Florida's sweet deals

Now's the time to book ritzy rooms at affordable prices along the southern beaches of the Sunshine State.

Powdery sand, fine and white as sifted sugar. Tall palm trees yielding to the warm Gulf breeze. Ladylike impatiens and husky red geraniums lifting toward the morning sun. Warm turquoise water kissing your toes as you stand on the beach and study the waves. And at dusk, sunsets painted lavender, rose, and orangy red.

Sweet pleasures like these are swept away as Old Man Winter begins to bluster his way across the country. "Oh, for a bit of summer," you sigh as you start to fold the beach towels and store the buckets and shovels.

Well, guess what? We get the winter doldrums too. Not content to wait for the warm weather to return, we got out the maps and started dreaming. We searched for a place of endless summer and found it right here in the South.

Now, here I am in Naples, Florida, that jewel of the western shore, basking in the sun and enjoying a respite from winter's first bite. It's sheer bliss.

November is a perfect time to visit South Florida. Hotel rates hit rock bottom in the summer, then soar after Christmas when sun-- seeking snowbirds fly south. But from October through mid-December, during what hoteliers here call the shoulder season, rates are lower, sometimes dramatically so.

Even in glamorous Naples, where private jets fill the skies and residents are among the richest in the country, there are deals to be found. And, because the shore is lined with so many big-name properties, your odds of finding favorable rates may actually increase.

After doing some research, I selected The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, which offers a special weekday rate of $139 (during high season, prices top out at $360). This family-owned resort, the city's first, hugs the white-sand shores of the Gulf and rambles across 125 acres of prime real estate. Opened in 1946, it now features a fun assortment of colorful buildings, the city's oldest golf course, and a brand-new spa.

My standard room is spacious and comfortable, with bright tropical colors and wicker furniture. Guests marvel at the large walk-in closets, left over from the days when families packed their belongings and came for months on end. But best of all, my room is just a stone's throw from miles of white sandy beach.

I spend my days shopping in the glitzy stores on Third Street in Old Naples and dining in street cafes and fine restaurants. While lunching al fresco on veal scaloppine at Trios Italian Restaurant, I meet an old classmate of Bobby Kennedy's and talk politics for hours. And though I love the art galleries and specialty shops, one of my favorites turns out to be a store featuring faux jewels called I'll Never Tell.

At the end of each day, I head to the Naples Fishing Pier to watch the sun sink into the Gulf. Hundreds of people join me, spreading blankets along the soft sands just before dusk. When the fading sun plunges into the ocean, the crowd claps joyously. I join in the applause, cheering Mother Nature's solar spectacular and my own ability to live like a queen in this glamorous enclave.

TEN FOR LESS

Here's our philosophy: Why pay more when you can pay less? Our objective is to stay at the best hotels for the lowest prices.

We encourage you to compare the prices for the different seasons. Generally speaking, shoulder season runs October through midDecember and April through May, high season runs January through March, and low season runs June through September (call for specific dates). And before you go, inquire about special rates. You might just find a bargain out there.

We polled our staff and asked them to dream a little. Where would they go in Florida for a special winter retreat? Here's what they said.

The Breakers Palm Beach

Super luxurious five-star, five-diamond oceanfront resort. On-site amenities include a spa, golf, exclusive shopping, and scuba diving. Shoulder: $405-$840. High: $465$1,000. Low: $260-$550. One South County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480; 1-800-8333141 or www.thebreakers. com.

Doral Goff Resort and Spa, Miami

Full-service resort with European-style spa and five golf courses, including the wicked Blue Monster. Shoulder: $259-$319. High: $339-$399. Low: $155-$205. Special (September 20-December 31): Fall Golf Package starting at $200. 4400 NW. 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33178-2192; (305) 5922000 or www.doralresort.com.

Edgewater Beach Hotel, Naples

This all-suites hotel cozies right up to the water's edge for great views. Shoulder: $170-$550. High: $290-$875. Low: $145$450. 1901 Gulf Shore Blvd. North, Naples, FL 34102; 1-800-821-0196 or www edge waternaples.com.

Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco Island

This Gulf front hotel specializes in watersports, from fishing to parasailing. Shoulder: $179-$289. High: $309-$439. Low: $139$239. 560 South Collier Blvd., Marco Island, FL 34145; (941) 394-5000.

Lago Mar Resort and Club, Fort Lauderdale

This family-owned resort in the exclusive Harbor Beach neighborhood features tennis courts and beach volleyball. Shoulder: $125$480. High: $195-$685. Low: $115-$380. 1700 South Ocean Lane, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, (954) 523-6511, toll free 1-877524-6627, or www lagomar. com.