Lani Kai Island Resort

The beachfront Lani Kai Island Resort has a colorful, tropical look and lively and upbeat atmosphere. Guests can be found in the spacious outdoor swimming pool, playing games on the beach, and taking in superb water and sunset views from the hotel's two restaurants. Live music is performed nightly. The chief drawback is the property’s dated look and public spaces that need a refresh and better upkeep. The Lani Kai draws leisure travelers, both couples and families, who are willing to put up with these shortcoming in exchange for a prime beachfront locale, spacious units with gulf-facing balconies, and affordable room rates. 

The beachfront Lani Kai Island Resort is on Estero Boulevard next to a trolley stop, a three-minute drive from the Matanzas Pass Bridge to the mainland. Several restaurants, bars, and shops are within a short walk of the hotel. Lynn Hall Beach Park and Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier are five minutes on foot, and Bowditch Point Park is a five-minute drive or 10 minutes by trolley. The popular Times Square shopping area is 10 minutes by car and takes slightly longer by trolley. It's also a 10-minute drive to Lovers Key State Park, though getting there on the trolley takes roughly 40 minutes. Southwest Florida International Airport is a little less than a 30-minute drive from the resort. 

The Standard units, Studios, and one-bedroom Suites at the Lani Kai Island Resort get good natural light and feature cheery pastels accents. The overall look is pleasant, though some may find it spare and dated. The upside is that units are spacious and come packed with amenities. All have private balconies overlooking the beach, sofa beds, flat-screen TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Studios have kitchenettes and dining tables, while Suites feature full kitchens. Bathrooms have separate vanities and some sport distinctive green-and-white checkerboard tile floors. All come with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries.

The Lani Kai Island Resort has a wide array of features, though much of the property needs updating and some past guests have said that facilities are untidy and need better upkeep. The resort is located right on the beach, with free towels, volleyball and other beach games, and there's a jet ski and parasailing rental outfit located next door. Another highlight is the spacious freeform outdoor pool, open year-round and roughly 20 meters long. Dining and drinking gets mostly positive reviews from guests. There's a fine-dining restaurant that has a raw bar and serves Asian and American-influenced seafood dishes and Italian cuisine, plus offers superb gulf views from its dining room and outdoor terrace. Those views are even better from the second restaurant, situated on the rooftop. It's where an a la carte breakfast is served for an extra charge, plus lunch and dinner items that include American comfort food, seafood, steaks, pasta, and Mexican cuisine. Both restaurants have bars with happy hours and nightly live music. The resort also has a dance club with DJ, a seasonal beachfront bar and grill with nightly entertainment, a cafe, and ice cream stand. Other amenities include a gift shop, wedding hosting, and 24-hour front desk, but there is no business center or fitness center on-site. On-site parking is free for one vehicle per room, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.