We will be visiting Florida(from the UK)next May. We are planning to drive down the Gulf Coast to Key West and hoping to spend a couple of days seeing Sanibel Island and Sarasota.

Can anyone advise me if I can stay somewhere in between for 4-5 days and drive to both. If so please state where and approximately how long the drive to each would be.

Would it be better to spend a couple of nights staying at each location?

Any suggestions of places to stay would be welcome. We are looking for somewhere reasonably priced $150 - $200 per night, near a beach and cooking facilities would be good. There are 3 adults who like to laze around a pool or beach.

Please help me to make the right choice.

Thanks

well, half way would be sort of Punta Gorda which has no beaches and is dull as dirt. I think you need to stay two days one place and move down to two days at the other. The drive between the two takes about 2+ hrs. depending on traffic and is an inland highway (I-75).

There are small hotels at each that should meet your requirements. The bigger hotels on the beach might be more $. Siesta Key in Sarasota will be less money than Longboat and has absolutely beautiful beaches. It has been on Dr. Beach's list of top ten beaches.

You can certainly trust Sharons word on this one. Punta Gorda is in between. We had heard so much about this place from some friends of ours. (Punta Gorda) and how wonderful it was. We stopped there. Dull as dirt is putting it mildly. We were looking for potential vacation homes, retirememnt. Clean, but dull and to make matters worse, not even a beach. Longport Keys would be my choice or Siesta Key. Prices will be lower in May and should meet within your budget.

Your best bet would be to spend a couple of days in Sarasota and then spend a couple of days on Sanibel. I make the drive btw. Sanibel and Sarasota frequently, it takes approx. 2 hours, easy drive.

Okay, I'm actually FROM Punta Gorda, and it really is dull. Port Charlotte is too- so forget that. I would stay a couple days in either place. Longboat key is the most beautiful in Sarasota, and the most exclusive. I've only been to Sanibel a couple of times, so I'm not sure about that area.

We have been to Sanibel many, many times. It is a unique, lovely place to enjoy. Here are some websites to help you along:
www.sanibel-captiva.org (Chamber of Commerce w/lots of info); the next 2 are owners who rent their condo units -
www.gulfcoastrentals.com (will probably also include Sarasota!) and www.vrbo.com
We usually rent a condo on the Gulf beach. Chamber of Comm. has also listing of short-term rentals and accommodations. Condos are rented usually for a week, with a few exceptions.
Have a great vacation !

I remembered one more place which might be just right for you, as they rented also on daily basis. We stayed there years ago. Check out their website :
www.westwindinn.com
It has a great location in middle part of Sanibel on West Gulf Drive . It is a pleasant place with different options: room /studio/ adjoining units, etc.