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We are considering trying one of these resorts next summer once school is let out (late May/early June) instead of going to WDW to have a Disney touch, but at a cheaper price. Any recommendations on one more than the other? Share everything & anything as we've never been to either nor been to the area. Boys will be 5.5 & 8.5 when we are thinking of going. TIA!
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I've never been to Vero Beach.
I go to HHI every May or June. (We own a timeshare there). Weather and water is great then and it isn't busy on the island like it will be in the summer.
We've been to both, and love both, but they do have some significant differences.
1. Water temps - HHI gets to be more like bath water by summer (it's COLD in March, as we learned the time we went for Spring Break). But Vero? It was numbingly cold in AUGUST!
2. Water clarity/color - HHI isn't super clear, unless you're close to shore. And it isn't a tropical color. Definitely more like mid-Atlantic ocean. Vero is a beautiful green/blue, and more crystal clear.
3. Drop off - when we went to Vero, we were shocked at how fast the beach drops off and the water gets DEEP. At HHI, one of the things we always loved was how far out you can go, and still only be waist-deep. That does change a bit with tides, but it is relatively flat with a sand bar a good ways from shore, allowing you to really enjoy more ocean - especially with kids.
4. Ease of walking on the sand - HHI has HARD sand, and I mean that in a good way. It is so packed down, that it's easy to walk on, run on, bike on, etc. Vero is the looser sand, giving quite a work out.
5. Ease of getting to the beach - Vero Beach resort is right on the ocean. So you leave your room and can walk straight on to the beach. HHI resort is on the water, but it's on Broad Creek (a very wide body of water, that depending on tide is nothing but marsh grass, or is deep water). You have to go about a mile to get to the beach/ocean. HHI runs a shuttle to take you, you can drive your own car, or it's a great bike ride (bikes can be rented right at the resort). There is then a "beach house" on the beach, with parking, another pool, a quick service restaurant, and the beach area.
6. Beach size - Vero Beach's beach area is pretty narrow, and not all that long. HHI is WIDE!!! And, although Disney's beach area isn't super long, it's certainly big enough, and then it goes on for MILES and again, makes for great beach biking.
7. "Extras"
- Vero has mini-golf as part of the DVC resort; HHI has many mini-golf places to choose from, but they aren't part of the resort.
- HHI has lots of daily activities, like painting t-shirts with a dead fish (we LOVE our fish shirts we made!!!), making mugs, pillows, etc. I recall DD doing a paper airplane activity at Vero.
- HHI has this great "character" named B'Lou Crabbe, who tells stories about the low country around HHI. And best of all, he's the caretaker for Shadow, the resort's golden retriever!!! That's unique to HHI. We have pics of our kids with Shadow going back 10 years I think. They LOVE Shadow!
- Vero has a SPA!
8. Food options - Vero has sit-down restaurants on property (although we didn't love them, and thought they were VERY overpriced. Vero has an EXCELLENT pool-side quick service place, that had some of the best options I've seen at a Disney resort. And, they have DOLE WHIP!!! HHI has a quick service at the main resort, for breakfast and lunch, and then another at the beach for lunch. You can walk to restaurants in Shelter Cover at HHI (although our favorite restaurants in Hilton Head are a short drive away). We found two EXCELLENT restaurants a short drive from Vero - one was called Squid Lips, which DD still finds hilarious, and another was a FANTASTIC Cuban place. We've talked about going back to Vero just to eat there again! It was that good.
9. Set up - HHI is spread out across a pretty big piece of property, and has individual buildings with usually 4 villas in each. The bottom level is open (as required by building codes in SC), and then there are 2 units on the 2nd floor, and another 2 on the third. The exception to this is the main lodge, which has a few more units, as well as a "den" where there are activities, storytelling, a pool table, etc. Vero looks more like condos, with the exception of the grand villa units, which are RIGHT on the beach, and look like cute little beach houses.
Hopefully that gives you some idea of the two. As I said, we love both, although HHI is closest to our hearts, as we've gone there annually for about 10 years, and it's one of our home resorts. We're spending Thanksgiving there this year. Many of the CM's have been there as long as we've been going, so that's fun, too!
Good luck choosing - and let me know if I can answer any other questions, Kelly!
HHI will probably be the tougher one of the two to book. Many schools in that part of the south are done with classes in early May. That will drive up demand for May / June reservations.
Also 80% of the rooms at HHI are dedicated Two Bedroom villas + Grand Villas. If you're hoping to get a Studio or One bedroom anytime, it can be particularly tough. There are only 21 Studios and 21 1Bs in the entire resort.
We've been to both Vero and HHI. Both have their charms. No major reasons to not recommend either one. But availability may help make the decision for you.
HHI will probably be the tougher one of the two to book. Many schools in that part of the south are done with classes in early May. That will drive up demand for May / June reservations.
Also 80% of the rooms at HHI are dedicated Two Bedroom villas + Grand Villas. If you're hoping to get a Studio or One bedroom anytime, it can be particularly tough. There are only 21 Studios and 21 1Bs in the entire resort.
We've been to both Vero and HHI. Both have their charms. No major reasons to not recommend either one. But availability may help make the decision for you.
Good luck.
That is true. HHI used to be a hidden gem when we first started going there, and now it can be hard any time of the year to get a reservation, especially if you have to wait for the 7 month window.
I tried to get something for next weekend, and there is nothing - studio, 1 or 2 bedroom, or a grand villa!!
Thank you so much Colleen! All of that information was fantastic. It really sounds like we can't go wrong and it might end up being what we can get at 7 months.
Thank you so much Colleen! All of that information was fantastic. It really sounds like we can't go wrong and it might end up being what we can get at 7 months.
You're very welcome! (I was actually quite proud of the list/comparisson I came up with! ) And : you can't go wrong with either - and should try both at some point! I'd happily run off to either place right now!
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: you can't go wrong with either - and should try both at some point! I'd happily run off to either place right now!
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