What kind of vacationer are you? Are you happiest in a crowd on a brightly lit stretch of restaurants and night spots, or under a tree in solitary communion with nature? Some aren’t happy unless they’re roughing it, or in some sort of immediate peril. Others find the familiar more thrilling. Still others prefer to stick with the most popular choices. You may be a person who just wants to go away by yourself and relax for days and days, or you might find that you are in the mood for some pampering after all. For guests of Island Inn’s cottages, Sanibel Island becomes their own private home on the Gulf with abundant choices to turn any style of vacation from a wish to a reality.

The word “cottage” can bring many images to mind (including cramped fishing shacks with army cots!) Rest assured, while Island Inn can be described overall as “casual,” it steers clear of the “rustic” approach, tending instead toward elegance, good taste and luxurious yet understated comfort. Island Inn Cottages embody the traditions of Sanibel Island, since 1895, setting itself apart from the frantic pace of development just a few short miles away, adding no more buildings than necessary and keeping their size and style refined and relaxed. Cottage guests frequently remark that their stay felt like owning an exclusive beachfront home, with all the luxuries of a resort just steps away, theirs to partake whenever they chose. In today’s world of luxury high-rise beach condos and mega-hotels by the shore, a classy secluded beach cottage is a rare commodity indeed.

Island Inn boasts 5 distinct and welcoming Sanibel Island cottages. Planning your honeymoon? Vacationing alone? Bringing the family and the in-laws to Sanibel Island? Island Inn cottages range from single bedroom getaways to large cottages for groups as large as eight. All cottages have fully equipped kitchens too, so you can maroon yourself in your slice of paradise for as long as you choose. The Sanibel Island cottages of Island Inn feature large interior spaces and big windows for plenty of elbow room, even at capacity. You’ll hear the murmuring waves of the Gulf of Mexico just outside, tempting you to make the short stroll through the sand to the water’s edge.

Placed directly on Island Inn’s private beach, the cottages afford guests a sense of independence and true privacy. Of course, you’re only steps away from the rest of the Island Inn resort with myriad activities and opportunities for socializing, and from its renowned restaurant, Traditions On the Beach. For a study in contrasts, step through the warm sand outside your cottage door, start the car and in minutes be on the Florida mainland in the bustling environs of the Fort Meyers area. When you return, be warned, you might not want to leave!