We stayed at SSIR at the end of Feb 2019. It was my husband and I with our 2.5 year old. From check in to check out - we were continuously impressed with SSIR. We truly felt like a valued guest of the resort. ROOM: We stayed in the Beach Villas near the entrance of the resort - second floor. I was hesitant at first about being on the 2nd floor being 7 months pregnant & having a toddler, but the elevators cured that worry. Our Villa was clean and well maintained with plenty of utensils/ kitchen items. We had asked for a pack n play during our booking, however, there wasn't one in the room when we arrived. One call to Guest Services & it was delivered and set up 20 minutes later! It was nice to find that our balcony was fully enclosed with a screen - this helped prevent any bugs and keep our belongings secured during any wind. We found the housekeeping services to be thorough enough and timely. We only had one day where we arrived back to the room for nap time and it wasn't cleaned - this wasn't a big deal for us. At our villas there was a trash receptacle near the stairs on every floor - I found this VERY handy for diapers and leftover containers. TRANSPORTATION: Since we were at the entrance of the resort, we were VERY thankful we rented a golf cart. The resort it 2.5 miles long - so transportation from one end to the other is necessary (if you are staying near the entrance). You are able to drive a car & there is a trolley, however, the golf cart was part of the experience for us and our toddler loved it! Plus, you are able to take the golf cart off premise to explore Captiva a little more. BEACHES: We had a walkway to the beach right at our complex and the beach was equipped with chairs, umbrellas, and towels. There was a LOT of shells in this area, so it wasn't nice, soft sand (aka ideal for a toddler to play in) however, the dolphins swam SUPER close to shore and were so much fun to watch. The beach near the point - Sunset Beach - is great! Chairs, towels, toys, umbrellas, Tiki Bar with food and drinks, bathroom, etc. The sand is much nicer here, too. The great think about the beach is that you can walk for MILES! POOL: We did not visit the pool at our complex - only the main pool area. The three pools they have are great! All are heated and are the perfect temp. The two we frequented were great for toddlers due to them having the gradual grade into the pool instead of steps or ladders. Our little guys was too little for the water slides, but those seemed to be a hit. LOTS of seats around the pool, I was actually shocked that there were so many. One morning we were the first ones at the pool at 9AM and were the only ones there for about an hour - it was awesome. Not only are there lots of chairs, they are very comfortable. There is also a lot of shade - umbrellas and lots of palm trees. Great for getting the kiddos out of the sun. There is also a few games - Foosball & giant connect 4 - for kids to play with. One thing we loved about the pool area was the service staff. Super friendly, very attentive, and FAST. Food and drinks came out promptly! Tiki Bar & The Point for food - made sitting at the pool SUPER relaxing and convenient. FOOD: The ONLY downside I saw to the resort was the lack of restaurant options. Only one place for breakfast - at Harborside for the buffet - & that was expensive. Dinner had 3 options - a nicer restaurant (as front desk told me, not ideal for toddlers), the pizza & ice cream place, & Doc Fords. We ended up venturing into town for dinner half the time we stayed. We grabbed snacks and food at WalMart before we got on the Island - this was a life saver for us! We ate breakfast in the room & had plenty of snacks and lunch stuff for the kiddo. There are places on the island but not very close to our resort and probably more expensive. Disclaimer - We did not check out the little store by the pool - but i think they had some food or snacks!? SERVICE: We made the comment more than once that all the staff was SO friendly. From grounds keeping to house keeping, servers, etc. Always smiling, always had a hello. Not only that but we felt everything was very well kept and clean. We found there was a decent amount of stuff to do for our 2.5 year old - pool, beach, golf cart rides, animal watching (manatees in the marina!), scoops & slices, etc. There is an arcade, tennis courts, golf, etc - we did not take advantage of those places. All in all - we were super impressed & we would definitely return! read more

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I have to go with the 5 stars as Captiva is absolutely gorgeous. We had so much fun and enjoyed so much the resort had to offer. We did save a lot of money listening to other reviews. First off we rented a car at the fort meyers airport (80 bucks for 5 days through expedia). Stopped at publix on the way in to stock up our kitchenette with PB&J for the beach each day, snacks, and breakfast foods. We stopped at ABC liquors for some liquid libations that we day drank all week. We brought a cooler bag and reusable ices to keep it cold to bring to the beach each day. We went off the resort to eat (saved a ton of $$$$) RC otters, catina captiva, doc fords were amazing! Did the dolphin cruise, saw the manatees, did the ding darling nature tram, and so much more. WE had a blast and will be coming back When you book ask for an updated room and get a kitchenette. WIFI is atrocious but I was able to log in to my phones hotspot which solved that kunundrum Harbor view was a little weak, next time I would do BAY Or ocean view North side has the main pools so next time we would stay over there. SO FUN. Great time of year to go as the air was 80 and so was the water (or so it seemed) read more

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This is my first low star review after traveling around the world. Pros: beach is beautiful and private and the pools are very nice and the people at the resort are nice. Overall the beach and the pools and food are wonderful. Cons: PRICE. Also, each unit is individually owned so we got no outdoor space, mold and mildew, and the front desk isn't helpful which is frustrating. So you could get a great unit or a horrible dated unit like we did... which was dirty. So for the money it's surprising- Don't waste your time. We paid about $1600 a night for a 3 bedroom that was bay view (wouldn't recommend you are far away from everything). The front desk doesn't care that you're checking in( it's 1600 a night- you'd think they care ) We were given no information about the resort. We got to our room and surprise the baseboards were filthy and dirty. And there was no outdoor space. We were told you were one of the few units there's no outdoor space.... in Florida but everyone else had a screen in porch. I updated this review from 1 star to 3 stars because they did move us - although they the room was minimally better at least it had outdoor space. 4318 stay away- do NOT rent!! Holiday inn and holiday in express is better and cleaner and they are at least nice to you. We have had the best experiences in Florida- this is my first bad review. The resort itself is good- but just not for the price honestly. read more

South Seas - Resorts Near Me - Captiva, Florida

Our room has barely been cleaned. We're in the tennis villas. Bathtub is full of mold and doesn't drain. You can see crap thrown on the part where the ceiling and loft meet. This place is super pricey and not. Worth. It. No service. No new towels. Just insane for the amount of money per night. Also, Don't expect anyone to pick up the phone. Ever. If you ever need anything, oh well. Need new towels? You won't get them? Need trash removed? It'll be there till the end of your stay. This is NOT WORTH THE MONEY AND HIDDEN FEES!!! Bring your own cleaning items to ensure your room is actually clean. EDIT TO UPDATE: The dust in here is pretty impressive. If you didn't have allergies before, you'll surely pick them up while here. Not to mention the roach that we found and were unable to capture so this tennis villa now has a friend. Cheers! read more

South Seas - Zoom in - Resorts Near Me - Captiva, Florida

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I absolutely loved our stay at South Seas Island Resort! Everything was so convenient at South Seas. There were plenty of dining and shopping options at the resort and the on-site trolley drove us around the resort so we didn't even have to use our car once during our stay! My husband and I stayed in a one bedroom hotel room with a king sized bed on the North end of the island. Our hotel room had a GORGEOUS view of the bay and we enjoyed listening to the waves at night. Our first night we arrived we had a romantic and delicious seafood meal at Habourside Restaurant followed by hot fudge sundaes and a candy spree at Scoops and Slices ice cream shop. My husband had a conference during the day so the second day of our stay I worked out at the fitness center (modern equipment, but a tad on the small side) and I had lunch and cocktails at The Pointe next to the main pool. I had so much fun lounging by the pool and reading my book. My lounge chair faced the bay so I saw several dolphins! I would definitely come back to South Seas Island Resort. The resort wasn't cheap, but it is expected when you are on an island. We loved how friendly the staff was and how pretty the resort was. We cannot wait to bring my husband's parents to this resort in the spring! read more

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So what can I say about South Seas Resort?! I LOVE this place. My parents bought a timeshare week over 30 years ago and we have been going every year since. The only time we missed a year was when we had some very bad hurricanes a few years ago. The resort use to be called South Seas Plantation. It got news owners and the name changed. Over the years the resort has seen some improvements and changes. The resort offers hotel stays and owner stays, in the form of a timeshare. I am not sure of the hotel cost but I hear it is a little expensive. I read some of the other reviews and people putting it down, but what you need to remember is that this resort is on an Island, even though it doesn't seem like it, it is an island and it is a resort. Things will cost a little more. I absolutely love that the only people allowed inside are those that are staying at the resort. I don't know how many rooms there are but it seems like a lot. The resort itself takes up almost the entire island. You have to have a key car/room card to go anywhere inside the resort or to buy anything inside the resort. Our room is located in South Seas Club. It overlooks the golf course and then the gulf behind it. We have a private pool for South Seas Club, as do most of the different areas. It is really nice if you just want to lay around and relax. The only downside of our pool is the temperature. Every year the pool is so warm it is like a hot tub. They say they do not have the heater on but I just cant imagine it is that warm just from the sun. We also have a full size kitchen so we can cook in our room. Our rooms at South Seas Club sleeps about 6 people, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There is a main pool area with two separate pools. The one pool is much louder and full of kids. It also has the slide. The second pool is right on the gulf and the view is breathtaking. We will usually spend a day or two sitting by the main pool just for the view. A downside of this pool area, and something really needs to be done, is that some people will get up very early and put towels down over a good number of chairs. They then go back to their room and come back around 10 or 11. It is really disrespectful and I wish the resort would remove their towels. If you are not going to sit at the chairs at the time, then don't take them up. We usually go golfing in the mornings and the golf course itself is a view and a half! The course use to be longer but was shortened due to the hurricanes a few years ago. I believe it is perfect length and doesn't take up much time. They have golf carts to rent so you don't have to walk with your clubs and they come with a couple of bottles of water and a small cooler attached to the side. The guys that work in the pro shop are always friendly and know us by the end of the week. There are a couple of restaurants on the resort, a few of them are a little pricey, we usually don't eat much at the resort, but only because there are so many other places on Sanibel and Captiva to try. All in all, South Seas is one of the most relaxing places I have ever been too. If you are looking for a place to get away and relax and enjoy the pools and beach then this is the place for you. Most of the staff seems pretty friendly and nice. I may be spoiled because my family owns, but we always get good service when we are there. I really think it offers something for everyone. They started this new thing, I guess for kids, but my sister and husband and I did it last year and had a blast doing it. It is called scout-about and it is a treasure hunt all over the resort and at each place it teaches you about either an animal or area and you collect a bracelet, that you can turn in for a special bracelet. We had a blast doing it so I know that kids will absolutely love it! This resort is a great place for families to come and visit and just get away. I hope you all have a wonderful time because I know we do every single year!!! read more

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Mold and a peeling ceiling were what we received when checking into south seas. It smelled of mold and mildew, it wasn't clean, the balcony slider didn't even open up!! We couldn't get anyone on the phone - we had to go back to reception. Nobody cared about the horrible room or the mold living there or the sliding glass door that wouldn't open to the balcony. We were given a 2nd room in the same building which was no better - the crown molding in the bathroom was wet and peeling everywhere. You could tell it was this way because it was constantly wet. On day 3 of our stay we had a maintenance crew come to our door asking to look for a leak that was coming from our unit and was damaging below us and causing structural damage. A leak that had been going on for MONTHS they said. Both toilets needed to be repaired while we were there. Hotel didn't care - never followed up w an apology to us about any of it. The maintenance crew also told us that they would NEVER rent a property that was owned by the hotel because of how poorly they were kept. Horrible. What a rip off. Save your $$$ read more

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South Seas is a lovely place to stay, we are locals of Fort Myers and enjoy their pool, tiki bar and slides! We stayed 4 adults and one child in a 2/2 beach condo. The rooms don't exactly "wow" again it's all about the pool, beach and that south Florida living. I also really love the corner store on the property. It's the most adorable high end deli with books, wine, cheese, chips and everything in between. Great place to pick up a snack and kill some time. On this trip upon arrival we called to have the two twin beds converted into a king. They placed a king mattress pillow on top and you never would have known the difference. Pull out couch and extra bedding was more than suitable for our 6 year old. The pool food is pricy but so yummy. I only wish they gave better deals for locals throughout the year. Certainly seemed like there was less of a crowd this year due to the tide. I have to wonder if a deal on a second week within a short amount of time could help drum up the business. The activities at the pool for kids are above and beyond in my opinion, really sweet and special. On this trip we had a chance to partake in hermit crab races as well as get a sparkle glue tattoo. My daughter and her two friends won a crab race with their hermit crabs and were awarded free ice cream from the most adorable ice cream parlor you've ever seen "Scoops." Scoops also features candy buckets - pay by the pound and pizza other items to go. South seas is a memorable place you could get use to living there, plan to spend at least 4-5 nights to truly unwind and soak it all in! read more

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After reading the unflattering reviews before we went to the resort, we were pleasantly surprised with the villa we stayed in. Our villa was super clean and well maintained. Our beds were comfortable and we loved being on the beach side. We enjoyed ALL the pools and the beauty of the island. The resort could use an upgrade in the customer service department. We would definitely stay here again. read more

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We were looking for a comfortable and clean weekend getaway. What we found instead was a half empty resort with trash left in the room from the previous guests. The worst part are the nonfunctional elevators. We were forced to take our luggage up the stairs and down the stairs quite a shore for a pair of elderly. read more

My husband and I were here on our honeymoon last month and we had the best, I mean-THE best time. We stayed in the Marina villas which in our opinion was the best spot we could have picked. A VERY short walking distance to the beautiful pool area, a 5 minute walk to the beach, and our room was conveniently right next to the ship store. The room itself was a pretty standard room, nothing to complain about but the view was unbeatable. I highly recommend staying in the marina villas due to how great the location is. I feel like if we would've stayed in the Bay view villas like we were originally going to, it would've been very inconvenient to get to the parts on the resort we wanted to be at most. The grounds themselves are all beautiful and well kept. You can tell that they are either diligent with clean up and that guests respect the place enough to not litter. We had gone parasailing, fishing, my husband golfed 2 days. All of these were great that we highly recommend. However, the one thing we did that I did not expect to be so incredible was the kayaking. We had rented kayaks just for something to do and we went near the marina. We had dolphins surrounding us! Playing in front of and around our kayak, jumping in the water. It was an experience I'll never forget. Friendly manatees will also frequently pop up to say hello. There are only 2 sit down restaurants on resort so I do recommend searching for other places on the island. But we really didn't mind exploring and finding these interesting places to go to. The only con, (which may be a pro to others) is that kids are allowed. It was our honeymoon, and in general I don't like kids. But luckily going in October, there were less of them and they were easily avoidable. Going in the summer months may be a different story. All in all, this place is a hidden gem! It made our honeymoon an unforgettable experience read more

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Amazing respite from the Covid frenzy of 2020. Most residents on the island wearing masks as are staff. Numerous activities to keep anyone busy from Golf to swimming to boating to fishing. Convenient trolley to go within the resort free of charge. Also just swipe your room key to charge your amenities even lunch or drinks at the pool on your tab. No better way to relax and recharge then South Seas Island Resort! read more

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This resort used to be my paradise. It was a quiet place to relax and be at one with nature, while still enjoying luxury accommodations and amenities. Families have returned to this paradise year after year for several generations. It used to be a quaint, low-density mixture of privately owned properties (homes, villas, condos, and timeshares) and 107 rental units owned by Timbers. South Seas Island Resorts was damaged by Hurricane Ian, but it is recovering nicely. I was at the resort last week. There is still work for Mother Nature and owners, but I was surprised how much has been done in the 14 months since the hurricane. The same can not be said about the damage created by the new ownership of the rental units, Timbers. They have convinced Lee County to drop the density requirements that have existed on Captiva and Sanibel Islands for decades. These changes only apply within the gates of South Seas Island Resort. All other businesses on Captiva and Sanibel Islands are still required to honor the decades-old density restrictions. These changes were dropped by Lee County despite overwhelming opposition by the residents, businesses, and organizations on Sanibel and Captiva, as well as the other owners within the gates of the resort (over 13000 letters and many hours of opposing testimony at the public meetings). The state of Florida required Lee County to reconsider its decision, saying the changes were proposed under the "false flag" of resiliency. Lee County persisted, despite the opposition of those they were elected to serve. Without any density requirements, Timbers has plans to put additional hotel rooms and condos in every available nook and cranny of the resort. Before the hurricane, they tore down 140 units of employee housing "out of concern for the employees". 107 rental units were damaged by the hurricane. Now they plan to add 707 rental units and condos to the resort, filling the areas of green space that were required by the former regulations. There are no plans to replace the accommodations for employees, who face a long commute from the mainland. That area will be used for luxury condos. In addition, they are not honoring decades-old agreements made with the other owners within the gates of SSIR. They plan additional amenities that are more conducive to Orlando than Captiva. The charm of Sanibel and Captiva will be a thing of the past within the gates of SSIR. Since one has to travel the length of Sanibel and Captiva Islands to get to the resort, the negative impact will be widely felt. The management of the new owners is horrible. Previously, the resort was such a welcoming place. I have never been treated as rudely or have felt as unwelcome at any resort as I did during my recent stay. This is not the same beautiful, restful, hospitable oasis it has been for the past several decades. Do not believe their lies that they value nature and families first. Their actions show clearly they care nothing about the nature and families who were within the gates of SSIR before their colonization. Ignore the positive reviews before Timbers bought property. The resort is no longer that place. This was posted less than a week after Lee County took their second vote. https://issuu.com/timbers-resorts/docs/south_seas_-_redevelopment_information_session_12?fbclid=IwAR0MSCHwxr-C7vW62EIqFsXC7K5kJHXYSM8SwI-2ToimmjCWkNAM_GMTcWA. Pretty complete for a company that claimed it "did not have plans." If this looks like somewhere you want to go, and I'm sure many will, make sure you get clarity on what is included and charges for things that are not. These should be explicit and in writing. If you are buying from them, make sure their promises are deeded and recorded. Keep copies for your own records. Expect exorbitant changes for anything you consider standard but they consider "extra". Don't take anything for granted. I have found Timbers to be deceitful, money grubbing, and full of lies. There are many "nice" resorts within Florida that are similar to what they are planning for SSIR. Captiva and Sanibel were different -- quiet, less developed areas that valued the natural habitat of coastal Florida. These communities established regulations to make sure this continued to be the case. Sanibel incorporated, unfortunately Captiva did not and are at the whims of Lee County. Timbers and Lee County do not honor or respect what has made this area so special. read more

At the cost of $754 for one night stay mid week I reserved a room at Bay side Villas. Being from Massachusetts, I assumed this would be a pretty amazing accommodation for the price. You can imagine my disappointment as I climbed three flights of stairs outside the Villa to reach my room and it was so nasty. As I entered I was shocked to see the couch was filthy and stained, the refrigerator had rust on the front, the outdoor furniture cushions were filthy and crumbs were under the glass table. The wallpaper was all peeling in the bathroom and there was a long black hair attached to the toilet paper roll. The window blinds we're hanging all crooked and the bureau looked like it had been pushed away from the wall. The door and the slider were both nasty. I have never been so disappointed in my life. I have never felt so ripped off in my life. I called and waited three hours to get another room in the same building. I requested a different building but was not accommodated. The new room was slightly better. I then found out that the real resort was 2 miles up the road which you had to take a shuttle bus for. I had no idea the resort was separated by that amount of distance. I did visit the beach and it was very nice.I also liked the real resort area with tiki bar and waterslide. This is why I give it 2 stars. The other drawback was that anything you bought had to be put on the credit card you gave at the front desk. You couldn't pay cash or debit card for anything. I would not go back unless I was at the main resort which would probably cost you over $1000 a night! read more

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This is our second time here in one year. I've read some of the negative reviews but I must stick up for South Seas Plantation. We stay at Harborside which we have found an interesting location. You can watch the yachts docked in the marina or, if you're on the other side of the building you have the bay. We were on the bayside this time and had a perfect room. The view was stunning and we spent many mornings and evenings sitting on the lanai and enjoying nature. We watched dolphins and manatees cavort around. The wild birds were magnificent. Since it's (nearly) winter we saw a flock of white Pelicans. Ospreys happily grabbed fish and flew off to feed their families. Herons and ibis aplenty along with other winter birds we could not identify. Our suite was immaculate. I realize the rooms are being redecorated after the many hurricanes we've had for the past few years. The only complaint I had was that after the first day our wi-fi modem went tits-up. We were still able to access our iPhones and iPads through cellular. The modem worked beautifully for the first day. Regardless, we decided we had not gone to South Seas for TV or wi-fi. We truly enjoyed our visit and look forward to the next one. read more

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I should qualify this review with the fact that I learned I'm not a "resort" kind of guy. You pay for the access to amenities, not the accommodations. My wife and I payed around $450/day for a "beach villa" in December, which are shotgun-style condos with a view of the beach, but not on the beach. The unit was somewhat dark inside with windows/doors on either end and a bit tired looking from lots of use, with a hint of parfum-de-mold. You can only slop on so many coats of paint and throw around so many pillows in hopes of hiding the fact that these units are old, probably built in the 80s. (We were awoken one day at 8 am to maintenance loudly working away in the adjoining unit with grinders. Really?) Bathrooms were small and tired, but clean. Same for the kitchen. Light switches were confusing, some opperating nothing. Furnace didn't work and we couldn't get an answer when we called several times. Eventually, we received an email asking how our stay was and they sent someone promptly to fix it. My feeling is that they don't fix things until absolutely necessary. Restaurants are expensive at the resort. $50 entrees, $25 burgers, $16 drinks. But they gave us a $100 voucher, so that helped a little. Conclusion? If you are willing to shell out (pun intended) big bucks for access to pools and beach chairs, are into cruise-ship-style vacations, and don't care that much about accommodations, then this will probably work for you. For me, I prefer a small, lonely cabin on the beach with less pillows. read more

So, the size and layout of the accommodations were totally great. We went to the two bedroom and the layout was convenient and not cramped. But when we arrived it was apparent pretty immediately that this place was built quite a while ago and not really touched since in terms of updates and the cleanliness was rather subpar. And we are not fancy folks. Grimy floors, sandy, Grimy appliances, hair and sand in the sinks, one of the patio doors literally is off the track and cannot be opened. Dirty and stained walls and doors. The master bathroom shower drips all night. The tub dream is clogged and drains extremely slowly. The WIFI is poor. Etc. I wouldn't say we wouldn't stay here again. Mainly because there aren't many other options. We were disappointed by it is all However in a great location to the beach and lovely views. Not much interaction with any housekeeping staff or any employees for that matter. They would text randomly asking if we needed any supplies. And they were friendly! This place is medium. Hopefully they will get it some good love that it deserves soon because the potential is high. read more

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Old rooms, old stained furniture,indifferent staff with a don't care attitude. We a housekeeping crew have a party in the room next door Little to no information on app or website as to amenities that are included in your stay. Would not recommend. read more

I preface this review with the context of traveling to Sanibel /Captiva for the past 35+ years and only staying on Sanibel until this trip. Our favorite resort on Sanibel is Casa Ybel which does not have three bedroom accommodations, leading us to look at South Seas for our growing family. First, this is a HUGE resort with only the north and south ends of the island boasting amenities. The north side of the island is BUSY, crowded, and loud- little peaceful about it except the golf course. The south side of the island is more peaceful and closer to amenities including some shopping and a restaurant (Doc Ford's - a must- but you can only eat there so many times). Big mistake on our part was not booking out 6 months and missing out on three bedroom accommodations facing the gulf. We ended up in the bayside villas. We requested an updated villa, and when we arrived at 4p were told that our villa wasn't ready. An attentive team member overheard that we had groceries in our car and we were promptly given keys and a bottle of wine to enjoy in our updated bayside villa. An unexpected bonus was the in-unit washer and dryer, as was the elevator with heavy luggage and groceries. When comparing South Seas bayside villas to the accommodations to Casa Ybel, it is equivocal the maintenance and cleanliness perspectives, but a star above for room size, en-suite bathrooms, and a washer and dryer in the unit. There are a lot of reviews with zoom in photos of details that you wouldn't expect in a mainland resort for which you are paying in excess of $1,500/night. Really? It is an island, it is humid, there is sand, and your baseboards might not be pristine. This is not the place for you if you expect perfection in your room- and if you are looking for a perfect room, an authentic island resort is probably not the place for you. This place is laid back, and you should be hitting the pool, enjoying the beach, playing golf, fishing, riding bikes, and being outside- not critiquing your accommodations. Second, there are a lot of reviews that complain about management. We have not had any issues, which says a lot if you know me and my leaky expressive filter. We are pleased with management's responsiveness and daily text messages, telling us about the farmer's market (Tuesday), asking if we need anything, and just checking in on how we are doing. Given the 100% occupancy at the time of our stay, this makes us feel that we aren't just another guest family. I can attest that our stays at other resorts on Sanibel have not had this level of attention and communication. This was really top notch. Finally, Captiva is a HIKE from Sanibel where anything other than water sports, beach relaxation, golf, biking, or tennis is available. While the drive is nice, spending an hour roundtrip in the car at least once a day tends to eat away at your vacation time. As a side note- while on Captiva, RENT A GOLF CART. After so many years vacationing on Sanibel, it will take some time to adjust to South Seas with our growing family. Would we stay here again? After spending blissful hours here, YES... but only in a beach house or private residence. read more

The worst week of my life was spent here. Very poorly organized. It is spread out over 3 1/2 miles with no organization. When we made our reservation, we needed to add another day so called right back to do so and were told that we should be able to stay in the same room but were later told that we had to pack up and move 2 miles away. Housekeeping was a joke. Our condo was "cleaned" twice the entire time and one of those we had to call for. The bed was never made! Nothing was convenient. Had to drive everywhere. There were no luggage carts! One handicap stall for each building. Golf carts should not be parking in the main lots. Should be a separate area. The condo was very dated. Closet door kept falling off. Bathroom faucet was loose. No ceiling fan in the bedroom. Had to slam freezer door or it melted all the ice. Very disappointed with this resort and will Never stay again. read more

Beaches are beautiful as is the sea life Tearing down a building right next to a room they moved us to - you can hear the construction in the room and on the beach Called front desk and was told there was no construction and then they could hear it themselves and was told management would call me - they didn't Went to the cabanas at the pool and they closed them for a second time due to weather that day - asked if I could talk to pool manager for rescheduling - was told she wasn't there then someone redirected me back to the same person who then admitted she was Julia after all - what?? The trend went on the staff is rude and the rooms were clean but really poorly equipped with living room furniture we wouldn't sit on it was so stained and old Great view from the room Convenient access to everything with a golf cart Sunset beach lives up to its name We enjoyed very much renting a boat and going shelling read more

South Seas - View from our room was nice - Resorts Near Me - Captiva, Florida

We have been coming to South Seas Island Resort for about 8 years now. Something about being in Captiva lowers your blood pressure immediately. SSIR has a large property and room sizes to accommodate many family sizes. Once on property, you have access to their beautiful beach with towels, umbrellas, and beach chairs. The shelling is wonderful. Its peaceful and quiet. There are many pools on property, but the main pool is by far the best. Two water slides and two large pools that are right next to the water. If you are lucky enough to get a lounge chair facing the water, you just might catch a view of dolphins! There is a big marina on property that we walk through every evening "dreaming of when we hit the lotto and will dock our boat here" ha! Without fail we always see manatees in the marina! Such a treat! There is also golf, yoga, fishing and tennis available on property. A shuttle drives you around if you font want to drive, walk or bike. Its so relaxing. The staff are always friendly, infact we were greeted with a glass of champagne upon checking in, that was a nice touch!!! I would have given this a 5 star rating, but did notice that some things on property need a little face lift and fresh coat of paint. Its such a beautiful property I would hate to see it not kept up. read more

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My husband and I love coming to this resort. The view from the Harborside is gorgeous! Love the balcony, it worth every Penny. The crowd is kid friendly, and the food at the resort is also full of flavor. I hope to keep making memories here for years to come. read more

We booked two nights through Priceline. Total was $400 each night for two adults including taxes. Our room had a view of a small marina and bay. The once existing balcony was glass enclosed and a precarious step down. The room was clean. In 2019 I expect convenient electric outlets near the bed. This is not a renovated building. Elevator slow and failed to arrive one day. Grounds are pleasant and staff friendly. The pools were clean. I suppose if my fault for not realizing the "resort fee" of $19 is per adult per day PLUS TAX. So add another $80 to my two night $800 visit. The RESORT FEE is an insult. Be HONEST. If you're going to charge $440 a night then do so. Let the buyers be better informed and forewarned. Search Google under RESORT FEE Hotels.com is showing rates "excluding daily resort fee of $21.09". They also list amenities including free parking and WiFi which the Resort Fee covers according to SSIR. UPDATED 3/15/19. This is just plain wrong! read more

Let's start with the good: great beaches, friendly beach staff, and beautiful views. Doc Ford's restaurant is great with live music, good food, and semi reasonable prices The bad: our room didn't have hot water or good air conditioning. Woke up sweating every night. At one point no air was even coming out of the vent. Called several times throughout the trip and never even got a sorry from the staff. Basically had to suck it up. They offered a fan that never came, came after the third call downstairs, and really weren't nice about it. It wasn't until I talked to the front desk five times that a manager (who was friendly) called to check in. We were also told that we had a "breakfast package" at Harbourside Grill. The waitress encouraged us to upgrade to the buffet (more expensive) since it was included, but lo and behold we had to pay for it both days! It was a sneaky move and we saw the charge on the final bill. Overall, it was nice to be by the beach and ocean but would not be coming back. read more

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I am a travel agent and my clients are arriving tomorrow. I have been on hold to ask for a special request. I have 2 phones dialed in to SS Resorts one to reservations and I have been on hold with no one coming to the phone for 90 minutes! The other to the front desk and I have been on hold for going on 10 minutes! I hate to imagine what the service is on property if you cannot get through to anyone on the phone but the operator. Seems they have major management issues! Not happy about this and will not book them again based on this terrible customer service. I am calling public numbers not a travel agent line either :( Also, to add to this the clients were very unhappy with the cleanliness of the room and the location based on description. These are billed as beach front and there is a fairly long walk to the beach much longer than it looks in maps and photos. They too experienced poor service throughout their stay. read more

Alas, another situation I wish I could give half stars. Given South Seas Island Resort's sentimental place in my heart, it's hard to give 3 stars. However, it's just not worth 4 stars these days. FOOD/DRINKS: One of the highlights of our stay at SSIR is always the food and drinks. Harborside always has great dinner and drinks, and the prices are reasonable. I've never tried their buffet, however, so I cannot attest to some of the negative reviews regarding the price/quality. Beyond the Harborside, SSIR has great drinks on the beach. The price you'll pay is absurd though, so it's more of a fun vacation novelty than a practical bar. (There are less expensive places to get cocktails elsewhere on the island, as well as multiple places to purchase beer, wine, and liquor.) Doc Ford's is located on the resort and also has amazing food, as does Captiva Provision Company across the street. They make excellent (albeit overpriced) deli sandwiches. ROOMS: My main grip with SSIR is that the rooms are veryyyy outdated. When paying big bucks for a room each night, I expect equally as fitting accommodations. Unfortunately, you don't get that here. The buildings are in need of a renovation -- BADLY. Our room also didn't have a microwave, which was a bummer because leftovers from dinners out to eat went to waste. Additionally, the hallway of our building was disgusting and needed to be mopped/swept during the entirety of our 4-day stay. How can you have people spending $300 a night and you don't mop daily? Or even every other day? Gross. ENVIRONMENT: SSIR shuts down EARLY. There is no true late night food or fun to be had on the entirety of the island, but definitely not at the resort. PRICE: SSIR costs an arm and a leg, given the aforementioned downsides and lack of renovations. We never book through third-party sites as it's not worth the risk/hassle in case of an issue, but even still, apparently people aren't saving much based on other reviews. My biggest gripe is the price point SSIR slaps on their rooms and villas for really, really outdated accommodations. SUGGESTIONS: Expand the arcade, and make it more adult friendly as well. My husband and I had a great time here one evening and hope there are more games when we return. Additionally, consider adding late night food options or simple 24hr room service. People love midnight snacks! That being said, yes, we will return. South Seas Island Resort is a lovely little haven and it's a great place to go for a slow-paced vacation. read more

I will admit that the photos online make this look like The Ritz Carlton level when it actually felt like my apartment in college. The photos on their website/booking sites are absolutely misleading! Having said that, I did have a good time here. I would not return as it was just too darn far in between buildings. I'm not a fan of shuttles. However, I did like the beaches and property. The rule here is that everything will cost around 3X what it would off property. Mixed drinks are around $14 each (and very weak), a BIC cigarette lighter was almost $6, burgers are $15, etc. Know this rule and you won't be surprised. The food is average on the property. The beaches are nice, clean and fairly private. There's South Beach which is near the check-in lobby. Then there is the other beach near the Marina which is a mile or so walk. There are 3 types of rooms ... Oceanside, Marina and Tennis Villas. The tennis villas are steerage ... The worst accommodations that feel like a college apartment. Popcorn ceilings, cheap spackled walls, tiny bathroom, uncomfortable beds and a prolitarian kitchen. Of course this is where I stayed, thinking that it must be nice if tennis players stay there. The balconies overlooked tennis courts which means bright lights shine into the balcony area and you cannot sit there in privacy. I'm sure the beach villas and the marina ones may be nicer but I heard couples staying there grumbling about how 'cheap' the beach side rooms felt. Do yourself a favor and head off premises for lunch. The Bubble Room in Captiva is quite good and unique. Mucky Duck has quite a cult following. The resort food is average and expensive. Probably more of a spot for families who are looking for activities than couples or singles. My biggest pet peeve is resort fees and they have a whopper of one here which you pay PER PERSON and PER DAY! If you are a couple staying for 5 days, expect to add $200 to the cost of your stay. Which is super frustrating because you spend so much money on drinks and then pay on top of that. Resort fees should be illegal. Staff was very good and did accommodate early/late check-in/out without hassle which gets them bonus points. read more

Pros: Overall room looks decent and amenities are solid Con: Realized there was a huge ant problem in our room. Ants on counter, ants on floor, ants on our stuff. Pretty awful customer experience. Tried to let them know a bunch of our food had been ruined and literally called 3 times, left my name and number, and was told a manager would call. Still never heard back, response I got was that I could try calling back later. If your room has no ants and you have no issues that require help then you should be good. Our experience was not that however. Was our honeymoon trip and definitely anticipated better. read more

South Seas - 1 piece of cereal accidentally left out - Resorts Near Me - Captiva, Florida

No Concierge Service, No room service, no bellman, no elevators, very little parking available. All calls to restaurants go through main desk, therefore expect a 15 minute wait at least when you call. Get numbers of the restaurants before you go so you can call direct. Must rent golf carts to get around. Celebrating a 70th birthday with family in one of the most expensive rooms available. Check in was at 4pm. My room was ready at 5:45. Guests were waiting in the heat inside a parking garage. The Master bedroom: Largest of 3 bedrooms on the upper level of the accommodation. This is the room I stayed in. The master unit has 3 large windows so you can view gulf and golf. The windows do not have all the curtains up, so sunlight will wake you. Lucky for us, we brought sleeping shades with up. Hornet nests on balcony of master. Some glass shards found in carpet. near bathroom. Upkeep seems to be poor to nonexistent. For over $1000.00 a night, this place is obviously not worth it. Go somewhere else. read more

The quality in this resort has gone down. We have been coming here for years and have seen it decline in service, upkeep, and overall attention to detail. The price you pay $$$$ is not what you get. Rooms are not clean, carpet is old and beyond dirty/disgusting, elevator is hot and musty, the marina never picks up. Overall very disappointing. Never again. There are webs on the ceiling and every single furniture has stains. read more

Not the most amazing Resort for the prices only due to the fact that 80% of the hotel needs major overhaul and renovation! The area is beautiful, the views amazing, and the staff is absolutely amazing! So like I mentioned earlier the only complaint I have and it's a pretty large one because we had to switch Guest Houses is the fact that everything is stuck in 1980 something and looks like your on a show of Miami vise! That's not the worse part! If the decor was all that we had to put up with we could handle it! Nothing wrong with a little retro! That's the least of our problems because the Maintenance seems like it hasn't been touched since the 80's as well(yikes)! The renovated units are the only way to go!!! So ASK ASK ASK!!!! Also when asking for GOLF OR GULF VIEW MAKE SURE YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK THEM !!! We wanted Gulf views, as in the ocean and got GOLF views as in people playing right there by your balconies lol so we had to pay extra and thank goodness they had units available! Also RED TIDE was in November(15-18) when we went back for a Anniversary get away. We were told in July when we went for the summer vacation that Nov and Dec were the best months to come! Well..... not so sure! It rained the entire time, was 60 degrees and smelled horrible of the red death! So watch out for that tidbit! Hope this helps! read more

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This review is based on 2-day stay for a wedding on the beach with reception overlooking the harbor that followed. Also enjoyed two other meals at the Harbourside Restaurant on premises with view of a marina. Overall, South Seas Island Resort is a large, 5 Star location with 3 Star facilities. Hyatt and Marriott Resorts have nothing to fear. We stayed on the South end in a unit like a garden apartment. Pluses: * Great location at the northern tip of Captiva Island * The South Beach area of the resort is private with chairs, umbrellas and towels provided. * Heated pools. Nice when you come out of the ocean in Nov. * Large one bedroom unit with comfy, king size bed. Also, kitchen and large TV area. Balcony is also large and screened-in with 4 chairs and a table * Dinner was fresh and tasty, and professionally prepared * Wedding Dinner was very good. Included a delicious arugula salad with Blue Cheese and baked apple. Open bar with mostly premium booze. Minuses: * The tone at the start of our stay began unwelcoming. Upon check-in, you sign something that says you agree in advance to be charged extra if you check out later than 11 am. But penalty fee is not disclosed, as if signing for an undisclosed penalty is okay. * Prices, prices, prices. While no one expects a resort to be a bargain, this resort's prices are consistently 50% higher than prices you'd pay outside the resort. For example, Starbucks coffee on premises is $3.25. At the resort's Harbourside Restaurant, breakfast buffet is $22 for pretty standard fare, and my Grouper dinner entrée was $34 without salad side. Our host picked up the alcohol tab, and suspect they needed a loan. * Mandatory plastic wristband system cheapens the experience--suggestion to management, rethink things from a customer experience point of view. I don't buy this is the best you can do. * TV in bedroom can't be any newer than 1990 * Free Wi-Fi worked reliably without dropped connection, but it is SLOW. * Mandatory Resort Fee per Person. If mandatory, then would prefer to simply include in the rate quoted. Find this style of layered pricing to be annoying. There is no deception, since fully disclosed. * You can order drinks poolside, just like a real resort...but unavailable on the beach. Suspect it's a legal issue. Donation to the proper political party in power usually solves the problem :) Tip I: Allow plenty of time to/from the airport. Allow at least an hour. Airport is further, time wise, than it appears. Tip II: And watch out for the Floridian style of driving. In just one hour of driving, many drivers of a certain age pulled out without yield or caution. Tip III: If you are a family with kids, carefully consider total cost with Mandatory Resort Fee per person. Adds up quickly. If you think this review with photos is useful, funny or cool, I'd appreciate your feedback below. read more

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We stayed at South Seas Island Resort Monday-Friday of this past week in a 3 bedroom Bayside Villa. Cons: you're not getting what you pay for. Our room was in need of some serious attention. The exterior door in the main floor bedroom had a 1 inch gap on the bottom and side and did not secure properly. We were shown two different villas as an alternative but one did not have enough dining space and the other had no outdoor space so we stayed where we were. Unfortunately as the days went on more issues came up with our unit. The ice maker did not work, the cabinets were filthy, the kitchen is not stocked with basic cooking needs, the shower upstairs in the hallway was broken and one of the beds upstairs was unusable because springs were poking through. The resort credited us one nights stay which is fine but I was willing to pay the full price for a functional space. Pros: the beaches on the resort are wonderful. The water is pretty, comfortable and calm. There are beach attendants who set up chairs, umbrellas and towels. The pools are nice, they're tons of them and my daughter enjoyed the water slides. The activities offered on resort are fun and reasonably priced. We rented a golf cart, rented jet skis and went on a dolphin cruise. We also did crafts each day, glow golf one night and a magic show the other night (complimentary). Recommendation: check your room thoroughly before unpacking- do not expect to be wowed by the rooms. Also head slightly off the resort to eat and buy souvenirs. On resort shops charge almost double for shops and the restaurants were unimpressive. If you go just outside the gates there are lots of affordable items and tasty restaurants. read more

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The grounds are beautiful. We made some great memories. Loved seeing the dolphins.However, our room was dirty, there were stains all over the furniture. We thought we were getting a two bedroom villa when in reality it was a 1 bedroom with an open loft condo. There were dead bugs and dust on the ledge. I thought I got a deal but upon arrival to the resort there was an additional $125 a day resort fee. We tried to get what that covered and the answer was the resort fee. It did not even include a paddle to play pickle ball. We had to wait hours for our room so we sat by the pool which was filthy. We called numerous times left a message with no response. We have traveled to many resorts, this by far has been the worst. Dollar for Dollar this was our most expensive trip, including Europe and we all agreed our least favorite. read more

Very disappointing - At $1000 a day should be better i have stayed at South Seas island Resort many years before. This visit was very disappointing. Covid restrictions aside, (which the resort has no control over) it is inconceivable that on a property of this size and with many dining venues that there is NO breakfast service on property. For $1000 per night you should not have to get in your car and drive 2 miles to go to a shanty restaurant for a decent breakfast. Even a cup of coffee at Starbucks is a ride away. A muffin at the ships store doesn't cut it! At a resort of this type you would expect a fine dining experience on property The Old Captiva House at the Tween Waters Resort is terrific. We should have honeymooned there! Also the chaise/chair situation at the pool complex is awful. This is the second day that we have not been able to get a place at the pool unless you show up at 8 am! We arrived at 10:30 AM after DRIVING to get breakfast and there were no free chairs. there were many "saved" chairs with no one on sight for over an hour. The first day the attendant did remove saved items and gave us the chairs. But the second day there were none available and the saved ones he would not remove the items. As we entered we were given towels but there were no chairs. A group of 4 came in behind us and got towels and when 2 chairs became available (people were leaving) they pushed past us and took them. Maybe a system of keeping a line so first come would get first served. When i called the Manager to express my displeasure, it took 25 rings for the operator to answer and I was transferred and then it rang 10 times and disconnected. I called back and left a VM with the GM and my room number and cell number and never received a response. Also the "Hot TUB" at the pool was no more than a warm kiddie pool. My wife needs a Spa session every day and this one was filled with kids and young children, had almost not Jet action and was not HOT! The venue however is spectacular and well maintained (externally). When it was under the Hilton Flag it was delightful. No so anymore. We could hear the people at the room above us. Moving furniture every night, opening and closing doors and even could hear them using the toilet. (the pleasant sound of urinating!) Not a $1000 a night resort. We will not return. read more

This is my third visit to South Seas. My aunt and uncle have owned a time share here for over ten years. My first visit was in 2000, for my 18th birthday. The second time was three years ago, the first year they re-opened after Hurricane Charley hit. Since Charley, a lot has changed. It has always been a beautiful, relaxing, paradise of a place to visit. The remodel of the pools, and golf areas are really incredible. It definitely has more of a luxury resort feel than it did before. It's always been well maintained and perfectly manicured, but even more than ever since all the remodels took place. The new pool areas feature huge tube water slides that are water park quality. The largest pool sits very close to the beach, so when lounging by the pool or taking a dip, it almost looks like the pool melts into the ocean-kind of like an infinity pool effect. There are cabanas with TV's that can be rented for something like $50 a day, as well as a pool side bar. When I was here three years ago, it felt kind of like a ghost town, as a lot of destruction was still evident, and a lot of buildings were in the middle of the rebuilding/remodeling process. During my October 09 visit, I was amazed at how many people were lounging around the pool area. There were a lot of nice families, with lots of little well-behaved and cute kiddos, as well as couples ranging in age. I saw signs advertising week time-shares at $7,500, plus yearly dues. My aunt said this is $2,500 less than they paid over ten years ago, so it is definitely a buyers market. My aunt's condo is a two bedroom, two bath. The master bedroom has a king sized bed with a master bath. The guest room has two twin-sized beds. Her condo has a screened in back porch that looks out over the golf course, and has a perfect view of the ocean. At any rate, Captiva is not a touristy place, and is not somewhere you'd want to go if you need to be entertained at all times. It's really a place for great R&R. Since it's gated, no one can get in, unless they are renting or own a timeshare. There are no shopping malls or grocery stores on the island, but it's not too far of a drive to all that stuff if you are looking for it. There are a few decent restaurants in the area, and there's always the Bubble Room's infamous Red Velvet Cake; my absolute favorite. Oh, and the property owns a Starbucks that is at the entrance of the South Seas property....making my dream vacation complete. read more

This place is usually booming and gorgeous!!! But with all the red tie it is horrible, can't even enjoy the pool! But we were on island for the night so had to check in! Reason for the 3 star is not for the red tie , it's for the service you would think with the place being empty , they would have phenomenal customer service, but not this weekend. Such a shame ..,! read more

The resort itself is beautiful. The front desk was under staffed. Not sure why on the weekend. As far as the room, horrible. I paid $$$$ for the harbor view expecting this great room. Not even close. I'm not sure how the room thing works. From what I have been told is that each room has an individual owner that rents it back to the resort. Kinda like a time share. The resort itself arranges what room you get. So if the rooms are not taken care of by the owner you get a bad room. The resort should mandate that the rooms meet a certain criteria. I attached five photos. I stayed in room 1829. Stay tuned, my stay is not over. read more

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We've stayed in Sanibel so many times, fortunately this time, we spent it Captiva. Wanted to venture and experience something unique and classy. Decided to spend the long Christmas weekend on the beautiful turquoise waters of The Gulf and under the beautiful sun. South Seas Island Resort is ultra elegant. Our room was facing the gorgeous waters. And I couldn't have asked for more. Attention from staff was on point. Front desk service, took care of our need the few days we were there. Our room was comfortable, and fully equipped with the basics amenities: flat screen TV, refrigerator, access to laundry room and more and grounds are spotless. What I love about The Gulf, is exactly that- the beautiful turquoise waters. It's as if you're in the Caribbean and so warm. My only quirk about Captiva is their sand- it's grey and not that silky white sand you'd typically get in Sanibel Island. Staff was amazing and South Seas Island Resort is detailed in every aspect and provided the maximum best. read more