2823 W Gulf Dr, Sanibel Island, Florida, United States | 239-472-1353
Family-friendly budget property on a popular shelling beach
Five-minute bike ride to Bailey Tract, shops, and eateries
Rooms have flat-screen TV, kitchens, screened patios, and beach views
Two-bedroom apartments available for long-term stays
Heated outdoor pool with sun deck and lounge chairs
Computer corner in the lobby
Bikes, kayaks, and umbrellas for rent
Laundry facilities available
Beachfront picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and barbecue grills
Outdoor shuffleboard, basketball court, and nearby fishing and boating
Free Wi-Fi, parking, and coffee in the lobby
Motel rooms have thin walls
Hotel has some old equipment, including bikes and grills
Daily housekeeping not included
Deposit required at check-in and minimum stay may apply
Set on a pristinely maintained property, the 33-room Shalimar Cottages and Motel is a budget beachfront property composed of, as its name suggests, a motel and several quaint cottages. There’s a lovely outdoor pool surrounded by lounge chairs and shaded tables, as well as a picnic area with waterfront barbecues. The property also has shuffleboard and a basketball court, plus it offers bike and kayak rentals, a computer corner, and laundry machines. One- and two-bedroom cottages, motel rooms, and apartments have kitchens and screened patios, some with beautiful beach views. Rooms have thin walls, however, and daily housekeeping is not included, but the property is clean and well-maintained, offering a great value for a beach vacation. Travelers seeking something similar might also want to consider the nearby Beachview Cottages.
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Scene
Blue-trimmed beachfront property with a family-friendly vibe
The Shalimar Cottages and Motel is geared toward couples and families who want the luxury of a beachfront getaway on a budget. Many guests make the motel their regular vacation destination year after year. Built in 1948, the stone-paved property is well-maintained with sculpted tropical landscapes and palm trees. Clapboard siding and striped awnings blend into the beach setting. The small lobby features tropical decor and rattan chairs, plus there's a flat-screen TV and tourist brochures. A pathway leads to the beautiful beach, which is rich with seashells and has barbecue propane grills, picnic tables, and colorful Adirondack chairs on a grassy mound.
Location
Beachfront location on the edge of a national wildlife refuge
The motel is located on 300 feet of shell-filled sands on the Gulf of Mexico and offers the closest accommodations to the beach in the area. There’s a seafood restaurant and cafe within walking distance. Bike rentals are available on-site, or guests can use Finnimore's Cycle Shop, which delivers bicycles. The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a five-minute bike ride or two-minute drive, and features the 100-acre Bailey Tract, a boardwalk, and numerous trails. Bailey’s Sanibel shopping center -- with a general store, cafes, restaurants, shops, and a cinema -- is also a five-minute drive. Bowman's Beach and Sanibel Lighthouse is a 15-minute drive, while the Southwest Florida International Airport takes 45 minutes by car.
Rooms
Clean, pleasant rooms and cottages with beach decor, kitchens, and screened patios with beach views
The island’s tropical vibe is recreated in rooms utilizing blue and peach textiles, seashell and palm tree designs, hardwood floors, and rattan furniture. Motel rooms, cottages, and apartments all have flat-screens TVs, DVD players, furnished screened-in patios, and kitchens with stoves, ovens, coffeemakers, toasters, microwaves, and refrigerators. Stone-tiled bathrooms feature showers or shower/tub combos, toiletries, and hairdryers. One-bedroom freestanding cottages offer waterfront or partial Gulf views, private parking, central AC and heating, sofa beds in living rooms, and dining areas. Motel Efficiency Rooms are the smallest option, with bistro dining tables, skylights in top floor units, Gulf views, and bathrooms with showers, though guests complain that bottom floor rooms are noisy. Two-bedroom apartments are the farthest from the beach, featuring two bathrooms and sofa beds in living rooms. Daily housekeeping isn’t included, but cleaning services can be requested. Guests have access to fresh linen, towels, and toiletries.
Features
Heated outdoor pool, laundry room, computer corner, and outdoor activities
Since many guests stay for a longer term on the property, the motel provides a few unfussy home conveniences, such as coin-operated washers and dryers in the laundry room, as well as a computer available for use in the lobby and a selection of books, games, and DVDs available to borrow. There's a large, sleek heated pool at the center of the property, surrounded by a sun deck providing lounge chairs and shaded tables. There's also a shuffleboard as well as a basketball court, plus bicycles and kayaks can be rented through the front desk. Barbecue grills and a picnic area are available by the beach. Wi-Fi and parking are free. Pets aren't allowed, unlike at the Tropical Winds Motel & Cottages and several other nearby properties.
