# Lani Kai Island Resorts on Fort Myers Beach Is The Perfect Florida Beach Resort *By James Hills — Updated April 2026* Las fall I spend five weeks traveling around south Florida and I stayed in a wide spectrum of properties from exclusive luxury beach resorts to contemporary business hotels but I didn't expect Lani Kai Island Resort to be my favorite spot. While anyone can build a fancy resort with the toppest of top tier amenities, it takes something special to develop a beach resort that captures the soul of the community and entices visitors to return - generation after generation. ***This post was written before the arrival of Hurricane Ian in 2022. We look forward to returning to celebrate the reopening of Lani Kai as as soon as that becomes possible again.*** When I first saw [Lani Kai Island Resort](https://lanikaiislandresort.com/), I wasn't sure what to expect honestly. It looks like a fun place but compared to newer properties ... well .. it looks old. That isn't to say that it wasn't well maintained or clean ... it's just that we have that bias sometimes and this property is approaching 50 years of operation.  ### How to Plan a Caribbean Golf Trip That Will Make The Guys That Didn't Join You Jealous Planning a Caribbean guys golf trip: which courses justify the flight, what all-inclusive covers, and how to keep a mixed-handicap group happy. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/YT6WNG16U2sNRdsbSC0DAA.2156) ### A. Erazo From Las Verandas Shares Why Men Love Roatán for a Caribbean Guys Trip A. Erazo of Las Verandas on planning a Roatán guys trip: villas over hotel rooms, Black Pearl golf, sunrise fishing charters and what first timers get wrong. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/YT6WNG16U2sNRdsbSC0DAA.2155) ### Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Immerse yourself in nature and ancient Maya history at our truly unique all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. ResortsSandos [Book with Flow Voyages](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/YT6WNG16U2sNRdsbSC0DAA.2151) ### Las Verandas Hotel and Villas Come stay at the unique Las Verandas Hotel and Villas! Experience the beautiful beaches of Roatan, Honduras, along with exceptional amenities, including an 18-hole golf course. ResortsLas Verandas [Book with Flow Voyages](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/YT6WNG16U2sNRdsbSC0DAA.2149) Promoted by FlowAds It opened in 1977 and is one of the oldest beach resorts on Fort Myers Beach. After parking and heading up to our room though, I was very pleasantly surprised. Rooms have been recently renovated and while the bathroom was a bit dated, the important thing is that everything was clean and well maintained. That ... and the AC, WiFi, and TV all worked great! ## Man Gear Pick of the Month September's Pick Amazon (affiliate) ### Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one. 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However, don't expect it to be a quiet [romantic getaway](https://coupleplaces.com/).  During the week though, things were much quieter but Lani Kai is a party resort.  Over nearly five decades the resort has added an eclectic mixture of restaurants and bars. Today there are two rooftop restaurants overlooking the beach that are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as several ground-level beach bars and food stands. They are the only resort on Fort Myers Beach to offer bar-to-beach service as well. There is also a club with rock bands and karaoke music depending on the nights as well.  One of the surprising things we discovered here was the Island View Italian restaurant. While I was expecting pizza and frozen drinks here at Lani Kai, I was not expecting an authentic Italian restaurant with giant portions of fabulously prepared favorites like chicken parmigiana while being serenaded by a singer (Sea Reid) belting out big band, oldies, and jazz hits while wearing an eye catching sequined dinner jacket. This was an experience I would expect in Chicago or Cleveland but not in Florida but we absolutely loved it. When it comes to location, Lani Kai is in a perfect spot not far from the bridge and an easy walk to pretty much all of the beach bars and popular restaurants. While there's honestly plenty of options right in the resort itself ... it's always good to explore. Directly across from Lani Kai is CLOSED: Edelweiss Burger run by an Austrian couple where you can find some unique twists one classic beach fair as well as a few tastes of Austria as well. You can also get some great jello shots while waiting for your food to arrive and so frankly I couldn't tell you if my burger was really that good ... or if the shots were just really nice and strong! While they have several very interesting burger creations, "when in Rome!" so I had to try the Floridian Orange burger. This featured an Angus Beef Patty, on a Brioche Bun with Asiago and Mozzarella Cheese, Vodka Infused Orange Jam, Chocolate Chips, and Chili Flakes. Yeah that might sound sorta weird but it was really good! You can also create your own masterpiece from an extensive list of ingredients ranging from Brie to Peanut Butter and Coleslaw to Ghost Pepper Cheese.  One thing you will find while strolling the beachfront bars here is that there are some fantastic happy hour drink and appetizer specials. You will also want to get an order of Fort Myers Beach Bread while you are here too. We tried it at The Cottage at Shucker's along with some fresh oysters and $3 domestic beer bottles and it was pretty darn good. This local specialty is found at pretty much every restaurant and each one claims that they were the original ones to create the cheese topped bread with garlic and tomatoes.  Back at Lani Kai though, make sure to not miss the sunsets and they are always better with a drink in your hand.  Lani Kai Island Resort is hands down the most fun I've had at any beach resort in Florida. While I've stayed at ultra-exclusive luxury properties, none can match the sense of "come as you are ... as long as you're prepared to have fun!" spirit that you'll find here. This is something special and uniquely Florida. Lani Kai is going strong after 45 years and many of the guests that we met had been coming back for years, including one that started coming with his family as a kid and is now taking his family to share in the experience. I can't wait to come back again myself! 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[Contact Flow Voyages](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/1PbUG3p5EzS3zRILplMiFA.617) Promoted by FlowAds Details Written by: James Hills Last Updated: 02 April 2026 ### 🚢Ready To Book A Vacation? Let us help you plan a cruise, all-inclusive resort, or tour for your next guys trip, family vacation, or romantic getaway. Click here to [**Book Your Next Vacation**](https://www.mantripping.com/vacation-planning.html). #### Which Style Of Amazon Cruise Should You Pick To Explore World's Largest River? 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