Captain Pips Marina & Hideaway

Our six-night stay was clean, comfortable and truly relaxing, and we didn't notice any downsides. The mattresses weren't perfect, but that was a very small thing and didn't affect our visit. Special thanks to Kira from housekeeping, who made everything even more pleasant and exceptionally clean. The cottage was the last one, conveniently close to the pool. We enjoyed the atmospheric, charming setting, with marina views, beautiful sunsets, an outdoor grill and comfortable places to sit in the evening. There's a great restaurant right next door with tasty, reasonably priced food, and breakfast options are available too. Parking is free, as are the kayaks and bicycles. The Seven Mile Bridge is close by. One small tip: skip the trolley and walk across the bridge toward the island, which you don't need to visit. You can even spot stingrays from the bridge.

The main drawback is that you can hear people in the other rooms, even when they're speaking quietly. Still, we'd stay again. The rooms are nicely furnished, and the beds and linens are comfortable. Bikes and kayaks are included for overnight guests, and management seems ready to do whatever it takes to make your stay enjoyable.

The Swordfish room had everything we needed and was comfortable, and the staff were kind and helpful. Captain Pip's is especially handy: snorkel trips, boat rentals, a restaurant, and even a Starbucks are right there, though the coffee is way overpriced. There are several other restaurants and a convenience store within walking distance too.

We keep coming back to enjoy that old Florida feel. This was my second stay, first with the girls last week and now with my husband. The staff have that same comfortable, old-time warmth, and treating them kindly gets kindness back. We hope to return next year. We stayed in Marlin this time, a different cottage, with a water view and the pool off to the left. There's a small raised walkway by the water, and we could pull right up to the cottage door to unload. The cottage has a king bed in a good-sized bedroom, plus a Murphy bed in the living room. Both mattresses were nice, and the sheets were clean and free of spots; blankets were clean too. The sofa also folds out, though we didn't use it. It can sleep 4-6 with room to spare. The furniture is a bit worn and wasn't the cleanest, so we asked for flat sheets to cover it. Pips took care of that without any fuss. The bathroom is a good size, with a large tiled shower and plenty of closet space. There's a full-size fridge and stove, a new drip coffee maker, and enough coffee, sugar, and dry creamer for a few days. The sink area is large, and there are some pots we didn't need, plus dishes, glasses, and utensils for four. I'm sure they'd help if you needed more. It was cool in late January, but they brought small heaters for the rooms and took the chill out. Porkey's Restaurant is just steps away and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Skip the lobster bisque and crab cake, though. Barbecue pork is meant to be their specialty. 7 mile Grill, next door by miniature golf, has delicious homemade food and is easy to walk to. There's also a Starbucks on the property and a little convenience shop in the office with T-shirts, booze, and other things. The location at the foot of the 7 mile bridge is perfect, and it was quiet this time of year.