorted in a limo to the famous avenue with popular style guru and author Barbara King, who provides a professional, guiding hand to help you make the most of every purchase. The Expert Makeover package includes the same tailored shopping experience, in addition to a trip to the salon for a mani-pedi, haircut, and style, as well as a professional photo shoot.
Brunch Like the Best of Them
No girls’ getaway is complete without brunch. For one of the best brunches in Naples, head to EJ’s Bayfront Café, a pint-sized eatery in Naples’s Bay Front area known for its outdoor seating on the water and mimosas made from fresh-squeezed orange juice. Head Chef Eric Becker uses fresh and local ingredients to create filling meals that will energize you for the day ahead. Try their famous banana-stuffed French toast.
Signature Scents
A new signature look requires a new signature scent. Conveniently located next door to EJ’s, Myxn Scents is more like an apothecary than a perfume store, where you select from 280 scents to create your own custom-scented body care. Your unique blend can then be included in everything from moisturizers and shampoos to perfumes, candles, and air fresheners.
The Art of Shopping Zen
Luxury design touches everything in downtown Naples’s Waterside Shops – from its store brands, like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Saks Fifth Avenue, to the open-air mall’s design that features a dramatic stone waterway cascading throughout. The system of pools and fountains are sure to refresh – and relax – even on the hottest Florida day.
Poolside Pleasures
Shopping can take a lot of out you, so snag one of the plush chaise lounges at one of Edgewater’s two outdoor heated swimming pools and kick back with a drink from the Pool Bar, open 11 a.m. until sunset. A comprehensive cocktail list includes everything from fresh-pressed margaritas and frozen drinks to flavored mojitos and handcrafted elixirs, like the signature Sunset Lemonade.
Trendy Downtown Shopping
Mercato is a brand-new downtown plaza home to 20 retailers, 12 restaurants, a full-size theater, and a green that hosts movies and open-air concerts. With everything so central, it’s easy to plan a night on the town or get in early to take advantage of happy hour specials and deals.
Gulf-Front Dinner
For dinner and a show, reserve a table for 7 p.m. on the outdoor terrace at Coast, Edgewater Beach Hotel’s signature restaurant. It’s known for its delicious grouper specials (which are always inventive – one day might come dressed in curry; the next, over kaffir lime risotto) and sapphire sunset views over the gulf.
