Marco Island/Sanibel Island/Fort Myers

[onlyholly]

Any idea how long the drive is from:

Orlando International to:

Marco Island ?
Sanibel Island ?
Fort Myers ?

Thanks in advance

Holly

 

[Hilary]

Last year it took us about 3 1/2 hours (fairly leisurely pace and including a quick lunch stop) to drive from just outside (Orlando side) Fort Myers to WDW, so I'd guess at:

4hrs FM to Orlando International
4 1/4 hrs Sanibel island to OI
4 3/4 hrs Marco to OI

but they are only guesses!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We've stayed around this area for the last two years and Hilary's times are about right, perhaps slightly longer than you can do it in. 3.5 hours to Fort Myers. Marco is the furthest away, but at a leisurely pace from the Poly last year it took us 4.5 hours, including a couple of stops for drinks etc.

Down the south gulf area is worth driving twice the distance - it's a beautiful area.

 

[onlyholly]

Thank you for your quick replies. Marco Island seems to be the favourite at present - will let you know what we decide.

Holly

 

[poet123]

holly,
If you need any acom we found a great villa on marco but then we incresed our party size so needed a bigger villa. Let me know if you want any more info

 

[foxyfee]

We have stayed in both Sanibel and Marco, sadly were very disappointed in Marco, had to be moved to Naples. I would say 4 hours to Sanibel and 5 to Marco.

 

[onlyholly]

Poet, we are Hilton Grand owners and have a couple of choices of accommodation on Marco - thanks anyway. Did you enjoy your stay and is it worth the long drive.

Foxyfee, why were you not happy on Marco Island - any comments would be a great help.

Thanks again
Holly

 

[foxyfee]

We had booked through a Florida villa tour operator 2 weeks at Kissimmee - Hamilton's Reserve, and 1 week in a villa at Marco Island. We had a wonderful holiday in Kissimmee, 2 weeks flat out at the parks, and had also gone completely mad and put a deposit down on our villa. Although we were disappointed in the quality of the furnishings and chipped crockery, torn sheets etc. Total lack of interest by management company, so mental note we would never consider using them ourselves! We set off to Marco through the torrential downpour (summer of course) and eventually found the villa and were so disappointed in it. It was in a lovely location on a canal and could be gorgeous. It just needed a little tlc. So much dust in some places there were handfuls of it eek: ) and the pool was dirty and grubby with lots of holes in the screening. And kitchen looked like it needed a revamp, but had plenty of space and had nice bedding etc. But the worst was to come! The gals had gone to bed (9 and 12 at the time) and DB and I were sitting on the lanai having a drink and thinking well it could be worse. When I saw a flash of movement in the sitting room inside. Then I realised it was a mouse - until I saw the tail, no it was a rat, but a rich brown colour - a palm rat I later was informed. Cheeky thing sat in someone's shoe and looked right at me! Anyway, we remained calm and phoned the MC the next morning. Total lack of interest but said they would get someone round. Later that day said they had found nothing. So most of first day has been spent making phone calls etc. We eventually went out in the evening for supper (had been trying to keep it from the gals as did not want total hysteria) which naturally is when the pest man came and "found nothing". Late that evening I went into kitchen to get a drink and found rat on kitchen work surface. I screamed, cue children waking up and you can imagine the rest! They then found live cockroaches in their bathroom and I had to spend the night with the 2 of them in our bed and DB was banished to their end of the villa with the cockroaches!! Not much sleep that night. At 7am DB was on the phone to UK to the tour operator. Another day wasted sitting in, more patronising conversation from MC where apparantly us city folk don't understand life in rural places mad: ) and a little palm rat was nothing to worry about. Hmm - where there is one there is more and more etc! Anyway bugman agreed with me his wife would have had them out of there (by then we had packed and were demanding relocating), nowhere on Marco free as it was high season. Told them we would go to a hotel and charge them. Then a rat was found in one of the traps. More hysteria from the gals and me! More phone calls to UK - very late at night for them! Anyway long and short of it we were moved to Naples to a lovely new villa, but was building going on just round the corner so not quite what we had in mind when we paid £750 for a week back in 1998!

Since then we have learnt our lesson and book direct with the owner who we can ask questions of, but I have to say we have had no more problems and we have stayed in a couple of condos in Sanibel with no problems whatsoever and intend staying on the gulf coast this summer before going to our own place (fitting in with bookings!).

I took photos of the offending rat, cockroaches and the dust and sent them to the tour operator and they refunded that the accommodation in Marco - eventually!

But it was a lesson for us as prospective villa owners, I made it very clear to our MC what we expected and what was not acceptable, and any slipping in this has resulted in us swiftly changing to another company.

So we probably are a little biased about Marco, but we would like to go back! There are some great restaurants there, but I have to say we did find it not as lovely as Sanibel and Captiva. They have protected what size buildings can go up and just seem to have a unique charm.

 

[onlyholly]

What a horrible experience. I'd have gone ape if I had rats etc living in the same house as me.

Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers are other options we have. The accommodation available to us should be just fine so hopefully no worries there. Any general advice about the areas would be greatly appreciated from all.

Thanks again
Holly

 

[bluecdr]

We have a house in Naples and do the I75 and I4 trip to Disney.
If it is clear then we expect it to take 3 hours. Add another 30 minutes for Marco Island. At NYE there were roadworks on the way north about 40 miles before WDW and that added an hour.

Visited both Marco and Sanibel in October and IMHO Sanibel is by far the prettier.

 

[onlyholly]

for your comments - greatly appreciated. I'm just so confused now as to where to stay as everyone has given very positive reviews on all three places.

Apart from beach life do any of you have any must do's and how long do you recommend we stay for (we were thinking 6 nights but I think 4-5 would be enough) ? We would like somewhere with plenty of restaurants too.

Our plan is to stay at the Hyatt (airport) on arrival night, drive down the Gulf Coast the following day, spend up to a week on one of the islands and then back to Orlando (HGVC) for the next two weeks.

Suggestions very welcome !!

Holly

 

[Hilary]

If you decide on Sanibel or Fort Myers, my 'must dos' would include the J Ding Darling Nature Reserve on Sanibel and the Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva.

We drove around the J Ding Darling and really enjoyed it but, if nature-watching isn't your cup of tea, you might find it too laid back!

The Bubble Room is an absolute hoot, and will give most of the Orlando restaurants a run for their money for an entertaining meal! .

 

[bluecdr]

If you want plenty of good restaurants then stay in Naples.

In Fort Myers remember to vist the Eddison and Ford houses.

Here is a link to Marco Island Restaurants: http://www.marcoislandrestaurants.com/

Half way between Fort Myers and Naples at exit 123 there is the Miramar Outlet Mall.
And a link to the web cams : http://web.naplesnews.com/sections/webcams/front.html

to see how great the beaches are.

 

[onlyholly]

again for your valued input and links - keep the suggestions flowing !!

Holly

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Would recommend the Snook Inn on Marco - dine outside on the decking by the water and watch the fish and dolphins. The food's pretty good too

 

[onlyholly]

I notice you've been to Marco a couple of times !

Did you enjoy your time there and is it worth staying for 6 nights ? Is there more to do than just beach life and are restaurants plentiful ? Planning on visiting Naples and Everglades during our stay.

I am torn between Sanibel and Marco, which would you recommend (that's if you've been to Sanibel) ?

Sorry for all the questions but I don't want to make a mistake going to Marco as we did when we went to St Petersberg (long story).

Thanks for alll your help and advice
Holly


ps If anyone has any ideas for our trip down the Gulf, please feel free to contribute !!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Holly. As you can imagine, we love the Marco/Naples area. Marco is a little bit less affluent than Naples, but the houses there are to die for. Everyone is very friendly and relaxed - it reminds us of the village we live in here because Marco is called "The Gateway to Heaven" because a large number of its population are the more mature

There are some great restaurants, the beaches are fabulous. We've stayed at the Marco Hilton and can't fault it - since you're Hilton Grand owners, I would recommend this. The location is superb, right on a fabulous beach with watersports and peace and quiet. The rooms in the hotel are mini suites, a reasonable size and the staff are great.

On Marco itself, other than the beach, there's not that much to do. However, Naples is always worth a visit, especially to do the afternoon Naples Trolley Tour - a 2.5 - 3 hr tour around Naples and it's fabulous beaches, famous people and those gorgeous houses.

Sanibel is a lovely island, but we've never actually fancied staying there. But from Marco again it's worth a trip. Same as Fort Myers beach and that area.

Naples is 20-25 mins away in the car, Ft Myers 1.25 - 1.5 hours away. We love Marco for the winding down part of our hols after the parks, but you can get out to the Everglades and some wonderful wildlife, all within a 20 min car ride away. Take an airboat ride - we've done a couple of different ones and can't wait to do another.

We decided after 10 nights in Marco this year that we would go to Naples on our next visit for a change of scenery.

However, we would highly recommend Marco, especially for six nights, it's such a lovely place

Ask away if there's anything else you would like to know

 

[bluecdr]

If you are going to Naples , have dinner at the Tommy Bahamas restaurant on 3rd Street. Sit outside on a warm evening and enjoy the atmosphere. Live music most nights and on Saturdays in the season ( January to March) it can be lively.
Venetian Village is my favourite 'mall'. It is outside and has small boutique shops. Eat lunch at the patio restaurant overlooking the inter coastal. Coconut shrimp salad is to die for and slimming ( I hope). Can't wait. Will be there in 3 weeks time. Weather .com tells me it is 78 and sunny.

 

[onlyholly]

for your comments on Marco - I feel a lot better for hearing such a good review. I am almost certain we will choose Marco for our 6 night break.

Thanks for answering my questions and I'm sure I'll be in touch again with a few more.

Take care
Holly