Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach — Attraction in Fort Myers Beach

I was initially optimistic about my stay at Margaritaville, as I have enjoyed outstanding service at their locations in the past. However, my experience this time has been anything but satisfactory.

Problems started when I noticed a lower rate on the hotel’s website after I had already booked my stay. The team agreed to credit the difference of $277.64 towards my charges during the stay. However, upon checking in on the 5th, I found an additional pending charge of $279, on top of the $600 incidentals deposit processed at check-in. I reached out via email for clarification but received no written explanation. Instead, I got a voicemail asking me to visit the front desk.

When I inquired in person, I was told that my agreed $277.64 credit was noted on my account and would be applied later. However, the only credits visible on my folio were related to a $25 Margaritaville perk and a complimentary virgin piña colada I received from a pool activity ticket. The promised credit was noticeably missing from the printout I reviewed with the front desk staff during my stay.

Checkout day was even more frustrating. I received both a printout and an email version of my folio, yet neither document reflected any of the agreed credits, aside from the complimentary drink and the $25 credit.

With each inquiry about these discrepancies, I was reassured that everything was correct and that my credits would be applied later, but that assurance proved to be false.

After reaching out again on April 15, I received what seemed to be yet another auto-generated folio copy the next day, still matching the documents I had received earlier. The biggest issue was an attached PDF sent by a hotel employee, claiming to clarify the “credits applied.” This document was confusing and contained information that had never been referenced in any of my previous inquiries about the folio charges. It was as if the version reviewed by the team member never existed during our discussions about credited charges.

Overall, the communication throughout my stay was subpar. The in-house team merely reiterated the same information, inaccurately confirming that credits would be applied post-checkout. This led to a frustrating, time-consuming experience. To make matters worse, when I requested clarification on a receipt for a charge listed on my folio, I discovered that the charge was not made by my group. We had not purchased any food from Lah de Dah or consumed any alcohol, both of which were included in the erroneous receipt. This has led me to request copies of all receipts and I’m not looking forward to reviewing them 1x1 to confirm validity but feel it necessary based on how things have gone so far.

In summary, my stay was marred by significant communication failures and persistent billing confusion. I strongly advise future guests to be vigilant about their folio charges to avoid encountering similar frustrations.

4.20.25 updating to add: Update on My Experience

I wanted to provide an update regarding the ongoing issues I've experienced following my recent stay at the resort. While I appreciate that the refund of $87.46 for the charge identified as “incorrect” has been processed, which is helpful, I am still awaiting copies of all other receipts for verification. The failure to provide these documents despite my requests being made twice reflects a troubling lack of commitment to customer service.

Additionally, I have yet to receive an explanation as to why I received two different versions of my folio. The version dated April 16, which was meant to show previously unseen credits, is also missing a date at the bottom, unlike the auto-generated folio received via email.

Moreover, I find it concerning that information regarding how credits would be applied was kept so secretive and never disclosed, even after I raised inquiries. This lack of transparency has only added to my frustration with my overall experience at the resort.

I hope management can address these issues and improve communication for future guests. It’s now 5/1/25...

I am a snowbird and live in the area six months a year. A group of us decided to check out the new kid in town and support the locals. Here are some thoughts both good and bad about my experience.

The bad. Although the resort is beautiful and the food was excellent, there are a few issues that need to be addressed. First, when you approach FMB from the north or south there is no signage to tell you where to turn to get to the resort. If you pass the corner, you are in trouble because there is no place to turn around. Once you do, you will find yourself sitting in traffic to get to back the corner. Look for the overpass bridge and turn north! Second, "Mike" greeted us at the valet and took our luggage for a two day stay. He was excellent and quite friendly. When checking in you will get a wristband and told, that is all you need to get around the resort and pay for items. If you have been to Disney it is supposed to operate like the wristband there. We quickly found out it doesn't when we hit the bar by the pool and ordered some drinks. The band is not accepted to charge to your room, you will need a credit card! Try a cup of coffee at the stand by the bridge, credit card only! Even if you buy something in the retail store you cannot use the band, credit card only! None of the restaurants will accept the band as payment. Basically, the band is useless other than to open the doors. Makes no sense. I made a purchase of a shirt at the retail store. There was a sticker on it proclaiming the SPF benefits. When I tried to peel it off the paper came off but not the glue! My wife returned to the store and picked out another shirt. When she approached the clerk she said, "I don't know how to process a same day return?" "Can you bring it back tomorrow?" What?? Fifteen minutes later another clerk came in and processed the return. When she went to process the new shirt it was "I need a credit card, the bands don't work here!" Ugh.... A few days before the visit I received an email about things to do and available at the resort. Items such as sunset tiki cruises, and golf cart rentals. I asked the young lady at the concierge desk about the golf cart rentals. Her response, "we don't have that!" I showed her on my phone the website where it was and she insisted that I had the wrong resort! It said, "fmbcarts" how could I have the wrong location??When you valet your car you get a text message with a link to call for your call to be pulled up to the door. Guess what? No workie!! I went down 15 minutes later and was told by the valet that the system doesn't work and I needed to show my ticket! I fortunately took a picture of the ticket as suggested by "Mike" when I arrived. All of these are just nuisance items and should be addressed to make the experience a true resort feel like Disney or the "all inclusive" ones in the Caribbean. Also, be aware that all food and beverage tickets will come with a 20% gratuity baked in, you can adjust if necessary.

Okay, now the good part! The staff were friendly and engaging. In addition to "Mike" we had a great experience with "Jeff = aka Captain Chaos" as we sat at the beachfront and pool. Rooms were clean, towels were fluffy, complementary robe and slippers provided. The food at JWB was excellent, I had the stir fry. The resort was exceptionally clean and easy to find things. The pool was a warm 85 and inviting and the local entertainment was above average but a tad loud at the pool. The gas fire pits were excellent and needed as temps were in the 40's overnight. A short walk to what is left of downtown FMB bar scene.

Will I go again, sure. Will my expectations be even higher, yes! Perhaps another month or so and things will get better with more training and technology...

NEVER AGAIN!! This review is coming from a current inmate (guest). In my opinion Jimmy Buffet would probably give this place a 1 star rating if he were here. “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” yeah but not here! At 5 o’clock here is when you get the last call announcement. Yes the pool closes at 6pm well not even, it closes at “sunset” so after waiting til 4pm to check in and figuring out that on top of the nearly $400 per night cost for a basic room, what the $567 worth of additional charges for “incidentals” ($100 per day deposit) plus $40 per day resort fee for what amenities? After getting the kids in the pool being told they have to get out in 30 minutes? Never in my life have I been to a hotel where the pool closes before 9pm!! Standard is usually 10pm every where I’ve travelled. So the fact I had to rush and down the $20 Old Fashioned I ordered with basic bourbon may I mention which is a joke. I know restaurants in Naples that serve Old Fashioneds with Blanton’s for that price. The price I paid for this Mediocre establishment and Mediocre is an over statement. I could have stayed at Naples Grande or somewhere in Marco Island. A few hundred bucks more we could have gone to Ritz Carlton in Naples and any of the above places pool does not close at 5pm with much better amenities. Including a spa and hot tub which this place has neither. What a joke and to top it off when we got back to our room after being here only an hour. My wife took a shower and apparently the steam from the shower set the fire alarm off. According to security this is an ongoing issue due to how small the rooms are and the smoke detector being close to the bathroom. So my children were traumatized from that. If I could get a refund and leave I would but I definitely will not visit this place again and surely I will recommend any other place compared to here. At this point in my opinion I’d recommend Red Roof Inn to this place. Here there is no coffee maker in the room, you can’t use a microwave anywhere to warm up food for your little kids, you’re forced to pay their ridiculous prices like $15 for a bagel or $10 for a coffee. Here you’re told how many towels you’re allowed to have at the pool. You have to go thru airport style security when you go in to the pool. Have your bags checked. Not allowed any type of snacks or beverages at the pool even for a child with allergies and that is also including children sippy cups for babies. The pool police with be after you so leave them in your room and enjoy your time til you’re told you have to get out at 5:45pm. Anyways we’re at 6pm on Day 2 and have to figure out something to do because the kids were just heartbroken again for being told the have to get out of the pool because it’s sunset and it’s closed. So I don’t understand all this nice lighting they have out here but that’s ok it’s kid of a relief to get away from the hundreds of fruit flies flying around here. Never been excited to leave a resort before but at this point we’re debating just losing the nearly $2,000 we spent for 4 nights here and going somewhere else where the kids can enjoy themselves. And I can maybe get a little better sleep seeing as the beds are like sleeping on concrete slabs. Definitely will not return. What a huge disappointment. Definitely has changed my mind on any future M’ville stays as well. They have lost my support totally...