Lodging

The small town of Fort Myers Beach is located on Estero Island in southwest Florida and is a very popular vacation destination during the winter months. Many hotels are booked solid months in advance, so we strongly recommend reservations be made well in advance of the Grady Fest. Estero Island is about seven miles long with only one street (Estero Blvd.) servicing the length of the island. Consequently, traffic can be a problem. Fish Tale Marina is located on the south end of the island and easily accessible from Bonita Springs just south of “the beach”. The south half of the beach is generally low traffic, while the northern half of the beach is bumper-to-bumper most hours of the day. Please, come from the South side.

Those Staying at Hotels

**Important things to note– We highly recommend staying on the south end of the Island. Due to traffic, we don’t recommend staying in Ft. Myers or on the North end of the Island of Ft. Myers Beach. The north half of Ft. Myers Beach has very high traffic during the day and getting to GradyFest could turn into a headache. If you stay off the Island, Bonita Beach is a great alternative. It’s a medium-sized city with some modestly priced hotel rooms and it’s not too far from us.

Also, renting a week-long Condo is a great idea if you have a large enough group or are splitting it with another couple.

Fort Myers Beach Hotel Suggestions

Holiday Inn (link) – Phone: (800)690.9350 *Contact: Karla Almost Sold Out!
Dolphin Inn (link) – Phone: (866)936.5746 Sold Out!
Gull Wing Resort (link) – Phone: (239)765.4300
Pointe Estero Resort (link) – Phone: (239)765.1155

We have listed several hotels above that will provide easy access to Fish Tale Marina. The four hotels listed on Fort Myers Beach are located on the south end of the island, rent rooms by the night, and are within walking distance of Fish Tale Marina. While there are other hotels on the island, we recommend these only because of their location and proximity to Fish Tale Marina.

Bonita Springs Hotel Suggestions

Best Western (link) – Phone: (239)949.9400
Hampton Inn (link) – Phone: (239)947.9393
Trianon Hotel (link) – Phone: (800)859.3939
Holiday Inn Express (link) – Phone: (877)319.7666

For those looking for the best rates and don’t mind a short drive (8-10 miles), you might try one of the above hotels in Bonita Springs. Those planning to spend a few days or a week on “the beach”, you may want consider renting a condo which can be more economical, especially if shared by two couples.

Those Staying on Boats

Fish Tale Marina Information

Marina rates and reservation form for dockage is located here.

For those who plan to stay aboard your vessel for the duration of your stay, here is some information about the area. Fish Tale Marina offers ethanol free fuel, power hook-ups, pump-out facilities as well showers and bathroom facilities at the Ship’s Store. The Marina is conveniently located within walking distance of shopping, dining, movie theater, drug store, walk-in medical clinic, golf course, hotels and beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. A free trolley stops at the marina and provides access to the entire island. A 15-minute boat ride through Estero Bay gets you to the Gulf of Mexico through Big Carlos Pass, which has a draw bridge operational from 8am to 7pm. Fish-Tale Marina can be accessed from Estero Bay and the canal entrance is at green channel marker 59. Coordinates for the marina are 26° 24 .843N / 081° 53 .579W. For more information about the Marina, please visit their website. If you have questions any questions, please contact info@gradyfest.com.