sanibel island About This Page:

[tjslgs]

We're looking at possibly going to Sanibel Island for a week this summer. Anyone have any recommendations for a great place to stay?

[Ceara's mawmaw]

Yay!!! You will have so much fun, the beach, the museum, the lighthouse, great places to eat, great places to shop, and the chill/relax aspect of it........we normally rent a vacation home for a couple of weeks, but we have stayed at the Sundial resort and Sanibel Sunset Beach(it's a best western) we enjoyed both hotels....be sure and watch the local paper for low tide.......it is fascinating to go out there during that.........Have a wonderful time!!!!!!

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Sanibel is BEAUTIFUL!! We have also stayed at the Sundial and loved it Make sure you visit BubbleRoom - it's awesome! This is also a great site for resources Museums & Attractions on Sanibel Island & Captiva Island Provided by the Chamber of Commerce Have a great time!

[LouigiAnne]

The Pink Shell Resort is really nice with Lot's of kid's stuff too, like making T-shirts or beach bags and fun Ice cream parties almost every afternoon. We made special hand prints of the kids and decorated them w/ shells etc. but it's on Ft. Myers Beach just over the bridge from Sanibel Island. My family go almost every summer.

[BaconGreaseKid]

I've been going to Sanibel for 30+ years, so I think I can say I'm pretty familiar with it by now.

There are only a few conventional hotels; most of the accommodations are condos rented out through agents or, in some instances, complexes where the individual condo units are rented out as a hotel. I also recommend Sundial (which is in the last category) as my family had a condo there from 1978 - 1983. The current management maintains it very well. It has 400+ units, four pools, 20 (?) tennis courts, probably a thousand feet of beachfront, bike rental, and so forth on the property. The units range from ~750 sq ft efficiencies up to two bedrooms. Most of the units don't have a view of the water, though, so be aware of that when reserving. Summer on Sanibel is very quiet, so you'll have your pick.

Sanibel is about nature and recreation, so if you're looking for boardwalk-type beach activities or nightlife, you definitely won't find it. The roughly 2000 permanent residents vigorously enforce a strict development code, and would probably prefer to wind back the clock to 1961, before there was a causeway.

Speaking of which, the causeway is the one way on and off the island. If you are renting a car, make sure you get one with a discount toll transponder. The cash toll is $6, but $2 with a discount transponder. Given the number of times you'll be going off-island, that's going to make a big difference.

Restaurants on Sanibel have always been disappointing. The few over the years that haven't looked to take advantage of a captive audience have all gone bust. I would pass on the Bubble Room; we went faithfully evry year on my parents' anniversary, but it's gone downhill in the past few years to where it's not worth the price. There's a hole in the wall joint called the Lazy Flamingo which used to have excellent conch chowder and raw oysters but it's hit the skids also. The resort restaurants never have lived up to their billing. I can recommend dozens of places off-island that are worth the trip but I can't think of one place on Sanibel.

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Originally Posted by BaconGreaseKid

Sanibel is about nature and recreation, so if you're looking for boardwalk-type beach activities or nightlife, you definitely won't find it. The roughly 2000 permanent residents vigorously enforce a strict development code, and would probably prefer to wind back the clock to 1961, before there was a causeway.

So true and one of the things we love most about Sanibel! It's a quiet and very relaxing place to visit

Originally Posted by BaconGreaseKid

I would pass on the Bubble Room; we went faithfully evry year on my parents' anniversary, but it's gone downhill in the past few years to where it's not worth the price.

This is so sad to hear We haven't been in about two years and it was one of our favorite places to visit and did so faithfully every trip.

[Ceara's mawmaw]

I have been going since late 60s there was only like one grocery store, a couple hotels(one called the Jolly Roger which is now the Sanibel Sunset Beach) and a bike rental shop.......I agree it is a spot for relaxing and a slow paced vacation. It is where we go to rent a house or room, hunt for shells in the mornings, sun on the beach, walk or bike around the island. We enjoy the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It has gone down from what it was in the 90s but if you go the right reasons it will be a good relaxing time......or at least it is for us.....my dh enjoys it between WDW vacations......it is the polar opposite of being at WDW....lol He can sleep late if he wants, no b'fast ADRs to hurry to and it is a slower pace seeing the sights......the wildlife refuge is a favorite of my Dnephews.....the birds and the occasional gator.......

[Luvsun]

Sanibel is beautiful and so peaceful!
The shelling is great!
I hope you find a great place to stay - I have never actually stayed at Sanibel.
We just go for day trips!

[tjslgs]

Thanks everyone. We were actually looking for a 1-2 bedroom condo, so the Sundial sounds good.

[Ann2]

Great for shelling! It's been about 5- 6 years ago since we have been. We stayed twice at the Island Beach club. (Condo's). It was nice but there were some year-round resident retirees that constantly fussed about kids in the pool the second yr were were there.