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I can't say that the Waterside Inn was a BAD stay, but I won't bother to stay here again. One huge plus is that the hotel is right on the beach. You can leave your little cabin and walk directly onto sand and open beach. Each cabin has its own dedicated parking spot. I'm not sure what you do if you have multiple cars staying with your room. You get one beach towel per person, complimentary with your stay. I booked my hotel room through Expedia. The room description said that it allowed pets, but it was just my boyfriend and me staying. When we pulled up to the front office, a sign said that the property manager was out helping another guest. We waiting around the parking lot for about 15 min when a woman came back. She checked us into our room and gave us useful materials for getting around Sanibel (a weather print out, map, and coupon book). Our cabin has a duplex set-up; there are two separate rooms to our cabin. There is a sofa, tv, kitchenette, queen bed and bathroom. The floor was spotted with dirt and it distinctly smelled of dog. The bed is not that comfortable, but it was clean. The a/c was a window unit, which we didn't need much since we stayed in winter. It sufficiently warmed our thin Floridian blood during the night though. The refrigerator absolutely STINKED. It looks clean when you open it, but there was an odor from hell embedded inside. We put some leftover food inside, but even after a quick open/shut, our entire room smelled like rotting garbage. We did not eat our leftovers after leaving it overnight in the fridge. The bathroom was clean and they provide enough towels. The beach is a quick minute walk. There are two shuffleboard courts, which you can borrow the tang and biscuits from the front office. You can bring the hotel chairs to the beach as well, but you have to carry and return them yourself. For the price we got our room during peak visitor season, Waterside Inn was a deal. However, I probably would not return to this hotel the next time I stay in Sanibel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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
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.
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.
4 years ago
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. read more
8 years ago
I can't say that the Waterside Inn was a BAD stay, but I won't bother to stay here again. One huge plus is that the hotel is right on the beach. You can leave your little cabin and walk directly onto sand and open beach. Each cabin has its own dedicated parking spot. I'm not sure what you do if you have multiple cars staying with your room. You get one beach towel per person, complimentary with your stay. I booked my hotel room through Expedia. The room description said that it allowed pets, but it was just my boyfriend and me staying. When we pulled up to the front office, a sign said that the property manager was out helping another guest. We waiting around the parking lot for about 15 min when a woman came back. She checked us into our room and gave us useful materials for getting around Sanibel (a weather print out, map, and coupon book). Our cabin has a duplex set-up; there are two separate rooms to our cabin. There is a sofa, tv, kitchenette, queen bed and bathroom. The floor was spotted with dirt and it distinctly smelled of dog. The bed is not that comfortable, but it was clean. The a/c was a window unit, which we didn't need much since we stayed in winter. It sufficiently warmed our thin Floridian blood during the night though. The refrigerator absolutely STINKED. It looks clean when you open it, but there was an odor from hell embedded inside. We put some leftover food inside, but even after a quick open/shut, our entire room smelled like rotting garbage. We did not eat our leftovers after leaving it overnight in the fridge. The bathroom was clean and they provide enough towels. The beach is a quick minute walk. There are two shuffleboard courts, which you can borrow the tang and biscuits from the front office. You can bring the hotel chairs to the beach as well, but you have to carry and return them yourself. For the price we got our room during peak visitor season, Waterside Inn was a deal. However, I probably would not return to this hotel the next time I stay in Sanibel. read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
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. read more
6 years ago
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. read more
13 years ago
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. read more
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. read more
7 years ago
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! read more
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! read more
8 years ago
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 read more
5 years ago
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. read more
9 years ago
10 years ago
14 years ago
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. read more
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. read more
8 years ago
16 years ago
We stayed in the Breakers West A-5 condo with our four kids for five nights...couldn't have asked for a better getaway - condo was beautiful, beach was very close and full of shells, and the weather was in the mid-80's and sunny every day. Great vacation - we'll definitely return! read more
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