Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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About
4.5
#1 of 7 resorts in Sanibel Island
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Voted "Best Inn on the Island," the Island Inn, with its combination of old Florida style & modern lodges, sits on 10 beautiful Gulf front acres, offering 550 feet of beach with some of the best shelling in the area. Serving guests since 1895, the Island Inn is the oldest, and newest, hotel on Sanibel. In 2018, the Inn opened the doors to the first new hotel building on Sanibel in nearly 40 years, Matthews Lodge, which offers 12 Gulf View Luxury Suite accommodations. Guests of the Inn experience crisp, white linens on comfortable beds, complimentary Wi-Fi, beach umbrellas & beach chairs, HD Cable and Smart TV's, DVD/CD players, iPhone docking stations, fully stocked kitchens & large screened porches with views of the Gulf. This serene setting is where the sound of the waves rolling onto the Sanibel shores can be heard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
The Island Inn was welcoming, clean, quiet and convenient. Ken and staff were very friendly and informative. The suite was a nice size for two people and had a lovely kitchen for the size. It’s was fresh and clean. It was one the quietest places we have stayed. The Inn has a lot of information and bike rentals, kayaks, grills, chairs, umbrellas and a beach combing educational walk on Wednesday mornings. Joseph and Izzy from Sanibel Sea School are enthusiastic educators. Don’t miss the beach walk with them that is free to guests.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chris Davison, General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Mar 28, 2024
Thank you for trusting the Island Inn to host you for your stay on Sanibel Island. We're so glad that our team could be of assistance to you and that you took advantage of the on-site amenities, rentals and the beach walk! We will be sure to pass along your kind words and look forward to welcoming you again when you are ready to return for more sunshine, seashells and Sanibel adventures!
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We just returned from a week-long visit to the Island Inn with our best friends. It was their first time. Once again, everything was just perfect. Our stay was split between Kimball Lodge and Spoonbill cottage. The front desk staff could not have been nicer or more welcoming and carefully outlined their Covid protocol which we felt very safe with. We opted out of housekeeping, and it was easy to obtain extra towels, coffee, etc. I was so pleased to see they still offer the most amazing toiletries. The day we were switching rooms, the staff transferred all of our packed belongings, (even moved the refrigerator items) over to our cottage and called us when the new room was ready. It was a very impressive and seamless transition. The views from Spoonbill were magnificent, from watching the dolphins in the morning to the glorious sunset at night. The second floor lookout patio on Kimball is a beautiful spot to view them as well. We only needed to use the no-see-um bug spray on the first night when there was no wind. We had never been to Sanibel in November, and once the sun goes down, it is pitch black, and I was glad to have packed a small flashlight (although Spoonbill had one in the room). The continental breakfast is now closed due to Covid. However, Baileys grocery/ hardware store is five minutes away (they even deliver), and there isn’t anything they don’t carry for a beach vacation. We used to stop at Publix or Walmart before going over the causeway, but Baileys has it all (at reasonable prices). Beach umbrellas are now free of charge and set up on the beach early morning by the staff. Even on the weekend, we had no difficulty obtaining one. Beach and pool towels can be picked up at the front desk (they are the same size as the bath towels in your room in case you wanted to pack your own). My husband thoroughly enjoyed renting a kayak. The outdoor games were a lot of fun (ladder ball is new). Traditions for dinner was excellent. They now have entertainment 7 nights a week, and the husband/wife duo was wonderful and had the entire restaurant, both young and old, up dancing on Saturday night. We also went to Island Cow for dinner twice (excellent seafood and cheerful staff), Doc Fords, Cielo and Bubble Room in Captiva. Also, highly recommend Green Flash in Captiva for lunch; the view is beautiful. Sanibel Deli makes outstanding sandwiches. Our sincere appreciation to the entire staff at the Island Inn for your exemplary customer service. We look forward to seeing you next time!
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Date of stay: November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chris Davison, General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Nov 23, 2021
Wow thank you so much for the very kind review. You left no stone unturned but we are so happy you noticed and appreciate all the levels we go to to make your stay perfect! We cannot wait to have you back and look forward to creating more cherished memories for you all!
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First time to this glorious island. Choose the Island Inn based on the excellent reviews here. It was a perfect choice for us. We stayed in room 273 in the Kimball Lodge. Room was the western corner on the second floor, sundeck was right outside our doorway. Room had micro, coffee maker( coffee packets were replenished by the cleaners) ice maker in the fridges freezer. Room was cleaned to our liking daily. Beautiful vantage points of the gulf, & the sunset each evening from the room and the sundeck. Saw Dolphins daily. Besides shelling there were plenty of fishermen along the shore reeling them in. Staff were all lovely. Glory in reception was especially helpful . Bikes and kayaks on premises to rent.
Location was a 5 minute drive to town, 20 minutes to Captiva, 15 to the lighthouse. We ate at Traditions twice. Paying guests at the Island Inn get a 15% discount to use once.
The only suggestion I'd make to management would be to install some lighting between the building and the restaurant. In the evenings it was pretty dark walking across the property, (even when using the flashlight provided in the room).
Hope to return in the future!!!!
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Date of stay: November 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Second floor
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chris Davison, General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Nov 10, 2021
We appreciate the kind words and are pleased you got to take in our signature views and amenities. Seeing Sanibel's natural neighbors cruising by daily never gets old either! And thank you for the feedback on the lights, we will certainly pass it along.
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Only stayed here two nights, but for the price they charge per night ($225), felt the room should've been a little better, but that's the going rate on Sanibel. Cramped suite. Had to squeeze sideways to be able to get into bed. Mattress probably needs replacing as it was okay but could've been more comfortable. Love seat was very low to floor and too soft (old??). Bathroom was very big, updated and lots of good lighting, which also included the closet. Took awhile for water to get hot in sink but it was immediately hot in shower. Plenty of towels and toiletries. Small but very nice screened porch with view of beach. There is a viewing deck on the 2nd floor, so we got to watch the sunset from there-that was a nice treat! However, there was always water leaking from a water hose, which could've been a fall hazard. Grounds are spacious but a little tired looking and the staff person at check-in was very attentive, pleasant, and thorough. Had to park kinda far from our room and berries/twigs fell all over the car. There is a beach cam if you want to be on it so your family can see you on vacation. They charge extra for bikes, paddle board, etc. rentals, which we felt should've been included in the room price. We were offered a free rum drink at their restaurant, but didn't dine there. It looked very nice. They take sanitizing the room seriously and if you don't want anyone in your room during your stay, you can call the front desk and have them leave towels/toilet paper at your door. Although I would categorize this hotel as average, in looking at other hotels before our stay, I would say many are about the same. Would recommend to others. This hotel was also close to several restaurants and Periwinkle Place (about a mile or two away). There was a bike path nearby as well.
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Date of stay: November 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Dec 3, 2020
Thank your for your review, Sharon. We are glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you will visit us again!
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Can't say one negative thing about Island Inn! First off, the staff is so friendly and helpful. Upon arrival, we were provided a ton of information about the hotel itself as well as things to do not just onsite, but around the island itself, including places to eat. They also made sure we were aware of the no see ums which can be prevalent this time of year-- they had bug spray available for purchase in the lobby which was an added bonus. As for the room, it was quite spacious and clean. There were 2 queen sized beds, a mini kitchen (sink, fridge, microwave, and coffee maker), a decent-sized bathroom, and a screened in porch area with access to the beach. The layout of the site was great, as everything was within walking distance... the lobby, pool, shell cleaning area, etc. It made it easy to grab breakfast in the morning, go shelling on the beach, take a dip in the pool, or do whatever you would like. They also have bike, kayak, and paddleboard rentals available. I would definitely stay here again, and recommend it to anyone who may be looking for a nice place to stay while on the island!
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Fishingflats, Public Relations Manager at Island Inn
Responded May 22, 2020
Thank you for this fabulous review Dayla! It means the world to us that your entire stay with us was fun-filled and delightful from our helpful staff to loving your room and taking advantage of all the amenities we have to offer! We look forward to your next stay with us!
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My wife is a full time (24/7) caregiver for her 91 year old Mom. Her Mom is dependent on food, medicine and all hygiene needs. About every six months, I try to do a really good search for a place where she can have the option being active ,taking walks or just napping. The Island Inn provided all these needs and more. From the kind gentleman who provided us an overview of the property to the cleanliness of the facility, it met all of our needs. The Traditions restaurant was superb as was the delicious welcome drink. The Inns location is ideal with a beautiful beach out front with amazing sunsets to great restaurants and nature facilities very close by. Yes, I did a very good job this time selecting ThenIsland Inn. Rick Nastri
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Check out their very detailed room chart
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Fishingflats, Public Relations Manager at Island Inn
Responded May 22, 2020
Rick, we are so pleased to find that you all had a great stay with us and that everything was accommodating to all needs! Thank you for choosing the Island Inn for your spring getaway! See you again soon!
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Searching for a quick Covid getaway, we decided on FL since the state is mostly open for business during the pandemic. We'd been to FL many times and wanted to try somewhere new. The Island Inn filled the bill: reasonably priced accommodations, short walk to beach (chairs included), local naturalist walk/talk about shells, restaurant and bar on site, and bicycles for rent. The staff was delightful as well...the front desk greeter, housekeeper, bartender, and waiter were kind, respectful, and happy! Thanks y'all, for providing a much-needed 35th anniversary getaway!
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Date of stay: December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Jan 19, 2021
Happy anniversary and thanks for choosing us to celebrate such an important date! We hope you were equally impressed with the rest of the Island and will make Sanibel and the Island Inn a choice for future vacations. We look forward to your return! The sun, seashells and smiles will be awaiting your arrival ; )
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Another wonderful stay at Island Inn. This was our first visit since the new Matthews Lodge has opened and the room was stunning. The Front Desk team was outgoing and friendly and enjoyed what they did. While the resort has always been clean, during this pandemic, they’ve taken cleanliness to a whole new level, even investing in UVC technology. If there’s one thing I wish they’d consider changing, tap card and/or Bluetooth keyless entry for the rooms.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Sep 15, 2020
JJD, We are pleased you enjoyed your stay! Thank you for your suggestion, I will share it with our team. See you next time!
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This review is slightly belated. We were originally scheduled to celebrate our 20th anniversary in Hawaii, however, with covid testing guidelines, restrictions, etc back in September, we elected to switch at the last minute. We spent 4 nights on Marco Island and the last 3 on Sanibel. After extensive research and reading multiple reviews, we settled on the Island Inn, and boy was I glad!
The staff was great. Check-in was a breeze. Masks, partitions and extra cleaning practices have been adopted. The lobby restaurant was closed, however, they offered us a welcome glass of champagne. Nice touch. They were very informative about dining and exploration on the island.
The only available room upon booking was the Matthew's Lodge Suite. It was perfect. Beautiful views, spacious with a kitchen- allowing us to grab snacks/groceries and prepare breakfast, coffee, appetizers, etc. We typically stay in a resort within walking distance of a restaurant/bar. We did have to travel for meals, however, a short walk down the beach to the outdoor pool bar at the West Wind Resort proved to be a fun evening of live music and cocktails.
The beautiful beach and shelling are the stars of the show! The naturalist from the Shell Museum was fantastic. We spent an hour hearing about the types of mollusks, finding and showing our treasures to the small group who attended.
All in all, the trip was fantastic. We will definitely return!
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chris Davison, General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Feb 8, 2022
We are so pleased you enjoyed everything for your special occasion and that we were able to exceed your expectations! The beach and shells are our favorites too, and they are waiting for you on your next visit!
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My husband had to work so I tagged along. The Island Inn was exactly what I hoped for. It is dreamy with the location, vibe and terrific customer service. The staff were highly accommodating and very nice.. Facilities and room were sparkling and for a very small daily feet have my own beach umbrella, I delighted in having my own flag to plant for its location on the beach daily. Tons of wildlife - it seemed like i went back in time a little, to a time when all our coasts still had this much wildlife.a resident Bald eagle, a large variety of sea birds and lizards. At night from our room we could hear the waves, owls and crickets. Heaven. We'll be back.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , General Manager at Island Inn
Responded Nov 1, 2020
Heidi, thank you for the fabulous review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed Island Inn and all it has it to offer!
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There are more places to choose from in the Sanibel Island area.
PRICE RANGE
C$408 - C$588 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
island hotel sanibel island, island sanibel, island resort sanibel, is sanibel
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaSouthwest Gulf CoastSanibel Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Island Inn - UPDATED 2024 Prices, Reviews & Photos
Frequently Asked Questions about Island Inn
Which popular attractions are close to Island Inn?
Nearby attractions include Sanibel Island Farmer's Market (2.7 km), Bailey's General Store (1.9 km), and Sanibel Historical Museum and Village (2.6 km).
