I stayed at the Marriott Sanibel Harbor Resort over the Fourth of July weekend. I had originally…read morehoped to stay in the main tower, but I'm actually glad I ended up in the Captiva Tower. It was noticeably quieter, the pool felt cleaner, and there was much less hustle and bustle. The room itself was comfortable and met my expectations. The beds were comfortable, the pillows were just right, and the view was enjoyable. One word of caution: the shower can get pretty slippery, so be careful. The resort offers a complimentary welcome drink, but I wouldn't really call it complimentary since there's a mandatory $35 daily resort fee that covers various amenities, many of which you may not even use. I also don't drink alcohol, so it wasn't much of a perk for me. I did take advantage of the 24-hour fitness center and was pleasantly surprised. There was a good variety of equipment, the treadmills worked well, and they provided complimentary towels, water, and even apples. My only criticism is that the gym could use a more thorough cleaning. One thing to know before booking is that this resort doesn't have a beach. That wasn't a dealbreaker for me because the pool was very nice. My mother and I drove to Sanibel Beach, which was only about 10-15 minutes away. However, parking was difficult to find, it costs $5 per hour, and the mosquitoes were relentless. Unless you're set on visiting the island, I'd recommend relaxing at the resort instead. The elevators worked well, and every staff member I interacted with was friendly and professional. Overall, there wasn't anything particularly spectacular about this resort, but it provided a relaxing and enjoyable Fourth of July getaway for my family. I would recommend it to others. Personally, I probably wouldn't stay here again, although I wouldn't hesitate if it were my only option.

After a two and a half hour drive from Coral Springs FL, we stopped for a break before entering the…read morecauseway to Sanibel Island. There was no obvious parking, but the valets at the entrance told us parking was free for a slight tip (lol). We had a leisurely lunch outside on the balcony overlooking the swimming pool. Courtside Steakhouse had a varied menu. Everything we tried was just okay, not super outstanding, or memorable, but a nice stop from traffic.

This is a long read...but worth it…read more In 1974 my loving, stoic and incredibly generous grandparents stayed at the Holiday Inn on Sanibel Island, Florida. My mother and father accompanied them. As did I ....well, in utero at least. This past year my mother showed me the first waterslide that I ever went down. (while I was in her of course) and my first question was "Did I put my hands up? Back in '74 my family took a walk down the beach and encountered the very first time share property in the United states.(under the current time share model) The rustic but lavish villas have changed almost zero percent, as has the rest of this commerical free island. Buildings of four spacious units with all amenities surround a central pool and BBQ area. Within 20 minutes on monday morning of your shared week you either know everyone from years past or meet them over a noon time beer, and anyone that was a stranger before becomes part of the family in an instant. On tuesday of week 11 at 230 every year we all gather by the pool for a week 11 group photo. This year me and the brothers had fun trading barbs and Bud Light with a pack of Canadians that most likely found us as arrogant as we found them. But it was all "one love." All of the new grandkids (9 of them) got to see Sanibel for the first time and we spent most of the day tending to them and seeing that thier attention span was catered to. You may think that may bother a man of my speed but I have to say that it was quite the opposite. I don't get to see them but once a year and to be able to spend a week with them with no pressure was pure bliss for "uncle Rooney" Of course having been here on Sanibel Island since I was in utero I know that this tropical paradise is dead after dinner, as was most of us. The term "nightlife" if nonexistent. When we were juveniles the lack of activity allowed our inner felons to emerge in the form of golf cart theft. We would stake out country clubs and beachside resorts with loose carts by day ala Oceans 11 only to return at night for a deliciously illegal joy ride courtesy of an EZgo (sun roof optional). WIth Jack Daniels in tow (we were over 14 of course) we shuttled drunken minors (blondes in the front) that were also on vacay with thier parents to and from the hottest beach parties and thier respective resorts. Of course stealing golf carts at 35 would be a felony and I have no where near that much courage these days, so I was happy to bask in the sun, walk the perfect beach, try and figure out if that hot chick was speaking German or Dutch, argue with my brothers over fights and basketball, make creative cocktails, kill a hangover in a morning pool swim, and love on my ever expanding family for days on end. If I was to want to spend the rest of my life in one spot...it would no doubt be week 11 on Sanibel Island. The simplest life is sometimes the best...as long as its 85 with clear skies of course. ;-)

Careful when you rent a week from here. They work through Kenoyer Real Estate and may have rented…read moreit out from under some older people due to late payment when they were confused.

Two Fish Inn is so many things. Clean! Lovely. Quiet. Charming. Relaxing…read more We so enjoyed our stay. Our accommodations were spotless and well decorated with great little personal touches and a true feel for old Florida. It was great having a working kitchen and separate bedroom. The patio area for our room was secluded and a nice little oasis. The owners could not have been any nicer! We felt so at home. Can't wait for our next trip back.

This is such a vibe! Love this place and the thoughtful owners…read more The rooms are clean, there is a great tiki seating by the canal for our morning coffee and nightly cocktails , clean screened in heated pool and boat docks! The rooms are appointed with all you need and a quick shop to the grocery and liquor store and we were set! The gift shop is super cute and Steph is so helpful and friendly She even recommended an outing with Captain Randi and we got to see So much of the beauty in the surrounding islands. Will come back!!!

Great spot right on Monroe canal. Just a few minutes down from the inter coastal. There are a few…read morerestaurants/Bars right next door. The owner is super helpful, keeps an eye on the property. No issues with security since it is not a touristy spot. The rent is very reasonable and includes water/electric. I have had my boat there for 4.5 years and have been very pleased.

From the owner: Small marina on 1.1 acres tropical waterfront with 40ft. tiki for tenants. boat trailer storage and…read moreplenty of parking. Laundry, restrooms and shower available

Such a cute promising little place! The owners are so nice and have beach chairs and an umbrella…read moreand even a cart. The room was spacious and clean. They had great check in info. Unfortunately I did not sleep a wink here, I am a super light sleeper and unfortunately the room next to ours had a couple of baritone guys that woke up at 4:30 in the morning ughhh...the beds were not the most comfy unfortunately either adding to a bit of my suffering as well. Giving it 4 stars. I unfortunately should have gotten some earplugs after the first night. I felt like they were talking to me since their convo was so close to our headboard. Owners seemed to go above and beyond so probably unfortunately just the loud guests we were next to combined with my light sleeping tendencies!!!

This is a fantastic place hidden in plain sight on Sanibel. No, it is not on the beachfront but…read moreinstead is a hidden oasis next to and across the street from a deli, restaurant/bar and ice cream shop. This small. Independent establishment is well run and caters to all anticipated needs as part of your stay: beach chairs, beach umbrellas, a wagon to bring stuff to the beach, beach towels, some beach toys if you have kids, bikes, bike helmets and even sunscreen/bug spray if you need it! Rooms are neat and clean, ours wasn't spacious but we were outside most of the time. Each unit has an outdoor patio area with reasonable privacy, a table and two chairs. There are also other communal areas outside to relax, chat and read in the shade of the trees on the property. Would recommend this to anyone going to sanibel. Fantastic!

My wife and I had a really relaxing and peaceful visit at Periwinkle Cottages. The cottage itself…read morewas cool, clean and comfortable. It had clean linens, towels and various beach accessories. There were bicycles on the property to use, a charcoal grill, laundry room and a shell cleaning station. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner and she was very kind and sweet. We will definitely be back and be reccomending this location to our family and friends!

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! We stayed here for our honeymoon. Mark and Kathy are relaxed, laid back, and…read morehave a lovely place for the right price! We stayed in the Sandpiper. It has a single bedroom with a queen bed, a living area, kitchen, and bathroom. The kitchen had all the necessary equipment so we were able to eat in and save a lot of money on our trip. The decor is beachy and welcoming. Mark paints and did a lot of the artwork in the cottage. I can still remember the koi picture in the bedroom. Very nice touch! There is a private gazebo out back that overlooks the pond. There were many birds, turtles, and a small alligator in the pond, though the alligator left after a couple of days. There was a cardinal bird that came to the sliding glass door every morning and would tap on it with his beak. There is a grill out back by the gazebo, laundry on-site, books that they have available to borrow, and a shell washing station. There are also bikes that are available to borrow so you can bike around the island. There is private beach access at the end of the block. Sanibel is famous for its shelling and the beach at the end of the street by far had the best shells we found on the island. You get a card so you can park your car at the end, but it's so close you can just walk down there. It's quiet, clean, and was the perfect place for us to stay. Thank you, Mark and Kathy! Next time we come to Sanibel we will be staying again!

Because of all the airport delays and chaos from our July '22 Spain trip, hubs and I wanted to…read moreround out our Summer before I start teaching in September. With the exception of a quick Dec '21 Tampa trip for hubs' nephew's wedding, when we routinely come to FL, it's not to Disney. We've never been Disney people. We don't have a connection with Disney and it doesn't bring us nostalgia. Truly no offense. We're fine. Seriously. With the 8 or so times hubs and I have visited Sanibel Island in the last umpteen years, we've tried a few places including one odd rental home when Airbnb wasn't even a thing back in '03. After that, our other trips became easier to book- including a favorite repeat of mine on W. Gulf Dr. that we wanted to pause from and instead come here again. While many resorts on Sanibel Island lean towards larger grounds, Seaside I. is the opposite. It has a quaint feel both inside and out. The Main office/Registration takes care of some of your hotel needs with Tide detergent packets (don't know where machines are), beach towels, sunblock for sale, Complimentary breakfast of bagels, dry cereal, milk, granola bars, banana, oranges and other lite fare every morning from 7:30-10:00, water paddles and few of other amenities. No on-site restaurant though. The several hosts we encountered were pleasant and so was Amber who explained in detail the ins & outs when we first checked in on a late Thursday afternoon for our August '22 stay. She mentioned that Seaside Inn+Sunset Beach+The Dunes Resort+ Song of The Sea fall within the same family company and that if we wanted to hotel hop to enjoy each of their amenities, we should wear a turquoise bracelet our hotel provides as proof we're guests here to enjoy Happy Hr, use the golf course (we don't golf) and other perks. Our Gulf View room was large with Queen size beds (used one to lay our clothes on), updated 'modern' furniture/frames/light fixtures, a small kitchenette with a mini fridge, TV, bathroom toiletries and a screened balcony- that STILL gave us an eye-catching view of the beach. The bed has white pillows and sheets and was comfortable. And while our AC was in full working order giving us relief from Sanibel's heat (love it though), it was LOUD. And annoying. So was the bathroom's layout with the door being way too close to everything around it like the shower and toilet. Doable but awkward. Plus some parts of the bathroom shelves were dusty. As mentioned, hosts were pleasant and easy to talk to. Aside from the bit of dust and loud AC, our room was comfortable and we had a restful 4 night stay- but we all know the pandemic has made some cleaning crew turn a blind eye and don't care about putting out 100%.

My sister has been recommending this place for many years. She visits once to twice a year for the…read morelast 20 years. So, since I haven't been, we decided to finally check it out. I love this place! We asked ourselves "why did it take us so long to come here?" This is our new favorite spot! The location is everything! Right on the Gulf of Mexico and it's super chill and laid-back. The exact relaxing vacation I was hoping for. Our room was facing the ocean so we were on the patio a lot. Listening to the ocean waves and the birds is very meditative. Our room had everything we wanted. Decent space, a small fridge, flatscreen TV, screened in patio facing the ocean. Clean and quiet. They offer canoes, bikes and ocean gear for free. There's also a decent size pool that was never busy. Very private area. Staff was friendly. Water was amazing...clean and refreshing. This is our new favorite and we will now be regulars.

This little motel (it seems like there's less than a half dozen rooms) had everything I wanted:…read morewaterside accommodations, kitchenette, outdoor area with lounge chairs and a sunrise view, and wifi. It doesn't hurt that the place is painted turquoise and purple, either. The location is perfect, waking distance from galleries, shops, and restaurants. The folks who run it are very friendly and accommodating, allowing for a late check out, and even set up a shady umbrella for me so I could hang around in a lounge chair reading (and yelping) after I had vacated the room. I'm not into fishing or kayaking, but if you are, you can do that right from their pier. They've also got a shaded area with a grill and table outside for cooking up and enjoying your catch. There are some downsides, which could be a deal breaker depending on your personality, but they were things I could live with: I love when there's no carpet, it's easy to clean, so please mop it. I don't like getting into bed with dirty feet. (This seems to be a problem at all carpetless accommodations) There was a lot of noise from what sounded like construction next door. Don't know of this is ongoing. Ladies, if you take offense when men you don't know are a bit too casual/familiar, you may find the older gentlemen proprietor off-putting. Totally non-threatening though. Despite those negatives... I'd stay here again in a minute. I even looked at the map to see if my route north from Boca next week could accommodate a stop here. Regretfully, it doesn't but if I return to this area, this will be my first choice of accommodations.

This little motel is located on Matlacha Key just west of Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida. For…read morethose unfamiliar, Matlacha is pronounced like the name "Matt Lachey." Came in rather late and stayed for several nights. There is a new owner that was quite accommodating to my requests -- one of which was arriving at 11pm at night. A great view of the water and a large, green yard for my dogs to play in. During the day, you can walk around the shops of Matlacha. The area has that authentic old Florida feel, but it may be slipping away as more affluent people move into the area. I would definitely return when I am in the area.