What is the best way to get to your destination?

Customers can fly direct to Tampa from London Heathrow or Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Air France, or KLM, followed by a two-hour drive to Fort Myers. Car hire starts at £36 per day or customers can opt for pre-booked transfers.

What are the must-see sights or must-do activities?

• The Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail offers nearly 200 miles of kayaking and is suited for all travellers.
• The Edison & Ford Winter Estates are great for families. They contain a historical museum and botanical garden between the sites of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s winter homes.  
• The Bailey Mathews Shell Museum and Aquarium is another great spot for families.
• The area’s brilliant beaches are suitable for all travellers.
• Another family favourite is Manatee Park – a location for viewing non-captive Florida manatees.
• Downtown Fort Myers is great for indie food and suitable for all travellers. 

What are the accommodation options?

With a host of accommodation options to suit any size of family, Fort Myers has it all. Sundial Beach Resort & Spa offers family accommodation on Sanibel’s best shelling beach, with on-site activities like tennis and pickleball, several pools and four dining spots. For a private space for family, Florida First Class Villas has a portfolio of private sun-soaked villas with their own pools, while Pink Shell Beach Resort sits at the top of the seven mile stretch of Fort Myers Beach with a daily programme of activities, from arts and crafts to nature walks and dolphin adventure tours.

When’s best to visit?

• February: Spring training for the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. Your clients can experience two MLB teams as they warm up ahead of the main season.
• September: The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is a must-visit.
• March: Sanibel Shell Festival sees the “Seashell Capital of the World” light up with its annual festival.
• Autumn: Visitors can enjoy quieter beaches through autumn, before the Snowbirds fly in. 

How is Hurricane Ian recovery going? 

The Fort Myers community has shown remarkable resilience since Hurricane Ian, with a substantial clean up in its aftermath meaning most businesses are now back up and running and 84% of the beds that were available pre-hurricane are now available. There are still visible signs of its power, including empty plots where properties on Fort Myers beach were washed away and the skeleton of the once famous pier, while on the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva – which bore the brunt of damage – there has still been extensive renovation work taking place this year, with several properties only reopening this season for the first time since 2022. An extensive programme of beach regeneration has also been underway with 1m cubic yards of sand dredged from the Gulf to build up Fort Myers Beach and mangrove replanting initiatives taking place across Sanibel and Captiva. Fort Myers is thriving and open for business, building back stronger and determined to show visitors just why it is Florida’s hidden gem.

How long should visitors stay?

• Single centre: 7-10 days to make the most of the beaches and relaxation available across the destination’s Islands, beaches and neighbourhoods.
• Multi-centre: 4-5 nights to switch off after the excitement of the parks in Orlando or other areas of Florida. Fort Myers is only a three-hour drive from Orlando, and two from Tampa. 

What tools can agents use?

Images Travel trade resources Virtual destination guide Fact sheet

Where can agents find out more?

Fort Myers homepage Fort Myers training programme

Trade team contacts

Name: Lucy Bairstow
Job title: Associate vice president 
Email address: fortmyers@finnpartners.com  

Social media channels

Facebook: @visitfortmyers

Instagram: @visitfortmyers

YouTube: @ftmyerssanibel

TikTok: @visitfortmyers