Naples holiday villa

This villa is just a short drive from old Naples with its beautiful beaches and excellent shopping. The villa is set in a gated community where security is paramount without being intrusive. The villa has four bedroom which slept 10 of us very comfortably and has every facility you can think of to make your holiday enjoyable. Layout is family friendly and the aspect (overlooking a lake) makes for great family barbecues after a hard day at the beach.

Within easy distance from this villa are Marco Island and Sanibel Island both worth a visit. For those more adventerous Miami is a 2/3 hour drive. While away your time spoting gators as you drive across Alligator Alley. To cool off a new water park has opened although with so much else to do we never got around to trying it out.

For shoppers the Coastland Mall is literally just down the road and has all the main shops. Out on the highway is the Gulf Coast shopping centre and a designer outlet centre. For sheer quirkness try Tin City. There is also a wonderful shell shop close by. We also discovered a great 'bling' shop called Best of Everything on Tamiami. This has the most extraordinary costume jewellery, watches and bags at knockdown prices. Not for the menfolk though. They go weak at the knees just at thought of this shop - and not in a good way.

For eating and sheer pizazz you can't beat The Cheesecake Factory down at the Coastland Mall. With its beautiful over the top ornate ceilings and cornices you could be forgiven for thinking that Michelangelo was involved somewhere. Beware though, portions are large but oh so cheap. Also give the Cracker Barrel a shot. The staff are superfriendly and their peanut brittle (which you can buy in their shop) is the best I've ever tasted.

Naples can be as exciting or as quiet as you want it to be. The beaches are gorgeous (especially down by the old wooden pier where Mary Ann servies coffee for $1) and the shopping is great. Whatever the day there is nothing like coming back to this villa, grabbing a lounger and sipping on a glass of wine. We've spent three wonderful holidays here and will certainly come back.

Marie