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!

Beautiful place and awesome beach and pool love spending time here at Sanibel Collegeread more

Awesome place to stay on the Island. My extended family has rented from the cottages for over 3…read moredecades. They've also owned a unit for the same amount of time. I've stayed with them a handful of times, mostly over spring breaks.They describe it as a worthwhile cost, as it's one of their favorite places to vacation. Maintenance department does a good job, as their repairs are timely and efficient. Management is good, they consistently look to keep their units in great shape. Pool is terrific, never crowded. Margarita parties every week by the pool! Direct beach access, their patch of sand is rarely busy, No major downsides. My family and I have predominantly stayed in Pointe Santo while on Sanibel. Both are great, cottages are better for smaller groups, more cosy and show a better looking interior.

Best spot in the island. Quaint not fancy location location yeah. Been going there since 1975. Will…read morereturn soon.

When we come to Sanibel it's all about the beach, the shells and the view. This was our first visit…read moreto the Blue Dolphin, so we weren't sure what to expect. This was the best beach view (with a large picture window) that we've ever had! When we opened up the room it smelled great and super clean. It has an oven, refrigerator, coffee pot, microwave, pots and pans, silverware, cups, plates, wine glasses! We have always stayed at a place right down the road from here, but last year that cottage was so moldy it had centipedes and would gag you, so we had to branch out and find a new place. So glad we did!! We will never stay anywhere else.

What can I say? My wife and I went here last Mothers day, the cottage was wonderful, we stayed in…read morenumber 10, it was like having your own beach, the cottage was spotless and staff was friendly, this is a must do before you go to a regular hotel, this is our new romantic get away.

Tropical Winds added an additional $950 charge to our credit card account…read more We paid an initial $639 deposit. At one point the price was raised because I asked to change the reservation to be in a larger space (cottage 4, with two rooms). But when I arrived I went into a tiny cabin for two nights. Then when my family arrived instead of being in the larger accommodation that I had booked, we were put in a beach cabin with -only one bedroom- (for 4 adults!). Please explain how we could end up being charged even more. And none of this even accounts for the fact that when I arrived, not only was there no key waiting for me, they didn't even realize I was arriving though I had communicated with them five days before -and- during working hours --on the day of my arrival. I was incredibly kind about all of this. (I even notified them that your washing machine was broken and helped move the waterlogged things to the machine that was working.) And what did I get? An -additional- charge despite my cockroach housemates (that I sent them photos of and to their credit, for which they brought in an exterminator the following day to deal with) and the weary old old mattress with two body sags on either side for my first two nights stay. The space with the broken window slats that passerbys can see right in at night. They made none of this right.

I've been staying at the Island Inn since before I could walk, as my mom and cousin have been…read morecoming since before I was born. We were so sad that the Inn was destroyed during the hurricane and are happy they've been able to rebuild. We stayed in the Matthews Lodge on the first floor. The room is beautiful and comfortable. The staff are friendly, helpful, and accommodating. We arrived after the front desk closed. They reached out to us in advance, sent us all the information we'd need by email, and had our room keys ready for us in a lock box. The location is great, with gorgeous views of the Gulf. We lucked out and saw a pod of dolphins one morning!

Another successful stay at the island inn. This is our…read morefourth time over the last year. The staff is friendly and helpful. The beach is right here. There are grills and chairs and umbrellas. Rooms are clean. Come and enjoy!

Pro: the property is beachfront and the beach is amazing. It is steps from a very quiet part of the…read moreisland. We love the location. We stayed here twice before when the Jensen family owned the property. It was great and well cared for. Cons: We chose unit #3 but the pics on the website match unit #2. There was only had a handful of umbrellas and chairs (for 7 total units) and most broken. We ended up purchasing umbrellas and chairs. There was standing water in the laundry room and no working overhead light. The actual unit needs some updating. The dressers were missing knobs, the fridge door had no shelves, curtain rod fell off the wall which I opened the curtains, light socket in a bedroom lamp was hanging out and well as the electrical socket in the bedroom, a few dishes were broken (also there is no dishwasher in the unit and you get one dish towel, but for a $50 charge they will bring you more-seriously). The kitchen is so tiny and not functional. Do not plan to make a meal in that kitchen. For the price, I expected more cozy beach chic (as their website states). We would probably stay here again, but go in with much lower expectations about the actual condo.

We are traveling the coast and found this gem of a place last minute. Absolutely beautiful view of…read morethe Gulf. Screened in porches allow you to sit and listen to the waves with out being eaten up. The rooms/suites are very clean and have all you need for an overnight or a weeks stay. The grounds are clean and beautiful with tons of foliage that truly gives you a tropical paradise. The owners are the sweetest and like old friends from the moment you meet them. The booking agent was so sweet and very helpful and easy to communicate with. Great care is given to make sure you have all the information you need a head of time, even with a last minute booking. I have health issues and they had no problem with us staying a little longer for me deal with an unexpected issue. We will for sure be back. The island of Captiva is beautiful, quite and homey and a place we will visit again and we will for sure stay at Jensens on the Gulf.

I came here for a long weekend stay and I have no major complaints! I'd say it's 4.5 stars, but…read moreI'll round up - all things considered. Check-in is at 4pm and checkout is at 11am, but guests are welcome to use the amenities on the same day as check-in and check-out. When we checked in, we were greeted, given a map of the property along with directions on how to get to our condo unit, and handed the resort wristbands (to be worn at all times to enjoy the amenities), keycards, a "charge card" to easily bill things to the room, and a parking permit. Staff was friendly. There's plenty of things to do on the resort that are included with your stay - pickleball, tennis, kayaking, paddle boarding, pool, hot tub, bike rentals, fitness center. Beach towels, chairs, and beach umbrellas are provided. There's also some poolside games like ping pong, foosball, a big connect four, volleyball, and cornhole. There's a Recreation Desk to handle equipment check in/check out and sign waivers. Spa and onsite dining are additional. We had a garden view, two bedroom/two bathroom residence. We were pleasantly surprised to have a washer and dryer in the unit. The kitchen was stocked with basic dishes, silverware, some pots and pans, and cooking utensils. There was a coffee pot, ironing board, safe in the master bedroom, and hair dryer in each bathroom. There was a big tv in the main area and in each bedroom. The main rooms also had ceiling fans. The A/C unit worked well (and we put it to work in this Florida heat). We also took advantage of the screened in patio area. (I'm glad it was screened... those no-see-um bugs are no joke! I'm still itching...) Each condo also included a complimentary shelling bag from Sundial Beach Resort, which you will need at the beach because the shelling here (in the Seashell Capital of the World) is awesome! They even have a seashell washing station near the main pool because shelling is a big deal here. We loved the quick access to the beach, and we were even able to spot the sunrise to the left of the shore each morning. Housekeeping was very thorough! They came everyday and I was just expecting them to change towels, take out the trash, and maybe refill bathroom toiletries, but they swept (much appreciated when sand gets everywhere) and tidied up the kitchen too. They also changed the sheets on the third day. The room has a QR code to scan to leave a tip via phone, but make sure you get their name to tip the individual directly (otherwise, don't forget to bring cash to tip the hardworking staff). My only notes would be that the shower water pressure was pretty weak in our unit and the only clock was on the microwave. Yes, clocks are pretty prevalent on phones and smartwatches these days, and sure, we're on "vacation time," but some of us are old-school. Speaking of the prevalence of phones, I'm a fan of their texting notifications. The property texted reminders leading up to the stay and sent over a schedule of events for each day. I wouldn't necessarily say that the events are anything to plan your day around, but it's a nice option if you're looking for something to do on the property. They had open pickleball play in the morning, a water balloon toss one day, and daily poolside bingo (with prizes - ice cream coupons or a drink at the tiki bar for the bingo winners). Poolside bingo was very popular. You can also use the text line to contact them with questions or special requests. I did use the text line and they were super helpful and responsive (responding within minutes). It wasn't quite concierge services - I asked a specific question about whether paddle boarding was open, and instead they provided a generic response to visit the recreation desk (I was hoping they would ask the recreation staff for me and relay the info). A note about the water sports, sometimes these activities are not available due to outside conditions. Even on a nice sunny day, the winds might be too strong and they'll put the boards away. Conditions can change throughout the day. They had a dry erase board displaying whether that activity was available. We were able to do paddle boarding one morning, and the rec staff helped bring out the boards and equipment, but then we were left to our own devices to drag the board into the water - there was no real briefing or beginner's tutorial. Overall, we had a fun and relaxing stay at Sundial Beach Resort. We felt very welcome and enjoyed our time in Sanibel. Special shoutout to Alba who helped us get squared away with our reservation. She is the sweetest and really got us excited to visit.

We had a very good stay here…read more Our only minor glitches were during the reservation experience prior to coming and at checkout. After getting conflicting prices and confusion regarding one of the packages on the hotel website, I wrote to the general manager. I was subsequently helped by Alba in the reservation center who reached out to me. Frankly, she saved the day. Our check-in with Christie at the front desk was lovely and seamless. Our room was ready so we were able to check in a tad early. Christie gave us our key cards, vouchers, wristbands and car placard and explained all the things we needed to know about our stay. Her pleasing personality made us feel welcome. Our room was in the D section on the 4th floor. The one-bedroom with balcony had a partial gulf view, king size bed, living room/dining room, and full kitchen. The bathroom was modern with a walk in shower. We purchased a package including breakfast. Each morning we headed to the Captains Catch in the main building. The buffet was very good. There was plenty options from which to choose. The omelet/ eggs to order station was a nice addition. The first night, we ate dinner in the Japanese restaurant at the hotel. You need reservations for the hibachi section, but not for their sushi bar/table area. It was very good. (See separate review). We also visited the pool and the hot tub one day. And enjoyed walking along the beach. As we are from Florida, we didn't sit out sunning nor use the rec facilities except one day we stopped by to get towels. We did play a couple games of bingo by the pool, but that's it, and we did have a drink at the tiki bar. Drinks were just okay. Checkout was not the easiest as mentioned above -- after I realized I'd been charged an incorrect amount. Jamie did not handle the situation well. Luckily, I'd saved Alba's contact info so I called her from the checkout/front desk. She verified the correct charges. And an adjustment/credit was made to my credit card billing. Bottom line, this would have been a five star review. And the facility itself deserves that. But after a lovey relaxing mini vacation for my husband's birthday, my treat, I once again had to deal with a glitch that I thought was already resolved. And that's now my last impression.

We loved our stay in cottage #7. You're staying on the beach. Wake up, go out your front (back)…read moredoor and you're on the beach. That's paradise. Here are some tips mixed in with the review, if you are planning on staying at one of the cottages on the beach. The #7 cottage is at the end, closest to The Mad Hatter. This cottage is really cute. Everything looks fairly new - five years. The cottage was surface clean, if you don't look at the ceiling fan blades, vents, under the sink. Bring suction cup hooks to hold your clothes while you shower. There weren't any hooks in the bathrooms. The covered lanai had four chairs and two small end tables. It also has a clothes line set up (bring hangers of clothes pins) to help dry your bathing suits. Although the screen door was torn, there were barely any bugs in the lanai. We watched an incredible lightning storm one night. There's a bbq grill outside the lanai. You need to bring your own bbq briquettes, lighter, fluid, and bbq utensils, but then you can enjoy chargrilled hamburgers, hot dogs, bbq chicken.... There's also a picnic table outside your lanai, next to the bbq. Bring a sponge to wash dishes. It's not easy washing dishes with paper towels. This isn't as well stocked as a time share. However they have most of the basics. We weren't planning on cooking this weekend. Bringing premade meals, much easier. There's a toaster, blender, coffee machine with basket (not the cone type), microwave, electric range. No dishwasher. There is no table to eat at, there is a small island in the kitchen with stools. Bring water shoes if you have sensitive feet. There's a lot of small shells and the sand gets HOT during the summer afternoons. For just walking on the sand, Dollar Tree flip flops will protect you from the heat. There's no outdoor shower, not even a hose, to rinse off prior to going inside the cottage. Someone was kind enough to leave a plastic tub, that we filled with water and a bit of dish soap (maybe left by the owners or a previous renter?). That did help to at least wash off our feet before showering. With every precaution taken, sand will get in the cottage. There is no vacuum or mop. We were able to sweep most of the sand away, but I wish we brought our stick vacuum. The driveway is for one car only and it is tight (we have a Yukon)! Get friendly with your neighbors, because you need to share the entrance/exit to your parking spot and if they don't park exactly in their spot you'll need to ask them to move their car to either enter of leave. The entrance to all of the beach cottages is in the back of the house. The walkway is all sand. Keep that in mind when packing. Rolling luggage will get stuck, and if you roll anything you'll be bringing sand into the cottage. I called ahead and asked about beach towels, they said bring your own beach towels or you can use the bath towels. Although we never needed any beach towels. We usually stayed in the lanai looking at shells. until it was shower time. I hope they replace the mattresses soon. None of us slept well. Although if you spend all day in the water, you'll be too tired to notice. The air conditioning worked perfectly. Nice and cool. Especially when it was almost 100 degrees outside! Bring a couple of carabiners to attach your room key to your bathing suit or bag. If you need ice for your cooler, they have ice across the street (marina side). We brought our own beach chairs from home, but they have some you can borrow (leave a deposit and get it back when you return the chair). Bring itch cream, the sand fleas are ferocious in the evening. The sunsets are stunning. The town is only a 15 minute drive away. We weren't phased by having to drive to town, however our neighbors thought town would be in walking distance. Bring buckets or mesh bags for shell collecting. There were lots of pretty, small shells to choose from. We had an incredible stay in cottage #7.

I've been to better beaches…read more To start off, to even get on the Island they charge you $6. $6? Where is this money going to? It obviously isn't getting spent on upgrading the island. And by upgrading... I mean this next part. Half the island where all the shops are have phone data reception. The other half where you actually live, doesn't. Need to call 911? Good luck. You won't have any data. You will have to find a local Wi-Fi hotspot to get data. The WHOLE island is infested with noseeums. If you sleep in any house or cottage, you will get bitten by these tiny little bugs. It's annoying and ruined my stay. It's so horrible that businesses sell products to prevent them from biting you. The beaches are nice, but the water is dirty and murky. We stayed at a cottage across the street from the beach, it was a nice little walk. The cottages were decent with a flat-screen TV and Wi-Fi, but the outside shower didn't work and you have noseeums that come into the cottage at night. Most cottages have a little dock where you can park your boat, Jet-ski or kayak. Resort staff come in the morning to get your old towels and bring you new ones, and they take trash out of the bins. Another flaw of this cottage is that restaurants are 25 - 30 minutes away driving a max of 15 - 20 MPH. That's also the same distance to the local grocery store. They have everything you need on the island. If not, you have to across 3 bridges and pay $6 again to re-gain entry back on the island. Sanibel is a bit overrated, I heard people come here annually, but for me, it's not a place where I'll go again.