3345 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel Island, Florida, United States | (618) 248-8274
Comfortable, clean, and updated rooms with fridges and other features
Some rooms directly overlook the beach
Medium-sized heated outdoor pool and small “Splash” kiddie pool
Poolside tiki bar serves tropical cocktails and lunch
Bike rentals available
On-site tennis and shuffleboard courts
Business center with computer and printer
Well-reviewed restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
No elevators
Some feel rooms feel too small
Not all rooms have beach views
Occasional complaints about thin walls between units
Set along West Gulf Drive in an area that
combines residences and hotels in vegetation-ensconced
grounds, upper-mid-range West Wind Inn combines the ‘70s charm of an old Sanibel property with
renovated rooms featuring vaguely colonial decor. The inn is a
comfortable, unassuming property with direct access to a private beach as well
as a heated outdoor pool, an adjacent tiki bar, tennis and shuffleboard courts,
and bike rentals. There are no elevators, so mobile-impaired guests may want a
first-floor room. The generally few complaints made about the venue have centered
around the small size of the rooms.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
'70s-era buildings in a motel-like setting with pleasant grounds
A carport drive-up lobby, stone siding, and
red tile roofing on long, two-story buildings keep the ‘70s roots of this
property alive. There’s a simple, motel-like feel to the grounds,
which are quirkily landscaped with white decorative archways and painted cement
statuettes. Some parts of the property feel dated in a less attractive
way: The business center has fluorescent-lit drop panel ceilings and bad ‘80s
carpeting. Nonetheless, the yellow-and-white striped lobby is inviting and bright with eclectic accents that manage to work well
together. A series of photos off of the reception desk features luminaries who have
visited the inn.
Location
In the middle of the Sanibel coastline, in an area combining hotels and residences
The hotel is situated along West Gulf
Drive, which parallels the southern coast of the island. The property is set
back from the road among palms and other vegetation. There’s no commerce in the
immediate area, and the inn stretches all the way to the sand, with some rooms
directly overlooking the beach. Shops and restaurants are about a five-minute
drive away and includes venues like Bailey’s General Store, The Island Cow, and
The Blue Giraffe as well as chain retailer CVS. Sanibel Historical Museum and
Village is under three miles northeast, while Southwest Florida International
Airport -- accessed by Causeway Boulevard -- is about 45 minutes east by car. Still, keep in mind that with traffic getting off Sanibel can take longer since the hotel is oriented toward
the island’s western end.
Rooms
Small but updated units with colonial style decor, some directly overlooking the beach
While the property has a distinctively ‘70s
feel, the rooms have been updated and feature granite countertops, chrome
cabinet pulls, screened-in lanais, and modern fridges and microwaves. Yet the decor
still tends toward colonial-style accents with striped couches, heavy wood
furniture, and botanical prints. Guests have commented on the small size of rooms,
bathrooms, and even beds, though most feel the units are comfortable and clean.
Bathrooms, offering ceramic faucets and shower/tub combos with sliding glass
doors, may feel particularly tiny with little space for more than one person. Smaller
rooms have mini-fridges and microwaves, whereas larger rooms have full kitchens
with electric stoves, full-sized appliances, and cooking and serving implements.
Features
Outdoor heated pool, bike rentals, poolside bar, and well-reviewed restaurant
West Wind Inn has a heated outdoor pool flanked by a small kiddie pool while sports lovers can avail themselves of the tennis
and shuffleboard courts. Other amenities include bike rentals, Free
Wi-Fi, and a small business center with a couple of computers and printers. The
on-site restaurant Normandie Seaside Pub -- open for breakfast, lunch, and
dinner -- generally receives positive reviews, though it’s considered by many to
be expensive. Poolside bar The Upper Deck specializes in tropical cocktails as
well as a full lunch menu and vittles like pizza and ice cream.
