Sandcastle Inn

You can leave your car at the hotel for the whole trip and walk to the public beach and nearly everything fun on that end of the island. The room was modest and clean, a very nice surprise, and they were hospitable about letting us check in late so we could arrive at our own pace without stress. There’s a nice outdoor pool in a clean, safe neighborhood. Breakfast Club is an easy walk, but go very early or expect to wait in line outside. The ice machine isn't the greatest, though I'm sure they can take care of it. Great room and fantastic price, the best bang for your buck.

The receptionist was nice and helpful, and at first the room seemed cute and really nice, even though the outside of the hotel looked a bit run down. But around midnight I got up to use the bathroom and saw numerous German roaches crawling around. Be cautious, because once you get them, they're hard to get rid of. We were only passing through on the way from NC to FL after my surgery, and seeing the bugs kept us from sleeping. We worried they'd get on us or into our things, so we left around 3:30 a.m. and drove the rest of the way home to FL. Money wasted, and I'm not happy.

We paid $465 for three nights and left on the third day after a stressful stay. The first room, number 111, was super nasty, with very dirty floors even after a shower. The fridge froze all the food we brought, including over $50 worth, and froze takeout from nearby restaurants too. On the second night we still had no hot water until we complained a second time. Staff didn't tell us they couldn't fix it until a day later, and seemed not to care. I was heartbroken after booking a month ahead through Expedia and finding I couldn't cancel or reach support to get money back. The whole thing stressed me out so much that I broke down crying with the door open and had a stressful panic attack. I will not return. Management can't even be bothered to answer the phone, and it feels like they only care about lying and saving their own buttons. I'm doing a chargeback and I'm not sorry. If you get room 111, triple-check that it has hot water.

Dawn, the owner, the porter, and another front desk lady were all helpful and attentive during our one-night stay, which gradually turned into five nights across two rooms. The hotel has clearly stood the test of time and must have seen many great family events. As a Fort Myers Beach, Florida resident, I understand oceanianic wear and tear, but my family and I would ideally like the floors and sinks to look sanitized. Maybe a bleach soak in the bathroom grout and crevices and a new sink basin would help future guests. Having our Weather Bus RV parked right outside our door for five days in the off season made it much easier to stay. The property was very CLEAN, with no debris or liter, and other rooms may be better. Staff was great, and yes, we'd stay again.