How to Get your Best Fit on Sanibel: The First Steps in Tracking down the perfect Vacation Rental

We are a bit hesitant to write this post as most vacation rental guests who come to Sanibel Holiday have either rented from us before, or at least rented a condo or house previously on the Island.

But there are newbies to vacation rentals who might profit from this advice.

Or those who may have rented long ago or elsewhere and the vacation rental market is different here .... and now.

We hope this post will be helpful for all of the above.

There is always flexibility in vacation rental rules, but by and large private homes on Sanibel only rent for a period of 28 days, and almost always rent from first of one month to first of the following month. Similarly, condos rent for 7 days and most often Saturday to Saturday. While there is a chance the stay for either house of condo can be adjustable in terms or arrival and departure date, that is usually only not possible unless it is last minute, and most of the time off season.

There are some condos that allow one dog under 25 pounds and some houses that even allow 2 dogs of any size. When these conditions exist, there is always a non refundable pet fee. Even if a home or condo is advertised as pet friendly, it is necessary for the guest to inquire and provide information on their pet(s).

Because a vacation rental is so unique, each owner having their own taste and standards, it is best to look at as many photos as possible and, if there are questions, inquire specifically as to what you are looking for. Layout is important to some rental guests, so asking where bedrooms are situated in relation to one another, what floor they are on, etc. will give you a better idea of whether the property is a good fit for your party. If you want to be able to walk to the beach in 5 or 6 minutes, do ask about distance. "Near beach" is a pretty generic term, and most often applies to just about everything on Sanibel, a small island where a beach is never far away!

If you want a child friendly complex, it may be a good idea to see if the condo complex you are interested in has a children's pool, is more frequented by adults or has lots of play equipment. Though most guests on the island, especially in summer months, are families with kids and all enjoy the beauty of nature and the beach, some complexes are more active than others, and that is good to know in advance. The converse is also true: some guests really want to get away from it all, and there are particular complexes most fitting for that kind of stay.

Of course you can't anticipate every single need and preference you have in an accommodation, but you can make a good dent in satisfying yourself. Think of your family and what makes them happiest, then compile a list, whether long or short, before you search.

We love to make our guests happy, and it's easiest to do that when they know what they want and they tell us!