Isabel

Help! I need to plan a family vacation for the end of August. Can't decide between Marriott Marco Island or South Seas. I'm into luxury, my husband like golf, and the three kids just want to have fun 24 X 7. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Michelle

We always stay @ the Hilton just south of the Marriott. Ask for the Junior suite. I find the rooms @ Marriott too small & the place too sprawling ( I don't know about you but w/ kids we always seem to have to go back & forth to the the room a million times a day & it's a lot easier @ the Hilton than @ the Marriott)

Emily

We just stayed at Marco the week of Dec 3 and enjoyed it immensely. The majority of the rooms face the ocean and have balconies for good pelican/dolphin watching. We were given a corner room so we had a balcony on 2 sides. The rooms are huge with both a small refrigerator and a snack refrigerator in each. Service is excellent and the staff are very friendly. Breakfast is typical Marriott buffet or entrees can be ordered. There is a small beach restaurant called Quinn's that has great lunch or dinner food. The regular dinner restaurant was very boring and we ate there only once.The beach at this property is outstanding - it's very wide and there are always pelicans and dolphins playing around.Lots of shells around! There's a kiddie pool and a play area and an arcade as well. I'll definitely revisit this property!!

Judy

I don't want to be a spoiler in anyway. In fact I have been to the Marriott at Marco and love it there! But when I read you are going on this trip in August I just thought I would mention something you perhaps may want to check out.

I know on the east coast of Florida in the summer there is a bad problem with sea lice in the ocean. I was there 2 summers ago in July and we wouldn't swim. The lifeguard told me that when the ocean temp. gets above 84 degrees the problem arises. Relatives of mine who live in Boca Raton told me they can't swim all summer long. It is just awful - red, itchy bumps all over your body.

I don't know whether there is the same type of problem at Marco Island and the West Coast but if you are planning on a great beach vacation and can't swim in the ocean it may be a drag!

But the Marriott was so relaxing, the beach georgeous, sunsets incredible, great boat rentals,etc.

Celeste

I've lived in Florida for 16 years and certainly there are times when sealife (sharks, sea lice, jellyfish, etc.) can ruin going in the water, but nothing lasts all summer, and usually not more than a few days. The Gulf is warmer than the ocean but I don't recall beaches there being closed any more than beaches on the Atlantic.

As for your original question, Isabel, I'd go for Marco Island. I've brought my kids to South Seas Resort and there seemed to be an extra charge for every single thing we did even though we were already paying $200 plus per night for a condo. So unless the same problem exists at the Marriott Marco, or the Hilton, I'd stay on Marco.

We also ended up leaving Captiva Island and Sanibel Island several times for more activities for the kids, and there's a bridge toll (what is it now? $7?) that gets pretty old after a few times!

Celeste

By the way, Isabel, if you're asking about a South Seas on Marco and NOT the South Seas on Captiva Island, I'm sorry! It didn't occur to me until now that there might be another place on Marco by the same name!

Michelle

As far as I know, sea lice are never a problem on the Gulf where Marco Island is located. Sea lice are the larvae of jelly fish & are a problem (big problem!) on the East coast of Fla. (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Delray Beach...) generally "from Mother's Day to Father's Day." (although it can begin earlier & end later.) It lasts more than a 'couple of days' as indicated above. We were in Ft. Lauderdale last year around mid-May & were strongly advised by hotel not to go in water. That said, although sea lice are not a problem on the West coast of Fla. Red Tide is problematic. I am unable to give you a precise definition of Red Tide but suffice it to say that when it happens you do not want to be anywhere near the water! (Something about algae & bacterial build-up that makes the air impossible to breathe & they close the beaches.) I do not know when Red Tide is likely to occur.

Patrick

Have you considered the Ritz in Naples? Of course it is normally expensive but in August they can have packages that actually border on reasonable -- about a third of what they are in season. They also just opened their second hotel--a golf resort just a few miles from the beachfront property, so you get the facilities of both for the price of one. It's worth checking out --no comparison in quality over the others. I'm curious too, though, did you mean South Seas on Captiva or also on Marco?

Margo

We go to Marco almost every year and stay at Eagle's Nest Beach Resort (Hilton resort) right next door to the Marriott. We've never actually stayed at the Marriott, but I'm with Michelle, it is way too big for me. Not sure how old your kids are, but Eagle's Nest has lots of family activities, including a golf outing for your husband! Have fun!

Isabel

Many thanks to all for the helpful input. Pete, thanks for the suggestion. I will check out the Ritz Carlton in Naples. The South Seas Resort I'm considering is the one in Captiva.

Kathy

We stayed at a condo in Marco Island which was called the South Seas Towers. It had a nice pool area. a long walk to the beach. We were renters and treated poorly. We went last July 2001. So many rules. We did not feel welcomed at all. The condo was okay. old but it had two baths and two bedrooms. We had two children ages 5 and 6 with us. There were about half families and half seniors. Good Luck.

quikmessage

It may help you with an understanding of the quality of the South Seas Resort if you knew that that resort is owned by the Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare!