As relatively new Florida residents (we have been Floridians for 3 years now) we are still enjoying our exploration of the wonders of our new home state. We have wanted to visit the South Gulf side of Florida and we decided to spend a long weekend at the Holiday Inn Sunset Cove on Marco Island. We were amazed by the incredible value and quality of this Holiday Inn Vacation Club! Here are our top 5 reasons we know you’ll love this resort too:
Beautiful & Spacious Accommodations
When researching available lodging in the Marco Island area we were immediately drawn to Sunset Cove as it is an all suite or villa resort. Each villa features 3 bedrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, washer/dryer and furnished patio or balcony.
Believe me when I say that I was literally stunned at the beauty and modern appearance of our 3 bedroom suite when we arrived. Two bedrooms had king size beds and one bedroom had two twins; each villa can comfortably sleep 8. I have stayed at a variety of Holiday Inn hotels which are traditionally known for their value and standard quality. This resort location exceeds the standard the hotel chain has established and is notably a cut above the rest, rivaling some of the 4 and 5 star hotels we have stayed at in the past.
The decor was contemporary but still comfortable and practical for a traveling family. Our girls loved having their own space and since we were homeschooling/working while traveling the villa provided us more than enough space for us to spread out during work/school times.
Esplanade shops and fine dining on the waterfront, only a 4 minute walk from the hotel
Location
Holiday Inn Sunset Cove is located on Marco Island, just about 20-30 minutes from the swanky Naples area. It is easily accessible to major highways and within walking distance from some of the best dining and shopping on Marco Island; the Tuscan inspired Esplanade is a 4-5 minute walk from the hotel! In addition to this there is a Winn Dixie located adjacent to the hotel that makes for easy stocking of your villa during your stay.
Amenities
The resort property is not elaborate but it provides the basics for a comfortable vacation home base. There is a zero entry pool and patio with loungers and a relaxing view of Smokehouse Bay waterway. Basics like parking and WiFi are complimentary and there is a fitness center as well as club room with internet ready computers, televisions and a game room area.
Club house with game room and internet stations
In addition to these on-property amenities the resort makes it easy for guests to visit the area by providing a complimentary shuttle to and from the local Marco Island beaches! We used the shuttle one day to visit South Marco beach and arranging drop off and pick up was very easy; there are 2-3 beaches about 5-7 minutes from the hotel and we did not have to wait long at all for our pick up from the beach at the end of the day.
The resort also provides beach gear for its guests including chairs, coolers (in THREE sizes!) , sand toys, boogie boards and umbrellas (for rental $10 per umbrella for entire stay). The loaned gear was in good shape and definitely made our trip easier as we did not have to bring our own from home.
Staff
The staff members at the resort are friendly and accommodating. We found them very helpful in providing tips, helping us figure out where to grab dinner and handling any issue that arose. Each staff member was patient and genuinely interested in our family and helping us have the best stay possible.
South Marco Island Beach, a 5 minute drive from the hotel
Activities
The Gulf Coast of Florida offers many exciting opportunities for fun and learning with the whole family. Eco tours are popular in this area with dolphin, whale and manatee watching trips. Fishing charters, shelling and Everglades tours are also popular here. Naples is not far away, offering upscale shopping and dining, a lovely zoo, children’s museum and much more. You can easily spend a couple weeks here and not run out of things to do!
Beautiful beach and campgrounds at Delnor Wiggins State Park
These are just 5 of the reasons our stay at the Holiday Inn Sunset Cove was so enjoyable. If you are planning a trip to the Southern gulf coast of Florida you must consider planning a stay at Sunset Cove. It offers an incredible value for a wonderful, comfortable stay and is perfect for families of any size. We have added it to our list of favorite places to visit in our new home state and will certainly be back.
Have any of you been to visit Marco Island, FL?
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