Where to Stay: Best Areas in Ft. Myers

Ft. Myers is a popular destination for a relaxing beach vacation in the Florida sunshine. There’s a huge variety of outdoor activities to try, plus many museums and attractions to keep the whole family entertained. What’s more, there are lots of natural, undeveloped areas to explore for those who want to get lost in nature and appreciate the flora, fauna, and marine life that calls the Gulf Coast home.

If you’re planning a getaway to Ft. Myers, you might be wondering where to stay. Let’s take a look at the four key areas of Fort Myers and their most popular hotels to help you decide where to base yourself when you visit this beautiful region of Southwest Florida.

Fort Myers City Center for Night Owls

Highlights: Edison and Ford Winter Estate, IMAG History and Science Center, Edison Sailing Center, Sidney and Berne David Art Center, Arts For ACT Gallery, The Butterfly Estate, Burroughs Home and Gardens, Centennial Park

The city of Fort Myers is where many of the area’s main tourist attractions are, such as the Edison and Ford Winter Estate, Burroughs Home and Gardens, and the IMAG History and Science Center. It’s also home to a wide variety of chain and independent stores and has a great mix of coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. Take a boat trip along the river, particularly at sunset, for impressive views of the city.

The River District

The Downtown area of Fort Myers, also known as the River District, is a trendy hub for tourists. It stretches along the Caloosahatchee River and is the most historical part of the city.

The River District is a charming area to explore and is fairly walkable, so it’s easy to reach many of the main attractions on foot. You’ll also find plenty of characterful bars and terraces for enjoying dinner and drinks in the evening — Downtown Fort Myers has excellent nightlife so if you plan to enjoy cocktails, live music, and dancing on your visit, it makes sense to stay in the city center.

Affordable Accommodations

A big benefit of staying in Fort Myers city itself is that accommodation is very affordable, even when it comes to the city’s more luxurious hotels such as the Luminary Hotel & Co, which sits right at the heart of Fort Myers. It is part of the Autograph Collection of hotels, which means it has fresh, modern rooms and suites that are perfect for couples or business visitors.

Travelodge by Wyndham Fort Myers North sits on the other side of the Caloosahatchee Bridge, which makes it a great budget option that isn’t too far from the River District. The comfortable rooms have minifridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, and rates include free breakfast, wifi, and parking.

Holiday Inn Fort Myers Downtown Area is a convenient spot for business travelers. It has a business center with computers and printers, high-speed wifi, and a friendly front desk team to provide support.

Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Myers-Colonial Blvd is five miles away from the River District and just minutes away from a shopping mall and a golf course. Courtyard by Marriott Fort Myers Cape Coral is an affordable 3-star hotel with free parking and wifi, an outdoor pool and snack bar, and a fitness center. Nearby Best Western Fort Myers Inn & Suites is another good budget option which also provides a free breakfast each morning.

If you want the best of both Downtown and the beaches, choose a hotel that lies somewhere in the middle. Howard Johnson Inn Fort Myers is conveniently located on Route 41 for easy access to the beaches of Estero Island and Sanibel Island, as well as the airport.

Crowne Plaza Fort Myers is another good choice, this time with the benefit of the open-air mall Bell Tower Shops within convenient walking distance. It’s an IHG Hotel, and it offers a convenient airport shuttle service for those who don’t want to rent a car.

The Forum

The Forum is a residential area that sits eight miles away from Downtown Fort Myers. It’s a scenic, peaceful neighborhood with Mediterranean-style houses, luxury apartments, and plenty of green spaces, lakes, and wetlands in addition to a large outdoor mall.

This is a good family-friendly area to stay in as long as you don’t mind driving to Fort Myers’ main sights. One of the best hotels here is Hyatt Place Fort Myers at The Forum, a 3-star pet-friendly spot with an on-site restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool, and a convenient digital check-in process. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ft Myers East Forum is a good option for business travelers thanks to its 24-hour business center and conference facilities.

Near The Southwest Florida International Airport

Fort Myers has the benefit of being very close to Southwest Florida International Airport, which makes it a great destination for very short getaways. If you’ll only be in town for a night or two, it might make sense to stay in a hotel close to the airport.

Consider one of these Fort Myers hotels if you’re planning a very short trip or have a layover, or you want easy access to Gulf Coast Town Center shopping mall or Florida Gulf Coast University:

• Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Airport
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Airport/FGCU
• Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers
• Comfort Inn & Suites Fort Myers Airport
• Drury Inn & Suites Fort Myers Airport FGCU
• Baymont by Wyndham Fort Myers Airport
• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fort Myers Near JetBlue Park

Fort Myers Beach for First-Time Visitors

Highlights: Fishing Pier, Lovers Key State Park, Bowditch Park Point, Mound House

Fort Myers Beach is a 30-minute drive from Downtown and it’s a slice of paradise for beach-lovers. It sits on Estero Island just off the mainland and is a popular spot for sunbathing, swimming, and watersports thanks to its stunning white sands and palm trees.

Outdoors Activities

If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation and you’re visiting Fort Myers for the first time, this is the perfect area to stay in because there are plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants within walking distance. You can try fishing at the pier, go hiking in Bowditch Point Park, or simply relax on the sand with a book and a drink in hand. There are plenty of businesses offering rentals for water sports equipment, including paddleboards, kayaks, and jet skis. You could also try parasailing to get an awesome bird’s eye view of the Gulf Coast.

Beach Hotels

There are lots of beach hotels to choose from in this area, with rates to suit a range of budgets. Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina is a full-service resort that covers 12 acres and includes 1,500 feet of private white sand beach. It has a massage parlor, a restaurant, and an on-site fitness center.

Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Myers Beach is a 10-minute drive from Fort Myers Beach and the Sanibel Causeway, affording you easy access to both of these regions as well as Downtown Fort Myers. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, free wifi, and parking, and pet-friendly rooms are available.

The nearby Candlewood Suites Fort Myers/Sanibel Gateway is another good option with affordable rates, pet-friendly rooms, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a business center.

Sanibel Island for Families

Highlights: Bowman’s Beach, Lighthouse Beach Park, J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge, Dunes Golf & Tennis Club, Sanibel Historical Museum, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

Sanibel Island is 25 miles south of Downtown Fort Myers and is an idyllic stretch of paradise for those who want to spend lots of time in nature on their vacation. The beaches here are quieter and more tranquil than at Fort Myers Beach. Plus, there are several nature and wildlife reserves for walking, bird-watching, and appreciating the natural fauna of the Gulf Coast. You might even spot dolphins from the shore at Bowman’s Beach.

Family Friendly

If you’re planning a family trip to Fort Myers, Sanibel Island is a great place to stay. It’s very quiet and safe, and there are lots of outdoor activities on offer to tire out energetic kids. There are also several museums and art galleries, including the popular Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum.

Sanibel Island also has a great selection of restaurants, from casual snack bars to luxury fine dining establishments. This region of Florida is great for fishing so be sure to eat plenty of seafood in the local eateries here.

Hotels and Resorts

Sanibel Island has plenty of hotels and resorts to choose from, including several luxury establishments that are ideal for those who want an indulgent getaway. The Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa is a great example. It’s an indulgent waterfront hotel with four on-site restaurants, a bar, an indoor pool, three outdoor pools, and a spa with a hot tub.

Self Catered Accomodations

If you’re looking for self-catered accommodation, the Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Myers has studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and workstations. It also has a fitness center, a tennis court, a basketball court, and an outdoor pool to keep the kids busy.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ft. Myers-Sanibel Gateway is a short drive from both Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island if you want the best of both of these popular areas. It has an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi and parking, and provides a complimentary breakfast.

Captiva Island for Nature Lovers

Highlights: Turner Beach, Captiva Beach, Blind Pass Beach, South Seas Golf Course

Captiva Island is the smaller sister of Sanibel Island, and it’s a little more secluded and natural which makes it ideal for those who want to escape into nature. The white sand beaches of Captiva Island are some of the best in the world, and they’re especially good for those who love hunting for seashells. The island’s east-west orientation means that more than 250 types of shells wash up on its beaches with each Gulf tide.

A Laid Back Village Feel

Downtown Captiva is more of a village than a town, but it has some excellent bistros, seafood restaurants, and pubs. Turner Beach, which connects Captiva and Sanibel, is popular for fishing and shell-collecting. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset over the Gulf and witness the “green flash” phenomenon in which a stunning burst of light appears in the sky right as the sun falls below the horizon line.

Marine Life Watching

Be sure to take a boat trip from Captiva Island for the chance to spot the likes of dolphins and manatees, which are regularly seen in the waters surrounding the island. You could also charter a fishing boat if you want to try your luck fishing in the waters here which are teeming with marine life.

There are just a handful of hotels on Captiva Island due to its small size and undeveloped nature. You can expect an idyllic and peaceful stay when you book accommodation here, but the rates of rooms and suites are higher than in Fort Myers Beach and the city center.

Boat Rentals and Charters

Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa is a 13-acre resort with access to a marina for boat rentals and charters, nature trails for walking, and a golf course. Breakfast is included and there are three restaurants on-site in addition to a bar, a spa with a hot tub, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center.

South Seas is another charming resort with a 2.5-mile stretch of beach, a marina, two golf courses, three pools, and six on-site eateries. You can choose from marina or ocean-view rooms, or book an entire cottage or villa.

Another good option for a self-catered trip is the Captiva Island Inn which has charming one and two-bedroom timber cottages with kitchens, porches, and barbecues. Guests can enjoy access to an outdoor pool, free parking, and breakfast served at a local restaurant.

Book Your Vacation to Ft. Myers

Now you’re familiar with the best Fort Myers areas for tourists; you can get started picking out a hotel or vacation rental that suits your style of travel. Which part of this idyllic Florida region will you call home on your upcoming visit?