spring break with 4 teenagers

4 high school senior girls with parents looking for a cottage on the beach WITHOUT a big resort atmosphere! Would like to be able to ride bikes or walk to shops and restaurants but have full kitchen to make most meals. Need 2 to 3 bedrooms to sleep 6 to 8. Would like to stay on Sanibel - would appreciate any recommendations - I don%26#39;t know where to start! Thank you!!

spring break with 4 teenagers

There aren%26#39;t any %26#39;big resorts%26#39; per se on Sanibel as you%26#39;d find on Marco Island or St Petersburg Beach. Even South Seas Plantation on Captiva doesn%26#39;t have a big resort feel. But if you%26#39;re looking for a small, quiet place, take a look at Mitchell%26#39;s Sandcastles, Waterside Inn, or even a condo at one of the smaller condo complexes. I would normally suggest Castaways as it would have exactly what you%26#39;re looking for, but it is at the end of the island well away from most shops and restaurants and you shouldn%26#39;t ride bikes over to Captiva where you would normally go to eat from there. There are no bike paths and the roads are narrow and can be busy in season.

The best central link to Sanibel properties is the Chamber of Commerce website www.sanibel-captiva.org

Larger complexes that you may wish to avoid are Sundial, Loggerhead, Pointe Santo, Sanibel Moorings, Lighthouse Point, and Blind Pass (not near any restaurants or shops - but a nice complex),etc. For a quiet location within bike, long walking distance to markets and some shops, stay with West Gulf Drive properties. This is a mix of cottages, private homes, condos and a few small motels.

East Gulf Drive is the oldest and most developed part of the island and has the shortest walks to restaurants and shops, but is a fair distance from the 2 large food markets. There are a number of cottage and inn type properties in this area, but do check on age limits for cottages, as some are adults only.

Middle Gulf Drive is mostly condo complexes on the beach and is located on the widest part of the island so it%26#39;s a bit further to shops and restaurants, aside from those located in complexes, motels/motor inns and at golf courses.

Most condos sleep 6 but not many sleep 8, so your selection may be limited.

On Captiva homes rent by the week and any house near the center of Captiva is walking distance to shops and restaurants, but the large food stores are on Sanibel, about 20+ minutes away. There are 2 small market/deli%26#39;s that you can get some supplies from just in case. www.captiva-ialnd.com will give you an idea of what%26#39;s avaliable. Just use the CofC link to Rental Agents and Rental Service for complete listings. Remember - bike riding on Captiva is not recommended.

spring break with 4 teenagers

make that www.captiva-island.com My spelling is awful, but my typing skills are even worse!

Sounds as though you may require 3 bedrooms for your group. Sanddollar has 3 bedroom condominium units and I believe it has only about 50 or so total accommodations. Really quite pleasant...not a ';big resort'; atmosphere at all. It is also about as convenient as any for biking to stores / shopping and they do weekly rentals (some of the places offering 3 bedrooms are monthly.) Another option may be Golden Beach. I believe there are only two duplex buildings there (total of 4 rental units) and they can offer 3 bedrooms as well.

Addendum:

Actually, Sanddollar has 36 units!