I have gotten so many questions about this, so here it is! I’m going to be reviewing the Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa for you guys and my experience visiting as a single, bride and now mom! Stay tuned for some special offers at the end as well!
I mentioned in my Sanibel & Captiva Travel Guide, as well as my 1 Year Old Travel Tips post, that this was the 3rd time we stayed at this property.
The resort is located in Captiva between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pine Island Sound.
Dating back from 1931, what used to be a collection of fishing cottages now includes 137 units and cottages that vary from standard guest room studios and three-bedroom suites to two and three bedroom historic cottages.
In 2014, when we got engaged we actually toured the property along with a couple of others on the island. When we started comparing properties in regards to cost and value – it was a no brainier for us in choosing Tween. We ultimately felt like it would accommodate our closest 50+ friends and family best, both for our week-long stay and wedding festivities.
Initially, I was a little concerned with planning a destination wedding without being able to be hands on, but the staff made us feel at easy with open and frequent communication.
We found Milissa Sprecher through a google search, who did our engagement and wedding photos and helped recommend vendors since we weren’t from the area as well.
Everything ended up being better than I could have imagined and our wedding was nothing less than perfection, which is a big reason why we will always love coming back to our home away from home!
Accommodations:
Our first two visits we stayed in one of the charming cottages, but opted for a Bayview Suite this time around with Jack!
I think accommodations truly come down to personal preference, but we thoroughly enjoyed both for different reasons.
The cottages were more of an experience. When else do you have your own little historic cottage on vacation? They are absolutely adorable and are steps away from the pools, bay and beach – depending on what you choose.
The cottages we stayed in during the first two years were studio styled, so I would recommend a bigger cottage or suite if you want more space and storage for traveling with a family.
The Bayview Suite was wonderful. Having access to a full kitchen and a separate room made the vacation transition seamless, particularly with sleep. We were able to move the crib from room to room depending on the time of day, so we didn’t have to walk on eggshells or sacrifice time together. Having the kitchen was great for storing breakfast, snacks and pre-made bottles too!
We were also able to watch sunrise from our balcony, or spotting manatees and dolphins with a glass of wine in the afternoons!
If you want the best of both worlds, see if the Jasmin Cottage is available on the bay!
Where To Eat:
There are several options!
Tween Beans: Located right by the pools for your caffeine and ice cream needs! They also sell pool floats, which was a nice surprise!
Oasis Pool Bar: I could sit here all day, every day! Pool chair – check! Great food – check! (my favorite are the grouper tacos) Summer cocktails – check! The servers even come to you when you are lounging and in the pool too. Be on the look out for cocktails on the special menu and Happy Hour!
Crow’s Nest: We love the Crow’s Nest and always dine here a couple of times each visit! The menu is really diverse and the food is always consistently great! We finally got to see the Crab Races for the first time this past visit and is the perfect thing to do as a family!
Old Captiva House: The Old Captiva House isn’t so “old” anymore after its stunningly recent renovation. Dan and I visited before they opened, but were able to look around while we were down there! During our wedding week, we would hit this up for breakfast every morning and for at least 1 fine dining experience. It has always been one of our favorites and can not wait to dine here next time we visit. I’m also obsessed with the wallpaper and might have to hound someone down to find out where it came from!
What To Do:
With Jack being 1, we enjoyed the baby pool, beach, dining and shelling of course!
The years prior, we did paddle boarding, which was so much fun! There are a lot of different options between water activities, water sports, boat rides, island hopping and excursions! There is also a fitness center, tennis courts and a full spa!
Where To Relax:
Everywhere! You can grab a cup of tea, coffee or breakfast and watch sunrise on the bay. There are three pools to choose from and cabanas are available for rent on the beach too. When in doubt, have a glass of wine on your porch, balcony or get out and enjoy the beautiful sunset!
Where To Take Photos:
This might be one of the most “insta-worthy” places on the island! If you are like me and care about this sort of thing – you have endless options here! You have sunrise, sunset, flowers, palms, bay, beach, pools and everything on this property is stunning! The wildlife is incredible as well with all kinds of birds, rabbits, manatees and dolphins. The cottages all have these gorgeous colors, so we enjoyed using them as backdrops too!
Special Offers:
view + leave comments . . .