We stayed at LaPlaya for a week in December, over the Christmas break.

Our first impressions were really good - the valet service was incredibly efficient and check-in was equally good. We had a room in the beach house, with a stunning view out to the beach, and it was a good size, with two lovely comfortable beds. The only drawbacks of the room were that the sound-proofing was practically non-existent (we had to put our iPod on to drown out the sound of the family in the adjoining room) and the air conditioning was very noisy. Those small irritations aside, the room was amazing.

The day we arrived was bright and sunny and so after we'd unpacked we headed down to the beach for the last hour or so of daylight. We were greeted by Tyler, who set us up with a couple of loungers and explained how the beach crew and the beach butlers work. He was so friendly and welcoming, it was a great start to our stay!

We ate most nights in Baleen, which was a wonderful experience every time. The wine list is amazing - there's a good range of prices and so much choice. The food in Baleen was first class, although a little pricey, and the service was brilliant (special thanks to William, who always took time to come over and speak to us even when he wasn't serving our table). On Christmas night there was a special buffet, which was amazing. There were so many things to choose from, including a hot carvery, fish, turkey, chilled seafood, vegetables, cheeses and desserts, and it was obvious that so much thought had gone into it. It was a fabulous evening! We also ate our breakfasts in Baleen and again, the food was always of the highest quality.

When we were staying on the beach we ate lunch at the Tiki Bar, which was also great, although for some reason you have to charge your food and drink to your room instead of paying cash. I can especially recommend the beer battered fries - they are amazing!

We were really lucky with the weather and spent all bar two of our days on the beach. The service on the beach was exceptional. You turn up, give them your room number and then the guys would set you up with your loungers, a parasol, a small table and towels. Oh, and a flag. During the day, whenever you want something, all you have to do is raise your flag and someone from the beach butler crew will come over and take your order. For someone from the UK, where sadly customer service isn't always a priority, this was total bliss!

The beach itself is beautiful. People on here have raved about the sunsets, and they more than lived up to expectations. We were also lucky enough to see dolphins, pelicans and other sea birds and even stingrays while we were there. There are canoes and pedaloes available to hire at the beach, for anyone who's feeling energetic!

There was one day when it was too cool to sit on the beach and so, because we didn't know the area very well, we went to visit the concierge, Gail, to get some recommendations. Gail was so helpful, and took plenty of time going through the various places nearby, including giving us maps and directions. She also came into her own when it came to organising a transfer for us to Miami Airport. We had initially planned to drive there but had heard so many horror stories that we took the decision to drop our rental car off in Naples and get a taxi transfer to Miami instead. Gail not only organised this for us but also took the time to ring the driver on the day to make sure that he'd picked us up safely. She really went the extra mile and it was so appreciated!

In summary, we had an amazing week here and even though we've been back in England for over a month, I still miss the place and would go back in a heartbeat! I would say though, that it's not necessarily for everyone. If you're looking for somewhere in the heart of the action, it wouldn't be your thing as it's quite a way out of the centre of Naples (probably about a 15-20 minute drive). If, however, you're like me and just want somewhere on the beach to spend time chilling out, you will absolutely love it!