My husband and I are planning on going to Sanibel/Captiva for our 10 year anniversary for 4 nights. I think I can get a 2br/2ba condo (with a pool on property) near the lighthouse (or maybe elsewhere on Sanibel) for the same price as a King Efficiency Room at the 'Tween Waters Inn.
Which would you chose? We are going at a busy time so I don't know if restaurants/night activities are closer to Tween Waters or traffic is a consideration and being on Sanibel is better or?

Secondly, if we stay at Tween Waters availibility says they have a double Queen room overlooking the pool, or a newly renovated King Efficiency overlooking the Gulf--for $100/night more. Is the King room/gulf view worth that much?


Lastly do you have a recomendation for our one "special" dinner??

Thanks for any help/advice!!!

You should check out Jensens on the Gulf. We stayed there and it is a very romantic getaway. We stayed in the Penthouse (kitchen, dining room, living room, bedroom and bath.) Huge balcony which is screened and it overlooks the Gulf. You are a couple feet from going into the Gulf. It is very clean, decorated in Tommy Bahama Furniture and the service is good.They also have a Marina across the street where you can rent boats, fish off the dock, etc. The Green Flash was a good restaurant with a nice view and it is within walking distance.

I'm partial to 'Tween Waters...it's my favorite place to stay on San/Cap, and I've probably stayed there 10 times over the past 15 years. To be honest, the rooms did need rennovating, so I'm glad to hear that they've begun working on that. I would stay there over a Sanibel condo for several reasons...the 'Tween Waters beaches are quieter and not lined with condos and resorts like many of Sanibel's are, I like the amenities of the resort (a happening tiki bar by the pool, fun night club with a good crowd and live entertainment,spa services, etc.), and there's just something about the laid-back beachiness of 'Tween Waters along with its historic feel that always totally relaxes me. Bear in mind that it's more "beachy" than fancy when you make your decison. I would definitely pay an extra $100 to face the Gulf.

My favorite nicer eateries are Redfish Bluefish (think American tapas) http://www.redfishblufishcaptiva.com/accolades.htm and The Mad Hatter, which offers upscale creative dining on one of the few island restaurants with a Gulf view. It has a charming Alice in Wonderland motif, and an intimate ambience (only 12 tables or so). We had dinner there on our anniversary last year. http://www.madhattersanibel.com/

Linda, thanks for the suggestion, but Jensen's was booked.

Sweet Polly- When I called back, they now also have a King Suite, Bayview available for $15 more/nite. I'm thinking that it'd be nice to have the extra room (this room is not renovated). It is in the Mangrove Building. Let me know if you think we should still go with the renovated Gulf view King Studio. I appreciate your help and dinner suggestions!

The Bayview Suites are very nice. They are newer than the rooms facing the pool and Gulf, which is probably why they have not been recently renovated. Some friends met me down there a couple of years ago and got the Bayside Suite because they had kids, and it was lovely and good-sized...nicely furnished, with a kitchenette and a separate bedroom. Had a nice balcony overlooking the Bay, too.

I have not stayed in or seen the hotel rooms since the renovation project began (I think they started this project relatively recently), so I can't compare the two for you. I would probably take the Studio King if I were given the choice, just because I prefer to face the beach and the Gulf (don't want to take a chance on missing a beautiful Captiva sunset). The Studio King is a nice size, too, and also has a kitchenette.

Sweet Polly just wanted to thankyou for your advice. We had a fabulous trip! I am very glad that we stayed at Tween Waters and even more glad that we did not stay in a pool-side room. We ended up in the Bay side King Suite which was nice---and roomy. It was like a second honeymoon for us and it was nice to have the more "resortish" feel vs. the condo. Also Captiva felt a little quieter than Sanibel. I did go look at rooms in case we go again and when booking I would ask about the renovation. The difference between the renovated studio vs the efficiency was tremendous. I would not have been as happy with the efficiency even though both had the Gulf view. The Studio was nicely done.

Thanks again!

EXPATTY...

Cool! I'm so glad you liked it. Now I want to go! I think I'll book a long weekend in a couple of months and check out the new room decor. Even the old decor didn't bother me, but my husband was starting to turn his nose up at it a bit.

We will be at Tween in 2 weeks for our 4the visit in 1 year. We "happened" upon it after leaving South Seas (we never checked in to SS, just got our money back). We fell in love with the place. We stay in the Sea Grape building, which is the efficency Gulf view. Rooms on the corner are best espically 360 and 260. The rooms needed renovation but it did not bother us. It was very clean and very cute! I was told the Sea Grape rooms are done with renovation and they beautiful. The kitchen area has been done in marble and the bathrooms have been made much larger. Can't wait to see it, reservations told us we will be the second guest to stay in the new room. I also love the laid back resortish feel of Tween. We have met so many lovely people on each visit.