•  Friday 16th February 2024: London to Marco Island, Florida (FL), USA

Afternoon flight from Heathrow direct to Miami, we landed past 9pm, through the immigration quite efficiently, picking up a pre-rent car (open 24/7) to then drive 2 hours directly to Marco Island on the west coast of Florida. Arrived past midnight, the check in was picking up the prepared keys and papers outside the reception, settling quickly in the room to go to sleep within 20minutes.

• Saturday 17th February 2024: Marco Island, Florida (FL), USA

We had our first breakfast at Smith House (good cappuccino, Bennies egg Benedict, avocado omelette, bacon and fruits), we then strolled around the alley to enjoy the many coloured houses.

Short drive to the nearby shops, particularly the Tommy Bahamas of course - no deal though.

Then drive to Tigertail beach, easiest access through the north, $10 car park there for all day until 6pm.

We went for a walk to the lagoon and along the beach going north, large beach with a lot of birds, many photo opportunities.

Returning back to the car early afternoon, we then had a late lunch at the Dolphin Tiki Bar: manly prawns in various dishes.

We then headed back to the motel, enjoying the sunset from its terrace by the canal.

• Sunday 18th February 2024: Marco Island, Florida (FL), USA

Rainy day, so we drove for breakfast at the opening at 8am to Doreen's Cup of Joe. We had crab Bennies, salmon bagel and buttermilk pancakes with a florida orange juice (good but very sweet) and a hot cappuccino (the latter not great unlike the food).

Due to the weather we mostly stayed in the car and drove around the island, visiting slowly while trying to find a nice cappuccino - but everything we find is closed or very slow (30mns for a drink at Starbucks as they prioritised drive-in clients).

So we ended up returning to Smith House for a cappuccino take away drunk in our room. We went out again later in the afternoon to go by the brewery  and the shops nearby. Back late afternoon over our area for a prawn with beans and rice at the Lee Bee Fish, then back to the room for TV binge as the rain has not stop all day.

• Monday 19th February 2024: Marco Island to Sanibel Island, Florida (FL), USA

Awake early at 5am, espresso in the room and later on, drive to Doreen's Cup of Joe for breakfast.

Then, we dropped the room and started our drive to Sanibel with a slight detour to Wholefood at Naples, and at Estero the Miromar outlet.

Then we finalised the drive to sanibel. We dropped our luggages at the Parrot Nest Cottage. We walked the 8 minute walk to the beach, then the light house and then back north along the beach to see more of the upcoming sunset. The weather was clear but still fresh and becoming colder as the night approched. We then drove to our favourite island place for dinner, Doc Ford’s, where we had our favourite prawn’s starter, prawn penne and Mahi Mahi.

• Tuesday 20th February 2024: Sanibel Island, Florida (FL), USA

Early wake up to enjoy the sunrise at the nearby beach, we found a nice cappuccino place on our way back at Magic Bus.

Then breakfast at our lodge from our Whole Food Markets shopping.

We then drove to the J. N. “Ding” Darling preservation centre and had a stroll around the main walks and a drive through the park. Beautiful sights and a large wildlife to discover (spoonbills, bald eagles etc.).

Leaving the park we then decided to drive to Captiva Island. We had a very average meal at the Mucky Duck (no link - avoid the place unless for a quick glance - the beach there is beautiful though), parking nearby at 20$ (not much choice due to the limited spaced.

On our stroll back from the beach we could not resist a cappuccino and a slice of cake at Boops by The Bubble Room. We then stroll back to the beach, walking a bit south with the chairs for the lodge to prep for the sunset in a refreshed air.

Lot of traffic on our way back, mainly due to the tourists or workers on the island for the day - we patiently queue and used the excuse to stop again at Doc Ford’s for dinner for more prawns. 

• Wednesday 21st February 2024: Sanibel Island, Florida (FL), USA

Another early wake up call to watch the sunrise on our nearby beach. We then had a stroll around the south end of the island, stop by the Magic Bus for a cappuccino on the way back and a pause at the lodge to enjoy it.

We decided to return to the beach with our beach chairs and enjoy the place for the day, with lots of birds, scenes, shells to enjoy for photos. Though we decided to enjoy the sunset at Tarpon Bay beach, so we parked at Bailey Trail cap park for free (not really authorised but free compared to the extorsion of the Tarpon Bay car park).

We then had dinner at Doc Ford’s, using the excuse it was just en the ned of the road, trying this time the second bar on the first floor - promising ourselves it was our last visit.

• Thursday 22nd February 2024: Sanibel Island, Florida (FL), USA

Sunrise at our local beach - we could do that every day of the rest of our lives really.. with a cappuccino on our way back at Magic Bus of course..

We decided to return to Captiva, driving north with multiple stops with great points of view on the north side of Captiva, by the beach on the west (marina), inland on the east and the great houses all along the road (straight from entering Captiva until as far north as possible.

Then we pushed as much north as we could - great idea - very private area for retirees with great marina at the very north and at our greatest surprise with lots of manatees.

We had a great discussion with local ladies, then drive to mid-level Captiva for a cappuccino at Boops by The Bubble Room again.

We then drove back to Sanibel for lunch, long line of cars already across the whole island and to the bridge. We stopped at the main shopping centre for a stroll, deciding then to walk to Mudbugs to try a bit of Cajun food – knowing it would be quicker than by car !

We had way too much food there, a nice red beer then prawns of course, another starter we shared (but can’t remember the name) then a main.

As the traffic cleared meanwhile, we drove to the Baliey Tract car park we used the evening before for sunset, this time to make the walk and try to spot wildlife (relatively successful with an aligator and a few birds).

We then walked to Tarpon Bay beach for a nice sunset with a few clouds - so probably the most dramatic sunset we had tat week. We drove back by the very south way, longer but avoided the traffic and drop up nearly directly at home, for a lazy rest for the remaining of the eve.

• Friday 23rd February 2024: Sanibel Island to Miami, Florida (FL), USA

 Last sunrise on our beach, the dolphins were back to say bye. Cappuccino as usual on the way back before we prepared the luggages.

We left at 10am, with a long line of cars getting to the island, we left the island very easily at that time of the day.

Our Sat nav picked the drive north to Miami, unlike on the way in through Naples. We found the AVC photo shop by the airport in Miami but very disappointed with their stock (definitely rather wait for B&H in NYC).

It was a busy drive to south beach of Miami (most direct route – maybe the northern one is easier), we quickly dropped our luggages at the one night hostel before bringing back the car at Alamo but no station on the way and heavy traffic, so dropped with the current tank and Alamo happy to not charged as tank largely filled as is.

We walked back to the hotel (around 30 streets south – 40mns) through the pedestrian path along the beach, that’s a nice walk we did already in similar circumstances a few years back.

Back to the hotel to pick the room at 3pm. Then out to the beach for a walk south to the park and Ocean Drive. later we had a bit of rest at the hotel and out for late lunch/ early dinner – our nice bar from last time was packed and very noisy, nothing great around, found a decent quiet restaurant with a terrace on north of ocean drive – food, drinks and service okay though nothing great to report neither.

Return to the hotel for early night; though the area is quite noisy and drunk teen in the corridor at 5am..

• Saturday 24th February 2024: Miami South Beach, Florida (FL), USA

Sunrise covered by grey sky, so we walk south to Starbucks, then have a photo session of art deco houses on Ocean drive.

We return to the hotel to prep the luggage, dropped at reception to give the room back and walk on Lincoln road - shop strolling and walk to brunch at Yardbird.

We enjoyed cappuccinos, a (large) cinnamon roll ($18) with classic Yardbird Benedict ($25) / and a chicken omelette.

We walked back through Lincoln road. Had a bit of rest on the terrace of the hotel then a Lyft to the airport (30mns ).

No delay at the airport, bumpy flight though, landing at 7am on Sunday, Elizabeth line direct but Uber at Woolwich Arsenal to avoid 25mn bus wait. 

Hope you enjoyed this summary, use the buttons at the top for any question or to reach the full photo gallery about this trip and do not hesitate to look at all our other sets of photos also on ShutterStock/Getty Image or Instagram (also through the buttons and links at the top) !