Windward Passage Resort - Ft. Myers Beach

[jfitz]

JLB, forgive me for taking your statement "but if you want to go anywhere, at some times of the day, you're screwed" as being a negative comment on the area where Pink Shell and WPR are located compared to areas further South and East on Estero. I took it that you were saying there is more difficulty with traffic when exiting the island from that side of Estero Blvd than there is when exiting from the southern/eastern side. Traffic delays at the left turn leading under the bridge to the jughandle, you can't take a left directly onto the bridge, are trivial compared to the backup of cars heading North/West onto the bridge.

I now realize now that by anywhere you didn't mean visiting Sanibel/Captiva, the Outlet Malls in Fort Myers, some of the historic sights such as the Ford/Edison complex, taking in a concert or show at the Barbara Mann, taking in the various weekend events in downtown Fort Myers or attending a ball game. All things that are far more convenient to do from the WPR / Pink Shell area than from further south/east where you either have to fight traffic all the way north/west on Estero or go all the way south and pick up the Tamiami Trail in Bonita Beach, then come all the way back up, again in heavy traffic.

Certainly many, if not most, of the resorts on Estero are nicer and newer than WPR, but few have a better location if you are going to do a little exploring. The area offers an easy on and off the bridge and is a short walk to the activity in Times Square. If all you intend to do is lay on the beach and let sand gravity take effect, perhaps go out to eat at the closest restaurant, it doesn't really matter where on Estero you are located, at least not until you have to fight your way back to RSW.

 

[JLB]

In a nutshell, SW FL is not at all like it used to be 30 years ago.

But still nicer today than most areas are today.

There are many areas of heavy traffic and noise pollution.

So try to pick the ones that are least congested.

And plot your exit route appropriately.

 

[JLB]

And to show how these things go when you are dealing with an audience the size of the entire Internet universe, not long ago someone posted how much they really enjoyed Golf Villas, long the bottom of the SW FL TS world, and having only a 4.64 TUG rating.

So, whatever the masses generally agree to, there will be some skewed to either end.

 

[JLB]

To fully appreciate this post, I would recommend reading this entire thread first.
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As thing sometimes work out, I find it interesting that we will be setting foot on this resort January 5, and keep our 8 feet set on it for an entire week.

It's not Morritt's Grand on Grand Cayman (what we had to cancel), but, amazingly, it was available at exactly the time we needed something that would work with our already-confirmed plane reservations into Orlando, and the following week at Manasota Key.

I had not seen anything other than stuff like Lehigh or Charlotte Harbor for SW FL for several months, and then WPR was there the one day we had to have something.

Kinda funny how things work out, isn't it? :rofl:

Now we can visit Rapmarks and Conch Man (& Conch Woman).

 

[jlwquilter]

To fully appreciate this post, I would recommend reading this entire thread first.
- - - - - -
As thing sometimes work out, I find it interesting that we will be setting foot on this resort January 5, and keep our 8 feet set on it for an entire week.

It's not Morritt's Grand on Grand Cayman (what we had to cancel), but, amazingly, it was available at exactly the time we needed something that would work with our already-confirmed plane reservations into Orlando, and the following week at Manasota Key.

I had not seen anything other than stuff like Lehigh or Charlotte Harbor for SW FL for several months, and then WPR was there the one day we had to have something.

Kinda funny how things work out, isn't it? :rofl:

Now we can visit Rapmarks and Conch Man (& Conch Woman).

Yep, funny how things work out. I knew where you were staying from your other post, having started this thread here. I seriously look forward to your review.

 

[MILOIOWA]

Yep, funny how things work out. I knew where you were staying from your other post, having started this thread here. I seriously look forward to your review.

JWquilter--I see you are from West Palm Beach. The wife and I will be there starting Jan. 4th for a week.(palm beach shores actually-ocean pointe) any suggestions on must-see's? Also, in case I dont make plans to drive to the west coast to play golf with JLB what is the best/cheapest golf near singer island?

 

[theo]

Even funnier than you may realize.....

Re: >> To fully appreciate this post, I would recommend reading this entire thread first..... Kinda funny how things work out, isn't it? :rofl: <<
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JLB:
I'm the very person who originally challenged your description of this resort as "mediocre" (and later, "sub-mediocre") without your actually having ever stayed there. Sometimes things go full circle........

I sold my "float" week at WPR, after reserving my 2008 week (week 1, beginning January 5, 2008). The woman who bought my week and to whom I transferred that 2008 reservation informed me that she decided to bank that week with RCI, since she has other committments. I'm willing to bet (I can likely even find the exact unit number in my files, although likely neither of us cares) that YOU have now picked up this very same week. Funny how things go -- sub-mediocre yesterday, staying there tomorrow.

I STILL think you'll find the place well above "mediocre", particularly now that you're actually going to set foot on the premises for an informed evaluation. Out of the Times Square madness, walking distance to the state park, beach on site, cold beer and oysters at the Smokin'Oyster. But as you already know, forget about getting anywhere on the island driving.

Enjoy --- and come back and admit to all that you were WRONG!

 

[rapmarks]

And to show how these things go when you are dealing with an audience the size of the entire Internet universe, not long ago someone posted how much they really enjoyed Golf Villas, long the bottom of the SW FL TS world, and having only a 4.64 TUG rating.

So, whatever the masses generally agree to, there will be some skewed to either end.

First, I must comment on those Golf Villas. I tried my hardest to find them this winter, and had no luck.
The golf course is now closed down. the one complex I though might have been them had no sign, no pace to check in, etc. So where in the heck are they?

Now that I know JLB is staying there this January, I still don't know if I want to face that awful traffic to get there.
14 years ago, we would drive my daughter and her friend to the resort where they would be picked up in a boat by two young men who were the stepsons of the owners of christmas Mountain (he also managed Windward Passage). These young men lived on the tip of Sanibel Island. The girls would enjoy the day boating and we would fight traffic.

Now that I live there, I fight traffic all the time.
I was so looking forward to the beaches the second half of April when traffic died down, but was put on an antibiotic, and for the first time in my life, got severely sunburned. so i am beach deprived and anxious to get back to Florida.

 

[JLB]

If you mean the crappy unit without a Gulf view, yes, that is the only one that was available!

Having searched this particular search as many times as I have, I know when to put up and when to shut up.

Well . . . maybe not the latter.

Being familar with other mediocre and sub-medicore resorts in SW FL, as well as the better ones, having stayed in or visited most of them, I should be able to evaluate this one with some level of semi-competency.

At least the tatoos parlors and biker babes will be within walking distance.

I believe Rapmarks is already asking for a tee time.

Just guessing, my first visit to the FMB area was probably 1974, and our stay was definitely in a sub medicore little motel, but that was located on a bit of water. We had dolphins visit us on the dock each day. . . . . How they got on the dock I don't know . . . . maybe at high tide. ("Say the magic word, win a hundred dollars." )

I sold my "float" week at WPR, after reserving my 2008 week (week 1, beginning January 5, 2008). The woman who bought my week and to whom I transferred that 2008 reservation informed me that she decided to bank that week with RCI, since she has other committments. I'm willing to bet (I can likely even find the exact unit number in my files, although likely neither of us cares) that YOU have now picked up this very same week.

 

[theo]

No match....

Re: >> If you mean the crappy unit without a Gulf view, yes, that is the only one that was available! <<

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Nope. Mine was a prime Gulf front unit. And as I re-read the ambiguous wording of the new owner's subject email to me, she may actually have rented it out, not deposited it, so I may have been mistaken on that point. "In the bank"
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Re: >> Being familar with other mediocre and sub-medicore resorts in SW FL, as well as the better ones, having stayed in or visited most of them, I should be able to evaluate this one with some level of semi-competency. <<

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I certainly agree --- AFTER you've done more than just walk by....
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RE: >> At least the tatoos parlors and biker babes will be within walking distance.<<

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I don't recall seeing either one during two consecutive weeks at FMB in March (not at Windward Passage, which was closed for renovations at that time). Perhaps I'm just not as observant of such cultural highlights, or perhaps my plebian standards are just plain lower than yours. To each his own, I suppose. I hope you can somehow enjoy yourself anyhow while mingling with us commoners in our mediocre surroundings below your lofty standards.
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