Vacation Rentals in Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is an idyllic vacation destination in southwest Florida, with a huge range of properties for travelers to choose. Some of the most luxurious are the beach houses located along West Gulf Drive. When you stay in these spacious homes, you’ll be within a few minutes of the beach, and enjoy gorgeous views across the Gulf of Mexico.

Then again, you could go for a smaller vacation rental, with lower daily rates and a more central location. Holidu’s Sanibel Island selection includes plenty of compact rental home options, with fully furnished kitchens, on-site pools and easy access to downtown stores and markets, along with a wide range of bars, clubs and restaurants. Basically, it’s a destination with accommodation for everyone, so have a look and choose the ideal rental home for your needs.

Sanibel Island is a barrier island located a few miles off the coast of southwestern Florida, not far from the city of Fort Myers. It isn’t strictly an island, as such, being connected to the mainland by the SanibelCauseway, but still has a separate atmosphere and identity – and feels a world away from the bustling cities nearby.

It may be separate from the mainland, but Sanibel is easy to get to. The best route for most people will be to take flights into Southwest Florida International Airport, which is just outside Fort Myers. The airport handles flights from cities like Chicago, Orlando, New York and Detroit, so everyone should be able to reach it without too many problems.

Alternatively, you can catch Greyhound or Amtrak bus services to Fort Myers, then transfer to local bus services to cross the causeway to Sanibel Island (or book a taxi to do the job in style). There are also car rental outlets at the airport. Sanibel is a great place to have your own car, with its long, sandy beaches and the bright lights of Fort Myers just a few minutes away.

With its endless summer, gorgeous sea shells, array of beach bars and, most importantly, mile upon mile of pristine sandy beaches, Sanibel Island will satisfy even the most demanding sunbather or snorkeling devotee.

If you want an active vacation with plenty of sporting activities, Sanibel is ideal. Play tennis or golf, strap on some water skis, or just rent a bike and enjoy some laps of the island.

Both Sanibel and its neighbor Captiva are unspoiled wildlife refuges. If you love birdwatching, few places offer such a rich variety of species to spot, while the waters around the island are full of exotic sea turtles (and even some alligators).

Sanibel is perfectly set up for cyclists (or Segway riders). Don’t miss the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge or Periwinkle Way, where you can combine cycling with souvenir shopping.

Sanibel Island is famous as a place to collect naturally polished, brightly patterned seashells. Head to the beach and look out for exotic junonia shells, or string a few together to make unique necklaces to take back home.

The coast of Sanibel Island is ideally suited to kayaking, with the inlets of the J.N. Ding refuge offering some spectacular places to relax and enjoy the scenery. You might even see some dolphins as you paddle.

When you spend time on Sanibel, there’s no better way to spend the hours around sunset than kicking back at beach bars with perfectly mixed cocktails, and some fresh Gulf seafood on the side.

Fort Myers is a short drive away from a vacation home on Sanibel Island. Check out winter baseball training camps, see the Edison estate and shop at some of Florida’s best malls.

Sanibel Island has a subtropical climate, which means that temperatures rarely dip below 70 degrees, and there’s very little winter to speak of. However, there is a peak tourist season (December through April), and it’s not advisable to travel during hurricane season (July to September). If you are looking for good weather and smaller crowds, try fall, May or June.

If you do choose to travel during Sanibel’s peak season, be sure to book your accommodation a few months in advance. That way, you can be sure that you’ll secure the perfect beachfront location. It might also be worth making boat or equipment hires in advance as well.

Sanibel’s annual calendar includes plenty of special events that are also worth exploring. If you love classical music, head to the Sanibel Festival in March, while the island’s Art Fair takes place in February and is a great chance to pick up some exceptional gifts for the folks at home.

What is the average price for vacation rentals on Sanibel Island?

Last year, rentals in Sanibel Island had an annual average cost of around $377 per night.

Which months allow you to save the most on vacation rentals?

Travelers who want to save as much as possible visit Sanibel Island in October, September, or August, which are the months that offer the most discount, with average prices of $293, $308, and $312 per night, respectively, based on the previous year.

When does the price of vacation rentals on Sanibel Island go up the most?

When it comes to looking for a vacation rental on Sanibel Island, the months when you will pay the most are, in order of highest to lowest, February, March and January, with average prices per night of $531, $520, and $470, respectively.

Are there usually many vacation rentals available on Sanibel Island?

When visiting Sanibel Island, we recommend you to think ahead as 85% of rentals are usually booked, according to the data from last year.

When are more vacation rentals available?

The months when it's the easiest to find free accommodation on Sanibel Island are June (the average amount of properties that are free reached 55% of the total last year), July (21%), and August (16%).

During which months is it more difficult to find available vacation rentals?

According to data from last year, the months when it is most difficult to find accommodation on Sanibel Island are, in order, March (with 0% of available rentals), February (1%), and January (2%). During this period, the availability is very low (1%). It is therefore preferable to reserve far in advance.

Are there many vacation rentals on Sanibel Island?

Holidu has 370 vacation rentals on Sanibel Island, provided by 4 different partners.