Casa Ybel Beach Resort

We own a week here and we look forward to going every year. We evacuated during Ian and are excited to come back when they are ready.

Still working to rebuild from Ian. Not open yet, but it should be better than ever once open. Everything will be new and fantastic.

This may be the most beautiful spot in Florida! The condo was clean, opens right up onto the beach and the views of the ocean were amazing! My husband and I wanted a 4 night getaway and this place did not disappoint! The property is superbly maintained with lush tropical plants and large palms. The Coconuts bar is right next to the huge pool and easy access from the beach. We were welcomed with beach chairs and an umbrella set up every morning by 9am. The 1 restaurant on the property has excellent seafood. We will definitely be back next year. Thank you to all the staff at Casa Ybel for making this trip so special for us!

Amazing, breathtaking, relaxing.....this place is perfect for our family. Views are amazing. Everything is so beautiful. Great pool. We ate at Coconuts several time and had smoothies everyday. They have everything u need to purchase or rent on site. Couldn't have picked a better place. Don't think about it, just book it!

I am writing about our very disappointing stay at Casa Ybel. What was billed as a luxury resort turned out to be much less than expected. For the price of the room during off season, I expected an extremely nice and upscale hotel experience. Your website is misleading and a few well place photos hide a myriad of details that would have led us to not book a stay at your hotel. We did not receive anything close to expectations.||We knew when we checked in, we could not stay in the same room for the three days. We were booked into a two bedroom for one night and had to move to a one bedroom for the next two nights.||We checked into the two bedroom and were disappointed right away with the cleanliness of the villa. It was run down and was not very clean. When we walked out onto the patio, we were surprised to see how dirty the sliding door was and there were various other elements that made us feel like this resort was going to be far less stellar than what we thought, based on your website and previous ratings. For $489/night for the room, I would have expected much better! We had a coffee pot that was totally non-intuitive and we could not figure out how to use it. We called the front desk and they said there should be instructions in the room, there were none. We then went to the front desk and were told they had no idea how to use it, then proceeded to tell us to walk to Jerry’s and find coffee. Then my sister walked the coffee pot to the front desk for an explanation and finally a maintenance person was sent to the room to demonstrate how to use. The sheets were of low quality and the floors were stained with dirt.||We received a phone call that evening saying we needed to move the next day and we should have our bags packed and someone would move our bags. We had a day of outings planned so when we got a call about 2 pm about moving, we told them to go ahead and move our bags. When we returned to the resort, I went to the front desk and was met with a puzzled gazed by the woman at the front desk who proceeded to take 20 minutes to locate our new room assignment and give us keys. When we got to the new room, a one bedroom oceanfront, I was surprised to see the continued drab and somewhat dirty feel of the room. It also had a totally different feel also than the two bedroom, different coffee pot, different bath amenities leading me to conclude this was not a well-run cohesive resort but rather a hodgepodge of various rental units. Not at all what was advertised. When I opened the refrigerator door, I was disgusted to see dirt and crumbs on the top shelf which had not been cleaned. The next morning when we looked for plates and could not find any in the cupboard, we realized the dishwasher had not been emptied and we could not actually tell if it was run. For $418/night, this was a disgrace. We own a Marriott time share and the cleanliness and attention to detail are so much more than what we experienced at Casa Ybel! ||Additionally, I work for a company that operates hotels and entertainment and know what customer service and clean rooms look like, and your resort had neither. When I went to voice my concerns and ask for a discounted rate on the room for all of the above reasons, I was told to write to the front desk manager. Despite writing several times, I have never received a reply..you. ||||The only bright spot in the entire stay were our dinners at the Thistle Lodge. Amy our waitress was friendly and caring, as well as the bartenders and other staff.

My husband and I spent two weeks at Casa Ybel Beach Resort (Jan.27-Feb.10) in a one bedroom beachfront suite. I’m posting this review to give a recent, personal account of our visit. We found a lot of positive and negative reviews online, some of which were very concerning. 1. Check in was quick and easy. 2. Our room was spotless and smelled very clean when we walked in. The furniture was just like what is shown on their website-contemporary and very comfortable. The bed mattress was also comfortable with clean, updated bedding and lots of bed pillows. The bathrooms were clean, with plenty of towels and a pair of Casa Ybel robes. The kitchen has full size appliances, plenty of dishware and a limited amount of cookware and small appliances. The screen porch is big enough to spread out, eat at the table provided and just generally spend time enjoying the view. 3. The grounds are in wonderful condition. Maintenance was working every day trimming bushes and trees and just generally keeping things looking nice. There are also shell washing stations and hammocks scattered around the grounds. 4. Housekeeping is available every day if you’re in a 1 bedroom unit. We chose to only get housekeeping every 3-4 days. When we got service, they did a very good job and always left plenty of extra towels. The towels appeared to be new without any frays. 5. The amenities are a big part of why you pay a premium price for the room. We ate at Coconuts and Thistle Lodge and the food at both places was delicious. The pool is very large with lots of chairs and towels available, but we didn’t get in as it was not heated. 6. The staff (front desk, maintenance, food and beverage) was friendly and eager to please. It’s obvious that they could use some extra staff members. However, those they have are doing a great job. CONS 1. We did have some maintenance issues while we were there (no heat for the first couple of nights when it was unusually cool and a refrigerator/freezer that wouldn’t cool). However, the maintenance crews and the outside vendors they called in got the issues fixed quickly and it didn’t affect our stay at all. In summary, we had a very nice 14 night stay at Casa Ybel! We are considering staying again next year. The rating I gave was primarily because of the maintenance issues.

The location is perfect—waterfront, with beautiful landscaping, and a fabulous restaurant Thistle Lodge. It has a large nicely heated pool with room for kids to play and another 10’ deep area big enough for laps. The poolside bar and grill serves excellent food and drinks. All that is five stars. There were a few things that knocked it down, however. We reserved bikes and beach umbrella and lounge chairs; they were noted on our confirmation and we paid our deposit. When we went to get them, all the bikes and beach chairs had been spoken for. Apparently we didn’t know you need to contact “Recreation” to reserve them. So, we didn’t have beach chairs, and we walked a mile and a half each way to Billy’s Rentals to get bikes and return them. They do pick up if you rent for longer than we had them. Our one-bedroom second floor condo was very comfortable; housekeeping was available each day at no additional charge. Our only objection was that we had hooks on the living-room wall with no pictures and the tile was coming off the tub wall due to moisture penetration. It was slightly unpleasant to have the soiled linen cart outside all the time. It is a good thing we are in good shape because our second floor condo is in an elevated building (no elevator), so you are really walking up and down three floors all the time. Assistance with luggage was offered, but we braved it ourselves. So, the trip was delightful, especially because of the beach, pool, and restaurant.

We love the location, food and service but for the price, the rooms are disappointing. Screen on the porch had holes in it and chipping paint. The light on the stove did not work and the air kept going up to 78 degrees at night automatically. There was a cockroach in the bathroom on the pocket door. The appliances are tired. The floor may be vacuumed but it is filthy. My slippers were black! The rug in the bedroom was dirty and frayed. The grounds and pool are immaculate and but the rooms are dirty. Please repair and clean the rooms.

Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club: Sanibel Delight Florida is a large U.S. state with demographics climate zones, geography, and economies that are extremely varied. The visitor is likely to spend several years touring the state to enjoy the variety of activities and opportunities that Florida offers. One charming, congenial, guileless, and serene location is Sanibel Island. "Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast of Southwest Florida and is linked to the mainland by the Sanibel Causeway. A short bridge over Blind Pass links Sanibel to the unincorporated town of Captiva-on-Captiva Island. More than half of the two islands are preserved in its natural state as wildlife refuges. Visitors can drive, walk, bike, or kayak through the J. N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge." Nearly 6,500 people reside on the Sanibel, and a primary source of income is tourism. Interval International currently lists 16 different timeshare properties on Sanibel and Captiva. These properties are different, and Interval International lists 13 properties as "premium" properties. Timeshare visitors will have their own "favorites." An important variable to bear in mind is how well did the property survive Hurricane Charley in 2004. Sanibel and Captiva are prime hurricane targets. We are fond of the insouciance of Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club. We have heard Ybel pronounced several ways, and the locals pronounce the "Y" as a short "I" as in "igloo." Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club (2255 West Gulf Drive Sanibel Island, FL 33957.239-472-3145). Perhaps a map from the visitors' center is useful, but it is difficult to imagine getting lost on Sanibel and Captiva. This is not Los Angeles. And while we thoroughly enjoy Hilton Head and its urban neighbors to the north and south, Sanibel and Captiva invite an irenic and serene lifestyle. The Interval International description is very accurate: "Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club is set on 23 tropical acres, with more than a quarter mile of private beach. The three-story lodges offer terraces that overlook the Gulf of Mexico. On-site are an Olympic-sized heated pool, a wading pool, a poolside bar, and a heated spa. Guests also can enjoy six tennis courts, barbecue grills, and the Thistle Lodge Waterfront Bar and Grill restaurant." The limited photos at the Interval International do not do justice to this premium resort. Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club provides a full kitchen, comfortable living room, excellent bedrooms (all units are two bedrooms) and the all-important large, screened lanai. All the units will have a Gulf of Mexico view, and all units will provide a tropical Florida view. The two bedrooms are located on the second floor. The master has a king size bed and there are two twin beds in the guest bedroom. We have stayed at Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club during spring break, summer holiday, and during Christmas. The heaviest traffic naturally occurs in the winter due to the city of Ft. Meyers and the nearby Ft. Meyers' Beach. Our first Christmas holiday fifty years ago was spent at Ft. Meyers' Beach, and it felt "decadent" to enjoy sun, beach, and Gulf of Mexico when our friends and neighbors were battling the ice, snow, and Ohio winter. It did not require many southern Christmas vacations to overcome this misperception. Casa Ybel Beach and Racquet Club in December is a pure enrapturement. Sanibel and Captiva do not suffer in the winter from the "snowbird invasion" that infects Ft. Meyers. Creative is the best concept to apply to the homeowners and to the business Christmas decorations. Many tall palm trees take on the green and red Christmas lights in December. The on-site swimming pool is an Olympic size pool, and this pool provides swimming for adults, while children have other water areas. My wife enjoys the beaches for sunning, swimming, and perhaps most important, shelling. "The best shelling is found on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The islands rank tops in the world for shelling because of geography. Sanibel Island does the twist as it parades along the coastline among a string of other more orderly, straight-and-narrow islands. The east-west torque of Sanibel's south end acts like a shovel scooping up all the seashells that the Gulf imports from The Caribbean and other southern seas. There are six grocery stores listed for Sanibel and Captiva. We generally find necessary provisions at Jerry's Foods of Sanibel or at Bailey's General Store; both are located on Periwinkle Way. There are 100 plus restaurants ranging from breakfast to delis to Italian to seafood to fine dining. The breakfast restaurants provide a late breakfast or early lunch, and each visitor will have a favorite. We really like the Lighthouse Café that serves breakfast from 7:00AM until 3:00; however, so do many of the locals and tourists. Call ahead and ask for the "slow" times at this restaurant.

It was a no-brainer staying at Casa Ybel for a 2nd time this year. While we've stayed at other resorts on the island the other 9 times and an Airbnb, we've also dabbled on two that were overtaken by tackiness and white wicker furniture. It's not a boutique hotel by any means but Ybel stands out from all the rest so far in Sanibel for me. Bedrooms are modernish but warm. Sheets are crisp white. Plus lines are clean and stylish but still keeping a Sanibel feel- without being hideous. I really don't like bragging about finances- but even driving past the entrance, Ybel is money. Grounds are immaculate! Service continues to shine especially checking in and out in their Reception Area housed as soon as you drive through the entrance with draping trees surrounding you. There are 2 restaurants on site with Coconuts by the pool and the Thistle Lodge being more formal. Ybel Resort's- newest food and beverage director- Michael Allen, adds new and creative dishes to the menu which was nice to see from the last time we were here in 2017. Aside from simple amenities like umbrella and beach chairs coming in at $30 day, I really find plenty to love here. And identical to our 1st trip, hubs also got the Umbrella/ Beach Chair Package to give us some peace of mind. Despite the extra $$$ for such things, Ybel's so far has been THE only Hotel that fits to our liking with clean lines and organicky feel.

Our room and the grounds / location are beautiful - but that's where it ends!! Staff is horrible. They should give out bumper stickers that say ... 'Got a problem? We're a timeshare - call Hilton - mwwwwahahahahaha' because that is literally what they tell you if you have any type of issue or concern. They also offer NO housekeeping if you get a 2 BR (because you know it totally makes sense the more you pay the less number of amenities you receive...SMH). I'm hoping I don't see an extra charge for ATTITUDE on my bill. NO reason to be here when there are soooo many other places that will treat you with the respect you deserve spending your hard earned money on a quality property.

What a shame that Casa Ybel Resort charges $800 a night for such a rundown resort!! You open the door and the smell of Pine sol cleaner about knocks you over. The bathroom is old, broken tiles on the floor and vanity lights that don't work. The furniture is dated, and the carpet was so dirty that I didn't want to take off my shoes. The TV in the master bedroom did not have a remote control. I called the office 4 times asking them to bring one, but it never happened. We could not get any help to bring our luggage up 3 flights of outside stairs! Service was terrible and any staff I did see were rude and not helpful. Do not stay at this so-called resort it was a rundown MOTEL !! Feeling ripped off :)

Dumpy place, not worth the money. Went to stay here this past weekend for a special occasion with husband. Paid $350 a night for an oceanfront deluxe one bedroom. Walked in and the paint was literally peeling off the living room wall in a very big spot right above our head on the couch. The blinds where completely broken on one side, fridge was not clean. We drove over 3 hours to stay here and went to front desk. No other rooms available and she didn't know if she could refund us. Demanded to get supervisor on phone. Ended up leaving as it was broken, peeling and dumpy. DEFINITELY not worth $350. Maybe at $100 it would be ok but really not acceptable. Drove home well over 3 hour after this as couldn't find another room and our special weekend was ruined. Called today to talk to manager of operations Amy. Never called me back. They don't care. Trust me, stay somewhere else unless you are ok with broke, peeling and not so clean places for well over $300 a night. And I used to be a travel agent. Unacceptable to rent rooms like this.

Where do I start? I think this place is amazing. The resort is very comfortable and clean, the staff is very friendly, I really enjoyed myself. I world recommend this place to anybody. I will be back.

We got here on Christmas night 2020. Our 2 bedroom room is a timeshare which we were never informed of. It looks nothing like the photos or floor plan on the website. We were shocked by the motel style bathrooms. Only 2 starter rolls of toilet paper and one roll of paper towels provided then were asked to restock. No housekeeping. We spoke with Amy who works for Hilton Resorts timeshare who laughed at us when we explained our disappointment. She offered us to check out and find another place at 9pm after traveling all day. They charge for loungers and Imprezas on the beach. We have paid close to $7000 for 7 nights and that's not provided? There are rental bikes that the chains kept falling off of. There are dead fish all over the beach and no one cleaning them up-along with trash. They are out of towels now. Absolute disappointment in every aspect.

First time staying at Casa Ybel Resort in Sanibel. Service was pleasant and safe. Each room faces the water which is so magical in the morning to sit out and watch the water while you drink your coffee. Full kitchen came in very handy as we were not fully comfortable eating out yet. The room was large and clean. Beautiful florida vibe decor. Walk to the beach right from your room! Doesnt get better than that. Big property with lots to do (tennis, shuffleboard, bike rentals) a huge pool that is 11 feet deep! Great little poolside bar Coconuts, can not wait to come back snd try some of the other amenities out. If you are looking for a peaceful location for some rest and relaxation. This is it! Lots of restaurants around and cant beat the shelling and sunsets.

We've been coming down here for years. Love the pool, love the beach, love the staff, especially the Coconuts bartenders, and love the views! The condos are updated and well taken care of. The kitchen is fully stocked. Did I mention the views are amazing? :) Great for a getaway with a friend, spouse or family!!

Good: The view of the beautiful beach. Bad: Outdated rooms in need of renovations. First room we were placed in (keeping in mind we have a toddler) had exposed wires from an electrical socket, a pack of Camels on the back porch, cigarette ashes in the "clean" glassware and the stench of smoke. We asked to be move to a different room obviously which was honored but not after being questions heavily about "my complaints". Second room ...better, but there was a swamp of water "very gross stepping in this" in the carpet upon entering the bedroom. I think it has to do with issues with the AC/water heater unit area. Bathtubs in both rooms would not drain well. First room the air filter in the closet was as black as night with dust...probably had not been changed in a long while. Staff: Custodial staff threw out or groceries and supplies. We told them that were were visiting Naples for a couple of nights and that we would be back. The custodial staff took it upon themselves to throw away our groceries and supplies. Pretty upset about this! Front desk....3 of 5 stars. They try but its a losing battle for them...that is when you can get them to come of the back to assist you. I have literally never stayed at a place where the front desk staff is so absent! Average wait time to see someone is 10 minutes I kid you not. Also told us that the 200 dollars we payed to reserve umbrellas and chairs on the beach was not on the reservation. So we had to dig in our on records and take a picture of the receipt and show them. Coconuts: Staff....very rude to customers. No to me personally, but I don't think they realize it is a service industry. Overall: No way I would recommend this place for the price. If the price were more reasonable and reflected what you received, I could see how you may consider this place.

So where can I start? This was a huge party 10 total rooms were booked almost every room had an issue. My room the AC broke Another room the fridge broke Another room the AC and fridge broke Etc.... rugs were dirty they don't vacuum ended up getting a refund for a day. I'm sure if Amy reads this you will know exactly who we are.

My husband and I booked a 5 night stay at Casa Ybel for our anniversary. We have been here many times before and have always enjoyed our stay. However, this time was a bit different. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Marybeth, one of the most rude and obnoxious "Karens" that you'll ever meet. Despite having made our reservation a month prior and having a confirmation number, Marybeth announced that Casa Ybel was not accepting visitors from NJ. We were not aware of this coronavirus restriction, it's not a Florida thing, it's a Casa Ybel thing. This is not stated anywhere on their website and was not brought to our attention during booking. In fact, my NJ address is clearly printed on my reservation confirmation from the resort. Why would the resort have confirmed a NJ reservation if they weren't accepting residents of the state??? This would have been a field day lawsuit. Fortunately, my husband and I had actually been in Florida since early May, so we had already fulfilled the 14 day quarantine requirement of the state. I explained this to Marybeth and showed her our flight itinerary that confirmed we had entered Florida on May 8th (it was June 26 when we checked in). Marybeth gave me an even bigger attitude and told me she had to call her supervisor. This B then proceeded to tell me I could leave and her supervisor would call me on my cell. I said thanks but I'll wait right here. Kaitlyn, the wonderful supervisor, arrived shortly after. We explained the situation to Kaitlyn and she immediately said we could absolutely check in since we had been in the state for 8 weeks, much longer than the required quarantine. Kaitlyn took over our check in and was very kind and helpful. Casa Ybel needs more Kaitlyns and to get rid of the wretched Marybeth. The question remains though - what if we hadn't already been in Florida for weeks? Would Casa Ybel have actually turned away people that just arrived via plane flight with a CONFIRMED reservation made WEEKS in advance?! This is completely unacceptable. While the rest of our stay was uneventful, the rooms are desperately in need of maintenance and upgrades. Dishwasher didn't work, carpets were worn and dirty, bathroom tub was full of mildew and rusty fixtures and the place just felt grimy and dirty. Casa Ybel has a lot of potential and has been great in prior years. It just needs some TLC to get it up to "resort" and $399/night standards. We love Sanibel and have been going for 10 years now but it might be time to find a new place to stay for future visits. But thank you Kaitlyn for being such a gem! Casa Ybel is lucky to have you.

This is an overrated resort. My husband and I planned a mini family gathering with our son and two granddaughters there 10/9-10/11. The receptionist at the desk made no attempt to welcome you and provided no information about the resort facilities or activities. We opened our two rooms and found out another mistake. Our son's room has one king size bed and ours with two queen beds. We were too tired to switch room. Thank goodness we didn't do that. We first thought we got mosquito bites at the poolside. My husband got the worst case. Awful bites all over his back, arms, and legs. After we got home and looked up. I realized those are actually bites from bed bugs. The room we stayed is Banyan room 116. Be aware! We brought a box of Italian cookies to share with our granddaughters. In no time they were covered with tiny ants when we left them on the kitchen counter. Ants are wve

We just came back from four nights at Casa Ybel Resort in Sanibel Island, Florida. The accommodations we had was basically a one bedroom beach front condo with kitchen, living room and balcony. The condo was well equipped and clean but could use a nice upgrade and refresh as the carpets and furnishings were pretty outdated. Each building also had a nice gas grill which worked well for a nice meal. But bring a lighter. All in all we had a great time and recommend for family and alike.

I've been to this place before and the location is so quaint. The restaurant has great views and it's very cozy. I personally didn't enjoy my last waitress I think her name was Katie. They seem to be short and abrupt but that didn't change the way I feel about the place. Definitely a great place to enjoy a special occasion especially with a significant other!

Showed up and got slammed into a 1 bedroom room. We flew in from Virginia and was told it's a 2 bed room (pull out couch) and not a 2 bedroom room. WTF! Absolutely ridiculous for $600 a night with 5 of us. Beware if coming here from out of town, we called and confirmed and asked for confirm email and they never sent, now we understand why they didn't send. Also no fitness center on premise and pool is a long way away from our 1 BR

It's hard for me to write an unbiased review for Casa Ybel. My wife has been going there for 41 years, me 20 of them. It has lots of sentimental value for us. She went there as a kid and made life long friends, and now our kids are making friends with their kids. It's a nice property, pretty well kept, with excellent access to the beach. The pool is gigantic and is one of the few left that has a proper deep end; 12ft. Coconuts bar is pretty good, the bar tenders are always nice. Food is good, maybe a pricey but good. Management could stand to add a few activities on property for adults and kids. There isn't much to do other than lounge at the pool and look for shells on the beach, but hey, that's pretty much why you visit Sanibel anyway! The condos are really spacious and perfect for families. Full kitchens with cooking utensils and flatware. If you're planning a visit to Sanibel, give Casa Ybel a try. While not the most luxurious in terms of appointments, it's vintage Sanibel with lots of history. Google the Thistle Lodge for the full story.

Every review on here seems to be from people who stay at the same condo each visit / from people who work there (pretending to be a person visiting) or the extreme of people who hated it. I've been here about 7 times within 3 years and each time, I've stayed in a different unit. The bar outside does take awhile however, food is good however, no one cares about allergies. The condo itself is close to the beach which is really nice and they have games that are free to play. The staff inside is horrible, like the other reviews said. They are not friendly and don't care about the people staying there. If any review says they are friendly, that is a clear lie because I have never once gone and had them be polite or even just okay. I have walked out every single time saying to whoever I'm with "wow they were awful." The condo is outdated and somewhat dirty. The towels have been dirty every time I have gone so I now bring my own towels (shouldn't have to). They have stains and hair on them. The last two times I went, I was covered in bug bites. Not sure how I got them but I was covered.

Wonderful place to relax and unwind! I have been going there for decades. And although it has been there for years, it always feel brand new because of the continual upgrades to ensure you have everything you could need. I always get an Umbrella Package for the week which includes 2 chairs and an umbrella set up for you on the beach. They get set up around 8am and come off around 5pm. This means you don't have to use up your car with beach chairs, etc! The customer service is outstanding. They have a big pool and a pool bar & cafe. Awesome pina coladas!!! The pool is much bigger than most on Sanibel. They also have other things you can rent like bikes. I tried their paddle board the last time I was there. Very reasonable prices. I stay in a 2 bed 2 bath condo overlooking the beach and pool.

I want to be fair but I am truly feeling generous giving this place 3 stars. Why? At first sight, this resort is just breathtaking. The grounds are beautifully maintained and immaculate. You have easy access to the gulf. The pool area has one very large pool, a nice whirlpool (although not very large), a small pool and a kids pool. Parking is easy and close to your unit. There is one restaurant on site. At first glance the rooms themselves are glorious. But...what you quickly realize is that this is not a hotel/resort as much as a timeshare masquerading as a 4-star resort. We were upgraded to a 2-bedroom 2-bath unit. It looks beautiful but it is cheaply built and decorated--more on that soon. One of our desires was to be facing the water. The unit does, but not the bedrooms. They are in the back with windows opening on to the entryways and stairs. Not only does that mean you can't lull yourself to sleep listening to waves lapping against the shore, but you feel kind of exposed so those drapes stay closed making the bedrooms feel dark and uninviting. And the beds are very uncomfortable. The bedding is all polyester. After 2 nights waking up sweating I finally figured out that the problem was a rubber mattress pad which does not breathe and crunches every time you move. The bathrooms are nice. Plenty of storage and a decent shower with ok water pressure. The toilets don't flush well. The latch on the bathroom door doesn't work well which meant having to slam it to close it securely. Meanwhile the screen door entry to the patio constantly stuck making it hard to open. The kitchen had plenty of storage. The cabinets themselves were so cheap they made Ikea look like the height of luxury. Cheap particle board is covered with faux wood contact paper that was peeling. No bellman to help with luggage. No poolside wait staff like every other resort we have frequented. Every food order made at the pool bar is cooked at the restaurant and then bussed to your table. By the time it reaches you if it was hot, it is now warm to cool. Because we were upgraded we had no maid service, unless we paid extra $$$. The final slap? The night before we check out we come home to a voice mail that we must check out at 10 am the next morning, not noon as advertised. No negotiating allowed because the owners are on their way and want their home (understandably). But they didn't explain this at check in which we would have appreciated. For the price, I feel cheated because this was not a luxurious 4-star resort which is what we thought we were paying for. However, compared to renting a condo somewhere, without any amenities, I can see why some people give this high marks.

My husband took me here this weekend for our anniversary. It is a gorgeous resort! The grounds are immaculate and it sits right on the ocean. The smallest room they have there is a suite with a full kitchen and living room. The rooms are cozy and beautiful. I'd definitely splurge on an oceanfront room. There is nothing like waking up at sunrise and seeing the ocean right from your balcony. They have lots of amenities - tennis, yoga, excursions - if that's your thing. The pool is really nice and on the day we were there they had a guy playing guitar. There's a full bar right next to the pool also so you can get your drink on and relax. Great hotel, great staff, beautiful beautiful BEAUTIFUL!

My wife and I just spent the weekend at Casa Ybel for our son's wedding. The wedding was booked there last year. The location is a beautiful place for a wedding. We had the rehearsal dinner there on Friday for convenience for our out of town quests. It was a lovely evening, the food was good but there was no one present from Casa Ybel other than the serving staff, who really didn't seem to know what was going on. The wedding was Saturday at 5:00 on the beached and went of without a hitch thanks to our wedding planner that we hired. At the reception, I was served an overcooked filet mignon, my nieces weren't impressed with their mahi and my wife's chicken was nothing to get excited about. All of the rooms had a beautiful view of the ocean, but not all of them were in top condition. The room that the bride and groom stayed in had a leaking appliance in the kitchenette with a moldy damp towel on the floor in front of it when they arrived. It was not fixed during their stay. When we woke up on Saturday morning, we were told that they don't serve breakfast any where in the resort, so we had to drive to town to get breakfast. All in all Casa Ybel is not a five star resort, it's an average resort at best, with above average prices, with some arrogant unhelpful staff members and a beautiful view of ocean. We won't be heading back soon.

Room had wonderful views and nice access to the ocean...what wasn't so good is the cleanliness of the showers...black mold on the tile and just vernal grade C cleaning. Now it you have any luggage beside a purse don't come to this place...you have to carry your baggage up at least 1 to 2 flights of stairs a car drive away from the main building...our drinks were watered down and food f especially foe vegetarians was terrible...eggplant and mush to eat....don't eat here is our advice until they change....and then if you like whiskey neat or on the rocks forget it....you can't get a bourbon on the rocks...this was complete. Bullshi....T .....forget this place on your stays in the future...only reason isn't not a 1 star is the location and views are very good...

Horrible service at the restaurant. 2+ hours to get food. It took over 20 minutes just to get a server. The restaurant was busy but by no means busy enough to validate the wait that we had. It seemed like we were strategically forgotten. There was another table that sat after us and they left long before we got our food. Once we put our order in, we waited over an hour for our food. When our food arrived, they said the fries weren't ready, but promised us a big plate of fries for the table when they were. That was also late. In the end the food was fine. Definitely not worth the wait.

This resort has terrible customer service. I had a confirmation email with a number for a stay on 3/13-3/25 and upon arrival was told I did not have a reservation. I produced the confirmation # then the confirmation email with the correct dates and sat in the lobby of registration for 1 1/2 hrs while staff was trying to figure the situation out. I was then told that someone had changed the reservation for my arrival for the next day which was not at all accurate. I also explained that if that was true wouldn't I have received a confirmation email for the change? Management never accepted responsibility that a mistake was made on their part. My husband and I could not find another place to stay and were forced to sleep in a friend's sofa. I will never stay nor recommend a place that does not apologize to its customers for their error.

Absolutely love the folks at this resort particularly the gang by the pool. Chris is dynamic and entertainment in and of himself. When on Sanibel on the beach, stop by as this is a fun place to have an afternoon refreshment.

Just came back from 3rd stay in a year. Love this place. Condos are well taken care of of, bed was so comfortable (113)... Coconuts was fun! Great mudslides and Cool Cucumbers! Crunchy grouper sandwich is our favorite. Beach is heavenly! Low key and restful!! We'll be back! Coffee in the morning or cocktail at night on the fabulous screened patio is beautiful since every room faces the water...

Got married here 3 years ago came back for our anniversary and got this gross surprise. In ankle deep gross water. When I looked saw this glob of months of hair and soap scum in drain. Called front desk and was told Amy the manager will call me...still waiting a day later. Way too much money paid for this. Obviously no one cares. Needless to say we will be celebrating our anniversaries some where else. How unfortunate.

Went here for a wedding this past Saturday and was looking forward to it since I have heard good things about this historic resort. The ceremony was on the beach and dinner afterwards on the outside patio off the dining room. It was a lovely setting except that the bride and bridal party had to walk through the pool area to get to the beach which I thought was rather odd since pool was open and active. The patio was quaint and nicely set up, but again, it overlooked the pool area so did not feel very private. Food was good, but not as good as I would expect at a resort with this reputation. The appetizers were actually the best part of the meal, the shrimp was scrumptious. I am glad we attended this wedding, but don't think I would stay here based on their exorbitant room rates and food not on par with the pricing. I do have to say the staff that was assigned to this private event were very friendly, efficient, and anticipated everyone''s needs.

First off this is a time share resort ... not just a hotel.... Owners of the units are extremely rude to guests and basically ruin your stay . A man named Mr. Rio was very inappropriate to several teen age girls in front of us, (him being in his 40's)...and we notified the front desk about it. Staff was great... ants were not and everywhere.... Without the weddings and the locals patronizing the pool bar the place would go belly up... With so many choices of places to stay on Sanibel.. why stay at such bad one with unfriendly time share occupants... Big Mistake

I stayed here with my family in mid-August and it was fantastic. The resort is right on the beach and the grounds are beautiful. We stayed in a two-bedroom unit (one king bed, two twin beds, and a pull-out couch). The screened in porch was very nice, especially with the ceiling fan. We ate a lot of breakfasts out there while looking at the ocean and pool and watching birds fly by. The staff does a great job keeping the grounds immaculate. The scenery is beautiful. There is a small pond where you can see tons of birds and turtles. There are about six tennis courts, a basketball court, two shuffle board areas, and a sand volleyball pit. You can rent any equipment from the recreation office (tennis equipment had an extra charge). You can also pick up tons of books, board games, and DVDs to use in your room during your stay. They also had bikes and beach chairs/umbrellas to rent for a hourly or daily fee (a little unfortunate to have to pay to rent beach chairs, but I guess that's becoming the norm at most resorts). The staff was great. We had one maintenance issue and they came to our room in about fifteen minutes and fixed everything for us. Very friendly. We also requested to check out an hour later so we could do a couple more things before catching our flight and it was no problem. I would have given five stars, except for the inconvenience of how the doors are locked. You can lock the sliding glass doors to the porch as well as the screen door leading from the porch to the back steps, however there is no key to get back in this way. So if you wanted to walk out your back door to go to the beach or pool (just several yards away), you wouldn't be able to lock your room from the outside. Instead, you would have to lock the doors and then go out the front door and walk around the building. Part of the check-in pamphlet says to make sure you lock your back doors when leaving, but it is not very convenient to do so. Although it seems to be a very safe community, we always like to lock up when we leave just in case. It would be nice for them to install locks on those back doors that correspond to your room key, or even have a separate key for those doors. All in all, we had a great vacation and Casa Ybel was very nice relaxing.

This is by far the best place on Sanibel Island! We have been going for 20 plus years and ended up buying a week because we love it so much. The best amenities and most friendly staff. The food at both Thistle Lodge and Coconuts is great. We love the bartenders at Coconuts, they welcome us like family every year. Chris and Kevin are so outgoing yet very professional and will go above and beyond to make each guest feel special. My son loves having snowball fights with them. He gets so excited and looks forward to seeing them every year. If you want to have the best view, service, food, condo, and pool this is the most incredible place on Island. I would recommend to anyone over and over! Don't forget to grab a cocktail by the pool and say hi to the most friendly bartenders!

Where to begin with Casa Ybel? The ocean views are spectacular. The amenities--the nice pool, the nice hot tub, the decent outdoor bar, are... nice. The rest leaves quite a bit to be desired. We get that it's a pandemic and are making appropriate allowances (whatever those may be), but for $400+ a night, we did not expect to have a staff member plop themselves directly under our bedroom window and talk, rather loudly, on their cell phone for 20 minutes... first thing in the morning, five feet away from our bed. Because our room came with out kitchen, we did expect a few basics (like a sponge to do our dishes with). We expected the closet doors to stay on their hinges and open more or less smoothly--but then, the whole resort is run down. Nothing too terrible; charming, in a 1970s Night Moves sort of way, but more in that $200/night way. Then, there's the service: A call to the front desk (we couldn't find the pots and pans, which turned out to be under the stove, in the broiler) took forty minutes to get a reply to. You'll see other reviews here that say, "service was slow," or "poor." Heed them. The resort was packed--they don't seem to be suffering--but there was a strong sense that no one was driving the bus, or caring much that it kept veering into the guardrails. On our last day there was no water--hot, or cold--at all. We couldn't shower, brush our teeth, flush the toilet. The front desk told us it was a water main break. Then, they told us it wasn't a water main break, it was a scheduled thing--that on the day before, they'd called every room and left a voicemail telling us so. The problem was, the hotel's phones don't seem work. (And even if they did, who checks their hotel phone anymore? They had our cell phones. Either way, a note under the door, a sign posted somewhere, and/or a bottle of water, distributed to every room, would have been nice.) Again, it's a pandemic. It is what it is. But you might be better off booking a better-kept and cheaper condo, or looking into the lovelier South Seas resort on Captiva.

Our family booked 2 beach front rooms and payed a down payment for 1/2 the trip for March 2021. Booked flights and all. They called today to cancel my reservation since they made an error and can get more money for our room and rebooked it at almost double the rate! We were paying $399 per night but now they are charging us now $725 a night. They will not honor our initial reservation. I can not even wrap my head around how unethical this is and how horrible their customer service is.

I have been to Casa Ybel since I was about five or six, possibly longer. In the last 20 years, the place has not changed a bit, and thats a very good thing. They have a nice pool, a hot tub, and an a lot of activities for kids (which will free up time for parents to go out and do their thing). It's very family oriented. I would never come here for a spring break or for a guys trip, but for a family get-together with younger kids (8 to 16), its perfect. If you have mostly older kids, I would say that its unlikely to interest them as much. The other reason to come here is as a rest/escape. It's a good place to go to get away from it all, the beach is lovely and undeveloped, and the island is, as a whole, pristine. The amenities here are very nice. So for a 30s to early 40s couple, its worth looking into, especially if you live in Florida. It is very expensive. Drinks at the pool have been jacked up to $8 dollars and even a burger will run you $12. All of the grocery stores in the area are very overpriced-- I recommend buying a weeks worth of groceries and alcohol at a store before crossing the toll bridge. Mix pina coladas in your room and bring them down to the pool or the beach. There is no reason in the world to pay their outrageous prices for drinks. A burger and four drinks is about $60. While I feel the quality deserves 4 yelp stars, I think you could get a better price for this sort of place.

I highly recommend Casa Ybel for families with children under 10 years old, as long as you're not expecting a 5-star resort. The good: Outdoor grounds, friendly staff, rates, and reasonable management. The bad: Some appliances are old so you may deal with an issue as we did (AC not working); however, we were compensated for our minor 2-day dealings with this. Very well handled by the hotel manager. The ugly: Aspects of the resort are a bit tired (seems they throw new paint on old walls and structures instead of replace them). Overall, we took our young family to Casa Ybel for a much-needed beach front spring vacation in the sun with comfortable amenities for sleeping and preparing our own meals, and we got it. If you're looking for a polished, perfect resort and small imperfections bother you, this may not be the place for you.

Good: (I stayed in a 2 bedroom suite for 4 nights) Resort grounds are lovely (pool, beach, hammocks, hot tub) The island is wonderful. The suite is spacious and comfortable. Enjoyable porch area for sitting and eating. Bad: My room was covered in ants. Maint. had to come and spray at 9:30pm and the cleaning service had to clean the ant mounds off the walls and floor corners. It was nasty. Beds could have been much more comfortable. Slim on toiletries & towels. Bring your own. Bathrooms were constantly not working by the pool and in our room. Had to call for service over 3 times in 4 days. There are not iPod hook ups in the rooms as advertised. There are not movie channels as advertised. Service staff is outstandingly incompetent. Do not try to make any special arrangements when paying (ie: paying between 2 parties, pre paying for luncheons, pre paying for drinks at the pool). They can not handle it. The service staff (including front desk) are all teens - likely to keep costs down...this is the reason for the lack of experience in handling advanced travelers or people with higher expectations. We were put in a "second floor" suite (we had our 87 year old grandmother with us). This is really a 3rd floor suite due to the hurricane and flooding architecture (basically the first floor is garage). They knew we had an elderly woman with us and did not offer other accommodations. There is NO ELEVATOR. The food is just OK. Don't eat at the Coconuts Bar by the pool - for the prices, the portions are slim and lack all kinds of extras. (Nachos are served with liquid cheese and tomatoes...NOTHING else). Venture out to the Laughing Cow for dinner - MUCH better food, better proportions and better prices. Have fun "being a local" while you are there. The rooms (at least the 2 bedroom) are NOT like the photos on the website. They do not have granite & are not that bright...serious photo-shopping going on here. As an update to my prior review of organizing and pre paying for a luncheon with the catering contact - it was a disaster. The waitress did not even know that we had pre paid (and therefore they double charged me for the event). They did not have anything pre-prepared for us as i had requested (and paid a premium for). I would recommend heading to the country club (which can be public for a lunch/dinner event) in the future - don't try to organize anything here.

I've been staying on Sanabel since the 1970s. Plus I lived there for eight years. So I know quite a few of the resorts. And now I own timeshare at two Islands resorts. I traded a week that I own elsewhere and stayed at Casa Ybel for one week. I want to share that I felt it did not live up to my expectations. The units lacked any blankets for one in our party who felt cold at night. The units lacked a washer and dryer in the unit, which I am accustomed to. And we did not receive complimentary small boxes of laundry detergent. We shared washers and dryers with many other units. There was no liquid detergent in the kitchen to hand wash anything. Nor was there complementary salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen. The unit completely lacked any boxes of tissues, we had to ask for them along with a second roll of paper towels. We asked that each of these be delivered to the unit but that never happened. While these issues may not seem very significant, other resorts are able to handle these with no problems.

I just want to warn people this resort is not handicapped friendly. When I made my reservation I called the resort and let them know I need a 1st floor suite if they don't have elevators as I can't go up any stairs. We go to check in on Friday and I am told first floor suites are up 2 flights of stairs because they are on the beach. I live in Florida I know you have to build up on the beach but where are the wheelchair ramps? I was told we don't have any. The resort manager did put us in a bigger suite in the residence time share building which was nice but the person at the front desk when I called to discuss the reservation I made should have told me they are not handicapped accessible. The checkin desk is also upstairs when I called from the parking lot asking for assistance the person on the phone said to go up stairs when I told her I couldn't it seemed like an inconvenience for them.

This resort is a time share and many of the current owners are second generation.. it's been through many changes over the years but it's still remains very much old Florida.. what I have seen over the years are many of the renters treat the place like a hotel and not there Home so much of the place gets used hard... It's still one of the best places on Sanibel with the largest beach frontage

Money well spent! Atmosphere was friendly and inviting. Rental unit was second to none. Everything in the unit worked correctly, the unit was very clean, fresh smelling, flatware was not some cheesy bendable junk, plates, bowls, cups, and saucers - not a chip in any of them. Linens were fresh and comfortable. Spent a lot of time on the balcony, which has a GREAT view of the gulf, great view of the well kept lawn, and a screen to protect you from Florida's official state bird. The mosquito! Staff at the Thistle Lodge - professional and courteous. Deanna made sure my family was well taken care of the night we dined at the Thistle Lodge. If you are a steak eater, do yourself a favor and order the Cowboy Rib eye. Pair it with a Cabernet Sauvignon and you may shed a tear or 2 as you enjoy your dinner. Finally, Casa Ybel has several access points to the beach. All access points were a short walk to the beach where the kids were able to collect shells. On our visit to this resort, it was a family friendly atmosphere. The crowd appeared to only included families with children or older couples. Not a resort where you have to worry about your just entering puberty son will catch a glimpse of a half-naked co-ed running around looking for a beer bong.

Let's start with the service tonight: dismissive, pompous and disconnected. The food was laughable. I ordered the lump crab and lobster and scallop dish $40 When the dish arrives at my table I actually laughed. The chef threw a glob of unseasoned and flavorless WHITE rice in the middle of a big plate surrounded by 4 tiny scallops (probably purchased at Publix), The Chef threw dollops of a mashed crab "slush" mixture on top of the cold scallops, Not a piece lobster was to be found on the plate. The Caesar salad was a hunk of old tasting Romaine lettuce, drenched in a no-nothing dressing that overcame everything in it's path. I am still not over the rice clump however. This was our first and LAST experience at Casa Ybel. Save your money and go to Sweet Mellissa's instead - or DQ - both are way better than this tired and wilted restaurant

We had a great stay here during the last week of June. The one bedroom unit (107) with a king bed was very clean and well maintained. The staff was more than kind and was willing to help with anything that was needed. On one occasion I was not able to access our unit and the front desk had maintenance there in minutes. The entire resort is very clean and well appointed. The pool is wonderful and the umbrella and chair service at the beach is worth every penny. Incredible views and very quiet and private setting. A great family destination we would be more than happy to return to.

Early this week, we checked in for a 4 night escape here. We are quite loving it. Our one bedroom suite overlooks a large expanse of Gulf Beach, with some beautiful palm trees in the foreground. We've seen bald headed eagles on the trees, and flocks of giant birds fly by frequently. Our suite has an excellent full kitchen, and it is definitely the kind of place to cook at home. There is a screened in porch with a dining table and chairs. I can't think of a better view to eat dinner to. The pool is immaculately clean, and olympic sized. It is a swimmer's paradise. The water is a good temperature, and you're just steps to the beach. The only downside is that our sheets were a blend. When I was assertive with the management about needing to sleep on cotton sheets, they accommodated. That, to me, is a sign of good management. We also have a nice widescreen tv with a dvd player and free internet here. The beds could be better, but since the rest of the effect is so good, I give it 5 stars.

This is the WORST place ever. If the owners knew how the staff acted they would be appalled. There was only ONE management member a woman who I believe is in charge of the rooms that has any class and knows how to treat people. The rest of the staff Gag! It was so bad that on my wedding night we left at midnight to go home, that was the least of our problems!

By far the best place on the island to stay. The grounds are beautiful. There are tennis courts, shuffleboard, lots of games and DVDs available in the office, bikes for rent, great outside bar and grill, a hot tub, and the only Olympic size swimming pool on the island. Every unit faces the beach. The units are beautifully furnished and updated often. Maintenance is quick to respond if you need something extra like towels, dishwasher soap, etc. The staff is friendly and accommodating. There are always plenty of chairs by the Olympic size pool and the baby pool even during holiday weeks. They even have a special sink outside to wash your shells and a hammock if you feel the need to take a little nap! Pool towels are available to borrow free of charge. Just turn your dirty one in to get a fresh clean one every day. The unit itself has lots of little conveniences like hooks in the lanai to hang up your wet bathing suit and towels. The kitchen is stocked with enough pots, pans, and dishes if you want to cook. Need a bigger pot or extra dishes? Maintenance will bring it to you. Grills are outside if you want to do some grilling for lunch or dinner. Casa Ybel thinks of everything.

I can see why families with small children would love this place...but as a newly married couple on vacation with the in-laws, it really didnt have that "luxury" quality I tend to look for when staying somewhere on vacation. Felt more like a condo time-share than a hotel experience.

So not worth the price. $499 a night and still Charge extra for beach chairs, not ok!For 2 days, staff did not pick bottle of red wine, tequila and Q tip left outside next door room. Restaurant is awful. Showed up for breakfast and was closed, then went for dinner at high end Thistle house, and had to cancel our entree after 45 minute wait and less than stellar appetizers. Go to South seas resort on Captiva!

We attended a wedding of a friend here recently. I wish we would have know about this place before we got married. What a beautiful view and the staff were so nice. The coordinator Tori is the best! What a sweetheart. She made the couple feel so welcome. They were so accomodating to her wedding needs. Check them out and ask for Tori!