If you’ve never rented a condo or house through places like HomeAway, VRBO, or AirBNB it can be a bit intimidating at first.  There are 300+ rentals available on Sanibel and Captiva listed on VRBO alone.  If you know a few ways to narrow down this list, it can be a lot easier to find the perfect Sanibel Island rental unit.

Learn how to use filters to narrow down search results

First let’s go to https://www.vrbo.com/ and type in Sanibel Island as our destination.  Depending on the dates you select there can be over 500 available rentals units.  It would be next to impossible to go through all these individual listings, but we can use filters to narrow this down.  Here is an example, I selected the filters for a 2+ bedroom beachfront house:

You will see that applying these filters took the list from over 500 to only 80.  There are many different filters you can apply on VRBO to make it easier to search.  If you know you want a condo or house with a pool simply check the box for “pool”.  If you want a beachfront villa simply check “beachfront” and “villa”.  Without using filters the sheer amount of different rentals available can be daunting.

Understand what the pictures are telling you

When someone lists their property on a rental site like VRBO they want the pictures shown on their listing to be as enticing as possible.  If they list a unit as “Ocean View” but don’t have any pictures showing the ocean view, that could be a red flag.  Technically there are many listings that could be “ocean view”, but it doesn’t do much good if you have to stand on a chair on the patio to see the ocean.

You can be sure that the VERY best a rental unit has looked is when the owners took the pictures.  With that in mind, if the unit doesn’t look good in the pictures, it probably is a lot worse in its current state.

Read the reviews for a unit

The reviews from guests that have stayed in a rental tell the story.  If there are reviews that vary wildly, like some 2 star reviews, some 4-5 star reviews it can be a sign that it isn’t well maintained.  Many times after receiving a bad review it will give the owner motivation to fix the issue.  If you see a unit like this don’t book it.  The last thing you need while on vacation is trying to track down someone to come fix a broken air conditioning unit that has been poorly maintained by the owner.

You want to look for a unit that has consistent positive reviews.  Check out this beauty of a property in the Sundial condo complex on Sanibel Island: https://www.vrbo.com/847622 It gets an average rating of 4.9/5.0 with 35 reviews.  This is the kind review feedback that you are looking for.

Understand differences of locations on the island

Sanibel Island is 11 miles long, and there are condos along most of the beach.  The beaches on the eastern end of the island (by the lighthouse) are a lot different than the beaches on the west end (by Blind Pass and Captiva).  As you move west on the island, the beaches get a lot less crowded.  Likewise, as you move east towards the lighthouse they get much busier.

The area of beach around Middle Gulf Drive has several extremely large condo complexes as well as a public beach access.  Both of these contribute to a much busier beach area.  Moving west, West Gulf Drive has smaller complexes and no public beach access.  This is my favorite area of the island because the beach is so uncrowded and serene.  You can use the map on the VRBO search page for Sanibel Island Rentals (VRBO Search Page for Sanibel Island) to look for rentals by their location on the island.

I hope this tips help you in your search for the perfect Captiva or Sanibel Island rental unit!  Check out our other articles below for more guides on planning your vacation.

Happy islanding!

There are a ton of average restaurants on Sanibel, and a handful of very good to excellent restaurants.  The places that are just average still draw huge crowds in the high season, so if you are going to wait a long time for a table, lets at least make sure its worth the wait.  I went through the reviews for all the Sanibel Island restaurants on both TripAdvisor and Yelp and tried to combine the ratings for both into a list that seemed accurate.  Without further ado, here’s our list!

Note: Blue Coyote Supper Club has recently closed, it will be reopened under new management.  Had it not closed it would have been ranked highly on our list, if not at the top.

1. The Mad Hatter

This really was not a difficult choice as the top spot, as it is the highest reviewed Sanibel restaurant on both Tripadvisor and Yelp.  Located right off the beach on San Cap Road, sits the Mad Hatter.  A quirky and eccentric exterior reveals an elegant dining room inside.

The service is always on point and the dishes they serve here are superb.  The menu is pretty fluid, it definitely changes with the seasons.  The chefs here do seem to be exceptionally skilled with scallop dishes, so that is usually what I gravitate towards.  This is one of the most expensive restaurants on the island so be prepared for that, its definitely a splurge kind of place for me.

Tripadvisor Composite Rating: 4.7/5.0, 1400+ Reviews

Yelp Composite Rating 4.7/5.0, 270+ Reviews

2. Il Cielo

If I was basing this list on my own personal preference (not Yelp and Tripadvisor reviews) I think I might put Il Cielo #1.  From the minute you walk in, it is obvious you are in for an experience you won’t forget.  This restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, and the food doesn’t take a back seat to the ambiance.  Truly one of the finest Italian restaurants I’ve had the pleasure of dining at.  In true Italian style, you are treated like family the minute you walk in.  The seafood specialties are to die for.

The Dungeness Crab Ravioli is probably one of my favorite meals here, although the Veal Osso Bucco gives it a run for its money.  Like Mad Hatter, it is a bit pricey as well, so expect to pay $30-40 for an entree and sides.  They do offer a fantastic Happy Hour menu from 4:30 to 6 (check out the menu http://ilcielosanibel.com/menu/happy-hour-menu/) which can be a great way to experience this top Sanibel Island restaurant on a budget.

Tripadvisor Composite Rating: 4.6/5.0, 1000+ Reviews

Yelp Composite Rating 4.7/5.0, 130+ Reviews

3. Bleu Rendez Vous French Bistro

Bleu describes itself as serving “country French cuisine”.  That is a pretty good description, as they serve delicious French comfort food.  While not near the beach, the ambiance is great much like Il Cielo.

I encourage you to check the menu (http://bleurendezvous.com/sanibel-island-french-bistro-menu/) before making a reservation. This isn’t a restaurant that could be described as having “something for everyone”.  They don’t have a large menu, but they are focused on making a few things really well.

I highly recommend the Seafood Vol-Au Vent, described on their menu as “Puff Pastry Treasure Chest filled with Maine Lobster Tail, Grouper, Shrimp, Scallop, Sherry-ed Lobster Cream Sauce”.  This is a dish you can’t miss out.  Bleu Rendez Vous offers some of the most unique and adventurous cuisine of the restaurants on Sanibel Island.

Tripadvisor Composite Rating: 4.6/5.0, 350+ Reviews

Yelp Composite Rating 4.6/5.0, 50+ Reviews

4. Sweet Melissa’s Cafe

There aren’t many restaurants in Sanibel Island that can compete with the awards that Sweet Melissa’s has won in the few years it’s been open.  The latest award it just received is the 2018 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.  Sweet Melissa’s should be higher on this list, in my opinion.  The reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp are generally excellent, just not quite as high as the first 3 on our list.

Sweet Melissa’s sources most of their indgredients locally, especially seafood.  This alone bumps it up a few notches in my book.  Because of their effort to locally source ingredients, the menu frequently changes.  They post daily specials to their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/sweetmelissascafesanibel/), and those specials can be absolutely delicious.  The most famous dish here though is the Fish Stew.  Using locally sourced Redfish, scallops, shrimp and clams, Sweet Melissa’s fish stew is a favorite among locals.

Tripadvisor Composite Rating: 4.5/5.0, 1200+ Reviews

Yelp Composite Rating 4.6/5.0, 200+ Reviews

5. Doc Fords Rum Bar and Grill

I was really happy to see this restaurant made our Tripadvisor and Yelp best list.  I’ve ate at Doc Fords more than the the previous 4 restaurants combined.  It’s that good.  A top 5 favorite meal for me at any restaurant in the world is the Yucatan Shrimp served here.  Pro tip:  Order extra bread to dip in your Yucatan sauce, thank me later.  The new location by Bailey’s General Store is beautiful, and they have lots more space than the old location on Rabbit Road.

Doc Ford’s drinks are fantastic, and the food is even better.  I’ve never had a meal here that was anything short of suberb.  To be totally honest, I haven’t explored their menu as much as I should though.  When one dish is so incredible it’s hard to order anything else.  They serve A LOT of Yucatan Shrimp, and for good reason.  There are a lot of great dishes served at the top Sanibel Island restaurants, but my absolute favorite is served here at Doc Ford’s.

Tripadvisor Composite Rating: 4.5/5.0, 5100+ Reviews

Yelp Composite Rating 4.4/5.0, 800+ Reviews

There are plenty of “locals only” secrets you learn from spending a lot of time on Sanibel and Captiva Island.  The locals that live here year round have taught me things that I more than likely would never have noticed or found out on my own.  Here’s just a few of those tricks:

Avoid driving on Periwinkle Way from 4PM to 6PM at all costs

This is without question the busiest time of day for traffic on Periwinkle.  If you don’t know this already, Sanibel traffic can be pretty infuriating.  During high season (like March) it can take up to an hour to get from one end of this road to the other, and it isn’t even 5 miles long.  Luckily, our next tip offers an alternative that few drivers use to avoid the Sanibel traffic gridlock.

Use the beach roads instead of Periwinkle if possible

If you take West Gulf Drive to Casa Ybel Rd to Middle Gulf Drive then finally to Lindgren you can completely bypass the gridlock of Periwinkle.  Why people don’t know how to do this I’m not sure, but for your sake and mine I’m glad they don’t.  Here’s a (crude, but you get the point) map where I highlighted this route in green:

A bizarre No-See-Um repellent that actually works the best

This is going to sound really strange but bear with me.  Years ago I had a constant battle with No-See-Um’s while visiting Sanibel.  After trying just about every type of bug spray available at Bailey’s Hardware Store, a local lady (who noticed me looking frustrated/itchy next to the bug sprays) gave me a tip that I didn’t believe at first.  She told me that some beauty product called Avon Skin So Soft will keep these nasty No-See-Um’s from even going near you.  I said thanks for the tip and chuckled to myself inside.

Fast forward a couple weeks and I heard someone say the same thing.  So now I’m wondering if this is some scheme put on by the pushy Avon sales ladies or if there is actually some merit to a “Bath Oil Spray” (that’s what my bottle says) being good at keeping biting insects from terrorizing you.  So I bought a bottle.  Man does it work!  I don’t exactly know why it works and I really don’t care, because those old ladies were 100% right.  I don’t bother trying to track down an Avon sales lady (go right ahead if that’s your thing), you can just buy a bottle from this seller on Amazon, check the price here (its usually around $10 for a big bottle): Amazon: AVON Skin So Soft Bath Oil Spray with Pump

Try Jerry’s Foods for a delicious and cheap breakfast or lunch

This is truly a local secret, I would have never thought to eat here if I wasn’t told about it while having a conversation with an older local man on the fishing pier.  Yes, the restaurant (more of a diner really) is in the grocery store.  It seems weird at first but once you find this gem you will be back every trip.  It is one of the only places on the island where you can get a generous lunch for under $10.  The unlimited soup and salad bar is $9.99 and is top notch.  The breakfasts are fantastic as well.  I like to get Jerry’s Famous Cinnamon Bread French Toast.  It comes with 3 HUGE pieces of french toast and bacon or sausage for $8.99.  I don’t think that there is a better value on the island than what you will find here, and you hardly ever have to wait for a table.

If you want to find the best shells, go right after a storm

If you see someone out scouring the beach right after a storm, often at night with a flashlight, there’s a good chance they are a local.  The storms that often roll through quickly in the evenings churn up the water.  This can bring shells onto the beach that you won’t find any other time.  You can usually find tons of the more common conchs and whelks too.  Some of these will be alive, so be careful with what you throw in your shell bag.  The next time you are visiting and you have a storm roll through, throw on a sweatshirt and grab your flashlight.  This is the absolute top time for shelling.

Happy islanding!

There are several tricks to getting a great deal on flights into Southwest Florida, or Sanibel flights in general.  It can take a little planning and sometimes thinking outside the box, but it can save a lot of money.  If saving a bit on airfare means upgrading to a nicer Fort Myers, Captiva, or Sanibel Island condo rental this is a no brainer!

Set up price alerts to notify you of price drops

This is a low-hassle way to search for a great deal on flights to Sanibel or Fort Myers.  Instead of wasting time checking prices every day, set up an alert to notify you of a good deal.  Airfare Watchdog is a great service for setting up alerts right to your email.  Simply enter the dates you want to fly and from where, enter your email, and check the box that says “Alert me when fares drop”.  Here’s an example of how I set them up: Try setting up an alert for yourself here: AirfareWatchdog Price Drop Alert When I am looking for a flight to the Sanibel area, I like to set up separate alerts for multiple airports around Fort Myers.  This way you leave all options open to flying into an airport that might be a short drive away, but could potentially save hundreds of dollars.  For example, if I want to fly a certain day, I will set up 3 separate alerts for that day for Ft Myers Airport, Punta Gorda, and Sarasota.

Be open to flying into an unfamiliar airport

There are a ton of international airports in Florida, and even more regionals.  While Fort Myers (Airport code RSW) is the closest international airport to the Ft Myers Beach/Sanibel Island area, it isn’t the only choice.  There are actually 10 international airports within 150 miles of Fort Myers.  When you add in the nearby a regional airports like Punta Gorda (airport code PGD) and Naples (code APF) there are TONS of options.

Some of the best deals I’ve been able to find when visiting the area have been into Punta Gorda, formerly known as the Charlotte County Airport.  It is a small airport but they are fast and friendly, and delays are rare.  Located 22 miles north of Fort Myers, it is a fantastic airport for arriving into Southwest Florida.  If you are going to be renting a car anyways, the money you can save by flying into PGD can be significant.

Leave from a different airport than you arrive

This is kind of a hidden trick that a lot of people will look at you funny when you talk about.  Since most people that visit Southwest Florida rent cars, this is something that anyone can pull off.  Car rental companies will allow you to rent a car from one airport and return it to a different airport.  Sometimes you will have to pay a fee that makes this trick not worth it.  But on occasion, the rental car company might need a car moved from one airport to another, and they will give you a great deal on this type of rental.

When you are free to leave from a separate airport than the one you arrived at, you can really start to find deals.  Instead of doing searches for round trip flights, start looking for one way flights for your arrival and departure.  Last year I managed to fly into Fort Myers Airport (RSW) on a one way for around $100,  and left from Punta Gorda (PGD) for $50.  Try finding a round trip ticket for $150!  This doesn’t always work, but when it does it is worth 15 extra minutes in the car.

Fly on weekdays if possible

I know this can sometime be hard with work schedules, but if you can fly on a weekday it can be a huge money saver.  The trick to this is making sure your condo rental (check out our Top 5 List of the Best Sanibel Island Condos here https://frequentislander.com/top-5-sanibel-island-condo-rental-locations/) is not locked into Saturday to Saturday stays.  Some are, some aren’t but if you find a great flight deal it might be worth finding a condo rental that matches up.  If you are booking a hotel you are usually more flexible with arrival and departure days.

Avoid packing bulky items and rent them instead

I learned this one too late in life.  This is especially relevant while traveling with kids.  Instead of lugging car seats, strollers, pack and plays, high chairs etc around airports, just rent them!  Most of the time renting these bulky items can be cheaper than paying the bag fees for hauling them in the air with you.  Cribs and pack and plays can be rented from several rental companies in the area, like this one http://www.islandrentalservices.net/

Like I mentioned earlier, I wish I would have known this sooner.  Island Rental Services will deliver whatever you need right to your condo or house, and have it waiting for you when you arrive.  It doesn’t get any easier than that.  I still have nightmares about trying to haul pack and plays around busy airports.  Trust me on this one, even if you break even on getting rid of the baggage fees, you will have much more of your sanity left for an enjoyable vacation.

Happy Islanding!

There are a lot of Sanibel Island condo rentals, but they aren’t the typical high rise condos you see on Fort Myers Beach or Marco Island.  Most are only 2 or 3 stories tall.  There aren’t any condos that are brand new on Sanibel, so it’s important to know which ones to avoid and which ones to target.  The complexes we have listed on this page are all excellent choices and are available to book on VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner).  If you’ve never used VRBO, this is the time to try it. 

I can’t stress this enough though, Sanibel Condos BOOK UP FAST.  During high seasons they are often booked a year out.  If you see a place you like, book it while it is available.  Most offer free refunds so if plans change you can always cancel it later.

The majority of Sanibel Island condo rentals are privately owned.  Most owners use Royal Shell Vacations as a booking and cleaning agent.  This makes check in a breeze.  There is a Royal Shell Vacations office on your way into the island where you simply pick up your keys and head to your rental unit.  It really is simple, and after you’ve rented like this through VRBO once you will wonder why you hadn’t done it earlier.  The deals through VRBO.com are much cheaper than renting a Sanibel Island hotel.

5. Villa Sanibel

The Villa Sanibel condo complex is small (only 20 units) and most units are very close to the beach.  Because of its small size availability can be somewhat limited, but if you can find a unit here on VRBO it is a great choice.  This complex is located on the easternmost end of West Gulf Drive, adjacent to the Sanibel Cottages Resort.  Villa Sanibel’s rentals are unique because they have a separate loft area above the kitchen.  As you can see in the picture above, they are some of the closest units to the beach.  You can check the availability of the Villa Sanibel Unit 1G picture above here: Availability Listing Villa Sanibel 1G

4. Gulf Beach

The Gulf Beach condo complex is another smaller complex located on East Gulf Drive on the east end of Sanibel Island.  You can walk down the beach to the Sanibel Lighthouse from this location, which is a must see.  Gulf Beach has a pretty large pool for the size of the condo complex.  The unit pictured above is the crown jewel of this complex, recently renovated in Pottery Barn furnishings.  This is a very tough unit to book, but they do only allow bookings a year out.  This allows someone who is staying there now to have the first chance to book for next year.  The current review rating on VRBO is 4.9/5.0 with 36 reviews.  You can check out the reviews for yourself here: Gulf Beach Unit 207 Reviews

3. Island Beach Club

The Island Beach Club is without a doubt the best Sanibel Island condo rental complex for a fantastic view.  The design of these beachfront condos gives you a floor to ceiling window view in almost every room, as well as a screened in patio.  There simply isn’t a condo on Sanibel that beats the views from these units.  The downside is they are priced accordingly, but that’s about the only downside.  Island Beach Club would be my #1 pick if cost was not a factor in this list.  The common areas and pools here are top notch as well.  The unit pictured above has another amazing 4.9/5.0 rating on VRBO, check out the listing page here: Island Beach Club P6D Reviews and Availability Be warned, at the time of posting they were 100% booked for the next 5 months.

2. Sanibel Surfside

The gulf front units at the Sanibel Surfside condo complex strike that perfect balance between value and quality.  The units are extremely close to the beach, the pool is good, the units are renovated and the views are great.  This complex is located on Donax Street, which is quiet road.  The beach in this area is less busy than a lot of the areas on the island, it helps that it isn’t close to a public beach access.  There really isn’t much not to love about this complex, it is just an all around great value.  The unit pictured above actually gets a full 5.0/5.0 on VRBO.  You can check the reviews and availability for yourself here:  Sanibel Surfside Condo Unit 105 Reviews and Availability

1. Sand Pointe

I really struggled to even post this, afraid that it might make it even harder to book the units I love at this complex.  Without question, I’ve spent more time at Sand Pointe than any other Sanibel Island condo complex.  So many memories, so many wonderful Sanibel Island vacations.  If I had to narrow it down, after all of my travels to islands across the globe, this just might be my favorite place in the world.  Before I wax poetic more about this place lets get down to just what makes it special.

Sand Pointe is a small condo complex on a very quiet stretch of West Gulf Drive, away from any public beach access or large resorts.  It is a serene area of the beach.  The parking for the units is under the first floor, so the first floor of condos is actually 1 story up.  This makes the 3rd floor condo’s have an amazing view, since they are really 4 stories tall.  Every single unit at Sand Pointe has a great ocean view.

The screened in patios (called Lanai’s) are absolutely massive in all the Sand Pointe units.  The pool (while small) is one of the cleanest and nicest of any Sanibel Island condo complex.  The owners who live in some of the units long term are all wonderful and friendly.  Most of the units are completely renovated, and the renovations were done to a quality you rarely see with condos.  The best part though?  Value.  You simply will not find a better deal for a really nice condo with great amenities and a fantastic view in any other Sanibel Island condo complex.  The unit pictured above has a 4.9/5.0 rating on VRBO (are you sensing a trend here?) and here’s the link to check the reviews and availability: Sand Pointe Condo Unit 137 Reviews and Availability

There’s an extremely good chance that Unit 137 might be booked for your selected dates, so I put together a VRBO search page for ALL the available Sand Pointe units, you can check that here: Check Availability for All Sand Pointe Condo Units

Happy Islanding!

Captiva Island is one of my favorite islands in the United States.  Even though it sits a stones throw (literally) across from Sanibel Island, it has a totally different vibe.  The Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are actually very different, and most articles you read on San-Cap fail to even acknowledge this.  This is all from my personal experience on the islands, nothing I have read on any blog or website trying to sell you on an expensive vacation package at one of the resorts.

Sanibel Island has more shells, Captiva Island Beaches have better sand

Don’t take this the wrong way, the beaches of Captiva Island are still better for shelling than most places in the entire world, it’s just that Sanibel is truly the best there is.  The waters off the beaches of Sanibel have a gradual slope that allows shells to be washed up onto the beach extremely easily.  Captiva Island beaches on the other hand have a steeper slope in the water directly off the beach, which tends to cut down on the amount of shells that wash up on the beach.

Sanibel’s beaches are actually made up more of ground up shells than sand, which can be somewhat uncomfortable for bare feet.  Captiva’s beaches are more of the soft sugar sand that one would typically see on an island.  If you aren’t into shelling this is definitely something worth considering.

Sanibel Island beaches typically have murkier water than Captiva Island Beaches

The same gradual sloping shoreline that collects millions of shells on the beaches of Sanibel also prevent it from having bright clear blue water most of the year.  As waves travel across shallow water they pick up speed and tend to stir up sand and sediment from the ocean floor.  Since the water off Sanibel is shallower than Captiva, this causes bigger waves and murkier water.  If Sanibel is rough and murky you can often drive a few miles to Captiva and find calm and clear water.  It seems like this couldn’t possibly be true since they are so close, together but it absolutely is.  The bottom structure of the beaches have more influence on waves and water clarity than most realize.

Captiva Island Beaches have a more laid back, island-y vibe

While Sanibel is filled with people scouring the beach for beautiful shells, the beaches of Captiva are generally very quiet and laid back.  The lack of multi-unit condos on Captiva makes the beaches far less crowded.  On the end of Captiva near Blind Pass Captiva is typically pretty busy but the reast of the 5 miles of beach is some of the quietest you will find.  Most of the year it feels like you are the only one on the beach.

If you are really into fantastic shelling then the obvious choice is Sanibel.  But if you are looking for the more traditional sugar sand beach with clear blue water the Captiva Island Beaches are the way to go.  Realizing the differences in the two islands is important, I’ve heard from people who stayed on Sanibel expecting the clear water and soft sand and were disappointed.  Likewise, I’ve heard from people who stayed on Captiva and were disappointed in the lack of shells.  Hopefully this post helps you make a decision that puts you on the beach that will give you the most enjoyment from your island vacation.

Happy Islanding!