Blog
Island Inn Family Vacation Guide on Sanibel Island
Island Inn Family Vacation Guide on Sanibel Island Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation with your family, and Island Inn prides itself on being one of the best family-friendly hotels on Sanibel. What is there to do on Sanibel Island with...
Things To Do During Your Island Inn Sanibel Vacation!
Things To Do During Your Island Inn Sanibel Vacation!Whether you are planning a weekend getaway with friends or a long vacation with family, Sanibel Island is guaranteed to meet all your expectations and more! Between the abundance of wildlife on the island to its...
Romantic Getaways in Florida | Couples’ Guide
Romantic Getaways on Sanibel Island: A Couples' Guide to the Quiet Side of Florida's Gulf CoastOff of Florida’s Gulf Coast there is a low, green barrier island where the beaches face south into both the sunrise and sunset, the night sky stays dark and peaceful with...
Ellie and Jared Visit Sanibel
Ellie and Jared Visit Sanibel This past May, the Island Inn hosted our friends Ellie and Jared Mecham. Ellie and Jared spent lots of time with their family learning all about Sanibel and all the amazing things to do while vacationing on our...
Best Hotel Sanibel Has to Offer! Island Inn Wins 2022 Award for ‘Best Of’…
Best Hotel Sanibel Has to Offer! Island Inn Wins 2022 Award for ‘Best Of’… NOTICE: Some information on these pages are pre-Hurricane Ian and may not be fully up-to-date. Wondering what the best hotel Sanibel has to offer is? The Island Inn was...
Introducing Matthews Lodge Luxury Suites
Introducing Matthews Lodge Luxury Suites Take A Live Tour! Watch the Video Above... The historic Island Inn, the oldest hotel on Sanibel (Est 1895), is excited to announce the launch of the next phase of its refurbishment program. The Inn’s...
A Day in the Life of an Island Inn Guest
I am really looking forward to our first day at Island Inn on Sanibel Island. We arrived last evening just after dark and were tired from our long drive. Boy is it quiet here; don’t know why I woke up. It’s still dark outside and my wife is still asleep. I guess I’m just used to getting up early.
We left the windows open while we slept. I’m glad we did that because I love breathing that beautiful salt air! I can just barely hear the waves sloshing on the shore. It sure is a relaxing sound – maybe I’ll just lay back and listen for a few minutes while I decide what to do next…
Planning Your Florida Beach Vacation
Are you headed for the beach? A Florida vacation may be just the thing. Any beach will do, right? Well, we’d hate for the secret to get out, but a lot of people think there is no substitute for a Sanibel beach. Arthur Frommer agrees, he rated Sanibel Island as his top vacation destination … in the world!
Sanibel and Captiva Island Resorts Serve up Island Culture
Many of our Island Inn resort guests say that staying on Sanibel or Captiva Island has ruined all of the other beach spots for them. At Island Inn, we’re happy that’s true.
Major Renovations at Island Inn
The historic Island Inn, the oldest Inn on Sanibel, has just completed phase one of a major refurbishment program modernizing all aspects of the Inn. More than $250,000 has been invested over the past year to upgrade and enhance the facilities….
Sanibel Thanksgiving
Sanibel ThanksgivingWe've put together the following list for Thanksgiving dining & activity happenings taking place on Sanibel & Captiva on Thanksgiving day. Make sure to check with each vendor for specific details. If you would like to submit a listing to...
A Cyclist’s-Eye View of Sanibel Island
As Sanibel’s oldest resort, Island Inn has relaxation down to a science. And like most worthy pursuits, true relaxation, true vacation, is a multi-faceted pursuit. In other words, we know you want to come here to sit on the beach. By all means, we want you to sit on the beach, but we also know that mixing it up with fine dining, shopping and touring will make your stay even more enjoyable. Go on, grab a bike and tour Sanibel!
The First of Any Open Hotels on Sanibel Island
The First to Welcome You Back to Sanibel IslandExperience Sanibel’s pristine shoreline from the comfort of Island Inn — the first hotel to reopen on the island, and still the best place to stay for an authentic Gulf-front escape.Photo taken December 2025Island Inn...
Traveling to Sanibel With Your Pet? Here’s How to Stay at the Island Inn
Traveling to Sanibel With Your Pet? Here’s How to Stay at the Island InnWe love our furry friends, but we’re unable to welcome pets at the Island Inn. The good news: you don’t have to choose between your pet and a beachfront stay. Sanibel has excellent pet boarding...
National Interior Designer Enhances Charm of Island Inn
Melinda Graham was commissioned to redecorate the guestrooms to reflect what the Inn represents to so many people today – a beautiful, cozy, home away from home on the beach – without losing its charm or history.
Sanibel Island Hotels
Island Inn offers two beachfront accommodation styles: Gulf-view luxury suites in Matthews Lodge and extra-large Gulf-view studios in Starky Lodge, each with the old Florida charm guests have loved since 1895.
The Island Inn highlights Mangroves and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation
The Island Inn highlights Mangroves and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation FoundationAs the Islands' oldest hotel, the Island Inn shares a common goal with local environmental organizations of preserving the well-being of our estuaries, the health of our local ecology,...
The Perfect Beach is Within Driving Distance
The Perfect Beach is Within Driving Distance A Guide for Driving to Sanibel IslandSanibel Island is the perfect drive-to destination for people looking for a tropical, secluded beach vacation, without having to deal with the hassle of booking airline flights....
American Innovators Tied to Historic Sanibel Hotel
American Innovators Tied to Historic Sanibel Hotel While we've always known our cherished Island Inn has great history, it's always exciting when we unveil new pieces to our quaint, beachfront puzzle. One of these most recent discoveries involves the historic Phister...
Sanibel Beach Read Recommendations
Sanibel Beach Read RecommendationsWhen traveling to Sanibel for a vacation you’re probably thinking you’ll relax, soak up some sun, take walks on the beach and get swept away into the newest bestsellers you don’t normally have time to read! Local Sanibel...
On my way to Island Inn, will I pay a Sanibel Causeway toll?
On my way to Island Inn, will I pay a Sanibel Causeway toll?One of the most common questions we hear at the Island Inn Sanibel is, “How much is the toll for the Sanibel Causeway?” Other booking guests ask whether there is a Sanibel Causeway toll discount. Thankfully,...
Trip Advisor Recognizes Island Inn for Excellent Lodging
Whether you and your family have been coming to Sanibel for years, or if you are just looking for ideas or lodging options, it pays to do your homework. Looking at a map of Southwest Florida, seeing tiny Sanibel curled up just offshore of Fort Myers, you wouldn’t know there are hundreds of lodging choices on the island.
Sanibel Island Vacations Offer More Than Beach Time
For generations, people have been heading to Sanibel Island for vacations. Sanibel and Captiva are scattered with many attractions geared toward lovers of nature, nightlife, history, art and fine dining.
Thank You Veterans!
Island Inn would like to say thank you to all those who have served and those who serve today.
SPEND 4TH OF JULY IN PARADISE!
Sanibel Island Fourth of July 2026: America’s 250th Birthday CelebrationThere has never been a better time to spend the Fourth of July on Sanibel Island. In 2026, communities across the country will celebrate America’s 250th birthday, and Sanibel is marking this...
Visitor Reviews
Excellent! Stayed at Island Inn for the first time and was very impressed. At check in you get a packet of information about hotel amenities, tide charts, businesses that are open, information about turtle nests, etc - very well organized. Walking through the front door of my room, I was greeted by a panoramic view of the beach. Room was very spacious with a bedroom, living area, full kitchen and a large screened in balcony. There are sliding doors so each area can be separated for privacy if desired. If it was pet friendly, it would be my go to place when I visit Sanibel once or twice a year. 
