On the north side of Estero Island, a 10-minute drive from the causeway, Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa has just surfaced from a $60 million renovation. Among the highlights are the unveiling of the new Captiva Villas, a 43-room annex with added meeting space that includes a 3,300-sq-ft ballroom. Other improvements include an expanded spa and updates in the older accommodations. Unlike most in its genre, this operation provides a surprising variety of facilities, though service runs hot and cold. Despite its condominium makeup, it is not immune to Spring Breakers, though families and midsize gatherings predominate the remaining 50 weeks of the year.
The lobby and surrounding lounge will find a giant stylized tree lording over the lounge and well-designed reception area. The varied dining options are a big plus, with selections for every budget. Of the three grills, the whimsical Bongo's, situated beside the pool, is the most casual. Its focus is on fries and burgers. Jojo's provides a similarly relaxed setting, with seating positioned in and around a colorful barge that piques children's interests. More formal dining takes place in Jack's, where the service standards reach their peak. The upscale Continental menu features fresh catch-of-the-day specials, and in the evening, the mood is candlelit and could even be called romantic.
Recreation is also a highlight, with three themed pools, a gym, well-equipped spa for health and beauty treatments, volleyball, a 200-ft-long fishing pier, watersports rental and a superb sugar-sand beach. Adults and children's programs are available throughout the year, and a game room relieves kids of their allowance. Meeting space comprises 5,600 sq ft, with the largest of the 10 rooms accommodating up to 250 people. A business center is on-site, and free parking and complimentary Internet access are nice perks
