Guest Blogger: Tips on Buying on Sanibel Island

Though Sanibel Holiday is a vacation rental agency with no affiliation or ties to a real estate office, the agency enjoys the unique position of helping future home buyers on a temporary basis.

As an owner with a property managed by Sanibel Holiday, I am happy to share my own style and strategy in real estate acquisition with their blog readers.

In fact, I already do share my strategies regularly as many vacation rental guests who have stayed at my condo or at my home have rented with the purpose of "looking around" at what is available on the Island. To date, two families who rented the condo for a number of years have purchased their own places on Sanibel. And two others who rented the house have purchased as well.

One strong piece of advice I would offer to anyone looking to combine their vacation with a house hunt is to allow enough time. A few days on island, even a week, will limit your ability to combine business with pleasure. So stay two weeks, or three, and if you can swing it, come for the month.

Another suggestion strongly made is to do your house hunting off season. Like tourism in general, the house hunting crowd is largest in winter, and it's in your best interest to not be part of the crowd if you have a choice in the matter. You may find greater flexibility on the seller's part when you are looking in November or December and May or June then in the heart of high season. You will most definitely find your real estate agent's calendar not so crowded off season as well.

Which brings me to the most important advice I can offer to a prospective buyer. Choose your realtor carefully. You may want to talk to a couple of Realtors first before committing. Get to know his or her style and evaluate the compatibility with your own. Ask questions about their backgrounds and years in the business. Get a sense of how well they have done in not only getting listings, but making actual sales. Although we have found great integrity in all the agents we have talked to and worked with on and off island, the agent we will work with now is not only an honest and hard working guy, but someone who has proven himself to us by going beyond the expected to make us comfortable and show us that he cares.

Although all Realtors work off the MLS list, the differentiating factor can be just how much effort the agent you choose is willing to put in on your behalf. It can make the critical difference as we have discovered.

But you need to "know thyself" for any agent to be successful on your behalf. If your budget really can't reach for that luxury home you are smitten with, it's best not to waste your time or your agent's time on pipe dreams, as nice as they are. If a condo that you can more easily rent out makes most sense in the scheme of things, it's adviseable to concentrate your efforts on those kind of properties. That cute, little cottage is sure adorable, but how will it accommodate your large family and their friends?

And one thing is for sure, if you purchase on Sanibel, you will discover family and friends you barely knew you had!

I have enjoyed house hunting on the Island immensely. It is much akin to a treasure hunt with the best of Sanibel revealed with every turn and nuance in the search. But I have taken my time, paced myself, and blended my investment adventures with vacation explorations so that my stay on Island has always been a pleasure...even when the perfect property was not always discovered on that particular trip.


Sylvia Guarino, Guest Blogger

Calusa Were First Known Names on Sanibel Island

The rich and famous have frequented Sanibel and though we would not drop any names they would be recognized if we did. All have left their footprints, gently, on the sands of Sanibel, but none have left their footprints as deeply as the Calusa.

About 5,000 years ago, rushing rivers deposited an enormous amount of silt in the Gulf of Mexico forming the tropical barrier islands along the Southwest Florida coast. Its newly formed islands and bays were awash with a bountiful supply of fish and shellfish that attracted archaic peoples from across southern Florida who established a permanent settlement. These people were the early predecessors of the Calusa Indians.

The Calusa set up villages near their life source – the water. There was not enough land to grow the amount of crops needed to feed all the tribe members, so the Calusa looked to the bays, streams, rivers and Gulf and turned up a smorgasbord of shrimp, crab, trout, snook, and just about every possible delectable seafood.

Without the worry of where the next meal would come from, the Calusa were free to develop a complex society, which they did at an astonishing rate. There was a two-tier caste system, a well-armed, highly structured military and an extended noble family. Common people provided food, dug canals and labored at the construction of immense, complex shell works and water systems.

An archaeological site is certainly not the first thought that one has of this secluded tropical resort, yet it is fundamental to the understanding of an island that has become a world renowned vacation destination.

From these roots sprang the Sanibel Island that we know and love.

In 1963, a 3 mile causeway was constructed from the mainland to the eastern end of Sanibel. Soon after the bridge was completed, Sanibel incorporated, and the municipal government passed strong zoning laws, with much of the island set aside for protection. As a result, half of the land in Sanibel is designated as natural areas, with two preserves protecting the island ecology and wildlife. This preservation and conservation of land and wildlife make Sanibel a unique resort island, unlike any other in Florida and with few rivals within the continental USA.

Sailing by the Light of the Silvery Moon

For many, South West Florida means boating, whether that be a sailboat, a canoe or a cruise ship.

And, to be sure, if cruising is your style, there are no end of cruises to be found on and around Sanibel Island.

There are cruises in the morning, cruises in the evening, cruises all year round, including gambling cruises.

Every day of the year, two ships based out of Ft. Myers Beach offer evening cruises for passengers 21 and older, who want to wine, dine, and gamble.

The 167-foot Europa Sea Kruz holds 350 people and leaves from Snug Harbor Resort. The ship, which journeys in a big circle, is scheduled to depart at 6:30 p.m. and return at 12:30 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays. It lasts a half-hour longer on Fridays and Saturdays for the party animals. The cruise includes a sit-down dinner.


A relative newcomer on the Ft. Myers Beach gambling boat scene is the Big M Casino, a 2-year-old, 162-foot ship that can carry 400 passengers. All year long, Sundays through Thursdays, its evening cruise departs Moss Marine at 6 p.m. and returns at 11:30 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the ship leaves at 6:45 p.m. and returns at 12:45 a.m. The ship must go out nine miles, where international waters begin, before the gambling can begin. Floating up the coast from Naples to Fort Myers; the ship doesn't anchor. The trip includes live entertainment and a 110-seat restaurant. Once in awhile, some passengers go along just for the trip, but most, of course, are aboard to play blackjack, roulette, and slot machines.

And certainly you will find some romance and charm on the moon lit waters whether you gamble or not.

But if you are truly a moon-light sailor, you might want to consider something a little more adventurous and explore an extended cruise.

Extended cruising means sailing overnight, a weekend or even a week. Sail out beyond reach of the phone, fax, e-mails and enjoy the "quiet time" and learn why and how things are done on board while away from the reach of civilization.

The beautiful, sleek and "silvery" sailing sloop, the New Moon, can sail North or South from Captiva. You can choose to sail south to the Keys or the Dry Tortugas. Or sail north up the West coast of Florida and explore the Intercoastal Waterway or Florida Bay. Little Shark River and Tampa Bay are just a few of the Florida spots to see and enjoy. There are beaches, islands, rivers and bays to enjoy all around, and you can see them on the New Moon from such different perspectives that you will never forget the beauty and majesty of Southwest Florida's Gulf of Mexico coastline.

And maybe you can even make that midnight stop, a glass of wine and your beloved, on the warm sands under a moonlit sky. You can make the words of the darling poem, The Owl and Pussycat, come to life!

"And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon."

October On and Around Sanibel Offers Great Weather and Great Fun

Want to s t r e t c h out your summer? Then think about spending some part of October on Sanibel.


The Island is really ready for you in October. The weather is cooling down a bit, summer vacationers are gone and winter vacationers not yet arrived. No crowds, yet loads of things to do.


Topping off a very long list of activities are the incredibly interesting Ding Darling Days, truly something for everyone. The event runs from October 18 to October 24, in the National Wildlife Refuge, of course. And the menu is most tantalizing.


The 6 day spectacular, morning til night, concentrates on wildlife in many ways: talks, tours, workshops and exhibits to name just a few.


Among the free events, there will be talks about wildlife, a reptile show, naturalist narrated tram tours, face painting....even free hot dogs and drinks.


And for a nominal fee nature cruises, kayaking and bird watching caravans will be offered.


We think it's motivation sufficient to come to Sanibel Island just for the Ding Darling Days.


But there's more!


An exciting and beautiful regatta will take place right off the Island in Fort Myers Beach on October 3 and 4, and you don't need to own a boat to enjoy it.


Fifty boats carrying 250 sailors will compete in the 44th annual Summerset Regatta. Sailors from up and down the Southwest Florida coast participate in this first sailing event of the season. Buoy races will take place on October 3rd, and a distance race will happen on the 4th.


For spectators, the sight of billowy sails and sleek yachts racing with the wind stirs romantic notions of a sport that requires skill, strategy, and muscle.


Shore activities will be based at the Pink Shell Resort on Fort Myers Beach, so both days will be good for watching the activities kick off from the shore.


Crowds gather on the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier and the beach around it for a staggered send-off of the different divisions of boats beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 3rd.


And if ships brings to mind visions of pirates, you're in luck. The 4th Annual Pirate Festival takes place from October 9th to October 11th. Again, the Festival is right off Sanibel at Fort Myers Beach. Join the merry making as (friendly) pirates invade the island in ship to shore battles, food, period entertainment and period vendors.


Now, really, with dozens of things to do and weather that is beckoning, is there any reason you should not put Sanibel on your October calendar?

Nascrab Races on Sanibel Provide Great Fun For the Light of Heart

Tween Waters Inn on Captiva has a most unusual form of entertainment on Monday and Thursday nights. The Crow's Nest Restaurant features a crab race at 6 and 9 p.m. This Nascrab competition is a 20 year old island tradition where each member of the audience who wants to participate (and pays their $2.00) gets to choose a crab and name it, urging it on to win with hoots and whistles as well a round of applause.


Of course, this is done with a lot joking (some of the language not real wholesome) around and even some irritating derision from the announcer of the race. So if you don't come with a little sense of humor and your $2.00 you won't be able to enjoy the evening. Keeping in mind that half of the monies go to a charity (United Way) helps to keep the evening a little more purposeful, but there are some who don't mind the derision or getting sprayed with a water bottle or even losing the race. And for those who win, three winners in total, they are able to keep half the winnings.


There are several "heats" during the night and a presentation of awards at the end. And, oh yes, there's also a winner's circle where photographs are taken.


OK, so it's not the Kentucky Derby, but it is something typically islandy and the price of admission is not going to hold anyone back!

Islands in the Gulf: Sanibel's Little Sisters

Cabbage Key and Useppa Islands have their own followings, the former more easily visited for a stay over. But the difference between the 2 little islands is dramatic.

Cabbage Key, tiny, funky and pretty much uninhabited offers a taste of olde Florida. Cabbage Key was a private island retreat for the Rinehart family from 1929 to 1944 when it was purchased by Larry and Jan Stults. Larry and Jan Stults opened up the charming island hideaway to the public. In the years since, it has ceased to be a "totally secluded" retreat, as it has grown in popularity, thanks in part, to the ultimate promoter of "South Florida laid-back lifestyle," Jimmy Buffett, whose song, Cheeseburger in Paradise, is said to have been inspired by his favorite dish at the Cabbage Key Inn during his frequent visits to the island.
You can visit for the day and enjoy that cheeseburger at the Inn or go for the more locally inspired dishes on the menu, such as peel-and-eat Gulf shrimp, grilled mahi-mahi and, of course, the ever-present slice of Florida lifestyle, Key-lime pie. But if you can spare a weekend from your trip to Sanibel, consider a real island getaway at the historic Cabbage Key Inn or the 7 cottages on the little island.

Useppa, perhaps even smaller than Cabbage Key, is pristine and does not offer an overnight stay unless you own a piece of the valuable real estate. It is a tiny tropical gem with lovely cottages and a beautiful Inn gracing the shores.

A private island, the visitor to Useppa only gets an infrequent and short lived glimpse by journeying to the Island for a lunch, look and learn. There, in the tiny museum, one can see history played out in the various exhibits and artifacts.

Continuously inhabited for ten thousand years, Useppa was home to nomadic peoples who roamed in search of food in prehistoric times. About ten thousand years ago, the Calusa civilization arose to become one of the most sophisticated native societies to have evolved in North America.

Centuries later, the waters around Useppa and the surrounding barrier islands are popularly thought to have been populated by fierce pirates seeking bounty and treasures. In one of the area's most important myths, legend has it that in the late 1700s, a Spanish pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped and imprisoned a Spanish princess named Joseffa de Mayorga. Gaspar the Pirate is said to have favored Joseffa over all the many women he had captured in his ocean conquests. When his attempts to capture Joseffa's heart were met with contempt, Gaspar used Useppa Island to imprison the proud princess, and the isle came to be known as "Joseffa's Island." Over many ensuing years, legend says that the changing local dialects gradually morphed "Joseffa" into "Useppa," giving the island it's unique name today.

Over the years, the island was purchased and developed by Barron G. Collier and utilized as a base for tarpon fishing and for entertaining the rich and famous. The island was later abandoned and used by the U.S. government as a base for the Bay of Pigs invasion.

All of this, truth or fiction, is fascinating, but not necessary to enjoying the islands. They are magical little places regardless of the veracity of the creation of Jimmy Buffet's music or the pirate myth.

The Best Kitchen On Sanibel Could Be Your Own

We all know that there are dozens of good restaurants on Sanibel Island. Some are fancier than others, and some are better than others, but no one is going to go back home saying that there was no good food to be found on their Sanibel vacation.

But the best chef on the Island could turn out to be you!

The greatest number of visitors to Sanibel choose self catering accommodations. In fact, one of reasons that travel guests want a condo or house, rather than an inn or hotel room, is to have the ability to cook and eat in as desired.

Now, visitors to the island have it easier than ever.

Both of the larger grocery stores on Sanibel, Bailey's and Jerry's, have terrific inventories of all kinds of foods from basic staples to gourmet selections. And now they offer the added convenience of allowing you to call in your order or order on line. You can pick it up or have it delivered to your lodging. And they go beyond delivering. They will actually put away your groceries even before you arrive, so you can walk in the door and have your cupboards brimming. Would you like a cold beer after that hot climb up the stairs with all your luggage? It's right there in your own refrigerator!

As one would imagine, the delivery and put away services are at additional cost, but if you truly want a stress and responsibility free vacation, this is a great way to begin one.

Both stores offer recipes on line for healthy and hearty main dishes and tantalizing desserts and Jerry's offers coupons on many store items.

Jerry's website has meal planning on the home page and Bailey's website offers a long list of gluten free and organic foods to be found in the store as well as recipes for gluten free meals.

While most vacationers are not going to make elaborate meals, the option to cook in and eat exactly what you want is one more reason a vacation rental is so very appetizing!