jillg

Any recommendations for a nice, somewhat upscale, place to stay in the Sanibel/Captiva area? We are two families travelling together with kids ages 9-14 looking for a resort on the beach with tennis courts. We love casual, but don't want a place with polyester bedspreads in peach and seafoam!

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Annabel

I don't know of any on Captiva as there are the Tween Waters Inn and South Seas Resort. Tween is a favorite of ours, it meets all your criteria with the exception of being somewhat upscale. It is very nice but very laid back. Don't even bother with South Seas. It is still not completed and it is not "beachfront" like the Tween.

I have never stayed on Sanibel, but I have never seen true upscale there.

There are very nice homes to rent that have tennis courts and private beaches.

You may want to look into Naples. We love LaPlaya. Directly on the beach, upscale, no seafoam/peach colors. The Ritz is also down the beach from LaPlaya, although not as much on the beach.

Dana_M

Take a look at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Not as upscale as the Ritz, but also not as pricey.

NeoPatrick

I hate to bring this up, but you'd better not take the Presidential Suite at the Ritz Carlton in Naples. It's done in peach and seafoam, as are a great many upscale places in the area.

And I also hate to bring this up, but a lot of very nice places are using fabric for both draperies and bedspreads that appear to be silk, but is actually polyester.

jillg

NeoPatrick:
You are taking me way too seriously! What I'm trying to say is I don't want to stay in a place that hasn't been refreshed since 1985 -- you know -- when peach and seafoam was the latest in style. Maybe the Naples Ritz needs to find a new interior designer

ksbeem

Try the Sanibel Inn. Tennis courts and great beach, plus it's got some cool environmental features. www.sanibelinn.com

wliwl

Rent a couple of condos. That is where most people stay on Sanibel.

SusanSDG

We stayed at South Seas last year and had a wonderful time. We stayed in a regular harborside room, which was brand new, gorgeous and had a balcony right over the water. The beach is lovely, there's a little shuttle bus so kids can kind of explore on thir own and lots to do. The kids we saw were fishing off the pier and watching dolphins, hanging out at the ice cream parlor and the pools. There are lots of condos, etc, some of which are right on the beach.
It's exactly what you're looking for.

lindafromNJ

Take at look at Jensens on the Gulf in Captiva. My husband and I stayed there and loved it. They are spacious, clean and right on the water.

Honoria_Glossop

Re: Jensen's. Are those the units where the main road turns right towards the Green Flash? I've often wondered about them.

lindafromNJ

Yes it is right before the Green Flash. Jensens has two places. Jensens on the Gulf and Jensens on the Marina. we stayed on the Gulf and it was absolutely beautiful. It is on the left hand side. You can walk to the Green Flash and other restuarants. Go on line and look at the rooms. They are like condos. There is no pool but it is right on the beach. We were so pleased with our staythere. The sunsets are beautiful right from your balcony. There were kids there and families. They have two bedroom units and also a house which I guess can be shared by two families. Check it out.

travelchat

Wish I'd seen this post earlier to recommend the time share condos for rent at Casa Ybel, Sanibel, on their web site. They have studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units with full kitchens. This is an upscale condo development with a "hotel" feel, an on-site restaurant, The Thistle. It's on the beach and has a fabulous pool good for adults and kids. The location is just right, mid-island, near stores, shops and restaurants.

sweet_polly

I'm a Floridian, and Sanibel/Captiva is my favorite weekend getaway. I know that Tween Waters Inn has some glitches and is aging...but I adore that place and always choose it. For a small, dated property, it offers a lot of amenities...tennis courts, tiki bar, marina, high-end and low-end restaurants, nice pool area...and it's on a quiet stretch of the islands. I believe that some of the rooms were decorated in peach and seafoam the last time I visited, but I think they've all been renovated by now. Anyway...the scarring was nothing that taking a bottle brush and some bleach to my optic nerve couldn't fix.

Stephie

I didn't read the other posts carefully, so this might have already been mentioned, but check out the Sanibel Collection www.sanibelcollection.com/

We stayed at one of the inns, The Song of the Sea. It was literally cute as a button (as I had read someone else comment before we went.) The rooms are airy and caribbean, yet I don't recall polyseter peach and seafoam bedspreads!

But, do check out all 5 of their properties. If you stay at one, you can use the amenities of the others (at least that was our experience in 2000.) Their was another of these properties literally right next to Song of the Sea - w/in walking distance. It had a poolside grill, a bigger pool and kids programs going on when we visited. It was busier and livelier. The Song of the Sea is quiet and pretty, with a wonderful included breakfast and we really found it charming. It may not be what you want, but another of those properties might be. I'm envious, we loved Sanibel/Captiva!!