As a Thank You to our guests, when you book a room at the Island Inn during 2013 you will receive an exclusive promotion card that entitles you to tons of discounts, offers, and freebies on and off the island!

When you arrive for your stay you will be provided with a promotion card and a packet with all of the participating businesses and their offers. Some of the participating businesses include the Sanibel Day Spa, Congress Jewelers, Tribeca Salon, Pinocchio’s, Island Cinema, Captiva Cruises, Tanger Outlets, KeyWest Express The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club and many more! This promotion is exclusive to Island Inn guests who book directly through the Island Inn’s website or telephone number. What are you waiting for…

Whether you enjoy this activity or not, throughout your planning process you will build up a set of expectations for your destination – how it will look and how you will feel when you are there. Anticipating your vacation is a big part of the fun of vacationing. Of course, you hope that the picture you paint in your mind doesn’t eclipse the actual experience once you get there!

First, you have to decide on a location. There are more than 2,000 miles of shoreline in Florida – so “going to the beach” is a really wide starting point. Maybe you’d like the water to be warm and the surf to be calm? This describes Florida’s southwest Gulf coast, with its tranquil aqua marine water that is swimmable for most days of the year.

Another level of choice comes down to style. Do you want a bustling, party atmosphere, chain restaurants with big parking lots, beach vendors and a view from your 12^th-floor condo? Or, would you really rather have private access to a quiet stretch of beach, and a quaint downtown business district you can stroll at your leisure? If the second option appeals to you, you just crossed over to Sanibel Island. Natural landscapes on Sanibel are the norm, since the island has controlled development carefully since the Florida building boom threatened in the early 1960s. In fact, a majority of the island’s land area is protected by the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Once you’ve decided on Sanibel, choosing a place to rest your head can still be an overwhelming chore. Go back to the picture you imagined. If your preferences have led you to Sanibel so far, wouldn’t you want to choose lodging that embodies the Sanibel way of life? Of course, we’re partial. But since 1895, people have chosen the Island Inn as their Sanibel retreat. The historic Island Inn beachfront resort has worked hard ever since to make sure the vacation you imagined and looked forward to, turns into a sandy, sunny reality. Let us know how we’re doing!

What do you think of when you hear the word “cottage”? You might picture a wood-paneled structure with plank beds, outdoor plumbing and decorated with taxidermy fish. While you might be able find something close to that description on Sanibel, this is not the Island Inn approach to cottage life. Our cottages reflect the traditions of Sanibel Island, casual yet elegant since 1895!

For the honeymoon or romantic getaway, a small cottage is just the ticket for privacy and luxury. Alternately, for groups of family or friends, “going cottage” is a great way to share accommodation costs while having a great time.

When shopping for a cottage, make sure the kitchen is fully equipped for your cooking needs, so you can comfortably make meals as often as you choose. Also, pay careful attention to room sizes and floor plan; a cottage’s capacity should not be rated for group using the same “sardine” formula that tent-makers use. Further, check out a grounds map. If one is not available, you might have to wonder if the great “view” from your cottage is of the restaurant’s dumpster instead of the beach. Atmosphere might be important to you – look at lots of pictures of the cottage to see if the windows are big or small, ceilings high and airy or low and stuffy.

Florida is covered in fancy skyscraper condos and simulated tiki huts by the shore, but the authenticity of the Island Inn’s cottages is a rare find. There are seven cottages at the Island Inn, ranging from the roomy one-bedroom Spoonbill Gulf Front Cottages to the Zeeryp Beach House, which is sized to easily accommodate a group of eight and can sleep up to 12. The Gulf of Mexico is only a few dozen paces from your cottage door, through the property’s sandy courtyard. Like Sanibel itself, the Island Inn has avoided over-development through the decades. Our cottages especially reflect this philosophy – sporting a sophisticated but casual style.

Choosing a cottage for your next vacation should be a pleasure, not a chore. Let us know how the Island Inn can help you decide!

Ask friends for a recommendation. Sometimes this approach works out, but it can also backfire if your preferences do not match theirs! Websites like TripAdvisor can be an excellent resource, since you have access to a large number of reviews from real travelers like you who have stayed at the place you are considering. Of course, a good practice when dealing with anyone’s opinion is to carry a few grains of salt, and this is definitely true on travel websites. Still, consistent positive comments and rankings are a pretty good sign. How many reviews are posted? Rankings based on a handful of reviews might not be as valid as those based on hundreds of reviews. Also, see if the resort’s management responds to the comments on these sites – that will give you a good indication of how responsive they will be once you get there!

Have a plan. Decide what is most important for you to see and do. Answering these questions can help you decide among the resorts you are considering:

• How much can we spend?
• Will we need to rent a car?
• Natural setting – or lots of crowds and nightlife?
• How close is the beach – do we have to cross a street?
• Chain hotel or privately owned?
• Can we cook meals in the room?
• How important is a distinctive and private atmosphere?
• Does the property have good reviews on travel sites?

Call the property. Booking through a third-party website can feel convenient, but you can often get a better deal when you book directly.  Booking directly also helps ensure you receive the accommodation option that best fits your needs and meets your expectations; many times, third-party booking sites will bait and switch their guests. Also, when you call the resort, you will get a better idea of how knowledgeable, friendly and helpful the staff will be … unless you end up calling a remote corporate call center or get tangled in an electronic operator. That can tell you a lot, too!

The Island Inn resort has been the top choice among discerning Florida vacationers since 1895. In that time, we’ve learned how to deliver great service and value, always renewing our accommodations and offerings to suit the many generations of guests we have served.

There are many choices for resort and vacation spots in southwest Florida and we thank you for considering the Island Inn.

Situated near Fort Myers, with its great selection of well-tended golf courses, museums and the Calusa Planetarium, guests staying on Sanibel and Captiva Islands also can take advantage of a short trip to Naples, with its excellent Zoo and botanical gardens. In Sanibel you’ll feel like you’re a thousand miles away, even though there is just over a mile of water between quiet Sanibel Island and mainland Florida’s busy, condo-sky-rise-filled shoreline.

The Island Perspective
Saved from Florida’s development explosion after WWII by farsighted development laws pushed by Sanibel residents, today Sanibel Island is free of the tall hotels and condos featured throughout the rest of the Gulf coast. Consequently, the island feels like a hideaway, with a small year-round population and room to spare on the 15 miles of unspoiled beaches, no matter the season. Vehicular traffic is also minimal, with no traffic lights on the island to spoil the pedestrian-centered way of life adopted by both vacationers and residents. A laid-back attitude infuses the local culture – you’ll want to slow your pace and relish every minute, every sight, the warm rays of the sun, the music of the waves tossing the shells about.

Geography and Natural Features
With a combined area of 33 square miles, Sanibel is considered a barrier island. Basically, the islands we see today are large sandbars formed by the action of waves over millennia. Because of the way it was formed, the lack of hills on the island makes for pleasurable bicycling, walking and running. Sanibel’s broad wetlands, home to a great diversity of winged and aquatic species, can best be experienced with a visit to the Ding Darling Wildlife refuge. This splendid preserve lets you immerse yourself in how Sanibel must have appeared to its first residents. In all, more than 50% of the acreage on the island is preserved wilderness by law.

The beautiful Sanibel beach faces the Gulf of Mexico, where shells are pushed ashore in huge quantities. In fact, shell experts from around the world come to search for the 250+ species of shells that have been found on these shores.

That’s why we at the Island Inn jumped at the chance to host a series of guided beach walks, conducted by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Our guests understand and appreciate the genuine approach to conservation and preservation that Island Inn practices, but they are often curious “exactly what is that?” next to their towel on the sand.

The walks are free, and will be led by an experienced guide from SCCF. You won’t need to take notes and there won’t be a test, but you’re still likely to learn something about this majestic natural resource and gain a deeper appreciation for keeping it around.

Four dates are planned so far in 2013, but check the Island Inn “Island News” page for updated information. All walks start at 10 a.m. in the Island Inn parking lot.

Join us: February 12, February 26, March 5 and March 9.

No reservations are required, but come prepared with sunblock, a hat, water and a camera! Once you’ve completed the walk, we invite you to share your photos with us on Facebook!

We left the windows open while we slept. I’m glad we did that because I love breathing that beautiful salt air! I can just barely hear the waves sloshing on the shore. It sure is a relaxing sound – maybe I’ll just lay back and listen for a few minutes while I decide what to do next…

7:30 a.m.
We woke to the sound of shore birds greeting the morning on the beach. Why is vacation sleep so much more refreshing than regular sleep? We’ve been to the beach before but this is our first time at Island Inn. Normally, on a beach vacation, this is my least favorite time of the day, because I know it’s going to take an hour or more for us to get “ready to go.” This time, we’re already here, on the beach. No busy street to drive across or long walk to prepare for. Here, there’s nothing but a stretch of sand between my door and the shore.

8:48 a.m.
Grabbed some continental breakfast, which is included for all Island Inn guests. Both of us enjoyed the nice fresh fruit, hardboiled eggs and yogurt that were offered.  The fresh pastries were tempting but I only had one … ok, I actually had two, with some coffee. We took a walk on the beach after eating. The tide makes a great racket as it rolls tons of shells around, making more of that beautiful Sanibel sand. We picked up a few shells but left most of them, in case anybody is counting!

9:30 a.m.
We came back to our room to change into our swimsuits. I just noticed something – I haven’t touched my shoes since we got here! You know you’re on vacation somewhere nice when you can ignore your shoes.

11:50 a.m.
The water is great here – clear and warm but refreshing. I’m glad I put on sunblock because the sun is pretty intense. We took a nice, long walk up the beach – what a beautiful island. I had plans for the day but I’ve forgotten what they were! When you come to a place like Sanibel Island, I think forgetting your plans is way more fun than worrying about them.

That’s quite an honor, but if you go to Sanibel, you won’t notice a lot of glitz, glam or attitude. So what’s all the fuss about this little stretch of sand along the vast Florida Gulf coast? Like the porridge in the Three Bears, Sanibel Island is just right. It is far enough South, and far enough out in the Gulf to be a preferred stop for hundreds of migratory bird species as they make their seasonal runs between the American continents.  It is far enough North to capture the rich waters of the northern Gulf currents as they sweep southward – teeming with an amazing variety of fish that shelter near the island and bay, and shelled creatures that wash up on the beach. Sanibel is just simply in the right place. And, fortunately, because of our climate, any time of the year is the right time!

As small as Sanibel and Captiva are, we realize that still leaves you a lot of choices for your Florida beach vacation; there are many wonderful places to stay on Sanibel and Captiva! As the longest-serving resort on the island, we hope you’ll consider the Island Inn for your lodging, just as travelers to southwest Florida’s beaches have been doing since 1895.

From your home base at the Island Inn, you are beachfront. So if sunbathing, walking the shoreline, shelling, swimming or sitting poolside is on your to-do list, you are set.  Or, rent a bike and you’ll have easy 10-minute access to the charming shops in the town of Sanibel. Also just outside the resort grounds is access to the extensive bike path network that crisscrosses the island. You can even bicycle through the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the most extensive undeveloped barrier marshland remaining in Southwest Florida. This natural wonder is home to thousands of birds and aquatic species, some quite rare outside of this protected habitat.

Like many of our guests say, a Florida beach vacation on Sanibel is so much more than just the beach!

On Friday December 7, dry off from a day at the beach and head up to Periwinkle Way around 5:30 p.m. as the candles are lit and the activities begin (click to see full schedule details).  If you’re not walking or biking from your hotel, park at either the Bailey’s Center or the Jerry’s Center.  Trolleys are provided free-of-charge and run until 9 p.m., shuttling revelers to each of the nine stops on the three-mile route. The Trolley route begins at the East end of Sanibel (Pinocchio’s and Lighthouse Café) ending at Stop 9 at Bailey’s Center on Tarpon Bay Road.  Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to shop, eat, enjoy the many entertainment options scheduled, and most of all, socialize with the whole Sanibel community.  Don’t miss Santa Claus, as he takes time from his busy toy-making schedule to visit everyone on his “nice” list on Sanibel Island. The jolly old elf will be on hand for children of all ages from 6 to 6:15 p.m. at Bailey’s Center, then from 6:25 to 6:40 at Tahitian Gardens, and 6:50 to 7:05 at the East End Shops.

Don’t forget to save some energy for Saturday evening, when it is Captiva Island’s turn to light up the night. (Click to see full schedule details.) Sanibel’s slender northern sister will glow all along Captiva Drive, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. as the island joins in on the Luminary Festival weekend celebration.  There are five trolley stops along the route and parking is available at Tween Waters Inn (Stop 5) and Chadwick’s Square (Stop 1). Hop on – it’s FREE – and get in the holiday mood, island-style, in the warmth of our Southwest Florida Gulf air. Get ready to celebrate as there will be an abundance of food, refreshments and live entertainment in store.

Wherever you choose to stay on the island, the Island Inn welcomes you for the Luminary Festival weekend. Sanibel and Captiva are beautiful every day, year-round, but the special atmosphere brought by the luminary candles lining our streets makes us even more proud of our home island.
Wishing you a Happy Holidays from all of us at the Island Inn!