What is the best resort on Sanibel or Captiva for a couple? I have gone to the web sites for all the resorts on both islands and they all look the same to me, and to tell the truth: floral bedspeads, sceened porches, kitchenettes, and the grounds all look like golf courses. Maybe the sites are deceiving. I know that people don't go to sanibel & captiva for knockout hotels but for the beautiful environment & beach. I want that too. But is there anything romantic or special there, not overrun with kids or teens? We would be going in September so it will probably be rather quiet then. I wonder, is there any full-service resort there that is interesting or imaginative and doesn't feel like a moteL? PLEASE give your preferences if you have stayed there.

I don't think there is a Couples resort on Sanibel or Captiva. I think they are only in the Carribean

I didn't mean a Couples resort I meant a good resort for a couple.

Oh, never mind.

Try South Seas Plantation. It is a large family resort, but the kids should be back in school by November. The beach is beautiful, the water is a beautiful caribbean aqua blue-green. I don't know if you'll really find what you're looking for. Sanibel/Captiva are very laid back, family-oriented islands.

Hi Daria,
I've been researching this same topic. My husband and I considered Sanibel, but he decided that just biking around the island wasn't exciting enough for him. (this really would've been my first choice)
Anyway, he wanted to see the Everglades, and based upon the map, it looked to us like Marco was south enough to make a trip there easy. Sanibel looks great, especially is you go with your family.
Naples looks upscale & stuffy; I've talked with people that say Naples is a big city with a beach. (No offense, Robert)
So, we finally chose Marco. We'll be able to explore the ten thousand islands by wave runner or boat. We plan to see the Everglades. Other than that, just hanging on the beach, or by the pool with a drink in my hand works for me!!

Thanks to xyz, Jack, & Kimberly. I've never considered Marco Island because I always had the impression it was for conventioners & golfers. But maybe I'm wrong. My husband and I like sitting on the beach and zoning out. That's why I thought Sanibel & Captiva would be nice. Kimberly, where are you staying on Marco? And does anyone know if there's a big difference between South Seas Plantation, Sundial, Sanibel Inn, Casa Ybel, Song of the Sea, & the other "resorts" there? That's what I'm most curious about. I like laid back & casual. But not seedy rooms or a boxlike condo atmosphere.

Not that I was implying seedy or boxlike about any of the above places. Just that it's what we want to avoid.

Daria:
The Song of the Sea and the Sanibal Inn are owned by the S Seas Plantation. They each have their own website (just add the www in front, .com). You will find a tollfree tele# at the website. I called and spoke with the nicest ladies about all of the resorts.
South Seas Plantation is a big resort on Captiva Island. They have trollies to get you around the place.
The Song of the Sea is the smallest, located in Sanibel. There are only about 30 rooms, very quaint. They have bicycles included with your stay, and a continental b'fast daily, but no restaurant or poolside service.
The Sanibel Inn is right next door to the Song of the Sea, and there are restaurants & poolside bar there. Guests are welcome to come & go between the two. Sanibel really looks like a nice, laid-back place to just relax. Check out the websites.
My husband & I are staying at the Hilton on Marco. We've reserved a deluxe room. All the rooms at the Hilton are much larger than the Marriott, and they all have a balcony. The ammenities are the same. The deluxe room is ocean view. The Hilton has a nice ocean front restaurant that serves a good breakfast. The Marriott has the restaurant the Voyager which gets good reviews ~ this place seats 300 people! No reservations are necessary if you're travelling off-peak. The Hilton and the Marriott are right next to one another; they share the same water sports services on the beach. So, what's available at the Hilton is available at the Marriott.
I asked about what conferences, if any, were going on while we'll be there. I chose the Hilton for us because it's a smaller place, larger rooms w/balconies, and hopefully not a lot of convention people. By the way, the Hilton's deluxe room rate isn't any less expensive than the Marriott.
Now, all we need is some nice sunny weather!
Let us know what you choose. Kim

I stayed at the Plantation in 1990 and was told by the staff that Mick jagger and Jerry Hall were there with their children at the same time.
It's a nice place but it's not a fru-fru resort.
Sanibel's beaches are some of the most gorgeous in Florida. Natural and unspoiled. We often went to the state park beaches later in the day to evening and found we had the beach to ourselves.
It's lovely and not tacky like some areas.

south Seas on captiva is great for couples. you can do as much or as little as you like;walk, swim. tennis, golf, shop, it's delightful.

If it's upscale you are looking for Daria, I'd head to Naples and either the Ritz Carlton or Registry. It would be an enormous stretch of the imagination to describe Naples as a big city with a beach unless you are from a backwoods area. It is a beautiful town and more a oouples destination, with fantastic shopping (and this from an inveterate ex-Dallas shopper), and great restaurants. The only negative is that neither hotel is right on their beach, but separated from it by a boardwalk through the mangroves. That doesn't bother me, but may bother some.

We've stayed at Casa Ybel on Sanibel and enjoyed it. It is not deluxe, but absolutely fine for our needs. My husband runs a 4 star hotel in Tampa so getting away from that atmosphere can be nice for us. It was not over run by kids, is located on a nice section of beach, and we enjoyed the screened porches (huge) for just sitting in the evening and enjoying the sights and sounds of the area--that provided the "romantic".

I have been going to Captiva for over 14 years--We love SS plantation and have gone with couples without kids--the bigest issue is where you stay at SS--you want to be down at the very tip of he island--ask for Plantation House, the bldg. next to PH forget the name or Lands End. As far as Naples The Ritz is on the beach-- the difference is the Ritz is a 5 star resort and the service is much better than at SS. Good Luck!!1

Kim, the Ritz, like the Registry, is separated from its beach by mangroves and a boardwalk, unlike places such as Casa Ybel and parts of SS Plantation. It's walkable, but not the same as walking out your door onto the beach, which can be a disappointment to those who don't expect that arrangement.

State laws prohibit cutting mangroves where they exist--they may be cut by no more than 1/3 at a time and the cuttings may not be removed, so newer construction must work around laws designed to protect the fragile eco-system. Both resorts though, are gorgeous--you just won't walk out the door onto the sand.

We love to stay at the Sundial. Full Service, close to town, etc. You can get reservations at the hotel directly, or call a place that rents the condos (941-472-4151.) Ask to stay away from the main hotel if you want a quiet time for pool etc.

Daria,

My husband & I stayed at the Sanibel Inn in June, and what a disappointment. The view was okay from our room - we could see the Gulf...but the room itself was very dirty. We were promised a surprise for our 5th Anniversary (champagne) but didn't receive it until the morning we were leaving! and that was after we complained. Got a letter from the manager giving us a 50% discount for our next visit in 2001 - we never went back.
We did go to the South Seas Plantation for a visit and it looked nice and clean with GREAT Views (water all around)...neat restaurant called the "Bubble room" (I think) on Captiva.
Also, had a VERY NICE anniversary dinner at another place on Sanibel with Gulf views...if you're interested will look it up.
We enjoyed our visit to Sanibel, very laid back, just not our hotel.

Wow, I really appreciate all the great info. How about Seaside Inn, has anyone stayed there or seen it. Love idea of biking around Sanibel. Also heard good things about La Playa resort on the beach in Naples. We do want high quality & service but casual & not stuffy or dressy. Really want to stay Gulf Coast to check it out, we are thinking about retiring there.

We stayed last year at the TarponTale Inn. Very private,a walk to the Buttonwood Beach,bikes provided and immaculate! The outdoor hot tub was ULTRA romantic around 9PM at night and the stars were put there just for us! Not expensive. Look at it online.

Thanks again for all the input & interesting suggestions. Tarpon Tale Inn sounds real nice but it's more of a housekeeping inn and we like all the amenities for our yearly escape - maid service & gym on premises, etc. We are leaning toward La Playa in Naples. Then we can take a drive over to Sanibel & Captiva one day and check out all the places for ourselves maybe for next year.

Thanks again for all the help, very much appreciated. I took in every word. It's so great to get personal viewpoints instead of having to rely on brochurs & web sites that only show the best side.