We are looking for a family friendly hotel along the Gulf Coast, with all facilities on site to cater for a relaxing holiday near the beach. We would like a nice swimming pool, play area, restaurants and snack bar, good size room / suite in a 4* hotel. Looking at perhaps the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort - anybody stayed there?

We stayed at Tradewinds IG back in 2005. We were on the top floor. It was a nice room with a great view. Saw dolphins swim by in the morning. Got a great rate thru Entertainment book. I think we were under $200 a night. Very upscale resort. Didn't eat at the resort restaurants as they were overpriced. The lazy river is really cool and the pools are nice. Would go back there again. This year we went to Ft. Myers Beach and had a great time. Would take FMB over FLB. If you would like more info on where we stayed and what we did in FMB, just ask!

Thanks for info on Tradewinds.
Can you explain about the entertainment book discount - what is it, is it available in UK?
If you have more info on Fort Myers that would be great too, so difficult to decide where to go, just want a great relaxing holiday where the kids are happy with amenities nearby.

If you go to Tradewinds you are fairly close (30 min drive) to Busch Gardens. If you go to FM Beach you are close to Sanibel and Captiva Islands. IMO, FM Beach is more family oriented vs. St. Pete Beach. Ft. Myers Beach is about 4-5 miles long and there are many good places to eat. At the north end of Estero Island (which is known as Ft. Myers Beach) there is Times Square. This has a bunch of little shops and eateries. Our favorite place to eat there was Wahoo Willie's. Had lunch and dinner there. Did a day trip to Sanibel. Beautiful shelling beaches. Daughter found a live starfish, too! Nice little shops and such to stop at there, too. Ate lunch at the Blue Giraffe. Good food, lousy service. Sanibel is for the upper crust, whereas FMB is great for everyone. We stayed at Point Estero Resort and loved, loved it. Got a complimentary upgrade to the penthouse suite. If you want to see photos from this trip go to: http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s...rue&interval=3 and the slideshow should start. There are also photos from Disney, too. If you have more questions, feel free to ask!

Where do you want to be? Destin? Sandestin is great- -has everything there. It is a resort.
Destin has a lot too. If you go a little further-- you hit Santa Rosa Beach. or Grayton Beach. Seaside. Watercolors is great. Seagrove and Rosemary beach. If you do a search for any of these names and what you want- hotel-- you will find something.