South Seas Resort

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to South Seas Resort on Plantation Road, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The place has this old Florida charm that’s actually pretty refreshing in a world of cookie-cutter beach resorts. You know what I mean? It sprawls across Captiva Island in a way that feels more like a little village than your typical high-rise hotel situation.

The thing about South Seas is that it really gets Captiva’s vibe – which, if you’ve never been to this part of the barrier islands, is way more laid-back than its fancy neighbor Sanibel. I mean, you’re literally at the northern tip of the island here, so you’ve got this sense of being at the edge of everything. The resort itself has these low-rise buildings scattered around the property (honestly, it took me a day to figure out where everything was), and there’s something kind of nice about that. No elevators packed with sunburned tourists, just golf carts putting around and people actually walking places. The marina area is where things get interesting – they’ve got this whole setup where you can rent boats or just sit and watch the sunset crowd roll in. And man, the sunsets from the beach here… I’m not usually one to get all poetic about scenery, but there’s something about watching the sun drop into the Gulf from this spot that just works.

What surprised me most was how the place manages to feel both resort-y and authentic at the same time. The staff actually knows the island – like, when I asked about shelling spots, the guy at the front desk gave me real advice about walking toward Blind Pass at low tide, not some generic brochure response. The rooms themselves are solid, nothing too fancy but clean and comfortable with that beachy-without-being-cheesy decor. Some of the buildings are definitely showing their age a bit (this isn’t a brand new place), but honestly that adds to the character. Parking is easy, which sounds boring but trust me, after dealing with some of the nightmare situations on other islands, you’ll appreciate being able to actually find your car. The pool area gets busy during peak season – we’re talking February through April when all the snowbirds descend – but even then it never felt crazy crowded. I actually preferred hanging out on the beach anyway, which stretches for miles and gives you plenty of room to spread out. If you’re planning to visit, just know that Captiva doesn’t have the same dining scene as some other beach destinations, but the resort’s restaurants are decent enough, and there’s something to be said for not having to drive anywhere after a long day in the sun.