I stayed NEAR Eagles Nest on Marco Island

[TheWho]

Just thought I'd pass along some DVC info. This past xmas week I stayed at the Marriott on Marco Island, Fla. Even though my points are for a summer '04 trip, I decided to see what trade options there are. As it turned out, right next door to the Marriott is Eagles Nest which is listed. If I remember, the points to trade is not crazy (check the website). Even tough I did not get into any of the rooms, I can confidently say that the location is PERFECT. Also, being next to the Marriott allows a short walk to use the Marriott's food court or other eateries. Everything on the beach and in that area is very casual with many folks strolling the shore and picking shells. Even though I didn't see the rooms, I can say that the view is AWESOME and of course, Marco Island is BEAUTIFUL. The nightly sunset is memorable.

Also, I feel like a spoiled DVC member. I booked the Marriott for $330 a night. As it turned out, with all the resort fees and taxes, my bill was more like $350 / night. This is "just" a hotel room. Keep in mind, I didn't have a microwave or washer/dryer. One night, I actually tried to re-heat my DD leftover meatball sandwich with the bathroom heat lamp. Don't ask about my laundry experience, it consisted of a lot of quarters.

Dave in NJ

 

[goofy4dvc]

Dave,

Thanks for the information. This is one of the resorts I'd like to try sometime. I've never been in the area, so this info helps. What else is there to do there besides watch the beautiful sunsets and go "shelling"?

 

[TheWho]

Hi Mona,
First off, I went w/ my wife and two kids (girls, 8 & 4).
One thing we did that was cool was an airboat ride through the Everglades. Since Marco is pretty south, it's just 20 minutes down the road. We went to a place called Wootens which advertises that they have been around for 50 years. The place was real Americana, real campy. My kids really got a kick (and me too) to experience "real" South Florida.
On Marco, there's also good places to eat. Naples is also a short drive north which also has some shops (not all expensive) and places to eat. We vistited a place called Tin City which was a place to shop and eat. I didn't do the following but I think I would have if my kids were older; the Sunset Cruises looked like fun, there were a lot of beach water activities like taking a catamaran boat to a shelling island, renting a jet ski. I'm used to the hard surf of the Jersey shore and I loved the calm of the Gulf.
Also, in Naples there is a zoo that looked alright, but we enjoyed the beach and pool too much that we never made it. Also, I'm not a fisherman, but this place seemed to heaven for fishing.

For us, this trip was designed to be the anti-WDW trip which meant a little more time at the pool, a little more time relaxing (not that you ever can relax w/ two little kids). I can see us going back someday by flying into Fort Myers, staying 3 or 4 nights at Marco, and driving north to WDW and flying home via Orlando.

Anything else, feel free to ask. Enjoy.

 

[Lisa P.]

When we went to Marco Island, we stayed at Charter Club of Marco Beach, a sister resort to Eagle's Nest. CC is a little further down the same street. Besides swimming, sailing (rentals right there on the beach), beach walking & riding an airboat in the everglades, we enjoyed fishing & crabbing at the local park at the end of the road. We caught some colorful fish, while watching dolphins, manatees & pelicans.

CC had free use of bicycles, shuffleboard, fitness room, game room & scheduled activities. The pool, hot tub and cook-out grills were nice and the resort had a karaoke & burgers night. I would guess that Eagle's Nest offers similar amenities as it seemed to be a similar size and it's managed by the same company - Hilton. Enjoy!