Sanibel Island or Fort Myers Beach

We are planning a family vacation to Florida and cannot decide where to stay. We have been looking into hotels in Fort Myers Beach as well as Sanibel Island.

Since we have never been to the area, I have no idea how to choose. I have read several reviews, but still can%26#39;t decide.

I am traveling with my husband and my 11 yr old. We plan on spending most of our time on the beach so the beach is the most important to us. We are not renting a car.

Any advice or pictures would be very helpful.

Sanibel Island or Fort Myers Beach

Not having a car on Sanibel could be hard for a long stay depending on what your wishes are for your vacation. I%26#39;ve also read that the cost of having a driver bring you to the island and take you back to the airport is close to the cost of renting a small car.

How long are you planning to stay?

What is your budget?

Do you want to stay and cook in or eat out?

Renting bikes for 3 while staying there?

I like to stay near the beach or on the beach and cook in. You could have a local grocery store deliver your groceries for the week. Stay near Baileys and rent a bike to go to the grocery, movies, icecream and video store all on bikes.

Ex Pointe Santo, and that area on West GUlf you can enjoy the beach and be near a grocery store for biking to transport smaller food items. ALso Twightlight cafe and Amy%26#39;s over Easy, Biddles all in Biking proximity....

Some things to think about to get you on your way to a descision. :)

Sanibel Island or Fort Myers Beach

For Hotels along West GUlf drive,

West WInd Inn http://www.westwindinn.com/

Sunset beach www.sanibelcollection.com/sunset_beach/

Waterside Inn http://www.watersideinnonthebeach.com/

I agree with everything Steinbeck said - Also, when are you visiting? Spring break time can get pretty crazy at Ft Myers Beach, while Sanibel stays more family orientated.

Also - if you only have bikes, it gets very dark at night as there are no street lights on Sanibel, so you won%26#39;t be able to ride then.

Thank you for your suggestions.

We are staying 5 days and were looking into staying at the Holiday Inn on Sanibel or Fort Myers Beach but haven%26#39;t made any decisions yet. Any thoughts on these hotels?

We are coming in on February 22nd...so everything is pretty last minute. The rentals were a few hundred dollars for the week and I didn%26#39;t want to spend that. Any idea on the average taxi far to Sanibel?

We stayed one night in a hotel type room at the Holiday Inn last May and it was VERY nice. Newly remodeled.

They have a beach bar and place to eat so that is a solution with no car. Beachview golf course is near there and you can rent golf clubs as an activity if your golfers.

I%26#39;m not certain on cost.....I%26#39;m thinking 60-70 each way.

Others can chime in on that one.

http://www.sanibeltaxi.com/

Here is an old thread that popped up

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g34616-i231-k81451…

Approx 60 bucks each way - not sure how many people that includes.

Sensible car rental will pick you up and take you to their off site location - cars are older models, but many people have used them and given positive reviews.

Also - consider a bid on priceline or hotwire, I have heard people getting a car for around $15 a day that way.

Costco travel also has decent deals on car rentals.

Was that the Holiday Inn on Sanibel Island? How was the beachfront?

Do you think Sanibel is just as easy as Fort Myers Beach without a car?

Thanks for the tip on priceline. I didn%26#39;t think of doing that for a car.

the Holiday Inn on Sanibel is beachfront - I think it is in a really nice location, easy biking distance to several stores and good restaurants.

You can do sanibel without a car - but with the caveat that you will be limited to what you can bike to during the day. If that doesn%26#39;t bother you and you really just want to hang at the beach, you will be fine. If the weather didn%26#39;t cooperate would be your only issue.

There are many shops, grocery store, great restaurants you could bike to - but bear in mind you will have to be back to the hotel by dark.

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn on Sanibel Island and thoroughly loved it! We also enjoy biking around the island (easy and flat), but sunset is about 6:30 p.m. and you can%26#39;t bike after dark.

Fort Myers Beach during spring break is like a circus. It%26#39;s very crowded and has a lot of rowdy parties.