Marco Island
 

Any advice, recommendations etc on Marco Island most welcome please! Planning to visit New Year!

Hi Sarah: We were very fortunate to spend a lovely week on Marco Island this past Dec and what a week it was! Beautiful warm white sandy beaches and great weather too. We stayed at the Charter Club of Marco Island and it was the best! The apts. were very nice and the grounds were lovely as was the pool area. The resort had a complimentary bbq and fashion show by the pool and they also hosted a breakfast to tell all the guests what was available to do on the island. We spent alot of time walking the beach and just loving the sun and sand! The local movie theatre was across the street from our resort and it was very "unique" as you sat at a type of bar and had service for all kinds of eats directly at your table. It was really different. The shops are really nice with lots of little stores to while away any afternoon. We also went on a beautiful catamaran out into the gulf to watch dolphins and the captain even dropped us all off on a deserted island to comb the beach for unusual shells. Really nice morning! If you have children (which we are past that stage!) the resort has craft classes and other entertainment for the kids. There is really quite a bit to do there. All the balconies faced the gulf and every morning we would make our tea and sit out and watch the dolphins frolic in the warm waters! Oh you are making me truly envious of your holiday plans. Hope this helps......if I can help you out further let me know. Hope you have a wonderful vacation on this most wonderful island!

Check out www.flausa.com. <BR> <BR>Lots of info.

Dear Cindy and Mary <BR>Thank you for your advice - I will put it to good use. I am also looking at Anne Marie Island and Longboat Key - can you offer opinions on these. <BR>Many thanks <BR>Sarah

Hi Sarah: In response to you question regarding Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key....they too are really nice! Longboat Key is really a very posh and very rich area, and the people that stay there are great.There is not one bad resort or property on that island! Alot of retirees (at least when we stayed there 2 years ago in Dec) My husband loved to get up in the morning and walk the beach and met soooo many nice folk! We stayed at the Longboat Bay Club and it was the nicest resort we have ever stayed in! The place was gigantic...as there was 4 of us (including cousins from Scotland), we sometimes couldn't find each other in the suite, it was that big. The Marriott Chain owns this property and it is really gorgeous! There are many lovely shops not too far from Longboat Key at a little place called St. Armands Circle...which I might add if you do go shopping there make sure you take your credit card as the prices are really high, but even just to have a walk around is really nice too! We found Longboat Key and Siesta Key to be the best shelling that we have found yet! The shells are really amazing as is the blue Gulf waters. Anna Maria Island, on the other hand is really a quaint little place with lovely restaurants and shops too. It isn't as modern as Longboat Key but it is like another world entirely. My cousins just stayed there this past Dec (can't remember the motel, but they said it was really nice and everyone was just super!) I hope this helps you out! You really have a few hard decisions to make don't you? It's also funny that you asked about these places, as we have only stayed at the Islands that you wanted info about! Glad I can help. P.S. I noticed your e-mail addy...where are you from in the UK? Bye for now.

Hi Cindy <BR>Thanks again for your help - I am from Oxford! Is your addy canadian or does it mean california? <BR>Byeee <BR>Sarah

Hi Sarah: Yes you are right we are 100% Canadian from the great white north! Please let us all know where you finally decide to vacation! Have a great time wherever you go! We leave this Nov. for Florida and even will be attending a wedding at the Disney Wedding Pavillion! My cousin from Glasgow Scotland will be married there! Can't wait! Glad I could help you out.