For those that have been to HHI and Vero...I have??

[edk35]

Okay I am sure I have asked this over the past 3 years but heck ...I need a refresher.

If you have been to both which did you prefer and why? Also, if you have been to both with kids I would like to hear your opinions about spending a week there. If you went without kids ...did you see a lot of kids/teens at these resorts? Is there enough to do at both resorts for older kids?? Our kids are older, dd 19, ds 16 (a friend his age will be coming) and our youngest son is 11. Our kids are at the ages that they WELCOME SLEEPING IN and LOVE STAYING UP LATE and they love the beach (well the boys do....dd loves the pool more) so missing the park action at WDW will not be hard for them. We are booked for HHI July 18th for a week.


I know that at HHI the beach is a mile away and at Vero the resort is on the beach. I am sure some prefer one to the other for this maybe. So please feel free to chime in with the good, the bad and the ugly.

 

[PinkTink63]

We have not been to HHI, but we have been to VB twice now and plan on going back again this summer. We love it there!

I guess it really depends on what you are looking for in the resort. We go there after we have been at Disney for several days. We get an ocean view room and have had the most spectacular views! It is so nice to sit out on our balcony and have coffee in the morning or pizza in the evening (Orchid Island Pizza-one block away! Yum!) You can also get pizza at the pool.

My son is fifteen and we all love the beach! The coast in Florida is so different from where I live. The water is so warm, you can actually swim in it! My husband and son played in the waves for hours every day. We rented movies at night and listened to the sound of the waves. It is really relaxing there! We bought the unlimited golf and fully took advantage of that and they do have activities available. They have the dive-in on certain nights. They do have a bar with live music. (I think!) We went into town a little bit and plan on a little more exploring this next trip.

If you are looking for action packed...it is not! It is a beautiful and relaxing resort. We met some really nice people and have kept in contact with this wonderful family from Italy! We really enjoy it there!

I'll have to let someone else fill you in about HHI.

 

[gracelrm]

We've been to HH & VB both several times (HH about 5 times and VB 3 or 4). We really like both places so much and when we go to one - we're always a little "guilty" that we're not at the other. DD is currently 16 - she has never done many activities since she was old enough at either resort. DS 13 - has done activities at both (when he was younger) and enjoyed everything he's done. DS 9 also has enjoyed many of the activities geared toward the younger kids. The whole family enjoys biking at Hilton Head - off site dining is wonderful, even though the beach is a bike-ride or drive away - it is a nice beach. We generally have wonderful, family filled, relaxing vacations at HH.

VB is wonderful as well. We generally get two OVIR - connecting so we are sure to have the ocean view. We love the convenience of the beach - but it's not really my favorite beach. The pool is great, the resort is lovely and we also love it there. My kids have never done much of the teen stuff - but that is just their personalities. I think if they ever met someone and hung out with them while they were there - they'd probably participate in more activities.

We generally visit these resorts in October on our Fall Break. HH tends to win out - but only because we drive and it is a shorter drive for us to get to HH. When the kids are grown and DH and I fly - I think you'll see us at VB more!

 

[edk35]

We have not been to HHI, but we have been to VB twice now and plan on going back again this summer. We love it there!

I guess it really depends on what you are looking for in the resort. We go there after we have been at Disney for several days. We get an ocean view room and have had the most spectacular views! It is so nice to sit out on our balcony and have coffee in the morning or pizza in the evening (Orchid Island Pizza-one block away! Yum!) You can also get pizza at the pool.

My son is fifteen and we all love the beach! The coast in Florida is so different from where I live. The water is so warm, you can actually swim in it! My husband and son played in the waves for hours every day. We rented movies at night and listened to the sound of the waves. It is really relaxing there! We bought the unlimited golf and fully took advantage of that and they do have activities available. They have the dive-in on certain nights. They do have a bar with live music. (I think!) We went into town a little bit and plan on a little more exploring this next trip.

If you are looking for action packed...it is not! It is a beautiful and relaxing resort. We met some really nice people and have kept in contact with this wonderful family from Italy! We really enjoy it there!

I'll have to let someone else fill you in about HHI.

I think 3 or 4 days would be nice.
I do want to try Vero one day too. I have heard on here how nice it is to either hit Vero before WDW or at the end of the trip. Personally I would like to try it at the end of a WDW trip.
I am sure we would never do a week there though.

 

[edk35]

We've been to HH & VB both several times (HH about 5 times and VB 3 or 4). We really like both places so much and when we go to one - we're always a little "guilty" that we're not at the other. DD is currently 16 - she has never done many activities since she was old enough at either resort. DS 13 - has done activities at both (when he was younger) and enjoyed everything he's done. DS 9 also has enjoyed many of the activities geared toward the younger kids. The whole family enjoys biking at Hilton Head - off site dining is wonderful, even though the beach is a bike-ride or drive away - it is a nice beach. We generally have wonderful, family filled, relaxing vacations at HH.

VB is wonderful as well. We generally get two OVIR - connecting so we are sure to have the ocean view. We love the convenience of the beach - but it's not really my favorite beach. The pool is great, the resort is lovely and we also love it there. My kids have never done much of the teen stuff - but that is just their personalities. I think if they ever met someone and hung out with them while they were there - they'd probably participate in more activities.

We generally visit these resorts in October on our Fall Break. HH tends to win out - but only because we drive and it is a shorter drive for us to get to HH. When the kids are grown and DH and I fly - I think you'll see us at VB more!

Thanks for the reply. I am sure our kids will have fun at HHI...I guess the only thing that kinda bugs me is the fact that the resort is not beach side. However it seems people do enjoy HHI a lot even with the beach a short distance away. Is it safe/easy to walk from the resort to get something to eat? Could I let the older teens do this? Thanks

 

[Anal Annie]

Looking to book a week at HHI later this week so just tagging along for the ride!! We are VERY concerned about being bored there!! We are trying HHI in order to have a "cheaper" vacation this year and are feeling a reluctance which stems from the uncertainty of having never been to any of the Carolina beaches.

We are used to being on the go all the time on our vacations. Obviously when we go to WDW we are at the parks a lot. When we go to Hawaii we go snorkeling & sightseeing & parasailing etc. When we cruise we go sightseeing, jet skiing, snorkeling & parasailing. When we go to other places like St. John same thing...there is of course beach time at each but not so much all day every day since we break it up with these other activities. We are not a bike riding kind of family...so not sure how this is going to work out for us. We are seriously trying to talk ourselves into this but none of us have a lot of enthusiasm for it and I hope that doesn't ultimately "do us in" with preconceived ideas of being bored... We tried Vero for 3 nights last summer and yes, it was a beautiful resort & very relaxing but MAN!! That whole town rolls up the carpet & closes shop by 9:00 at night. WE are not used to THAT. We often don't even go out for dinner until 8:00!! So we "closed" them all down each night and were the last ones out!! Then we were like "now what"?! Everything was closed!! I certainly hope there's more going on at HHI after 9:00!! That's just too early to go to bed for us!!

(PS) I am REALLY going to miss my Owners Locker on this trip!!

 

[jekjones1558]

Vero is a lovely resort, especially for beach lovers, but those who like to have places to go and things to see outside the resort may be disappointed. HHI has loads of options around the resort and even more within an hour or so drive. If you like to walk out your door and be at the beach, HHI is not the place, however. I had my doubts about HHI before staying there but no more. (We are content with either beach or pool.) I think HHI is DVC's best kept secret (but the word is getting out and rooms are becoming more in demand!) And the CMs at HHI are just amazing!

 

[conciergekelly]

I was worried about the same things about HH. My kids are 19 ,16 and 15. We have been to Vero 3 times and the kids love it. I tried to book HH for my birthday (this summer) and it was full. So we are going back to Vero again. They had so much fun in the rough surf. I was afraid that with the calmer surf at HH, they might be bored. But with kayaking , dolphin watches, fishing the beach I'm sure that they would have fun at HH too. Like gracerlm we book 2 OVIR so we can have some space. The view is heavenly! I also like the fact that they have 2 restaurants and the Green cabin room on site. One day we will try HH. I am sure it is just as wonderful! Have fun at HH.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hey Denise,

Gosh... I don't recall you ever having asked this

You're not going to see the same number of kids at either place as you would a WDW resort, but there are plenty of all ages. There is some nightlife in HHI and the older kids would prefer it I think.

The beach being a mile away makes for a nice bike ride, but typically a trip to the beach will be planned as an excursion and you will need to pack things that you might typically just leave in the room at VB. Since your boys love the beach and DD loves the pool I think VB will offer the scenario of doing both at the same time and hopping back and forth. Plus the room is right there and when mother nature calls it is a lot more comfortable having your room right there.

I don't think you all will be disappointed with either resort.

Good luck, and I don't want to read that you have decided instead to just go to a WDW resort.

 

[Anal Annie]

Good luck, and I don't want to read that you have decided instead to just go to a WDW resort.

He's onto you!!

 

[edk35]

Hey Denise,

Gosh... I don't recall you ever having asked this

You're not going to see the same number of kids at either place as you would a WDW resort, but there are plenty of all ages. There is some nightlife in HHI and the older kids would prefer it I think.

The beach being a mile away makes for a nice bike ride, but typically a trip to the beach will be planned as an excursion and you will need to pack things that you might typically just leave in the room at VB. Since your boys love the beach and DD loves the pool I think VB will offer the scenario of doing both at the same time and hopping back and forth. Plus the room is right there and when mother nature calls it is a lot more comfortable having your room right there.

I don't think you all will be disappointed with either resort.

Good luck, and I don't want to read that you have decided instead to just go to a WDW resort.

LOL You know me too well. Last year ..REMEMBER booked some VERO on cash and then cancelled and just stayed at WDW. Okay well I am booked at HHI this time. I plan on keeping that trip.

 

[edk35]

He's onto you!!

Oh hush LUCY. He should see your emails to me ABOUT YOUR PLANS. You are GETTING WORSE THAN ME WOMAN!!!!!

 

[3pirates]

I just wanted to comment on whomever asked if there were places to eat nearby that the teens could go alone at Hilton Head. Absolutely! HHI sits on a tiny little island that is just across a bridge from a Harbour front shopping and dining area. They could walk there easily and have a choice of numerous places to eat......not much fast food though! If you give them keys to the car, there is access to a limitless number of chain restaurants and fast food places and just about anything else they could want. Hilton Head is a safe area.

At Vero, anything along those lines is a bit farther from the resort, it sits in a more residential area.

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh hush LUCY. He should see your emails to me ABOUT YOUR PLANS. You are GETTING WORSE THAN ME WOMAN!!!!!

Shhhhhh!!

 

[PinkTink63]

I think 3 or 4 days would be nice.
I do want to try Vero one day too. I have heard on here how nice it is to either hit Vero before WDW or at the end of the trip. Personally I would like to try it at the end of a WDW trip.
I am sure we would never do a week there though.

I don't think we would do a full week there either, but 4 or 5 nights after 9 nights at Disney was quite relaxing! We had to rest up before we headed back to Disney for 6 more nights! LOL!

I think we are going to hit US after Vero this year. We haven't been there for a few years.