1BRs at Vero Beach - I want an oceanview!

[beschenbach]

Thanks to all who have convinced me to stay in the 1 bedroom. I do think with our family situation (2 very young kids) it will be smartest to get the extra space. I was able to switch my ressie.

Question for those who have stayed there: What percentage of the 1BR villas have at least a partial ocean view? I called the front desk, and she said there were only two 1BRs that had an ocean view, but she said she couldn't tell me how many partial ocean views there were.

Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting an oceanview? I did not use points, I used cash.

Plus, can you describe what the balcony is like?

I have seen far away pictures of the resort, but I don't know where the 1BRs are located.

If anyone has any pics of the 1BRs, I'd love to see them! beschenbach@yahoo.com

Thanks again!!! I love this board

Bridget

 

[CarolMN]

The only way to "guarantee" an ocean view is to reserve an ocean view room in the Inn. Even then, unless you get a room on an upper floor, you may not hve a view of the ocean due to the dunes.

For the 1 bedroom, about all you can do is request an ocean view and top floor and hope you get lucky. Nearly everyone requests an ocean view and since members are supposed to get priority, as a cash customer, your request will not be at the top of the list. That said, it really depends on what units are available (empty) on the day you check in. I think there are a lot of units with partial views - it seemed to me that every room on an uper floor that had a window on the "sides of the villa buildings", would have a partial ocean view. that's what we had both times we stayed at VB. We had 2 bedroom units both times and paid cash both times. We traveled once in a slow season (11/2001) and once in a busy/peak season (President's weekend in 2002). We were on the second floor once and the third (top) floor once.

Good luck!

 

[vbfamily]

When are you going?

We have gotten our requested room every time we have been there but it was in the inn-an ocean view.

If there are only two with ocean views, I would say your chances are not good.

If an ocean view is important to you make it your number one request on your reservation!

You will have a good time no matter what but don't count on getting an ocean view and don't let it ruin your trip if you don't.

I'm not sure what priority they give member reservations-If a member has a 1br booked they may give their requests more priority. I'm sure someone can say if this is true or not.

We simply could not be without an ocean view at VB so we always book an Inn Ocean View room. I don't want to be looking at a tree when I'm there, I want to sit out on the balcony with my family and watch the activity on the ocean during the day and the moon shining on it at night-the boats with their lights on at night are pretty, too. We were shown a 1br when we were there in October and it was in one of the buildings north of the resort. It had a garden view and my DH and I said that we would have not enjoyed being in this room.

This is just my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

[beschenbach]

Thanks for the info.

Do you know if I can just keep my 1BR reservation, look at the room really quick, and then if I don't like it I can switch to the oceanview Inn room and get a refund of the difference? I will probably call the 800# to verify, just thought I'd ask here.

Bridget

p.s. VBFamily - I always look forward to your replies, you are so helpful about Vero!

 

[vbfamily]

I see my question has been answered about member reservations-they are given priority.

We always stay on the second floor in the inn and are able to see the ocean from our room and I think I read on these boards that they recently trimmed some vegetation near the beach and you can now see the ocean from Shutters-which is the restaurant on the first floor. If your villa is on the first floor you will not be able to see the ocean.

 

[vbfamily]

Well, you could keep your res for the 1br and try and switch to an ocean view if you don't like it but there is no guarantee that you will be able to do this. Would it bother you if you couldn't. I guess that is the question you have to ask-would it bother you if you got the 1br we looked at in October and were looking at some trees and the entrance to the parking garage?

I am not sure that you will be able to get a refund for the difference because you are using the VDV code, right? What if you check in and they tell you they don't have any inn ocean view rooms available with that code anymore-which they could tell you. Then you would be in a 1br with the discount and if there was room to switch they may make you pay full price for the inn room-which would probably be more than what you were paying for the 1br with the discount because it is a very good code.

Did that abover paragraph make any sense to you? Sometimes they only set aside a certain amount of rooms for a code and there may not be any available the day you check in to switch to.

What reasons specifically made you switch to the 1br?

When are you going? Your chances will improve for your requests if you are there at a slow time.

 

[PamOKW]

I think you may be putting too much worry into this. You have decided on the one-bedroom because you have small children and would like the room. How much time will you be spending in the room gazing out the window? While an oceanview is great, it shouldn't stress you out worrying about how to get it and what to do if you don't get it. I'm sure they'll do their best to give you a room with a view. VBfamily mentions a room with a poor view....I don't think there are very many like that so chances are you won't get one of those. The view out the other direction, toward the Indian River is also very beautiful and let's you enjoy fabulous sunsets.

If you are unhappy with your room, they will do their best to accomodate you. There could be a problem of availability and cost to change from the one-bedroom to the Inn but they will probably try to work with you if that's what will make you happy.

 

[beschenbach]

Yes, your post makes perfect sense!

I think it is something I will need to talk over with my hubby to determine what our priority truly is.

The things I love about the 1BR: the washer/dryer in the room, the more "full" kitchen, and the fact that there is a separate area for the young ones to sleep in. Also, the whirlpool tub sounds awesome.

One more question about the 1BR vs. the Inn room - is the size of the balcony double with the 1BR?

I am going April 30th (Wednesday) through May 4th. I do believe that would be a fairly slow time, what do you think?

YOu are going the next week, right? Were you able to use the code? I hope I was able to help you out since you have helped me out!

Bridget

 

[vbfamily]

PamOKW is right-don't put too much worry into it or you won't be happy if you don't get the right thing.

Decide what your number one priority is and book accordingly.

We do laundry up on the 4th floor because we stay in an inn room.

I do believe the balconies on the villas are bigger-from what we saw in October. I'm sure someone can confirm this.

I think we spend an unusual amount of time on our balcony-more so than your average guest so that's why we like the ocean view. We like to sit out there at night while the kids are sleeping or have a snack out there during the day.

We are die hard beach lovers so that is why we have to have the ocean view. I don't want to pretend I know your situation but if any of our suggestions help, then that's good.

We were going to go in May but had to cancel due to a family obligation-we may be able to reschedule if our obligation falls through-if we do that we will be there May 11-17.

I would think the time you are going would be fairly slow because you are past Easter and you are checking in mid-week. Every time we have been there, the weekends have always been the busiest. Sometimes when we check-in on a Monday or Tuesday in late October or early November we feel like we are the only ones there and it's great.


HAVE A GOOD TIME.

 

[hoosiergirl]

I have to agree with PamOKW. The ocean view would be wonderful but how much time will you spend looking out the window? I bet you'd be much happier with the space of the 1BR vs. the view of the Inn room. We've stayed in both and have even stayed in a Gardenview. No matter what the view, we've always had a great time! The thing we like the most about VB is that it is SO relaxing. If I don't have an oceanview from my room, I just go down to the boardwalk and gaze for awhile--I just love being there!

 

[MickeyCrazed]

We paid cash for a one bedroom last November and ended up with a room on the first floor. If I remember correctly, the room number was 1413.
At first I was really disappointed because we had a view of "nothing." (It looked out onto a sidewalk and had dense foliage around it.)
But I soon settled in, and reminded my self that I was there to relax. The ocean was a quick walk away, so I really wasn't "missing anything."
I figured if I had to be on the first floor, I should be glad that I was given this room. The foliage gave us a lot of privacy we wouldn't have had otherwise.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

My guess is that about 1/3 of the 1 bedrooms have a partial ocean view. The villas have three floors, and you'll get a partial view on the third floor. Sometimes on the 2nd floor, but the trees get in the way.

 

[PamOKW]

I hope you can laugh with me......I could give you something else to stress about.....balcony size!

I've been in an oceanview Inn room where the balcony was probably big enough to pitch a tent. You were actually sheltered by being under the eaves. I've also had an oceanview Inn room where the balcony was so small you felt as if you might fall off the edge......but that room itself was actually somewhat bigger inside! So, you could have oceanview big balcony or oceanview small balcony. The rooms are all somewhat different because of the way the Inn is built.

I usually only stay a few nights at Vero so the Inn has been fine but I imagine it is quite luxurious to have the space of the one-bedroom. And if the unthinkable happens (rain), it will be a lot nicer to be in the one-bedroom than in the Inn with the kids.

The first week of May is usually a very nice time of year to visit. Weather should be summerlike and the resort should not be very crowded since you are past the "snowbirds" and ahead of the summer vacation crowds.

 

[beschenbach]

All I can say is that if choosing between a 1BR and an oceanview Inn room, then my life is pretty good

Thanks all for your suggestions! I KNOW that I am going to be happy either way. I think that we will stick with the 1BR, and if I don't have a view of the ocean, then so be it! This is the first time we are getting away for a vacation in about 3 years, so we're just going to relax, enjoy some family bonding time, and have a blast!

Thanks for your input

Bridget

 

[Beth]

Also...

If you stick with the 1BR, but don't get the ocean view, in addition to being able to stand out on the pier and gaze at the ocean from <i>there</i>, you can also walk up to the Green Cabin Room (lounge in main building) and sit/stand out on it's outside eating area - it offers a very nice view, as well...