Sanibel Island-Which resort is best for DVCers??

[Deb & Bill]

I've been watching the Travel Channel and my son was looking at Sanibel Island and decided we needed to stay there. I noticed that DVC has several resorts to trade out for a week. Two looked good - Tortuga Beach Club and Shell Island Beach Club.

Anyone have any info on these two resorts or any other Sanibel Island resort that they have used points at? Or that they would recommend?

 

[RumpleMom]

I have not been to Sanibel, but love the Gulf coast area.

Go to TimeshareUsersGroup wwwdottug2dotnet

You will find a lot of information. Many of the most helpful disers are also tuggers.

 

[disneymama73]

We used to spend one week on Sanibel after a week at Disney every year when I was a kid. I haven't been there since I was about 15 yrs old though, so I'm sorry I'm no help with resorts. I can tell you though that Sanibel is beautiful. I have wonderful memories there with my family, especially my grandfather who has since passed away.

I can't wait to take my kids to Sanibel someday. And I'm very anxious to hear some replies on this thread!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Sanibel is great. I can't give opinions about the specific resorts but we have stayed there ( and the Fort Myers Beach area) quite a few times.

Sanibel is actually part a nature preserve. The beaches are not the groomed ones that you may be used to seeing but it is wonderful. Attached is Captiva Island which has many watersports etc to enjoy.

I remember the restaurants being great. That whole area was very hard hit by the 2004 hurricanes. We were there in November 2004 and much rebuilding needed to be done, but I'm sure that they are much recovered by now.

The specific area is usually where we head after Disney if we were in Orlando in Late November or early December. It is further south and the weather is warmer then. The mainland beaches there stretch on for 'forever' and there are many condos to choose from to rent for your stay

 

[manning]

Don't forget Captiva Island.

I wonder if the Mucky Duck is still there.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I was at the Mucky Duck in March 2005.....what a great place! My DB owns a condo on Sanibel and rented another condo for our family to stay in. We were there a week. To me it was heaven on earth, but my kids who were 18 and 20 at the time, were bored after a couple of days. I would go back in a heart beat, just waiting for an "invitation" LOL.

 

[dvc_john]

I own at Sanibel Cottages and Casa Ybel, and can recommend either of them. (Although Sanibel Cottages is my favorite!)
Just be aware that the timeshare resorts on Sanibel tend to be smaller (from as few as 15 units at Hurricane House to 74 units at Casa Ybel), and the second bedroom usually is smaller (not like the studio suites at DVC or Marriott or Hilton).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks for the info, John.

 

[jbthi]

I have stayed at Tortuga and Shell Island. I own at Hurricane House on Sanibel and South Seas on Captiva.

Hurricane House is my favorite, if you get an upper the second bedroom is very large. The swimming pool is very small.

Sanibel Cottages is very nice.

I don't personally like the locations of Tortuga and Shell Island as well. If you like to shell, the beach isn't as good for shelling at these two.

Casa Ybel has the prettiest grounds and also a restaurant on site. I know the older phases do not have a washer/dryer in the unit. I'm not sure about the newer phases. I don't like Casa Ybel as well as Hurricane House or Sanibel Cottages.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks, jbthi.

 

[dvc_john]

Another point if you are golfers.
Hurricane House includes free golf.
And I've been told (but cannot personally verify) that Tortuga also has free golf.

 

[manning]

What has happened to South Seas Plantation on Captiva? Heard it took a direct hit from one of the hurricanes.

 

[JimMIA]

What has happened to South Seas Plantation on Captiva? Heard it took a direct hit from one of the hurricanes.

It was very heavily damaged by Charley in 2004, and just re-opened this Spring I believe.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

While you're over there, don't forget to visit Fiesta Key with that pure white silky smooth sand.

 

[KristinU]

Ooh, and try to get to the Bubble Room on Captiva for lunch or dinner - great fun and yummy!

If you have young kids there is a dinner theater in Ft. Myers that does children's productions with a lunch buffet. We saw The Little Mermaid there in May and it was a great time (and really inexpensive - I want to say like $10 or $12 a piece for the show and lunch). Oh, it is called The Broadway Palm.