Vero Beach or Anna Maria Island?

[ceecee]

I was hoping to be able to get Disney's Vero Beach Resort but waited too long and it's booked. So now it's either another hotel or maybe try Anna Maria Island. Has anyone stayed at either and any opinions are appreciated.

 

[Darcy03231]

DD and her fiancé really like the Driftwood Inn at Vero Beach. They've been several times and have only had positive things to say about it.

 

[debster812]

My son's soccer team played in a tournament in Bradenton over the 1st weekend of December. We stayed on Longboat Key (just a bit south of Anna Maria) and we LOVED the area. We stayed at the Hilton Longboat Key, on a very good tournament deal, I think it's a bit more expensive now, and we loved it.

 

[Pembo]

I love AMI however not a lot of hotels beachfront if that is what you are looking for.

 

[Shannon G]

I've never been to Vero, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Anna Maria Island. Look into renting a house - that's what we have done both times we vacationed there. While we weren't on the beach, we were within a very short walk to the beach both times. I like staying in the town of Anna Maria, on the northern end of the island - it's a bit quieter, yet everything is still very close (I think the island is only 7 miles long). We drove through Longboat Key, and I did no care for the atmosphere there - it seemed a bit more formal and stuffy than Anna Maria. Anna Maria is definitely a laid back, flip flops & shorts type of place.

 

[swilshire]

We enjoyed our trip to Disney Vero Beach, but much prefer the Gulf coast of Florida. There really isn't much to do in the Vero Beach area.

Sheila

 

[TnTWalter]

Here's a blog I did after a vacation in 2009 so you can see the beaches, etc.
http://waltersvisitami.blogspot.com/

not been to Vero Beach but been to many Gulf Beaches. AMI is a great family town.