Castaways Cottages of Sanibel

The lobby -- situated in a banana-yellow, small A-frame building with a thatched roof -- and the marina shack both house pleasantly cluttered spaces filled with maps of Sanibel, plastic buckets, and hats for sale. The grounds, consisting of brightly colored clapboard bungalows spread between the bodies of water on either side of the small land strip connecting Sanibel to Captiva, are covered with a mix of patchy grass, concrete, and gravel. The property exudes island casual ambience.

The Castaways is situated on a working marina, just off the road linking Sanibel and Captiva islands. There are cottages on both the bay side and gulf side of the water. The Sunset Grill and Lazy Flamingo are both within a few hundred feet of the property. Other than these restaurants and the Santiva General Store, just a few yards from the front door of the Castaways lobby, there is little in the immediately surrounding area. (Guests have noted the restaurants of Captiva are closer than those of Sanibel.) Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is almost an hour’s drive east.

The standalone cabanas here feature wicker couches and tables, occasional pieces of hand-painted, whitewashed furniture, shell-motif mirrors, and a homey, slightly tired aesthetic. Couches may be in need of deep cleaning, and guests have reported the occasional malfunctioning air-conditioning unit or loose-hinged door. Generally, most of these slights are taken with the rustic charm. Bedrooms have cheery floral bedding and laminate wood floors. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes equipped with electric ranges, ovens, coffeemakers, toasters, microwaves, and medium-size fridges. Small bathrooms come with standard plastic shower/tub combos, sinks with limited ledge space, and hairdryers. Larger bungalows have granite-top island counters and larger bathrooms with more sink space and tiled showers.

Surrounded by palms, a small outdoor pool is suitably sized for dipping, with a disability-access unit on hand as well. The marina shack has a computer terminal along with beach chairs, kayaks, canoes, and bikes for a daily fee as well as a self-service coffee and snacks area. The marina can accommodate boats of up to 21 feet. Some guest have noted that there's no fishing tackle for rent on the property, and the nearest place to do so is a 10-minute drive away. (Tackle is available for purchase at Castaways.) Hotel guests also have access to the spa at Tween Waters Inn, a two-mile drive north.