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    Waterside Inn

    3.3 (52 reviews)
    PriceyHotels
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Angela D.

    This is a beautiful, peaceful place. It's right on the beach and there are lots of shells and sea turtle nesting areas so watch for the turtles. Rooms were clean and pool was clean and nice. Now when you make a reservation if you want a certain room or close to the beach, putting it in the notes section of reservation gets ignored and your told you must call to request it even if those rooms are left empty. Next, they have a little sign to hand on the door for stay over guest. One side says do not disturb, the other side says maid service requested. It does not matter if you put it out or not because they will go in your room, we knew because bed was maid and clean towels, which is fine but if the maid service requested sign is NOT up then there is no reason for them to go in your room. There is a bunny that lives on premises, we seen him below our balcony and watched him go home but I won't post where it's at so no one can bother the little guy. There are great restaurants around. It costs you six dollars to get over to this island. I would suggest you bring everything you need because there are little stores but everything is expensive on the island. The no- see-ums are bad there and you need a deet spray. We bought the spray they sell on the island which is oily and they just stick to it. We had a great time though and relaxed.

    Example of bed bug bites on my left thigh.  Both my legs, arms and back covered with bites.

    Beware! BED BUGS, horrible Management and "F" Rating with BBB I rarely write a bad review unless it's truly warranted. My stay at Waterside Inn on the Beach in Sanibel was the worst hotel experience of my life. I need to share this information as a caution to others. If it wasn't for the bed bugs and management's refusal to refund my money, this would have been a pleasant place to stay. In early October 2020, I reserved 4-nights with a guest (Kiwi Cottage K109). On the 2nd day we were in the room on the bed after dinner and a day of shopping. We both started getting bitten. I was completely covered with bites and welts on my back, back of legs and back of my arms. We pulled back the sheets, scooped up several black specs and put them in a zip lock bag. We confirmed they were bugs that were still moving inside the bag. The office was closed so we used the sofa bed that night. The next morning, we reported the bed bugs to the office. The person at the desk was understanding and apologetic, taking pictures of my welts and the bugs we collected. He stated that I had bed bug bites. I asked for another room for the next 2 nights, but they were fully occupied. I had no choice but to check out and leave. He agreed that I should not stay in the same room if I was getting bitten and if he had the authority, he would give me a full refund on the spot. He submitted a request to the Manager for a refund. In following up, I was informed that the Manager denied any evidence of bed bugs and refused to refund me anything. I then I filed a Better Business Bureau Complaint with all my evidence and pictures. After over a month patiently waiting for resolution of the issue, Management never responded to me or BBB about the complaint. I had been avoiding writing a poor review before that. See BBB for Lee County, FL for other customer complaints and why the F rating. As a resident of South Florida for 18 years, I'm constantly exposed to no-see-ums, mosquitos and other insects, but never in my life have I suffered from bed bug bites all over my body. The bite marks are still there today. I could not be more disappointed in the Management of this property to do the right thing by refunding my money due to a legitimate hygiene issue.

    Veronica S.

    Had an excellent time this weekend. Carol and her staff were friendly and very on top of the whole property. We loved the studio room. Everything was clean. High recommend.

    Beautiful water views
    Amy L.

    We are here now thoroughly enjoying our 2nd stay here. Love the cottage, the staff is great- so many kitchen supplies! I will return here often. Everything is clean and the beach is Fantastic & and only steps away. Quiet at night.always peaceful! Dog friendly too! We are so happy to be BACK at the Waterside!

    View of the beach and ocean near Grapefruit cottage.
    Jeremy M.

    We have stayed here twice. Both times were spectacular stays. While much of this is owed to the beauty and tranquility of Sanibel, the charm and convenience provided by Waterside Inn was the proverbial icing on the cake. Here are a few of my key observations: 1. If you love all things retro, Waterside is for you! The Inn has a distinct 1960's feel that is a nice departure from the sterile, modern trappings we must endure from chain to chain. Sure, there was a flat screen tv in Grapefruit 106, but the unit and the complex as a whole had a classic, Florida vacation feel. 2. Waterside Inn is very, very clean and well kept. This is a feat for any beachside accommodation. Sea breezes, sand, and piña colada drinkers can exact a toll on anything over time. But Waterside looks, as another Yelp commenter noted, spic and span clean. Further, the grounds are well kept, and accentuate the tropical paradise that is Sanibel. 3. The beach access is perfect. Here, it's measured in footsteps, and not segments of a mile. The Gulf may be readily viewed from the front door of almost any unit, and it is a 90 second walk from front door to surf. I should add that they have complimentary lounge chairs that one may take to the beach. This is a feature that you may have to pay for elsewhere, or may not be otherwise available. If you are planning on spending any amount of time on the beachfront, do consider renting an umbrella from the Inn. The shade it can provide is a welcome respite from the intense Floridian sun. 4. The other accommodations are functionally fine. The kitchens come with the essentials. It's not Robbery (Pottery) Barn-grade stuff, but it works. Bathrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms are also appointed with what you may need, including WiFi. 5. Buy your own water. This is nothing on Waterside. Generally, Sanibel's water, while compliant with USSDWA standards, tastes funny everywhere. Even coffee cannot mask the taste. You may want to stock up on a gallon or two of filtered water if you plan to stay for any period of time. 6. Waterside's location couldn't be better. The Inn is a five minute drive to the main part of town (Periwinkle Drive), and offers convenient access to Sanibel-Captiva Road which takes you to the Ding-Darling Refuge, Bailey Shell Museum, Bowman's Beach, and Captiva to name a few places. 7. Waterside Inn is a great place to bring a family. This is not a beer-soaked, tequila-shooting party pad. Those are plentiful elsewhere in Florida. Waterside is a relatively quiet place that allows people to enjoy their time at the beach. 8. Lastly, beware of the noseeums. These bugs are endemic to all of Sanibel. Their bites hurt, and can itch for days... in an OMG, I can't stop itching the skin off my leg kind of way. Repellent works, however. I tried the all-natural stuff to no avail. Deet does the trick. True, it may affect the nervous system over time, but you will go crazy scratching yourself if you fail to protect yourself from noseeums. As a chemical-free alternative, consider pants and long-sleeve shirts around dusk and dawn times. If you do get eaten by the creatures, and the bites treat you poorly, the Island Pharmacy does compound a topical, OTC treatment that helps. In closing, we stayed here twice, and look forward to returning in the years to come. At the time of writing this review, Waterside Inn did offer discounts to those guests who were returning. I sincerely appreciate businesses that honor customer loyalty.

    Pamela H.

    My husband and I just returned from a long weekend getaway on Sanibel Island where we booked a little cottage (Kiwi 109) for ourselves and our two toy dogs. The staff was very friendly; Pam checked us in and had a wonderful personality. The rooms were clean, could have used a little work in the bathroom (caulking in the shower, etc) but otherwise was great. It had a kitchen, dining area and living room. Perfect for as much, or as little, as we were there. Parking is a bit tight, so if you have a truck, you may have to maneuver a bit. There is a small pool on the property and they provide beach towels should you need them. We loved the beach, it was not too crowded and we had a great time looking for interesting shells (they provide a shell cleaning station which I thought was a great idea). I would definitely return.

    Grapefruit 106 screened patio
    Tara J.

    Spent a fantastic Labor Day weekend here for 3 nights. Having never been to Sanibel before, we really didn't know what to expect, but now we're hooked! We stayed in Grapefruit 106, and really enjoyed this 1-bedroom space. The unit comes stocked with just about everything you might need, except a dishwasher. I guess we're spoiled at home. We didn't realize that the daily housekeeping service only meant that there would be a towel exchange and a trash pick-up, so after the first night we realized we needed to do our own dishes. Not a problem at all, but we just weren't expecting it. We could have also used a cookie pan in the kitchen, as my husband is a freak when it comes to baking cookies at night when we go on vacation. Instead, we used a brownie baking pan, and just split the batter into two baking sessions. Other than that, all pots and pans, kitchen plates and utensils, along with necessary appliances were all provided. They even provide you with a vacuum cleaner and broom to help maintain sand-free floors! The bathroom had a tub and shower, sink, and toilet. It was quite small, with no real space to place anything other than a couple of items on the counter. The best vanity space was the dresser with mirror in the bedroom, which is the space I used to get ready in the morning, and reserved the bathroom for just showering and brushing teeth. While the cottages here are dated, they are clean! There is some rust in the bathroom and while the unit has a very old feel, the fact that it was Spic N Span clean really made all the difference. This was more than adequate for us, but if you're looking for a 4 or 5 star resort, this is not it. These are beachy old Florida-style cottages. You really can't beat the location, right on the beach. No streets to cross, and you get to park your car right next to your cottage. Though Grapefruit 106 is a Gulf View cottage, you can really only see the gulf from the screened in patio, but that's no big deal. If you prefer to stay in a Gulf Front cottage, I recommend Lime 101 over Mango 102 simply because we noticed several cars parked in the general parking area that were blocking quite a bit of the view for the people staying in Mango 102. Just something to think about. For the money, the Gulf View cottages are perfect! It is without hesitation that I recommend the beach cottages at Waterside Inn if you're looking to stay right on the beach in Sanibel!

    Had a wonderful stay for 4 days in a spacious clean cottage literally steps from the beach. Bike to rent, easy walk/ride to restaurants and shopping. Staff was very nice and the beach is gorgeous especially at sunset. Ignore the complainers-- this is a great place and we will return.

    Brad K.

    Can't say enough about the accommodations, staff and activities. From the time we were greeted upon arrival until such time that we left we felt special. The facility was clean, the planting's were gorgeous, the beach front was beautiful and somewhat private (exclusive use for guests). We enjoyed dining out and shelling! Can't wait to

    The pool and Ocean view from the Blueberry cottage at Waterside Inn on the Beach.
    Jeremy Y.

    If you want a relaxed cottage feel, I don't know how you could do any better than Waterside Inn on the Beach. We got a great rate, the hosts are friendly, and the accommodations will make you feel at home. I felt like I had my own little cottage on the beach. You walk a very short distance to the ocean and have shuffleboard, a pool, and grills at your disposal. My unit had a full kitchen, was large, hardwood floors, with a cool retro vibe. Highly recommended.

    Pineapple 108 living room and kitchen
    Janene H.

    Location location location. That is the reason to stay at Waterside Inn. Check in and out was easy and that was about the only real contact we had with staff. The grapefruit cottage 108 we rented for 2 nights was just a short walk to the beach but was dated inside and smelled accordingly. Although in need of updating most everything seemed to work fine. Except for the toilet which you had to hold the handle down and count to ten and hope it flushed! And the deadbolt, we had a tough time unlocking it one evening and worried we'd be locked inside! We managed to unlock it and just didn't use it for the remained of the stay. The cottages are basically duplexes with one bedroom, a sitting area/living room, kitchen and bathroom. They have little screened porches as well. Our room had a king bed and a pull out queen sofa bed. The sofa bed was awful, it was lumpy and lopsided. Good thing it was just our 7yo son sleeping there. He only weighs 68 pounds or so, I was afraid to even sit on his bed for fear I'd fall through! The cushions on the sofa were stained as well. From looking at photos online we decided to bring our own pillows because the bedding on the king bed did not look inviting. I'm glad we did, the bed itself was ok but I'd suggest bringing pillows from home. There is a full sized kitchen with everything you need to cook and clean for a few days. There is a coffee pot but they only give you enough coffee to brew 2 cups. Suggestion: bring coffee from home. They do provide filters. Walls are very thin; we heard our neighbors one night opening and slamming shut cabinets in their kitchen. You'd think having the shared wall as the kitchen/bathroom would cut down on noise but we could clearly hear them in our bedroom with the door shut. They also have a more tradition hotel/motel style accommodations called pineapple. Our friends stayed in one of those rooms and their tiny room was pretty dated too. They had a 2 queen room and one of the headboards was completely askew. The front desk provides towels but they are first come first served and we were told they will run out. We got four when we checked in no trouble though. There are beach chairs near the ocean which you can drag down to the beach for the day. They have shuffle board and a shell washing station. The pool is a tiny kidney shaped thing that is like an over sized hot tub. It was as warm as one too! There are a handful of chairs and tables around the pool. I'd suggest taking advantage of the bike trails and either bring or rent bikes while on the island. Many shops and restaurants are just a short ride from this hotel. We biked to dinner and breakfast on a few occasions. There are plenty of paths and spots to park your bikes. The Waterside Inn rents bikes for $18/day. They do allow dogs which is fine unless you have someone with yappy dogs nearby as we did. As the walls are thin this could make for a long week. Also, beware of the no see ums. I think Sanibel tourism tries to hide the fact that you will be eaten alive all day and night (except for a few hours midday when the no see ums must go to sleep). We purchased the bug juice sold at the Waterside Inn and around the island and the bugs just laughed at it. I seriously look like I have chicken pox and itched like crazy for days after we left. Not the hotels fault, of course, but be prepared.

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    9 months ago

    Says Permanently closed on their site . It's a shame as I had read great things! I just saw that they are closed in August 2025

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    Review Highlights - Waterside Inn

    The Gulf may be readily viewed from the front door of almost any unit, and it is a 90 second walk from front door to surf.

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    Tortuga Beach Club Resort

    Tortuga Beach Club Resort

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    Great spot on the Island! Beautiful property, staff was attentive and informative! We spend the…read moreChristmas break down there and were beyond happy with the resort, ammenities and the Island. Check out the spot next door for lunch or adult beverages! You can rent bikes and have them delivered and picked up at the resort. Beach towels were provided along with 2 beach chairs. Outdoor grills are awesome and a great way to make friends. All guests we met have been coming down there for years. They are all like family and treated us like their family!

    My in-laws have a time share here that we get to use often and it's a very nice place to stay…read more Units are very well kept and just recently had many updates done to them, especially the all new kitchens. Parking is abundant, that includes covered and uncovered parking areas. The pool area is very nice as well with a screened in bar area for drinks, and a hot tub off to the side as well. They also have gas grills available for people that would like to eat in, they aren't the best grills ever but easily get the job done. The resort has 3 "paths" to walk down to the beach which is about a mile and half from the light house. Also the resort office has umbrellas available to rent, a small reading library, and movies available as well. Some things I'm not overly crazy about but they don't really ruin the experience is that the hot tub is way too hot to enjoy if you are there during the summer months. I could see in the winter time it being refreshing but during the summer months they should turn the temperature down on the water. While the resort does have free wifi, the coverage is not very good. Most of the walking paths are gravel so if you are going barefoot you had better toughen up them feet. Overall staying here is a very enjoyable experience and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay while on the island.

    Hurricane House Resort - Collecting shells

    Hurricane House Resort

    (4 reviews)

    The Hurricane House is by far the best place on Sanibel ! Staff is exceptional -from Leo in…read moreMaintenance to Angela as Manager. The Housekeeping staff does a wonderful jobs in the units !! This property is just great !!!

    We travel quite frequently but rarely leave reviews...just never seem motivated to. That said, our…read morestay at Hurricane House compels us to leave one. Both good and bad. We, as Hilton Grand Vacation (HGV) members, can travel freely and stay at numerous properties around the country and the world. Hurricane House works with HGV to allow HGV members to use some of its "condos" when the actual owners choose not to use them. That is how we ended up at Hurricane House during the first few days of September 2021. There are 15 units at Hurricane House and we were given one of the two story units (#6). We were aware that this is an older property but Hilton is pretty good about only offering its members quality accommodations. OK....the good first: Check in was a breeze and the exterior of the property was well maintained. Parking was plentiful and close. Each unit has one spot reserved in the first floor covered garage. First impression upon entering was very good. The first floor was a hallway, great room and kitchen. Furniture was comfortable and "beach themed" and very adequate. First floor flooring is all tile. The kitchen is a bit cramped (two people at a time) but well stocked with all you would need to prepare meals. Appliances are modern and very clean. Upstairs has two very large bedrooms with King beds. The "master" is larger with a totally adequate bathroom and lots of closet space. The smaller king bedroom has an extra sleeping space near the window. Upstairs carpeting is quality "waffle" material that is nice looking and easy on the feet. Both bathrooms have skylights that are a nice touch. Everything upstairs was easy on the eyes, clean and nicely decorated. A stacked compact washer and dryer is upstairs in a closet and works quite well. The pool area was small but nicely kept. Pool water was clean but not crystal clean. There were lots of chairs, tables, lounges and two jacuzzies but we didn't use them. The wood walkway to the beach is well maintained and has a shower, sink with running water (not sure what for) and a knee-level water sprayer to de-sand your feet upon returning. The property has a number of "sand chairs" you can take out to the beach and return when you are done. We didn't use the gas grills but there were, I think, three of them that were clean and ready for use. The beach behind the property is not very wide but the sand is clean. No seaweed events while we were there. Bring flip-flops as the sand can get very hot and the beach has many areas with sharp, crunchy areas of shells of all sizes. Now the bad: Both king mattresses were (for us) way too soft; and for me, at least, it affected my sleep. I cannot remember staying in a hotel or vacation property with mattresses this soft. The A/C thermostat is at the bottom of the stairs and cools the downstairs fine. Upstairs was warm. We cranked it down to 70 to try to cool the upstairs at night but it was still too warm for me. As the outside air temperature cooled, by early morning the bedrooms were comfortable. The refrigerator had no ice maker or even ice trays. An obvious inconvenience. For the guys, the most serious problem was the TV. We had planned to watch a number of NCAA football games. Both bedrooms have TVs but we did not use them. All TVs have DVD players (but not Blu-Ray). The living room has an LG flat screen TV of about 40 inches. The TV was older but fine; the cable service is just awful. There was no High Definition (720 or 1080p) service at all. And many people do not realize that Standard Definition (480p) TV looks worse on an HDTV than on an old CRT TV. There were no instructions on what the channel lineup was or how to find it (we eventually did). The TV and the Infinity cable box remotes were odd, old and difficult to figure out. All in all a very old school, unsatisfying experience. The last time I had this problem was in 2007 in Hawaii. Never thought I'd see it again. If you do not plan on watching TV, disregard this part. Overall I'd give our five day experience a C+ rating. Fix the TV, Ice and A/C issues and it would be close to an A.

    Tarpon Tale Inn - Captain's Bedroom

    Tarpon Tale Inn

    (46 reviews)

    $$

    Such a cute promising little place! The owners are so nice and have beach chairs and an umbrella…read moreand even a cart. The room was spacious and clean. They had great check in info. Unfortunately I did not sleep a wink here, I am a super light sleeper and unfortunately the room next to ours had a couple of baritone guys that woke up at 4:30 in the morning ughhh...the beds were not the most comfy unfortunately either adding to a bit of my suffering as well. Giving it 4 stars. I unfortunately should have gotten some earplugs after the first night. I felt like they were talking to me since their convo was so close to our headboard. Owners seemed to go above and beyond so probably unfortunately just the loud guests we were next to combined with my light sleeping tendencies!!!

    This is a fantastic place hidden in plain sight on Sanibel. No, it is not on the beachfront but…read moreinstead is a hidden oasis next to and across the street from a deli, restaurant/bar and ice cream shop. This small. Independent establishment is well run and caters to all anticipated needs as part of your stay: beach chairs, beach umbrellas, a wagon to bring stuff to the beach, beach towels, some beach toys if you have kids, bikes, bike helmets and even sunscreen/bug spray if you need it! Rooms are neat and clean, ours wasn't spacious but we were outside most of the time. Each unit has an outdoor patio area with reasonable privacy, a table and two chairs. There are also other communal areas outside to relax, chat and read in the shade of the trees on the property. Would recommend this to anyone going to sanibel. Fantastic!

    Waterside Inn - hotels - Updated May 2026

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