Updated 10/11/2021 There are several excellent hotels on Marco Island, although the majority of the island is made up of condos. There are only 3 beachfront hotels on Marco Island, the rest are off the water and I wouldn’t recommend most of them. Mariott dominates the hotel scene here, landing two of the top 3 rated hotels. Marco Island hotels aren’t cheap, mainly because demand is so high for the limited number of rooms on the island. If you are going to spend the money, make sure it as one of the highest rated hotels on our list below. We used a variety of user rating sources like Tripadvisor, Facebook, and Hotels.com composite ratings and reviews to create this master list.
1. JW Mariott Marco Island Hotel and Resort
The JW Marriott is the crown jewel of all the Marco Island hotels. It is actually the first beachfront JW Marriott in the United States, and just finished a multi million dollar renovation. It was already a gorgeous hotel before the renovation, but now it is truly world class. This hotel actually spans 3 miles of Marco Island beachfront, and the beach here is about as good as it gets.
This hotel/resort has 10 different restaurants on the property, 3 pools, as well as 2 separate 18 hole golf courses. Every room at the JW Marco Island has a private balcony, marble bathrooms, and in room refrigerators. The amenities that come with this hotel can’t be matched by any other on the island.
While it may be a little pricier than some of the other options, you get a lot for your money here. You really don’t even need to leave the hotel once you are here. You could even eat at a different restaurant every night of your stay without leaving the resort. If you want a Marco Island resort that lets you truly relax and unwind, you can’t do much better than the JW.
JW Marriott Marco Island Rates and Availability
TripAdvisor Average Review Score: 4.7/5.0, 4300+ Reviews
Hotels.com Average Review Score: 9.0/10, 300+ Reviews
Facebook Average Review Score: 4.8/5.0, 2900+ Reviews
Google Average Review Score: 4.6/5.0, 1900+ Reviews
2. Marco Beach Ocean Resort
Marco Beach Ocean Resort comes in at a close #2 based on the rankings we compiled. This hotel is beautiful as well, and in a fantastic location. There are a smaller number of rooms at this hotel so it can be a little harder to book a room during high season.
One big difference between the JW and Marco Beach Ocean Resort is that this hotel has a full kitchen in all rooms. There are fewer restaurants here than the JW so the full kitchen can be a nice feature during long stays (or with kids). The pool at this resort is large and well stocked with lounge chairs.
The beach here is right on par with the JW, it just doesn’t go on for miles like it does there. The umbrella beach loungers here are complimentary for guests. There are also attendants that will bring you drinks or food right to your lounge chair on the beach. If you are looking for more of a condo type hotel/resort with spacious suites and full kitchens, Marco Beach Ocean Resort is a great choice.
Marco Beach Ocean Resort Rates and Availability
TripAdvisor Average Review Score: 4.5/5.0, 1400+ Reviews
Hotels.com Average Review Score: 9.2/10, 300+ Reviews
Facebook Average Review Score: 4.7/5.0, 450+ Reviews
Google Average Review Score: 4.5/5.0, 300+ Reviews
3. Mariott Crystal Shores, Marco Island Hotel and Resort
Our second Marriott property on this list is Crystal Shores. This is a newer property with very modern styling. It is a lot smaller than the JW but just as elegant. This Marriott follows more of the modern style trends you would find in a chain like a W hotel. The Crystal Shores is located next to the Hilton Marco Island and just a few miles down the beach from the JW. The crowd here trends on the younger side compared to the Marco Beach or the JW.
This resort was actually expanded in early 2018, adding more beachfront rooms, pools, and restaurants. The new pools are beautiful and the brand new restaurants serve pretty good food. It wouldn’t be my first choice for a dinner on Marco but it’s a lifesaver for a quick lunch after beaching it all day. If you can score one of the brand new beachfront rooms they are 5 star. Since this resort is (mainly) brand new, it is priced at about the same level as the JW and Marco Beach. For the price I think you get more amenities at the latter two Marco Island hotels. If having a brand new sparkling Marco Island resort is something that you are willing to pay a premium for, Crystal Shores is a great choice.
Hotels.com Mariott Crystal Shores Early Booking Sale
TripAdvisor Average Review Score: 4.6/5.0, 550+ Reviews
Hotels.com Average Review Score: 8.6/10, 50+ Reviews
Google Average Review Score: 4.6/5.0, 350+ Reviews
Whichever of these 3 Marco Island hotels you choose, we know you won’t be disappointed. It’s worth noting that you may be able to find a cheaper hotel that isn’t on the beach or near the water, but it simply isn’t the same as staying on the beach. If you are looking for a beachfront Marco Island resort, you really can’t go wrong with any on this list. For more information on things to do and places to eat on Marco Island check out their tourism department’s website here: https://www.paradisecoast.com/marco-island
Check out our other articles below if you are interested, and we would love to hear from you in the comments.
Happy islanding!
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