Naples vs Sarasota

[act1980]

Hi all,

We will be flying into Miami and are looking to spend 2 nights on the Gulf coast somewhere as we have only ever stayed on the Atlantic side.

I can't decide if we should stay 1 night in Naples and 1 night in Sarasota or spend 2 nights in either place? We would like to walk around and see the place as we don't intend to spend a huge amount of time on the beach.

We will land in Miami around 3.15pm and by the time we have gone through immigration, got our bags and picked up our rental car I would imagine we would be leaving the airport around 5pm.

The drive to Naples is 2 hours therefore we would arrive at 7pm so we wouldn't really see much that day as we will be tired from travelling.

So, if we only stay 1 night in Naples will we have time to see much the following day?

The reason I am also considering Sarasota is because it won the Tripadvisors travellers choice award for beach and sun.

I appreciate any help.

Thanks

 

[Kath2003]

Sarasoa is overrated. You want to go to Fort Myers. Much quieter; beautiful beaches. Not much further than Naples. You will definitely need at least two nights (personally I'd stay there for two weeks...).

 

[Claireybear]

We love Sarasota - we stay at the Tropical Shores on Siesta Key which is beautiful!! Would definitely recommend!

 

[JulieSharp]

Hi, we have stayed at both places and but preferred Naples to Sarasota. We stayed at the Registry Resort which was very plush. Lovely beaches and shopping malls. I don't remember much about Sarasota, only plenty of art gallery shops.

 

[dbriggsq]

I would go for Sarasota - fantastic beaches all along the barrier islands, lovely restaurants, great shopping at St Armand's Circle, some historic sites and buildings and interesting boat trips.

 

[penlanspice]

We're going down to Sarasota for 3 nights as our friend has just moved there. Anyone recommend anything to see/do?

 

[Eliza32]

I'd go for 2 nights in Naples and 2 nights in Fort Myers. We spent 2 weeks based at Fort Myers and there was loads to do, Naples is very pretty though. Not much to Sarasota for me if you don't want the beach.

 

[act1980]

Thanks for all of the replies.

Can I ask what the best areas to stay in are? I have looked at the Naples Bay Resort but thats it so far

 

[Princess in Waiting]

Naples in beautiful! I was last there 10 years ago but it was a lovely place! Some history mixed with shopping and of course the beaches! It was really just a very beautiful place!! Passed through Sarasota but I would choose Naples, or even Fort Myers in a heart beat over Sarasota!

 

[ford family]

We're going down to Sarasota for 3 nights as our friend has just moved there. Anyone recommend anything to see/do?

Ringling Museum, winter home of the circus founder with an amazing bayside house, art gallery, circus museum and model circus.
Mote Aquarium, dolphins, manatees, turtles and more. They do a "safari" where you go out in a boat, tour the bay and then they use a net to catch all sorts of sea creatures, describe them, display them in tank then put them back into the bay.
Myakka State Park, "Old Florida", 'gators, birds, wild hogs, airboat tours, tram tour, kayaking, treetop walkway, forest trails.

ford family