Pierview Hotel & Suites

With its colorful, gingerbread-trimmed facade overlooking the beach, Pierview Hotel’s entrance has a cute, inviting aesthetic. The interior has a bit less character, with rooms and suites offering tired-looking decor and, in some cases, minimal space. Amenities like microwaves and minifridges or full kitchens make the rooms and suites attractive to easygoing budget travelers who don’t mind sacrificing slick on-site features for a great location.There are usually a few guests lounging around the outdoor pool, but most head down to the beach to relax and socialize rather than linger around the hotel during the day. Pierview offers decent value for money, although the daily resort fee drives the price up somewhat, and there are lots of other competitively priced budget properties in Fort Myers Beach (although few are as close to the shopping and dining of Times Square as Pierview). 

Pierview Hotel is set in Times Square, the heart of the action in Fort Myers, on the north end of Estero Island. There are plenty of bars, shops, and restaurants within walking distance, ranging from Hooters to local favorites like Matanzas Harborside Restaurant. The hotel is adjacent to Lynn Hall Beach Park, where guests will find picnic areas, barbecues, playground equipment, and a fishing pier. There’s a local beach trolley stop less than a two-minute walk away, providing access to the more laid-back southern part of the island. It’s a five-minute drive to Bowditch Point Park, which is known for its top-notch birdwatching, while Lovers Key State Park can be reached in 15 minutes by car. Southwest Florida International Airport is a 30-minute drive away. 

Rooms at Pierview Hotel are tidy and simple, featuring tiled flooring and cheerful lime-green and burnt-orange wall colors. However, older wood and wicker furniture, clunky wall-mounted air-conditioning units, and dated tropical prints make the rooms feel past-their prime. All rooms include flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Mini-fridges, microwaves, and one-cup coffeemakers are also standard. With the exception of the entry level room category -- the Beachy Bargain Room -- each room also includes a dining table with a pair of chairs. Many rooms offer access to shared, motel-style patios. A lot have stellar beach views, but others overlook the less impressive pool or, worse, the parking lot.Plain bathrooms offer shower/tub combos and wall-mounted hairdryers. Off-brand shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion are provided, along with make-up removal wipe packets. Rooms are small overall, with the Beachy Bargain Rooms offering barely enough space to move around comfortably. Suites add living areas with sleeper sofas, in addition to private balconies or patios and full kitchens with ovens.  

Pierview’s slim lineup of on-site features is typical of a budget hotel with the top feature being Fort Myers Beach. The hotel backs directly onto the sand. Like most other properties on this beach, Pierview does not provide free loungers and umbrellas, but both can be rented from independent vendors. The gulf waters off the coast are generally calm, warm, and ideal for swimming. As an alternative, there's also a kidney-shaped outdoor pool on the premises. It's surrounded by some plastic loungers and offers scenic views of the ocean and surrounding palm trees.Another helpful feature is the hotel's basic guest laundry room with an older, coin-operated washer and dryer set. Detergent can be purchased at the front desk. Pets under 35 pounds can be accommodated for a surcharge. Note that the hotel charges a daily resort fee, which covers Wi-Fi, beach towels, local phone calls, and one parking spot.