We just spent another blissful end-of-January week at Sanibel Moorings--our fifth visit. What a great place! The complex is right on both the beach and canal docks. The beach is beautiful with miles of sand, gently lapping waves and sea shells galore. The grounds are idyllic, meticulously maintained and loaded with horticultural beauty and interest. We took the garden tour and later accompanied the grounds-keeper as he picked and gave us star fruit! Our condo was immaculate, with all the conveniences--full-size refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, wide-screen TVs with cable, DVD players (a large DVD lending library in the office rents DVDs for a dollar a day) and wireless connectivity. New stainless steel barbecue grills, each with its own box garden filled with ready-to-pick herbs, are in the central garden. A coin-operated laundry is in the center of the complex. Our two kids (ages 8 and 9) enjoyed hour upon hour in the huge heated pool. The staff and other vacationers are welcoming. Kayaks and bicycles are available for a nominal rental. Bicycle paths abound. Take a bus tour of the nearby nature preserve, and be surrounded by every imaginable species of bird, with a well-informed guide to tell you what you're seeing. (Lewis was awesome.) The complex office is run with the precision of a cesium clock. A variety of restaurants are nearby. The rates are very reasonable. Can it get any better? --The James Mumma Family

We had a beautifully appointed condo close to the pool and the beach. Enjoyed having a screened in porch for morning coffee. The kitchen was well equiped. Having beach chairs, chaises, umbrellas, and bicycles was great! The only bummer was the no-see-ums. You need to be sure to bring beach shoes and insect repellent with DEET, although they do sell it at the office (where the staff was fabulous).

We rented a 3 bedroom unit and worked out great. This unit was just across the street from the rest of the complex and the beach. Rooms were a little dated but clean. Great place to go for a relaxing vacation.

We were at the Moorings Dec 19 to Dec 31, 2012
Our Unit was #1121, 2 B/B, ground floor, with direct Gulf view. It was a perfect location.

The reception office personnel were friendly, but not entirely "engaged"...think Christmas/holiday preoccupation.

These buildings are quite old...upwards of 40 years, I was told. Many families have a yearly tradition of happily returning to this property.

The beach is wonderful...and indeed shell-covered! Sunrise/sunsets are spectacular. The beach lounge chairs are adequate in number when not confiscated by the neighboring resort. Each condo is charged a $40 "resort fee", so this should be monitored somehow. "No-seeums" are everywhere,..even indoors, but that's par for a beach location.

I agree with Shelly K regarding absence of the items I usually found in past vacation rentals. The entire unit was very clean....just tired.

Our unit had living room furniture which was comfortable, but old and dreary and a TV which frequently went "black"

The small bedroom was attractively furnished and had a nice wall mounted TV. That bath was attractively painted/ cute shower curtain and mat. It had a tub and hand shower.

The Master bedroom was indeed sad. Drapes and coverlet were a dingy brown. The walls were only a tad lighter.That bath was a sort of plastic "box" with a door and hand shower. No bath mat. The ceiling was peeling. Otherwise, it was very clean.

All beds were comfortable. A/C fine.

The drapes were sheers and in good condition. There was beige shag carpeting throughout, while old, seemed quite clean. There was ceramic floor tile in the kitchen/nook area.

The kitchen was galley-style with older fridge, stove and dishwasher...all of which were serviceable.. Dishes and silverware/cooking utensils were adequate.

The WiFi was fine and easy to access.

The pool was clean, but very small considering the size of this property. It was heated which was great on chilly days. Sadly, it was much too small for the number of guests present and it was also frequented by "non-guests". The pool is surrounded by walls of other buildings which shelter it from the wind. Again a good thing during our visit.

The adjoining "kiddie" pool was too small for anything but the smallest 2 or 3 toddlers...who seemed to prefer the big pool with their parents.

The grounds are neat and well-kept, but nothing spectacular.

The lanai view saved this unit IMHO. The lanai was screened-in and had a great view of the Gulf. It had two plastic chairs and table and a "drying" rack. The sliding doors didn't "slide" easily. I was told the entire complex would have the doors replaced this year.

I did preview this unit on the website. It looked great. I agree with others that it was not at all up to the usual standards of the price range. I completed and turned in the evaluation form we were given.

I might return to this property due to it's wonderful location but would not use this unit again.