Hilton Head or Vero Beach

[Baileygina]

New to DVC ownership - which beach resort is better and why? We have three teenage sons and like to relax but also like to have things to keep us active at the beach. Hilton Head or Vero? We live in VA so we would drive to HHI and fly to Vero.

 

[ngl]

We are owners at VB and love it there. But we live in FL and it is a 3 hr drive so easy beach getaway for us. Hilton Head is 6 hr drive but really enjoy it up there as well. Our kids are a bit younger (13 and 11) but would say that for teens, my vote would probably be for HH. VB is pretty isolated and more of a sleepy beach town. For us VB is great for a long weekend but wouldn't stay there more than 3 nights (of course we live in FL so maybe from colder climates just being on the beach is nice). HH is not right on beach but we bike to the beach club there and lots of restaurants and activities all around within walking/biking distance.

 

[chalee94]

I prefer HHI.

HHI has a number of great dining options. Lots of golf. Honestly, it might bore teens, though. It is a quiet area - they don't allow really tall buildings and navigating at night can be difficult due to lighting/signage restrictions. I do like the bike rentals and bike paths. It is the anti-Myrtle Beach IMO. (But if I were purchasing at HHI, I'd probably buy a Marriott timeshare week as they have locations right on the coast.)

I have friends who love VB for the sea turtle nesting. But again, I expect it's relatively quiet and might not suit you depending on what you are looking for.

(Noticed you were buying at WDW so edited this part - HHI/VB can be tricky to book for the summer at 7 months but you never know...)

 

[Judique]

How old are the teen boys? Are they old enough to bike off the resort by themselves? My son wasn't much interested in Hilton Head after maybe 14 or so. The rest of us loved it. He's much older and married now and enjoyed a visit with his wife last year.

Vero Beach is lovely but more isolated in one sense than HH.

I own at both and enjoy VB for a few nights at a time, but I easily would do a week at HH.

 

[Stargazer65]

You may want to visit both areas prior to purchasing to get a feel for the areas.

I agree, we visited both for two days each last year. It was helpful. I think I preferred VB, but each has merit.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

When my DSs were teenagers, they still LOVED HHI! But they like to fish, so it's right up their alley. We have not taken them to VB and probably won't. My DH and I did not enjoy VB at all. There is really nothing to do there, and we weren't impressed with the beach. HHI's beach is amazing! It's flat and easy to walk/bike on.

 

[Unclelude]

We just stayed at both... Vero in Dec and Hilton Head in late Jan.

Loved them both. They are different.

First gut reaction was Hilton Head... Seems like there is a bit more to do. It's more 'rustic' if you will.

It's not a typical beach resort. I kinda liked the separate beach house area. Felt more 'old school'.

Won't go long winded... Just my gut reaction.

 

[Stargazer65]

As you can see opinions vary, and why it would be good to try both out. If I didn't want to drive at all, I could find more to do at HHI walking and biking. My only reason for preferring VB is it's a lot different from where we live. We live near the beach in Connecticut, near Mystic and such. Although the landscape at HHI is a lot different than New England, most of the activities and things at HHI are not much different from New England during the summer.

If I was at VB for more than two days, I definitely would want to drive places. There's a lot of state parks for day trips, we are tentatively planning another VB trip to go park hopping during the day, relax at night. Also a split stay there with a drive down to the Keys. It's about an hour shorter drive to the Keys from VB than from WDW.

Although we plan to visit both again, I don't think we are buying at either. We aren't so committed to consistent vacations either place that we need the 11 month advantage.

 

[hhisc16]

New to DVC ownership - which beach resort is better and why? We have three teenage sons and like to relax but also like to have things to keep us active at the beach. Hilton Head or Vero?

Are you driving to either or flying?
Which is closer to you?
We prefer HHI bc it is closer to us and we drive to the resort. We love the cast members and the theming of the resort.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We always walk in the NWR, Pelican Island when we stay in Vero, and the Historic Jungle Trail is good for bicycling. Vero is more quiet and isolated. However, it’s right on the ocean and I love relaxing on my ocean view balcony. It is warmer in February, and I’ve always been able to enjoy the pool at least in January-March. We enjoy going to Port St Lucie for instance to see manatees in winter.

https://visitstlucie.com/can-see-manatee/
HHI has more activities around, and many more restaurants nearby.

We own at both and enjoy them both!

 

[Baileygina]

Are you driving to either or flying?
Which is closer to you?
We prefer HHI bc it is closer to us and we drive to the resort. We love the cast members and the theming of the resort.

We are in VA - would drive to HHI and fly to Vero

 

[Baileygina]

We always walk in the NWR, Pelican Island when we stay in Vero, and the Historic Jungle Trail is good for bicycling. Vero is more quiet and isolated. However, it’s right on the ocean and I love relaxing on my ocean view balcony. It is warmer in February, and I’ve always been able to enjoy the pool at least in January-March. We enjoy going to Port St Lucie for instance to see manatees in winter.

https://visitstlucie.com/can-see-manatee/
HHI has more activities around, and many more restaurants nearby.

We own at both and enjoy them both!

Thanks so much! I'm taking notes

 

[Baileygina]

As you can see opinions vary, and why it would be good to try both out. If I didn't want to drive at all, I could find more to do at HHI walking and biking. My only reason for preferring VB is it's a lot different from where we live. We live near the beach in Connecticut, near Mystic and such. Although the landscape at HHI is a lot different than New England, most of the activities and things at HHI are not much different from New England during the summer.

If I was at VB for more than two days, I definitely would want to drive places. There's a lot of state parks for day trips, we are tentatively planning another VB trip to go park hopping during the day, relax at night. Also a split stay there with a drive down to the Keys. It's about an hour shorter drive to the Keys from VB than from WDW.

Although we plan to visit both again, I don't think we are buying at either. We aren't so committed to consistent vacations either place that we need the 11 month advantage.

Thanks for the details! I wouldn't want to own at either but I know my family would like to use our points somewhere besides WDW. We are in the process of closing on our first DVC contract at the Poly.

 

[Baileygina]

We are owners at VB and love it there. But we live in FL and it is a 3 hr drive so easy beach getaway for us. Hilton Head is 6 hr drive but really enjoy it up there as well. Our kids are a bit younger (13 and 11) but would say that for teens, my vote would probably be for HH. VB is pretty isolated and more of a sleepy beach town. For us VB is great for a long weekend but wouldn't stay there more than 3 nights (of course we live in FL so maybe from colder climates just being on the beach is nice). HH is not right on beach but we bike to the beach club there and lots of restaurants and activities all around within walking/biking distance.

Thanks! Seems like Vero might be a good option to unwind after a WDW trip before flying home.

 

[hhisc16]

We are in VA - would drive to HHI and fly to Vero

Driving to HHI for sure provides more options to go and try different things and more restaurants.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Although I've never stayed at Vero, I get the impression that Vero has more of an ocean-y vibe, while HHI has a more nature-y vibe. And since, as a PP mentioned, there's lots of golf at HHI, and DH LOVES golf, and Melanoma has made him avoiding lots of beach time, we're HHI fans.

 

[Baileygina]

When my DSs were teenagers, they still LOVED HHI! But they like to fish, so it's right up their alley. We have not taken them to VB and probably won't. My DH and I did not enjoy VB at all. There is really nothing to do there, and we weren't impressed with the beach. HHI's beach is amazing! It's flat and easy to walk/bike on.

Thanks, how was the water at HHI?

 

[Baileygina]

How old are the teen boys? Are they old enough to bike off the resort by themselves? My son wasn't much interested in Hilton Head after maybe 14 or so. The rest of us loved it. He's much older and married now and enjoyed a visit with his wife last year.

Vero Beach is lovely but more isolated in one sense than HH.

I own at both and enjoy VB for a few nights at a time, but I easily would do a week at HH.

Yes, they are 12,16,18

 

[Cfabar1]

How do they compare for summer temps? You can read things online, but how do they "feel"? I am guessing Vero might actually be cooler since it is right on the ocean. We have been at Vero many times, but not to HHI DVC.

 

[tidefan]

You can't go wrong either way.