Mariner's Pointe

What can anybody share about this property? Like the price, VERY early stages of trip planning. Trying to get an idea of the layout of the island. Any thoughts on its location, facilities on the property, including the pool? How about driving distance to swimable beaches with a two year old and restaurants/other activities, shelling? Thanks for any thoughts.

Mariner's Pointe

I haven%26#39;t been there myself but the prices are attractive and at least from some of the web sites there seem to be some nice units there.

It is on the bay side of the island so there is no real beach to speak of. The view is towards the mainland and you can see the Sanibel Causeway Bridge.

Lighthouse beach is maybe a five minute drive. Add another five or so to get to Gulfside Park beach and another couple of minutes to get to Tarpon Beach. Shell can be had about anywhere depending on the tide/ currents/ winds.

But if you want to stay on the beach a lot, know that you have to pay for public parking and get there early as the lots can fill especially in high season or weekends.

There are a number of gulf front complexes you might want to consider if being on the beach is a priority.

The complex is on the ';town-like'; east end of the island and is within a ten minute drive of scores of restaurants.

Mariner's Pointe

Thanks so much. Are the beaches you mentioned good for swimming in July? How much is it typically for entrance and parking fees? Would like to know if water is calm/safe for a little one. What about parking near the restaurants?

Mariner Point has great bay views. You could walk about 4 blocks to the beach, or go to by bike. The island isn%26#39;t very wide where Mariner sits. I love the bay. Lot%26#39;s of boats, sailboarders, you can fish off the docks or seawall [with a license] and at night, the lights of Ft Myers Beach. All of the beaches along that end og Sanibel are good swimming. Do avoid the very point of Lighthouse beach at tide changes. The water can run faster then and creates very strong cross currents. The water is very shallow.and you can go out quite a way as there are 2 sandbars where the water gets waste deep again. With small children, just walk to the right when you get to lighthouse beach and that%26#39;s were it stays calm. Lighthouse beach parking is just 2-3 minutes or so from Mariner Point.

At Algier%26#39;s Beach, it%26#39;s all calm and very quiet. There%26#39;s picnic tables and grills as well.

I%26#39;ve never stayed at Mariner, but what reports we%26#39;ve had are OK. As you come off the causeway onto Sanibel you%26#39;ll see two left turns. The first goes to the boat ramp and the second takes you to Mariner Pointe and Tennis Place. It is an older complex, so ask about elevators as I%26#39;m not sure. Some units are actually canal front, not direct bay view. They tend to be modest, though some have been extensively renovated and can be very nice. As it%26#39;s one of the few complexes with docks, it%26#39;s favored by boaters.

To get a feel for the island, take a look at this map

http://www.sanibeltrails.com/

Please be sure to tell us how the place is. We don%26#39;t get a lot of reports on Mariner Pointe.

http://www.sanibeltrails.com/

Thanks for your help. Still in very earlt planning stages...

We stayed at Mariner%26#39;s 5 years ago before we bought our place on the island. We really liked the complex and seriously thought about buying there, but decided we didn%26#39;t want a condo.

No beach there, but you are within easy driving distance of the Lighthouse beach. What time of year are you looking at? Parking at the beach can be a problem, depending on when you will be there, and you likely won%26#39;t want to walk that far with a 2-year old (it%26#39;s probably equivalent to 6-7 city blocks). But you could easily rent a bike with a toddler trailer and that would be perfect for going %26amp; coming to the beach (there are separate bike paths the entire way, until you get right to the beach parking lot). It is very, very shallow there (not at the point, stay to the right away from the point and the pier).

It seems like they have a couple of pools. The grounds aren%26#39;t extensive, as you have the bay directly in front of you -- the condos have very nice views of the bridges, the bay and Ft. Myers Beach. We loved watching the ocean birds fish right outside our condo. IN the one we rented, the bedroom looked out onto the bay. The backside of the condos is a canel, with boats teathered and coming %26amp; going. Lots of fun to watch as well.

When we stayed there, lots of older couples, lots of owners live there, so it%26#39;s quieter than somewhere like Sundial that%26#39;s full of families.

Thanks for the info. Thinking about July. Don%26#39;t see many places with screened balconies like in the Caribbean, wondering about the bugs. What is parking like near restaurants and other activities? Thanks again.

Actually MOST places are screened. Lighthouse and Mariner Pointe are two of the exceptions. I don%26#39;t know your budget, but take a look at the places I named on this thread:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g34616-i231-k16879鈥?/a>

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