Unconfigured Ad Widget

bigfrank · 01-29-2008, 11:07 PM

Sanibell Beach club II was very nice. Look into going there.

Glitter Brunello · 01-29-2008, 11:14 PM

Originally posted by bigfrank View Post

Sanibell Beach club II was very nice. Look into going there.

Frank, what was there for LittleFrank to do there? Did he have a good time?

bigfrank · 01-29-2008, 11:51 PM

Originally posted by Glitter Brunello View Post

Frank, what was there for LittleFrank to do there? Did he have a good time?

Yes he did, Pool was a great temp, Bikes were provided by resort, Beach had a ton and I mean a ton of shells, Sal helped finding some nice ones for my wife. Restaurants in the area are great along with some famus hot dog stands.

BWolf · 01-30-2008, 08:23 AM

When we looked into buying on Sanibel, we found many of the timeshares to be nice. We bought at Sanibel Beach Club I, almost bought at Sanibel Beach Club II, liked the Lighthouse Resort and Club, found Tortuga Beach Club to be nice but we don't like any Friday check-ins.

I just looked at the II list of resorts. The only one to stay away from is Caribe Beach Resort. My wife and I stayed there, it was nice enough for the two of us, but I wouldn't stay there with a family.

Sanibel and Captiva aren't Disneyland. The beaches are great, Ding Darling is wonderful, there are shops and stores for things you might need, but you won't find Coney Island anywhere. Kids will have to make their own fun.

This website, and its associated message board, may prove useful to you.

Sanibel Island & Captiva Island - The Best Vacations in Florida

HTH

JLB · 01-30-2008, 10:19 AM

What are your dates and the number in your family?

I have been searching Resorts on the Beach for mine, for Girls Week Out.

Once I have some specifics, I'll post some specifics, rather than just spew.

Glitter Brunello · 01-30-2008, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by JLB

What are your dates and the number in your family?

I have been searching Resorts on the Beach for mine, for Girls Week Out.

Once I have some specifics, I'll post some specifics, rather than just spew.

Thanks, JLB, I'm looking for input re the general areas in SW Florida rather than a timeshare search, in case I end up renting a condo, though I surely appreciate your looking, too. Dates are 4/19-26, looking for a 2 bedroom, we are flying into Sarasota.

RavenManiac · 01-30-2008, 10:45 AM

I went to Captiva last October for business, and will be traveling there again. We stayed at the South Seas Island Resort and could not have had a better time. The 1-2-3 bedroom condos are wonderful. We stayed in the beach condos, which were only a feet few feet from a small pool and then a few feet more to the beach. We had an AMAZING view of the sunset every night. Definitely recommend renting the jet ski's and heading out into the Sound. We had a very close encounter with some wild dolphins and a manatee!

Theo · 01-30-2008, 11:26 AM

My $0.02 worth...

Re: >> What we'd like: Nice, uncrowded beach, near a fun area for the kids w/shops, restaurants, maybe basketball, etc...<<

An uncrowded (certainly a relative concept during Snowbird season) beach is perhaps more readily attainable at Sanibel or Marco Island, but perhaps at the direct expense of any nearby areas of much interest to kids. Captiva would also likely be a "snoozer" for the kids.

Re: >> Is South Fort Myers/Estero Island too far from the Times Square area for the kids (I heard there is a trolley there?)? Is a block from Times Square going to be too busy on the beach? <<

Estero Island aka Fort Myers Beach is all of about 4.5 miles long, in toto. The trolley runs from one end to the other. However, in-season traffic on Estero Blvd. is notably horrendous, and the trolley obviously moves no faster than any other vehicle stuck in that same traffic.

For the kids, closer proximity to the "bustle" of Times Square and / or "The Pier" is likely preferable, as the other (SE) end of Estero Island is MUCH more quiet, with little of much (if any) "activity" of any interest for them. Then again, many resorts on the "quiet" (SE) end offer free bicycles on site. So, if the kids aren't teens of an age where they would find riding a bicycle to be "uncool", they (and you) could be mobile enough to actually "have it both ways".

Keep in mind that even at the "busy" (NW) end of Estero Island, there is (comparatively) quieter (albeit space limited) beach access from within the Bowditch State Park. And the NW end of the island does not have the "lagoon" issue (which has been addressed here ad nauseum before) in regard to impeding direct, convenient beach access.

You certainly won't have much (if any) choice in an exchange, since so very little is ever offered in this area in the winter (and/or early spring), but you can really make any location on FMB work for you. At only a few miles long, the entire island is small enough that you can get anywhere from anywhere else (but try your best to spend as little time as possible stuck in a vehicle crawling at a snail's pace on Estero Blvd).

I have too little experience with either Sanibel or Marco to elaborate on either one, where I have only been a day visitor, but my gut says both would be of less overall interest with kids in the mix.

Just my opinion, but based on experience and worth at least what I've been paid to express it...

hliw · 01-30-2008, 02:42 PM

Sw Fl

I grew up in Naples - the city has really grown, tons to do and the beaches are gorgeous. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary would be a MUST SEE. Because my family lives there I never looked at timeshares, but can suggest some other places to stay - 1) Naples Beach Club Hotel (no kitchens, but fabulous location, kids club, the only in-town golf course, nice spa, nice tennis courts, great beach, close to the action 2) The Edgewater Beach Hotel (I believe they have condo-style units - just up the beach from the Naples Beach Club. Also nice, less in the way of organized fun, but a nice pool, great beach, etc.
5th Avenue and 3rd Street have tremendous shopping, eating and some nightlife.

Marco Island is still a bit sleepy, but the beach there is fantastic. There are several TSs there. Tigertale beach is fantastic - lots of tidepools, great shelling. Good sleepy seafood shacks in Marco. Try the Snook Inn.

Fort Myers Beach/Estero Island is definitely more "hip" than Naples or Marco - more of a typical beach town vibe (think small Daytona). There is a wider variety of restaurants, etc, but Naples has more sophistication - depends on what you are looking for.

Good luck!
HLIW

Glitter Brunello · 01-30-2008, 04:47 PM

Thanks, folks, so far it sounds like I am ok on on the Northern part of Estero Island, with Sanibel a possibility if i can find a self-contained resort... stupid question: Is Estero Island the same thing as Ft Myers beach, as long as it's on Estero Blvd??

I found something in the 400 block on Estero Blvd, is beach access generally private except for a few public beaches, or will most condos be on a public beach? I don't want to book it yet, cancellation policy is 90 days, ouch.

arlene22 · 01-30-2008, 07:40 PM

Don't know if this will help, but...
my friend's family runs a rental business in Captiva. Their website is Captiva Island Tropical Paradise in Florida
I haven't used them myself, so I can't speak to the accommodations, but I can vouch for the folks who run the site.

Theo · 01-30-2008, 08:00 PM

More $0.02 worth....

Re: >> stupid question: Is Estero Island the same thing as Ft Myers beach, as long as it's on Estero Blvd?? <<

Not at all a stupid question, since it is not in any way intuitive (but it is still true) that Estero Island and FMB are essentially one and the same place. The former refers to the "geography" while the latter refers to the "municipality", but both names identify one and the same place. Also, there is more to Estero Island than just Estero Blvd, as San Carlos Blvd is a main road at the northern end of the island (e.g., this is the road on which Marina Village at Snug Harbor is located).

Re: >> I found something in the 400 block on Estero Blvd, is beach access generally private except for a few public beaches, or will most condos be on a public beach? I don't want to book it yet, cancellation policy is 90 days, ouch. <<

400 block will be north of Times Square (not a bad thing....) at the northern end of the island, very close to Windward Passage Resort. Not a bad location, on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd, with decent beach access. No public parking in that area except right within Bowditch State Park, so there are built-in limitations to beachgoer population in that particular area, but it would be a stretch to describe the beach access there as "private". In fact, there is little or no "private" beachfront per se anywhere on Estero Island. Only available legal parking and convenient access (and, of course, the dreaded "lagoons" at the SE end of FMB

) limit beach access.

Glitter Brunello · 01-30-2008, 08:34 PM

Thanks everyone for your help so far!

Heather,

The Edgewater Beach Hotel looks FANTASTIC, I am going to have a hard time resisting it but am really trying not to spend that much... but it is a good back-up for the time being since I can cancel on 14 days notice if a great exchange comes through. eta: The Naples Beach Club is already sold out for my dates, so I went ahead and put a unit on hold at Edgewater. No stove, but a fridge and microwave are better than nothing.

Theo,

Thank you for your continued insight into Fort Myers Beach ... the rental I am looking at is a "cabana," and appears to be one side of a two-unit building, I am leery about our potential neighbors in such close/flimsy quarters, but will look into it further if it's still available once I'm ready to "commit;" a 90 cancellation policy just won't cut it yet. I must say the area is beginning to sound too congested for my liking, but it really is hard to find a balance b/t my wants and those of the kids.

Arlene,

Thank you for the local contact; for the time being I am going to try to avoid the serenity of Captiva, but will keep it in mind for future reference.

Theo · 01-31-2008, 09:20 AM

Another $0.02 worth....

Re: >> I am leery about our potential neighbors in such close/flimsy quarters, but will look into it further if it's still available once I'm ready to "commit;" a 90 cancellation policy just won't cut it yet. I must say the area is beginning to sound too congested for my liking, but it really is hard to find a balance b/t my wants and those of the kids.<<
-------------------------------------------------------------

I understand. Fwiw, the #400 area of Estero Blvd. (it's actually continuous, with no actual "blocks" on the Gulf side) has only a relatively few resorts on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd, with residences (i.e., no commercial establishments) on the east (non-Gulf) side of Estero Blvd north of Times Square. For that end of Estero Island, it's a relatively quiet little section, yet with reasonable proximity to the "bustle" of Times Square. Your observation about congestion is warranted; there is not much unused open space anywhere on FMB, except within Bowditch State Park at the NW terminus of the Island. The particular geographic location you describe is a pretty good one for FMB --- but I can't speak with any knowledge about the nature of your prospective "cabana" (I can't even actually picture its' location), but I can certainly understand your concerns regarding potential adjoining occupants. I'll be headed to FMB two weeks from today for a few weeks, but that will apparently be too late for you to benefit from any on site examination or opinion regarding your prospective "cabana". Anyway, I hope some of this has helped. Good luck.

P.S. It has just occurred to me --- re: "400 block". The exact street number will tell you whether or not it's a Gulf front location. Even numbered addresses on Estero Blvd. will be on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd, odd numbers are "across the street" (i.e., not on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd).

Unconfigured Ad Widget

Unconfigured Ad Widget

Announcement

SW Florida advice

SW Florida advice

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment