Sannibel or Captiva
 

<BR><BR>Which is the best place to stay? Any help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks.

Captiva all the way. It's across the bridge (pass) from Sanibel, so you won't have all their traffic. I love the South Seas Resort on the tip of the island. It's very private and the beach is very nice.

After weeks of research last spring, we chose Casa Ybel on Sanibel for our first visit to the island in mid June. It was perfect. The beach is beautiful and quiet there and our children loved the "day" camp activities and the great water slide at the pool. Daily housekeeping which is included in the one bedroom units was a plus! Be sure to bring good water shoes - you won't believe the SHELLS.

I'm with ABS. I just got back from a week at Casa Ybel and really loved it. Our one bedroom suite was $410. When I called Southseas, a comparable room was $515. I asked why and they said it's more exclusive, whatever that means. We found traffic to be heaviest on Sanibel between 4:30 and 6:00 because everyone goes out for dinner early. Go a little later and the roads are fine plus there's no wait at the restaurants.

Remember, unlike the Panhandle of Florida, after Memorial Day the rates go down on Sanibel. I think we paid around $l90 per night (one bedroom with sleeper sofa and full kitchen) including a AAA discount.

I disagree about less traffic if staying on Captiva. You have to drive all the way through Sanibel on the main road to get to Captiva -- and that is where the worst traffic is. Everytime you want to go anywhere on Sanibel or to the mainland for shopping, restaurants, or other attractions, again you must travel that congested Periwinkle Way. On Sanibel itself you have the option of staying at one of the more minor roads along the beach. Again you have to contend with the Periwinkle Way traffic, but not as much as to have to drive the whole way from Captiva. Also on Captiva there is only one road, so if you are along that you have all the traffic there is on Captiva. Of course at the very north end at South Seas, there is no through traffic, so that problem lessens, but you still have to come and go through the whole length of Sanibel.