NAPLES, FLA.- If someone mentioned “Fifth Avenue,” you’d naturally think of New York’s iconic thoroughfare and its famous European designer shops. You probably don’t even know about the charming “Fifth Avenue” that runs through the oldest part of this Florida vacation city where the well-heeled come to escape northern winters.

And while the real estate prices for properties lining both Fifths are exorbitant, we do see some stark differences. For instance, where New York’s Fifth Avenue is bordered by a forest of glass and concrete towers, real trees shade Naples’ lovely Fifth Avenue.

And instead of seeing hot dog vendors selling street meat like we remember from our stroll down New York’s Fifth, we are excited to find people sitting at the quaint sidewalk cafes that dominate Naples’ Fifth enjoying Italian and seafood delicacies under a starry sky.

But there is one big difference between the two avenues — Naples’ has the Inn on Fifth and New York’s doesn’t. Pity!

The landmark Inn on Fifth is one of Florida’s most desired vacation properties and equal to any of New York’s 5-star hotels in service, amenities, cuisine and luxury. It has been selected a member of the exclusive AAA Four Diamond club and one sees a fifth diamond on the horizon for this resort gem.

Left: Inn on Fifth is a Naples landmark. Middle: The room inside Inn on Fifth are modern but comfortable. Right: Club Suites offer a huge terrace and stunning views.

The Inn on Fifth sits in the heart of Old Naples, just five blocks away from the city’s sugary beach and only a few steps away from the upscale dining rooms, art shops and nightlife for which this area of Naples has become famous.

Fifth Avenue actually splits the Inn on Fifth into two parts — on one side of the street stands the original property, which opened in 1998, while on the opposite side sits the new Club Level wing, which opened in 2012 and helped the Inn earn international acclaim, which is why we hear so many foreign tongues being spoken at reception.

Walking into the handsome lobby of the original property is like being welcomed to a friend’s house. The staff offers a warm Florida hello and lavishes guests with a level of service that would not look out of place at a grand European hotel.

Inn on Fifth owner Philip McCabe wouldn’t have it any other way.

Well known in these parts for his successes in the hotel and restaurant business, McCabe, who likes to indulge in rare scotches, we hear, is the toast of the town thanks to his Inn on Fifth Club Level upgrade, which cost an estimated $18 million (U.S.). And to think, McCabe’s first foray into the hotel business back in his native New England only cost him $25,000!

A former CIA agent, McCabe will never give up his secret to success but his triumphs in the hospitably business have been many. Some of the best-known restaurants in Florida, like Windows on the Water, and McCabe Brothers Steak House were opened by McCabe and now hold “landmark” status within the state.

But nothing can match what McCabe has created at the Inn on Fifth.

Recently named a Forbes Travel Guide “Recommended Hotel,” the original building boasts 87 elegant rooms and a spa that ranks among the best in the southern U.S. The Spa on Fifth, as it’s known, relies heavily on Asian influences and the treatments, delivered by skilled therapists, include so many tropical accents that you’d be excused for thinking you’ve been transported to Thailand.

The main building also houses Avenue 5 and Truluck’s, an upscale seafood and steakhouse. Both have become two of the most popular rooms on Fifth Avenue, a street crowded with fine dining options.

However, the Club Level Suites across the street have taken Inn on Fifth to a new level of luxury that will be hard to match for anyone tempted to challenge McCabe as Florida’s top hotelier.

Above: Inn on Fifth is just a few blocks away from Naples

The three-storey, 40,000-square-foot Club Level building welcomes guests with an opulent marble and wrought-iron entrance that complements the older building’s more traditional design.

Guests are whisked to a reception centre on the upper floor that also doubles as a club lounge — one of the best we’ve ever experienced, by the way.

A congenial staff member accompanies guests to their spacious suites — mine was highlighted by an oversized Juliet balcony overlooking Fifth Avenue and the original property and featured upscale patio furniture and enough space to hold a small reception.

The 32 plush suites in the Club Level offer stylish, comfortable furniture that invite guests to curl up with a good book, and come wrapped in a contemporary design that doesn’t overwhelm. Complimentary Wi-Fi, iPod dock stations and state-of-the-art flat screen televisions make these rooms the perfect retreat for modern travellers. The bathrooms come stuffed with upscale beauty products and the luxurious bedding makes it hard for guests to get out of bed each morning.

Club Floor staff are exceptional — some of the best we’ve ever experienced. And between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. each evening, the lounge becomes a fine dining spot with high-end wines and spirits plus fist-sized shrimp cocktails and canapés. It’s the perfect oasis for weary travellers too tired to go out for dinner.

Because the Naples area is blessed with some of the best championship golf courses in the state, including the world-renowned TPC at Treviso Bay, the Inn on Fifth wisely partnered with them and now offers some great “stay and play” packages.

But getting guests to leave the Inn on Fifth for any reason is a challenge because this is one hotel that is a destination.