We just came back two days ago from a 6 days stay and we LOVED it!! A friend of ours recommended it and so we gave it a try. We had one of the cottages, so we had a separate bedroom and the kids (4 and 6) slept on the sleeper sofa, which was perfect. We had even two sets of TVs, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. We loved the breakfast (and brought our own Nutella :-)) and the friendliness and helpfulness of the personnel and the receptionists. All the complimentary things have been mentioned already: books, newspapers, DVDs, towels (real big and fluffy ones!), beach chairs.....when my friend stayed there and her daughter wanted to try out a boogie board, one of the staff members actually brought his own one from home for her to try! And they have a box with sand toys to take and bring back.
The pool was clean and just warm enough, the whole hotel area is spick and spam and the island itself is nice and quiet with some neat shops. We loved Jerry's Supermarket, although pretty expensive, but the restaurant inside (though lacking atmosphere) had very, very, very good food and huge portions!!
It's fun to take the complimentary bikes (they even provide helmets for the kids) and take a ride across the island. And we totally recommend the Sanibel Island Dolphin Tour, where you'll be picked up by a funny bus (with a funny driver) right at the hotel. So, we'll probably end up like the older couple next to us who have been returning every October for the last 19 years!!!

Our family (2 adults and 2 8-year olds) just returned from a six-day stay at a one-BR cottage at the Seaside Inn. Our cottage was nice and clean with a small kitchenette and a deck facing the pool. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable about the island. The inn provided all of the comforts of home and more. There was free use of beach chairs, beach towels, and umbrellas, bikes (including 2 child-sized with helmets), DVDs (just a few kid movies), and a continental breakfast basket delivered daily. One drawback was the lack of restaurants nearby, but everything was within a short drive. Also, the cottages do not have a screened-in deck and the bugs were ravenous for human flesh! We sat out one evening and were eaten alive within minutes.

Quiet and Tranquil. Old Florida Charm is the best way to describe it. We loved it! We stayed on the gulf front and our unit was immaculate. The service was excellent and there were no extra charges for beach umbrellas, chairs and towels. The staff set everything up for you within minutes of your request. The staff at check-in was very informative and gave a packet full of information on restaurants and other local businesses. A little library of paperbacks and a selection of DVD's to use anytime during your visit. No rental fees! I forgot my sunscreen and went to the front desk expecting to pay a small fortune, but the prices for everything were very reasonable. The Continental Breakfast was delivered to our unit in the evening, but there was a small kitchen if you felt like a hot breakfast or there are enough restaurants close by to go out for breakfast.

We are already planning our next vacation at the Seaside Inn. I cannot think of anything bad, other than I wish check in would be earlier and check out later. Didn't want to leave!

My daughter and I just returned from Sanibel Island, Florida and the Seaside Inn. We found Seaside Inn to be a lovely, quaint little inn with old style Florida charm!! If you are looking for the Ritz this place is not for you, but if you want a relaxed, island feel at a great price, you need to check out this hotel! There is nothing stuffy or pretentious about Seaside Inn. We immediately felt like we were staying at the home of good friends! Every staff person we met were the nicest, most helpful people we could have asked for and the decor was lovely, adding to the island charm. The entire inn had been recently renovated following Hurricane Charley a few years ago. The rooms were immaculate and the service fantastic. A continental breakfast basket was delivered to our room every evening. The room had a large closet, safe, iron, ironing board, hair dyer and kitchenette featuring a microwave, fridge, toaster, sink, coffee pot and a eat-at bar, not to mention a full set of dinnerware, silverware and glassware. The hotel is "going green" and, without sacrificing service, was very conscious about being good stewards of the natural resources Florida has been blessed with! Everyroom had a view of the beautifully landscaped gardens/ pool and/or the gulf of Mexico. I was hoping for a little clearer water in the gulf but there were plenty of the sea shells for which Sanibel is so well-known all along the hotel's beachfront. The pool was small but very well maintained with. Parking was somewhat limited so don't plan on taking you're big 4X4 truck down there. It was never a problem to park; the spaces are just rather small. Seaside Inn was a very quiet and relaxing place to get away from a hectic lifestyle and enjoy the relaxed island style of Sanibel but don't worry about getting bored. There was plenty to do there, especially if you enjoy nature and the beach. The hotel staff was always willing to help in any way we asked to make sure our trip was all we wanted it to be. You won't be sorry for choosing Seaside Inn.