Vero Beach Vs. Hilton Head

[krisk]

For our next trip we want to do a non-park trip. We were thinking of Vero Beach or Hilton Head. Has anyone done both and how do they compare? Otherwise can you give me your adivice on each resort in general?

Thanks!

Kristine K.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

We love HHI alot of things to go for kids. The resort is great. Just one thing to keep in mind the resort is not on the beach You have to drive or take the disney bus about 2 min ride. If you like the beach and want to swimm in the ocean and have small kids This is the place to go. The beach house has a pool and a counter service resturant. the main resort has a fun slide for the kids I like it to. Don't forget the mascout of the resort Shadow a lovey dog. If you want to relaz and have alot of things to do go here Hilton Head Island has a lot to do.

We did VB this year and loved that also. But found if you would like to swimm in the ocean and have small kids not to good. There is a bad rip curent in VB. If you like to pick up sea shells there are 1000nds of them. The resor is very nice. Thay have alot of activities for the kids. The slide is also fun at this resort. There is a small pater play area for smaller kids. A 9 hole golf course to play. There is 2 resturants on site. This is a place to go for some good RR sit by the pool walk the beach go to the campfire. HHI also has a campfire. We didn't leave the resort at all. Most things to do in the area is a short drive away.

With that said we like HHI best. But we will be going to VB for 3 nights after WDW this July for some RR before we go home.

If you have any questions PM me and I will help. You didn't say what time of year you would be going HHI has some cool things to do in the summer time.

look at my Sig that is Shado from HHI

 

[iloveokw]

We love both. What time of the year are you thinking about?

 

[krisk]

We were thinking about summer. Probably in June. We were thinking about HHI because we wanted to drive (from NJ). VB looked so nice though. If we do HHI I just wanted to be sure that there is plenty to do. The bad thing is that they are already out of studios when we were thinking of going. The one bedrooms in June are about 544 points for the week!!! So that would already change the plans!

HELP!!

Kris

 

[simzac]

We were thinking about summer. Probably in June. We were thinking about HHI because we wanted to drive (from NJ). VB looked so nice though. If we do HHI I just wanted to be sure that there is plenty to do. The bad thing is that they are already out of studios when we were thinking of going. The one bedrooms in June are about 544 points for the week!!! So that would already change the plans!

HELP!!

Kris

Based on other threads I've looked at recently, June fills up very fast at HHI, so I advise you to get something reserved ASAP if you really want to go. Good luck.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

Ther are more 2 bedroom in HHI. Also look at staying for Sunday till Friday. there is a days inn just in front of Disney . i stayed there 2 times and got a room for $89 in the summer. This way you save on points. 2 bedroom for 5 nights is 165 points friday points X2 and sat night X3. Or look in to a cash price for Fri & Sat night. There is also a Holiday INN ocean front room are about $120 but resort is ocean front.
As for the drive down we did it this year in 12 hr 30 min with stoping for gas & potty breakes. I come from Exit 14 A NJTP. we drive all night and get ther in time for the welcome home party. We leave NJ at 10:00 pm and have had no trafic on 3 trip we did to HHI. My friend also comes from NJ and leaves at 8:00 pm and had no problems with any delays. One year we went down on Friday night checked in to the Days INN for Sat night $ 89 and on Sunday I woke up at 6:30 am. And checked in to disney resort and thay had a room ready for us. This way you get to use the resort all day sunday - Friday. and on Friday you can still use the resort for the rest of the day.

VB is a much longer drive then HHI. If you fly in to MCO its about 1 1/2 hr to resort. This is what we did this Oct. When we go down in July we will Drive to WDW BCV then drive to VB for some RR. The ride home will be long but we will take our time 2 day or so.
Hope this is a help.

 

[dvc at last !]

It is interesting to read this info.
We are considering doing HHI or VB next year, too !

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Saw this thread at lunch today and really wanted to post, but knew I didn't have time.

The beach resorts are our favorites. They are smaller resorts and the CM's just seemed to be more connected, happy, and involved in a variety of areas. The kids programs at both HHI & VB are wonderful. VB is my personal favorite, but I'll try not to show my bias with trying to point out the differences.

I think the most significant difference is that VB is ocean front and HHI is on the interconnector waterway with an ocean front beach house about a mile and a half away.

If you are a beach lover and enjoy playing in the waves then VB may be the better choice. HHI is relatively calm and shallow wereas VB has significant waves.

On the other hand, if you have young children (< 8) that you want to have on the beach, but don't want to have to tether them to something or watch them every second, then HHI will give you a more relaxing sit on the beach not having to worry about your little one getting clobbard and sucked under by the ocean trolls.

Then again, the beach on HHI is has many, many, many more people on it. If you are thinking about going in June then expect to share the beach with thousands of other people. At VB to have a hundred people on the beach would be a very active day.

I am a wildlife lover and both resorts offer abundant wildlife. I think perhaps the wildlife is closer to you and of a little greater variety at HHI because of the marsh land that comes up to the resort. Though if sea turtles are of interest the VB are is about the most active area on the US east coast.

Both resorts are great for biking. HHI is pretty spread out and it is fun just even bike around the resort. Then they also have a path that you can take to the beach house. VB is much more compact and biking is more enjoyable taking the resort tunnel under the highway to the Jungle trail that goes 8 miles to Pelican Island.

VB has 2 onsite restarants, 1 grille, and 1 bar/grille and are open until late into the evening or after midnight. HHI has only a snack/grille that must close after 5pm due to HH zoning regulations. On the other hand, HHI has a much wider variety of restaurants and eateries within easy walking distance just off the resort and ton of others just a short drive away.

I prefer VB for the waves and to have everything in one spot, but I still visit HHI on occasion for the variety of nature. Hope I helped some.

 

[Lenc324]

I loved them both. I own at Vero and love the beach being right there and the sound of the ocean, but was at HHI this past June and loved the marsh and the wildlife and the tranquility. Both resorts are soooooooooooo relaxing. I say if possible try them both. They are great.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Then again, the beach on HHI is has many, many, many more people on it. If you are thinking about going in June then expect to share the beach with thousands of other people. At VB to have a hundred people on the beach would be a very active day.

This is exactly why I have no interest in vacationing at HHI. !! Don't need to drive all the way to South Carolina for a crowded beach! My vote is for Vero Beach.

 

[tony webb]

if you have golfers in your party then this is a no brainer...thats why i bought at HHI..i love golf, disney, beaches in that order

 

[alldiz]

We were thinking about summer. Probably in June. We were thinking about HHI because we wanted to drive (from NJ). VB looked so nice though. If we do HHI I just wanted to be sure that there is plenty to do. The bad thing is that they are already out of studios when we were thinking of going. The one bedrooms in June are about 544 points for the week!!! So that would already change the plans!

HELP!!

Kris

Was that a typo....

I just looked at the point chart.....1 BR 's for june looked less than
250pts
Kerri

 

[shellbelle1971]

We've done both. We disliked HHI, and I don't think we'll ever be back. On the other hand, we loved VB so much that we added on there. To us, being right on the beach was important, as was the retreat from big crowds. If other factors (like golf or shopping) are more important to you, you may like HHI better.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

The beach at HHI is very big and I have never found it to be crowed at all. If you are use to the Jersey shore then you will think you have the beach to your self when you get to HHI. This is by far the best beach for young kids.

 

[nickmom]

Just found this thread. Thanks for the in-site on HHI vs VB. I just booked HHI for the first week of June 2008. Was very excited to get in! Everything has been interesting to read. We are planning a split trip with VB and WDW for 2009. Our family loves to bike ride. So we look forward to that. I read somewhere that HHI does firework...is that correct? We will be driving from PA to HHI. I hear it's about 13hrs. May stop overnight not sure yet.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

Fireworks are on Tuesday night. Just of the Disney fishing pier. Thay are not disney fireworks but Shelters coves. Disney has a BBQ that night then pool party fun for the family. Bike rentals are all over from disney or outside companys. Just do a search on the web.
If you have young kids you will have to try Greg Rusell show at Sea pines . He has his own web sight. He sing silly song on stage and has the kids come up to sing. This is a HHI must see for us every trip.

 

[Demosthenes]

If it was just me and DW, I would go for VB. We like to be right on the beach, we like on-site restaurants, we like the ample covered parking. However, for families, HHI is fantastic. There is simply more to do here, and you cannot go wrong with a stay here. The beach house and beach are nice (not as nice as Vero, but why split hairs). The Resort pool is also very nice. We also like the theme at HHI.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

The beach at HHI is very big and I have never found it to be crowed at all. If you are use to the Jersey shore then you will think you have the beach to your self when you get to HHI. This is by far the best beach for young kids.

Well thats good to know!! The beaches in the northeast are extremely crowded, my state in particular (OC, MD.)

 

[La2kw]

We weren't impressed with HHI. We prefer Vero Beach because it is on the beach, not a mile away from it like HHI is. If I want to drive to the beach, I'll just stay home and go to one of my local Southern California beaches, which are much better than the HHI beach. We found the number of bicycles on the beach at HHI to be a big annoyance. We also missed having a restaurant right on site. I have no interest in trying to find an offsite restaurant while I am on a Disney vacation. We have been to Vero Beach a number of times, but don't intend to return to HHI any time soon. Florida has much better beaches than the HHI beach, IMO.

 

[Desnik]

We have gone to VB twice and will be trying HHI for the first time for our kids spring break in April. We liked VB but no longer than 2 nights in the summer are fine for our family. Because of my kids ages at the time DS couldn't do most of the activities and DD didn't like some or was just shy of the age to participate or too old for some she wanted to do. I thought their community hall and arcade for the kids were seriously lacking. The mini golf course was cute but once was enough. Trying to find a spot to sit without it being claimed by 9am was hard and annoying. I do think they are trying to get control over that. We went last time at the end of June and it was so hot we needed to be indoors by the afternoon. The heat was just too much for the kids. The onsite restaurant was great and we loved having everything right there. After 3 days we were all bored so we ventured out to the surrounding area. There are some chain restaurants, a mall with movie theater, a little musuem. I guess when we go somewhere we like to go to places or towns with history and charm and venture out of the resort. That's why we picked HHI. I think, hopefully we will get the combo of relaxation but also plenty of things to do around the area to keep us occupied. I say you never know until you try it. I would give both a try!