We are planning to spend 3-4 days the end of May near Sanibel and need ideas for places to stay. We hope to walk out the door to the beach, rent a bike, watch birds, relax, eat, drink.....Thanks for your ideas.

Also looking for places in the middle Keys for 3-4 days.

Keys: Cheeca Lodge is very nice and has all your requirements. So does the Little Palm Island on Torch Key but it is very pricey. I would check though because bargains abound at the high end resorts these days.

Your request for Sanibel is harder to come by as the hotels there are quite prosaic and don't fit this interior designer's idea of romantic.

For the past two years we have spent a week in a small resort on Sanibel called Sanibel Cottages, managed by Hilton timeshares I think. They are big two bedroom units in the Old Florida style and quite comfortable, on the beach with big jacuzzi tub looking out on the gulf.

During this week I usually cook most nights ( a real novelty at my house) using fresh shrimp and fish either caught by us or purchased as I think most of the Sanibel restaurants are sort of nothing. The only one I liked in the past was Katie Gardenias Kitchen but I have heard some comments lately that things might be amiss.

I wouldn't call these accommodations romantic necessarily, but they fit the bill in every other way: Casa Ybel on Sanibel.

We've stayed in the one bedroom units a couple of times. Two bedroom units rent by the week only, but ones can be had for just a few days, which is always the way we stay in Sanibel. All have two double or queen beds in the bedroom and a sleep sofa in the living room so accommodate families as well. They have small but well stocked kitchens, good sized living/dining rooms, and large screened porches off the living rooms--great for sitting out in the evenings. All units face the beach, which is just a short walk across a lawn.

Although we've never stayed here, we've noticed cute cottages at T'ween Waters on Captiva as well.

I don't believe there is much of anything upscale on either Sanibel or Captiva...nothing you'd consider 4 or 5*, unless you rent a home, but comfortable beach units.

Tween Waters Inn Cottages...I've stayed in two different cottages here...I happen to like this little resort. The cottages vary greatly in quality and price. Some are reserved for people and their pets. The cute gulf view cottages also face the little road which is the only road in Captiva and gets traffic. It is a fun resort with the NasCrab races etc, very family oriented as are all the resorts on Captiva and Sanibel.

Breakfast at the resort especially weekends is quite good. Olive Oyl's husband might want to hire away their pastry chef who is awesome.

Thanks for all of your ideas. We are using several suggestions and will give a report when we return. Thanks for taking the time to pass on your ideas.