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Reviews of Tarpon Tale Inn

3 out of 5
Tarpon Tale Inn
367 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 287 out of 364 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 69 out of 364 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 364 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 364 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 364 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.8/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quaint. Quiet. Tucked away.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ingrid

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property had great location! Lighthouse beach was a short walk down the street. The property was nicely cared for on the outside & very clean & quiet on the inside . Joe was super helpful & answered all our questions & had great suggestions for sight seeing . Everything was provided from bikes to shelling equipment . A wonderful place to spend a week !!!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Joe, the owner is amazing. He wants you to have the best vacation ever and he is personally there to make sure it happens. The cottages have everything you need, the beds are extremely comfortable, they are remodeled and beautiful, they have kitchen items and all comforts of home. For the beach, he provides a beach wagon, beach towels, comfortable, beach, chairs, beach umbrella, beach towels, everything you need to have a great time if you she’ll, he has a shelling station in shelling bags to collect your treasures He provided Bikes with helmets to tour the island and to see all the wonderful things Great location by stores and ice cream shop and coffee and restaurant There’s a fire pit at night and swings and hammocks and it’s a wonderful, relaxing place to enjoy the island. We hope to come back soon.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great experiance. Host made it feel like you were staying with a friend. Nice room, very quiet. Well furnished.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A One Of A Kind Sanibel Gem!!
The Tarpon Tale Inn is a unique and charming place to stay while on Sanibel Island. It has been beautifully and lovingly restored after Hurricane Ian, and is so cute, comfortable and clean! Every meticulous detail has been attended to by the owner, Joe, who is so friendly and exceptionally accommodating! The grounds and outdoor ambiance of the inn’s setting are welcoming and lovely. Nestled among palm trees and gorgeous tropical plantings, one can spend a pleasant afternoon outside simply relaxing on the double swing, the hammock, or on your own private patio! Bicycles for exploring the island via its incredible bike trails, along with all the beach equipment you could possibly need are included in your stay. The short walk to Sanibel’s gorgeous beaches makes The Tarpon Tale Inn’s location just perfect for your island paradise getaway. This darling property on amazing Sanibel Island is not to be missed!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leslie

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
So nice to be back visiting Sanibel! Our first time staying here. Beautiful, clean and a short walk to the beach!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

Alexander

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
It’s very hard to understand why it’s that expensive. Everything is good but way out of a normal price for an inn
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vicki

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quiet area. Perfect for biking. Easy walk to beach
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is a very quaint in that it provides a private patio area for each room along with quite a bit of shared space. I never heard the people in the other rooms, so it was very quiet and just a 5 minute walk to the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann-Louise, Oldsmar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Thanks for a good stay! Sanibel is wonderful!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Louise

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love this place! So clean, comfy, well-themed, biked to Lighthouse Beach, used cart to haul excellent quality beach chair, umbrella (all come with room!) , etc to walk under five minutes to private beach, across the street is Tuttles and EmOcean, next door is Lighthouse Surf Shop- all wonderful! The Birdcage Room is quirky, a step UP into the bathroom, a high mattress but worth the climb- the most comfortable mattress, ever! Sanibel is strong- has returned to life and needs YOU! Do have a Hawaiian pizza from Island Pizza- so delicious!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angelika

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fantastic place!
Our stay was fantastic! We got extremely lucky to get the king family room! I think we were probably the first people to stay there after their restoring of the rooms. It was beautiful, spacious and super clean. They have free bicycles to borrow along with beach chairs, umbrellas, a cart, beach towels. The outside had 2 lounge chairs, table with 4 chairs and cushions and grill. I absolutely 💯 % recommend this place. The owner Dawn is super nice, friendly, and helpful. If I could I would give this more than 10 star rating!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Sanibel Support
Absolutely wonderful owners & place!!!!! Owners text us prior to arriving welcoming us & giving directions. When we arrived, Dawn showed us around & explained all that was available (beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, carts, shelling supplies, shell washing station & bikes). Our cute little room was beautifully decorated, clean & comfortable. Very private. Quiet & safe area. We received a text from Joe in the morning thanking us for staying & explaining checkout process. Awesome place with exceptional owners. Highly recommend & we will definitely go back & stay here again!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

PHYLLIS

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tom

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The owner and property are top notch, they have free parking, bicycles, beach chairs and a wagon. It was just too soon to vacation there, from Hurricane Ian. Everything was destroyed and nothing was open, had to leave Island to do anything. But our stay was enjoyable, very peaceful.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Our stay was great at the Tarpon Tale- a cute little place and just up from the beach and across from shopping!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colleen

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place was the best! Everything is new, or looks brand new. Beautiful rooms, everything you need in the kitchen. The bed was super comfortable, I didn’t want to get out of it to go shelling. Everything you need for the beach was provided: wagon, beach chairs, umbrellas, shelling tools, etc. There is even a cleaning station for your shells. And an outside shower, to cool off after your beach day. Super comfortable hammocks in the shade of palm trees. A gas grill was also provided on the property. Loved the bikes, usually you get rickety bikes almost falling apart, but NO these bikes are brand new. Outside lighting was very romantic so you can sit outside and drink a glass of wine on your patio. I’m already planning my next vacation there.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful, charming inn. We will be back.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Albert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A perfect diamond in the rough on Sanibel.
Excellent first time and not last time for certain. Accommodations were excellent, everything you need to stay comfortably with a fully equipped kitchen, large screen TV, cable TV, wifi, comfortable king bed in my unit, reclining sofa, supplied beach chairs, cart, beach towels, outside bbq grill, literary everything you need to stay here for weeks (I wished).only srayed for the night,this time. Joe the owner is great and always available if and when needed. This establishment is definitely a great place to spend time on the island. About a 5 min walk down to the beach.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melanie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and beautiful property and rooms newly done
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kym

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was spacious and well equipped. When we checked in, the owner greeted us, and he was incredibly friendly and helpful. He was also prepared with recommendations on activities, places to eat, etc. In addition to the wonderful room, the property had bicycles and beach equipment available for guests to use. The property was also located conveniently close to the beach, shopping, and plenty of restaurants. We could not have been more pleased with our stay and hope to return!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

cristhian

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It’s near to the beach, they give you stuff so you don’t have to bring your own, the room looks new. They let you use bicycles, 5 min away from a fancy and good restaurant call cielo. I stayed in lighthouse 2
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is a fabulous family run inn. The owners are very personable and enjoyable to talk and very willing to share local knowledge. The units also come with beach chairs, umbrella, and wagon to pull to the beach. Bicycles also available complimentary.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Tarpon Tale Inn was the best experience my husband and I have had on Sanibel Island! Absolutely beautiful facilities! Gorgeous rooms! The service was impeccable and flawless! They communicate so well with you throughout your stay and go above and beyond their call of duty to make sure your stay is heavenly! We will be back soon for sure! Our family and friends will definitely know where to go to experience a relaxing and luxurious getaway! Thank you Tarpon Tale for everything! We can’t wait to see you again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jacquelyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Love Tarpon Tale Inn
We had an excellent 3 night stay at the Lighthouse II room— it was very nicely decorated and with tasteful furnishings. The room has been redone/updated to a more modern beach vibe look (the website’s room photos are outdated). This was a pleasant surprise! The room and bathroom was spotless. Excellent value for our stay with so many amenities, all of which we used! Outdoor shower (which can be used even after check-out if you decide to go to the beach and have a later flight), beach towels, beach umbrella, beach chairs, beach cart, private furnished patio, backyard seating, hammocks, luggage storage (before check-in and after check-out), utensils, tableware, microwave, mini fridge and coffeemaker. The most used amenity were the free bikes! We used these every day since we didn’t have a car rental. To get to farther destinations, we used a local taxi company, Island Taxi, to get around. The Lighthouse Beach park is a 3 min bike ride away, as well as another beach just a 5 min walk away. Joe was super accommodating and even let us keep a copy of a laminated Sanibel seashell guide! The office even has bug spray for guest use— so useful since we used up all our bug repellent wipes. If we return to Sanibel, we will only stay at Tarpon Tale Inn! Thank you Joe, for making our first visit to Sanibel a relaxing and enjoyable one!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas, Bath

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Serena

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay at the Tarpon Tale Inn! Joe, the owner, was very welcoming and asked us each time he saw us if we needed anything. He helped us navigate the area and find what we needed to have an enjoyable time. The room was lovely and clean, parking was close, and the location is ideal for shopping, restaurants, and of course the beach! I also loved that there were bikes to use instead of us having to drive to the beach! We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from Joe on 19 Jun 2023
Thank you Serena, it was a pleasure hosting you! we would love to see you again soon!

10/10 Excellent

Gina, Miami

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
El hotel es muy bueno, y la atención es buena, me sentí muy feliz allí. Muchas gracias.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Our stay in Sanibel
We were greeted as soon as we arrived by a friendly manager. Our parking spot just in front of our cottage was so convenient, There are shops beside and across the street which was so nice. Just a short walk down the street and you are at the beach; actually in 2 directions 2 different beach areas. The room was small but clean & comfy....
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 12 Sept 2022
Thank you, Mark, for taking time to write about your stay with us and the kind words. We are so glad you enjoyed our location and your stay in one of our smaller efficiency units. We look forward to having you with us again in one of the larger studios or cottages. Best wishes,Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Christie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 12 Sept 2022
THANK YOU!We hope to accommodate you again.Best wishes,Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Don

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We love the complimentary bikes for the half mile ride to the lighthouse beach. Only issue are some of bikes have minor problems.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 3 Sept 2022
Thank you, Don,It was great to have you with us again. We always look forward to your return. Thank you for bringing the bikes to our attention. See you next time!Best wishes,Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Edward L

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay in Sanibel, walking distance to the beach and right across the street from my favorite ice cream parlor.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 3 Sept 2022
Thank you for taking time to write about your visit with us. We too love the surrounding village shops. We look forward to your return.Best wishes,Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Extremely private and room was inviting with all necessary amenities. Private beach 5-7 minute walk away. Bicycles and all beach necessities available for use. Amazing ice cream, souvenir, sandwich shop, & breakfast/lunch restaurant within walking distance. Only negative was no pool.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from Sanibeldawn on 15 Aug 2022
Thank you for taking time to write about your stay. We are happy you enjoyed the Inn and the surrounding village shops. We hope to accommodate you again. Best Wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Alina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything is unique and gorgeous, the property owner is awesome and the Inn is Excellent!!! I highly recommend this property 👌and everything around it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Sanibeldawn on 15 Aug 2022
Thank you for the glowing review and kind words. We enjoyed meeting you and helping to make your stay a great one. We hope to see you again. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Otto

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The service provided by Dawn was OUTSTANDING!! Location is ideal and the bikes, towels, grills, and beach chairs being included were above and beyond. I would definitely stay here again
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 3 Aug 2022
Thank you for the kind words and glowing review. We look forward to your return. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Dolores

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Cute& relaxing. 5 min from beach. restaurant across street. They provided beach chairs & umbrella & bikes for riding. So nice & accomodating. Will plan on going back for a longer stay
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 14 Jul 2022
Thank you, Dolores, for taking time to write about your stay with us. We are looking forward to your return. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Claudia, Davie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very happy with this place from the day before check in. Excellent service!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 6 Jul 2022
Thank you ;-)))))! We look forward to your return. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Doug

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
A Hidden Gem!!!
We absolutely loved our stay at the Tarpon Tale. It was very quiet, relaxing, close to the beach, restaurants, and shops. They had all of the amenities needed, including beach stuff. And, Host Dawn, was very accommodating and pleasant. Will definitely be back!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 6 Jul 2022
Thank you, Doug, for the kind words and glowing review. We look forward to accommodating you again. Best wishes, Dawn

6/10 Okay

Ernesto

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Great location BUT
Check in was easy. The location was nice, but the room smelled so bad. It was like cigarette smoke and perfume to hide it. I had to was all my clothes used and not used twice the smell was so much. Bed was super uncomfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 24 Jun 2022
Thank you, Ernesto, for taking time to write about your stay and we appreciate you letting us know. I am sorry we were not aware during your stay that you were not completely happy. We would have loved the opportunity to try and address any issues while you were with us. We are a non-smoking, no pets property. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Louis

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I rarely write reviews but my experience at Tarpon Tale was so enjoyable in so many ways that it deserves one. First, the grounds are well-maintained and reflect the excellent taste of the owners/managers who have created a true tropical retreat in a small space. Secondly, the room was very clean and well-appointed in a coastal vibe that truly felt like an escape. Third, Dawn (the property manager and former owner) is a pleasure to speak with and a wealth of Sanibel knowledge. In summary, I highly recommend this boutique property for a wonderful Sanibel experience.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 3 Jun 2022
Thank you, Louis, for the glowing review and kind words. I truly enjoyed meeting you and helping to make your island vacation feel like home. ;-). We hope to accommodate you and your family again. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristi

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Charles

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location and old Florida feel
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 16 Apr 2022
Thank you! We hope to see you again. Best wishes, Dawn

10/10 Excellent

Josette

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The inn was very charming, just a short walk to the beach, restaurants across the street, bikes were a wonderful benefit, quiet and peaceful and all around great. Our hosts, Dawn and Joe, couldn't have been nicer or more accomodating. We'll definitely be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022
Response from Sanibel Dawn on 11 Apr 2022
Thank you for the kind words and taking time to write about your stay with us. My favorite part of running the Inn is getting the chance to meet new guests. We enjoyed your company and look forward to your return. Best Wishes, Dawn