Help me choose a place in Sanibel, Florida
 

I am trying this again as per a suggestion from a Fodor Member. Has anyone stayed at the following places in Sanibel/Captiva- if so could you give me a critique. I have looked already at Hotels on Fodors but get better information through Talk.
Jensens Gulf Resort
Island Inn
Casa Ybel
Waterside Inn
Sanibel Moorings

I have pulled up other messages but was looking for current information

No, but we love staying at Pointe Santo de Sanibel (aka as Premiere Properties). We return every year.www.premiersanibel.com

We've stayed at Casa Ybel twice, but not since the hurricane. After our first stay there, we never looked further when we were going back the next year. Then: good location, well kept and nicely furnished. Loved their screened porches in the evening. We had a one bedroom unit...two queen beds in the BR and a sofa bed in the LR. Nicely equipped kitchen. Hopefully it's still as good, or even better after storm repairs.

Linda, I think I mentioned on your other post, that we were there years ago. We rented a two bedroom. We really like it then, but the pictures of the remodeled rooms look nice. Call and ask if they recently update all of their units.

Hopefully they have fully recovered from their last hurricane.

I have been to Sanibel/Captiva many times, and stayed many places. I'm sold now on Tween Waters Inn on Captiva. If they don't have rooms available, I reschedule.

Jensen's is the only property of the ones you listed that does not have a pool (if that is important to you). I like however where Jensen's is located. We enjoy walking over to the marina and watching the manatees.

We have stayed at many Sanibel properties over the years including Waterside Inn and Island Inn. They are okay but there are many other places I would rather stay. If you are going to be there for an entire week, you might check with Royal Shell Vacation Properties (RSVP) or directly with owners via vrbo.com for condo rentals. We have had good luck with both. Have fun!

Thanks for responding luvtraval. We don't care about the pool. Have you stayed at Jensens? we were thinking about the Beach House or the South beach location. The rooms look really nice on the web. The people on the phone were so nice and helpful. we are only going for 4 nights and the condos want a week. One condo called Captiva Shores have a one bedroom condo. Any additional info would be helpful.

Hi Linda
We go to Sanibel every year (if possible) in February, and stay at Casa Ybel. (We are very glad we bought a timeshare there many years ago). The two-bedroom units were all extensively refurbished after Hurricane Charley, and we made our first post-hurricane visit this year. Still love it, and that view of the gulf is as fabulous as ever.

They also have one-bedroom units if you don't need the extra space.

We'll be there again in 2007 -- just starting to think about it :-)

You may also want to post on the trip advisor forum

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...d_Florida.html

The reviewers on the forum live on or nearby the island

Linda - we have not stayed at Jensen's but did see the property on a visit to Sanibel/Captiva in July. The webphotos though look very nice.

Dear Luvtravel
What did you think of the property that you saw. Is it close to the water? How did it look from the outside? We have not made our reservations yet we have had a little set back. we are however going. Any input on Jensens that anyone can give will be helpful. Staying at a condo is out as they want you to stay a week.

Linda when we stayed at Casa Ybel, the one bedrooms rented by the day, not by the week, but the two bedrooms and up by the week. Did you ask them about 1 BR units?

The Casa Ybel 2-bedrooms also rent by the night -- but you get a price break (a small one) if you rent a full week. (I know because we own a 2-bedroom, and have in the past rented out for less than a full week.)

Not sure when you are going there, Linda. Current offer on www.casaybelresort.com:
Buy 4 Nights and Get the Fifth Night FREE!

Our three choices so far for this summer are Casa Ybel on Sanibel, Charter Club or Eagle's Nest on Marco Island. We are HGVC timeshare owners. Do these properties have ALL of their units facing the beach? Do all have wasthers/dryers? Anything we need to watch out for when making reservations? Our kids are 16 and 13. Spring break is another option but my hubbie is convinced it would be packed there. Any opions on how crowded it would be that time of year (week of March 18)? Thanks.

We love the off the beaten path types of places. When in Sanibel, we stay at the http://fortyfifteen.com resort. It is small (only 10 units and only 4 are beachfront) but way far away from the commercial section of the island.

We haven't stayed at Casa Ybel but did eat there last year and it about broke the bank :(

Mitch
http://web.mac.com/maunger/iWeb/Sani...r/Welcome.html - 2007 Sanibel calendar

I agree with Mitch. If you are staying for a week, you really should consider Forty Fifteen. You'll get a 1 or 2 bedroom cottage, complete with kitchen, for a really great rate. We stayed there in May and we paid around $750 for the week. It's right on the water - the Gulf. It's in a quiet residential area, which is very nice, and the beach was not very busy for that reason. I have no connection with them except as a satisfied customer. We just really loved the place. If we went back to Sanibel, no question that that is where we would go.

Thanks for all of your responses. We have chosen Jensens on Captiva. We are only there for 4 nights so getting a condo is very difficult. I think and hope we made a good choice. Ca n anyone recommend good restaurants in that area and also can you just fish of the docks at Jensen's Marina.

My favorite restaurants on Captiva are RedFish Blufish (outstanding!_); The Bubble Room and the Mucky Duck (food's only pretty good, but they are both charming island institutions); The Green Flash; and Key Lime Bistro. For a big night out, The Mad Hatter (which is just across the little bridge on the Sanibel side) is excellent. In my opinion, the best breakfast on the Islands can be found at the Lighthouse Cafe on the far end of Sanibel...near the (you guessed it) lighthuse.