Last September, we stayed at Shell Island Beach Club (HGVC affiliate) on the eastern tip of Sanibel by the lighthouse, and LOVED IT! It's beachfront, quiet, and nicely furnished. We had a beautiful view of the gulf from our screened in porch, and watched big (but blissfully short!) thunderstorms roll across the water most afternoons/evenings. The path from our unit to the beach lead to great shelling every single day! We'd never been to that part of Florida, so we had a car to explore. We definitely want to go back - and would take any resort on Sanibel or Captiva!