Retreating to a place where small is beautiful

Island resorts by Alan Moore

Retreating to a place where small is beautiful

Visitors seek out alternative destinations

FLORIDA’S main Gulf Coast islands, including Captiva, Sanibel and Marco Island, are proving to be strong alternatives to traditional West Coast resorts.

Operators report that more Britons are combining them with Orlando or staying on one of these islands for a two or three-week beach holiday.

Kuoni product manager Graham Bendelow said: “The island resorts offer a different face of Florida. They are low key, laid back and are the perfect place to relax and unwind. Hotels on the islands offer a range of sporting activities.”

Sanibel is connected to the mainland by a three-mile causeway, and is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the south and west. Captiva is connected to Sanibel by a small bridge.

It is just six miles long with unspoiled beaches and tropical foliage.

Further south, Marco Island is six miles long and four miles wide with more than three miles of beautiful white sandy beach and an inland waterway system noted for its birdlife.

Thomas Cook Holidays product manager Rachael Kelly said: “Sanibel and Captiva are most popular with holidaymakers wanting to get away from it all.”

Unijet is featuring all three islands for 2001, as well as the 11-mile-long Longboat Key further up the coast. A spokesperson said: “The most popular for us is Longboat Key due to it being more accessible from Orlando and it is the ideal retreat on a two-centre holiday.

“Marco Island is also very popular, while Captiva and Sanibel are a little more exclusive.”

The latter two islands are also very popular with Premier Holidays’ clients. Product manager Debbie Goffin said: “They offer a great holiday experience and are very relaxing.”

Jetlife product director Gary Grieve added: “Captiva and Sanibel are idyllic islands. However, you can easily cross the causeway to towns such as Fort Myers for shopping and nightlife.

New England Vacations offers one of the widest range of island stays on the Gulf Coast, with others including Siesta Key and Manasota Key in Sarasota, and Anna Maria Island.

It describes Upper Captiva Island as the “best-kept secret” because cars are not allowed there. The operator has introduced two-bedroom villas to the destination, including transfers to the island and the use of an electric cart.

Getting away from it all:more and more Britons are combining a stay on the Gulf Coast with a break in Orlando