About us
An independent guide to Fort Myers and the Gulf Coast
We write the guide we wanted when we first started visiting Lee County — specific, current, and honest about the tradeoffs.
60+
Guides covering Lee County
5
Beaches profiled in depth
8
Hotels reviewed against a fixed rubric
3
Writers and editors on the Gulf Coast
Why we started
Most Fort Myers travel content falls into two camps: tourism-board copy that says everything is wonderful, or aggregator pages assembled by someone who has never crossed the Sanibel Causeway. Neither tells you that beach parking fills before 10am in February, that the Gulf sits at 66°F in January, or that late April is the best week of the entire year to visit.
We started Stay Fort Myers to publish the specifics — real numbers, real tradeoffs, and clear recommendations that name which option is best for which kind of traveller.
Our team
Sarah Mitchell
Senior Travel Writer
Sarah is a Florida native and travel writer who has been exploring the Gulf Coast for over 15 years. She specializes in beach destinations, shelling, and eco-tourism.
Michael Torres
Adventure & Wildlife Editor
Michael is an outdoor adventure enthusiast and wildlife photographer. He leads kayak tours through the mangroves and knows every dolphin in the Gulf by name.
Emily Chen
Food & Dining Editor
Emily is a food and travel writer who moved to Fort Myers for the sunsets and stayed for the seafood. She reviews restaurants and covers local culinary events.
How we stay independent
- We accept no payment for inclusion, ranking, or a favourable review.
- Affiliate links never influence what we recommend. Several properties we rate highly earn us nothing.
- Every hotel and beach review follows the same published rubric — see how we review.
- Corrections are made publicly and the page's updated date is revised.
Frequently asked questions
Who is behind Stay Fort Myers?
Stay Fort Myers is an independent travel publication covering Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Bonita Springs, and the wider Lee County Gulf Coast. It is written and edited by a small team of Florida-based travel writers.
Is Stay Fort Myers an official tourism website?
No. Stay Fort Myers is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with Lee County, the Fort Myers Convention & Visitors Bureau, or any hotel, tour operator, or booking platform.
How does Stay Fort Myers make money?
Through affiliate commissions on hotel and tour bookings and through display advertising. We are never paid to include, exclude, or rank a business, and no business can buy a placement or a rating.