Casa Ybel Resort

The hotel cultivates old-manor chic both in its layout and interior decor as the property dates back to the 1880s and claims to be Sanibel’s first resort. Rooms are housed in two- and three-story stucco buildings with grey-tiled roofs and exterior boardwalk walkways, all surrounded by closely-cropped expanses of green lawn interrupted by the occasional palm tree, bougainvillea, or Adirondack chair and crisscrossed by white gravel pathways. The lobby, with its interior shutters and wicker furniture, is tastefully floored in natural wood and hung with vintage illustrations of historic Florida. Roughly half of the rooms are time-shares, meaning there are a number of families who come here year after year. The hotel is also popular with couples seeking a slightly fancier getaway than some of the more casual properties on the island.

Casa Ybel Resort takes up a wide expanse of land that parallels the beach. It is situated, as many other hotels are, along West Gulf Drive, though the rooms themselves are set back from the road. The grounds are cut through with small bodies of water and populated by an extensive number of palm, gumbo-limbo, and mahogany trees. With the property flanked by a hotel on each side, there are no stores in the immediate surrounding area, though a strip of shops on Periwinkle Way is an eight-minute drive northeast. Southwest Florida International Airport is about 45 minutes east by car.

Though they aren't especially fancy, the rooms here are a step above a number of the less formal properties on the island. Guest units rely on wood furniture, light-green walls, imitation-wicker bed frames and couches, and plant-themed fabrics. Tiled floors can be found in living rooms along with natural-hued carpeting in bedrooms. Bathrooms have standard-issue granite vanities and full-sized shower/tub combos with Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. All rooms have screened lanais, separate living room areas with sleeper sofas, kitchens with refrigerators, microwaves, ovens, and coffeemakers with tea and coffee. Additional perks include iPod/MP3 alarm clocks and air-conditioning.

A spacious children’s playground set with a wood jungle gym is surrounded by greenery. There are also several tennis courts and two shuffleboard courts outdoors. Swimmers can enjoy an Olympic-sized outdoor pool with an adjacent children’s pool and hot tub. Gourmet dining can be had at the elegant, on-site Thistle Lodge while Coconuts Poolside Bar & Grill serves fare like burgers and salads. In-suite spa treatments are available as well, with Sanibel Day Spa a short drive away. Other amenities include coin-operated laundry machines, a couple of grills for guest use, and bikes for rent.