Hilton Head vs Vero

[Renee']

We just returned last week from a few days over at VB. We love it and try to get there at least twice a year even if it's only for a few nights at a time. I had the bright idea yesterday of considering not doing VB at all next year but heading up to HH instead. We live in southern Florida so HH will be much more of a trip than simply driving across the state. For those of you who have visited both which is your favorite and why? How do the two resorts compare?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Excellent question. I also am interested in that.

 

[sgtpet]

Got to love Ft. Myers. I lived there in the mid 70's off of Panther Dr. I am going to HH in 9 days so I will tell you how it is so you can compare.

Is the Mucky Duck still on Captiva Island?

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Well, HH is a wonderful island with lots to do. Although the beach and beach house are seperate from the resort, it is very wide and offers bike riding along the beach which is a blast. There are bike trails all over the island. Rooms seem a bit bigger to me. Two pools instead of one. Restaraunts are available right outside the resort across the bridge. It's quiet, secluded, and wonderfully themed.

there are outlet malls close. Plenty of restaraunts on the Island, it's a resort island. There are local put put courses and similar activities.

If you have a boat, there are docks right alongside of the resort. I don't know the docking arangements. I wonder if you could drive up the intercoastal waterway and reach the resort by boat.

I'm wondering if you'll have trouble getting summer reservations there. One think about HH is that owners with 11 month preferences tend to prefer summer months, making it harder to get in teh 7 month window. The season is somewhat abbreviated.

Our favorite is Vero beacause it is directly on the ocean and has great weather during spring break and possibly during christmas. We also like the Green cabin room and the ability to combine WDW and Vero into one trip. But there are many nice things about HH.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I like being right on the ocean at VB. I love the big Palmetto trees that are on HHI, (at least I think they are Palmettos). If your a golfer you'll HHI. I'm glad we had a car when we were there because the beach house shuttle stopped around 4 or 5 pm,which is way to early IMO. We were also disappointed there was no lounge at the resort, everything is off property. My wife did love the marsh views we had. If your into nature adventures HH has some nice programs.Both resorts make for a very relaxing vacation but I think I'd go with VB more often then HH.

 

[Renee']

Sounds like one drawback with us will be that our room will not be within walking distance of the pool or ocean. We pretty much stay put once we arrive at Vero. Love Sonya's and Shutters (haven't tried the Green Cabin Room yet) but HH sounds more spread out and secluded than VB is. Thanks everyone....food for thought.

Got to love Ft. Myers. I lived there in the mid 70's off of Panther Dr. I am going to HH in 9 days so I will tell you how it is so you can compare.

Believe me you wouldn't recognize it anymore. Panther Drive off of Cypress Lake Dr.? We live about 4 miles from there in an area which used to be (back in the 70's) completely undeveloped and was the local drag strip on Friday/Saturday nights - back behind the airport. FM is exploding with development. Bonita Springs is basically moving both north to FM and south to Naples. It's becoming the western side's Lauderdale.

 

[ripleysmom]

We were able to get a 2BR reservation at HHI for the last week of August this year so I think if you are in the market for a 2 BR and are willing to be flexible then you should be fine.

The ocean and pool are both within walking distance at HHI although my understanding is that it is about a mile. You can also rent bikes to take to the beach and pool house. I get the impression that the distance while sounding big is not really such an issue.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[marley]

We own at HH and have just returned from VB.

HH is a very relaxing place and I love it but I wouldn't choose it as a summer beach vacation. It has a lot to offer and I actually prefer it in September. The beach there is beautiful, but for me to truly enjoy a beach vacation, I want to be within walking distance of the place I am staying and the ocean.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I might be missunderstanding you, you will be within walking distance of one of the pools. There is a pool at the beach house and one on the resort island, for a total of two pools. There is also a kids waater play area at the beach house. I cannot speak to the kids water play area by the villas or the hot tub situation.

We actually thought that if we went to HH we might try renting a beachfront villa instead of staying in DVC. We'd bank our points and maybe try a cruise (although the climing point requirements for a cruise are dissappointing). But that's just us. We'd probably love staying at DVC there.

Actually, that brings up a question, where is there an indoor hot tub within DVC? They showed one on the DVC channel at Vero and I couldn't picture where an indoor hot tub was. HH? OKW?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by ripleysmom
We were able to get a 2BR reservation at HHI for the last week of August this year so I think if you are in the market for a 2 BR and are willing to be flexible then you should be fine.

The ocean and pool are both within walking distance at HHI although my understanding is that it is about a mile. You can also rent bikes to take to the beach and pool house. I get the impression that the distance while sounding big is not really such an issue.

The first 2 weeks of June and the last 1 or 2 weeks of August are not the truly high season and will be easier than mid summer though I'm sure still not that easy to get.

 

[sueg]

This may be the minority voice, but we strongly prefer HH to VB. I love the HH beach, it is worth the minor inconvenience of driving a minute or two & parking is guaranteed! The HH beach is very wide & flat--great for skim boards & sand bikes. We are not big beach people, but we really enjoyed HH over VB. On aug. availability, I just called yesterday & was able to add one nt. to our end of Aug. trip. Try HH--you find out that you like both VB & HH for very different reasons.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Our choice was a seasonal thing, and the warmer weather available suring spring break. We also tend to go back and forth from the pool to the beach, which is fully covered at the HH beach house.

 

[Lisa P.]

I cannot speak to the kids water play area by the villas or the hot tub situation.

HHI's main pool area has a nice hot tub and a kiddie pool with some spouting animals (frogs?) as well as a sandy playground nearby.

...thought that if we went to HH we might try renting a beachfront villa instead of staying in DVC.

You may want to try an exchange (either II or direct with an owner) into Marriott Grande Ocean - lovely HHI resort on the beach!

...where is there an indoor hot tub within DVC? They showed one on the DVC channel at Vero and I couldn't picture where an indoor hot tub was. HH? OKW?

??? Maybe they were showing some of the WDW resort amenities - perhaps available with pool-hopping... DI? Maybe that will be part of the new resort being planned?

Does anyone know anything about the beach at Vero? A post to TUG suggested that there was some recent erosion damage and the beach ramp was closed tonight. Has this ever happened before, since Vero has been open?

 

[CaptainMidnight]

When we were at Vero we were surprised at how fast there was erosion in one week and the changing levels of the sand at teh end of the beach walkway. The sand was covering the end of the boardwalk when we got there and there was a 1 foot drop off when we left. There is a second access walk to the beach that is really from another resort, but that is easily accessed by DVC members. I used it during our last trip a couple of weeks ago. It is all stairs, but it is on the south end of the resort jsut below building 15. There is a nice wide open path to the concrete walkway that leads to the beach stairs. So you can still get to the beach. Public beach access is directly north of the resort, but it is all stars as well.

 

[KarenB]

We were at HH last June and going to VB in a few weeks. I think it will be interesting to see how the 2 compare.

But I think we will find it like all DVC resorts.....they are all different in their own ways, and each has its pros and cons for everyone.

We were SO surprised at how much we loved HH....but at the same time, I think we will be surprised at the beauty of VB. I like the idea of being right on the beach. I love it when we take those spur of the moment walks!!!!!

Karen