Vero or HH? Help me decide!

[Corl4]

We are looking at Vero or HH for next June. We have never been to either resort and would be flying in no matter which one we choose. Looking for your thoughts, suggestions, etc. Also, would we have trouble booking a 2 bedroom at the 7 month window?

Thanks!

 

[exchanger]

We are looking at Vero or HH for next June. We have never been to either resort and would be flying in no matter which one we choose. Looking for your thoughts, suggestions, etc. Also, would we have trouble booking a 2 bedroom at the 7 month window?

Thanks!

I've been to both (don't own DVC, but paid cash). Could you tell us a bit more about who will be going on the trip? That may help with recommendations.

 

[Corl4]

Hubby and I in our 60’s
Kids and spouses in their 30’s
2 granddaughters, 2 and 5

 

[ldo]

Vero will likely be easier to book. If you search, there are a number of HHI vs Vero threads. We love HHI.

 

[cmrdgrs]

I have only been to HHI, so I can't speak to Vero. Since you will be traveling with two little ones I would highly recommend HHI. It has a very wide beach, and the surf generally is pretty calm, good for little ones. The beach house is awesome providing the pool, quick service meals, snacks, smoothies and drinks. There is also an air conditioned room room at the beach house with tables, couches and a TV if you need to relax out and want to get out of the heat. Not the most comfy place to hang out, but sometimes a welcome place to spend a little time of the sun and heat are getting to you. At the resort itself there is also a pool and various activities you can sign up for.

To get to the beach you will have to drive (plan to be there by 9:30/10:00am to ensure a spot. Or take the bus -- which runs about every 20 min. I'm not sure what time it starts running -- I want to say 8:00am and service ends at 5:00pm. After 5 you would have to call a different service for a ride. There is no charge, but it can be a l-o-n-g wait to get a ride.

At the beach I highly recommend water shoes. There can be stingrays in the water and shuffling your feet as you enter is always a good idea. In 5 years I have not seen a stingray, but I have heard of people being stung when they aren't careful -- hence the reason for the water shoes to help protect your feet from being stung.

There are a total of 97 two bedrooms at HHI. 76 are dedicated two bedrooms and 21 are lock-offs. Be aware that the buildings at HHI are spread out on the property. Only the Live Oak Lodge and the building attached/next to the Live Oak Lodge has an elevator. The vast majority of the 2 bdrm lock-offs are in this building. If you end up with a dedicated two bdrm, but be aware that you will probably be in a building without an elevator. I'm not sure how hard it is to book a 2 bdrm in the 7 month window, but this is premium season for HHI and I can tell you that things do sell out quickly in the various room categories. Obviously, 4th of July is a difficult date to travel over, but I have successfully booked this timeframe at the 7 month window for a studio.

I own at HHI and take an annual trip there at the end of June - through the second week of July. I really really love this property! If you go have fun!

Hope that helps

 

[ngl]

We are VB owners. Both have great pros and cons. Like Vero bc right on the Beach (not that Beach Club is far at HHI). More restaurants around HHI. Vero you have to drive 15-20 min to find others (one on-site).

Generally, as others mentioned, Vero would be easier to book that time of year.

Ocean water will be warmer in Vero in June w HHI. They did have character breakfast at Vero but know it stopped during COVID so not sure what status will be for next year. As another poster mentioned, depends what you have in mind for trip.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I have only been to HHI, so I can't speak to Vero. Since you will be traveling with two little ones I would highly recommend HHI. It has a very wide beach, and the surf generally is pretty calm, good for little ones. The beach house is awesome providing the pool, quick service meals, snacks, smoothies and drinks. There is also an air conditioned room room at the beach house with tables, couches and a TV if you need to relax out and want to get out of the heat. Not the most comfy place to hang out, but sometimes a welcome place to spend a little time of the sun and heat are getting to you. At the resort itself there is also a pool and various activities you can sign up for.

To get to the beach you will have to drive (plan to be there by 9:30/10:00am to ensure a spot. Or take the bus -- which runs about every 20 min. I'm not sure what time it starts running -- I want to say 8:00am and service ends at 5:00pm. After 5 you would have to call a different service for a ride. There is no charge, but it can be a l-o-n-g wait to get a ride.

At the beach I highly recommend water shoes. There can be stingrays in the water and shuffling your feet as you enter is always a good idea. In 5 years I have not seen a stingray, but I have heard of people being stung when they aren't careful -- hence the reason for the water shoes to help protect your feet from being stung.

There are a total of 97 two bedrooms at HHI. 76 are dedicated two bedrooms and 21 are lock-offs. Be aware that the buildings at HHI are spread out on the property. Only the Live Oak Lodge and the building attached/next to the Live Oak Lodge has an elevator. The vast majority of the 2 bdrm lock-offs are in this building. If you end up with a dedicated two bdrm, but be aware that you will probably be in a building without an elevator. I'm not sure how hard it is to book a 2 bdrm in the 7 month window, but this is premium season for HHI and I can tell you that things do sell out quickly in the various room categories. Obviously, 4th of July is a difficult date to travel over, but I have successfully booked this timeframe at the 7 month window for a studio.

I own at HHI and take an annual trip there at the end of June - through the second week of July. I really really love this property! If you go have fun!

Hope that helps

Thanks this makes me want to give it a try.

 

[ldo]

concur. DVC HHI is awesome. Love the beach house at HHI. Great place to sit in the shade and have lunch and cool down. It's a fun, easy bike ride from DVC over to the beach. Bike riding on HHI is excellent, great trails, lots of shade from oak trees. DVC rents bikes, along with other HHI places.
We actually added on with HHI points to be able to book end of June. It's very tough to book prime time (mid-June thru mid-Aug).

 

[Carol_]

I’ve done both. I loved both.

There’s a lot more to do around HHI so if you’re thinking about sightseeing or shopping I’d go there. Savannah’s fun and 1 hr away. Next time I go I’d like to hit Daufuskie Island, and maybe do a dolphin boat.

Vero is right on the beach and has a great pool (that’s probably better for older kids... and mini golf). We used their babysitting* and liked it. You can rent umbrellas and lounge chairs for not much $ (on a Disney scale). Be prepared to relax with a book as there really isn’t a lot of distraction here.

Whichever you choose, Have a great time!

ETA: *babysitting meaning kids club for 5yr plus I think. Not real babysitting but it gave us a few minutes to ourselves until they called and blah blah blah come get your kid... :/ (They really were great with the kids, mine was just missing his Mommy.)

 

[exchanger]

Our daughter was 2 when we went to Vero and 3 when we went to HHI. A few thoughts:

1) We love Hilton Head as a destination. There's nothing wrong with Vero, but there is a lot more to do in the HHI area.
2) Vero is right on the beach. HHI is about a mile from the beach (but they do have the beach house which is cool).
3) Our daughter LOVED the activities at HHI, the staff was really, really special at HHI. Vero was perfectly fine, but the HHI staff was sooooo friendly and treated our daughter like a princess.
4) We liked the beach in Hilton Head better.
5) We liked the wilderness tour as well.
6) Biking in Hilton Head is really, really awesome.
7) We liked the pool better at Vero.

My preference would be HHI given your family situation. However, I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[Boardwalkbrats]

I love Vero, great to run several miles in the morning and walk the beach back. Many times have been there for the sea turtles. Nino is great down at the beach rental.

 

[MrsBooch]

Another vote for HHI - it's our family's fave. With those age ranges, HHI will provide something for everyone.
Also - offsite, HHI has fantastic restaurants and other activities very nearby.

 

[nandm92574]

we love and own at HHI. It is extremely difficult to get a summer reservation there without being an owner but it does happen. We bought points there so we could make sure we had a summer vacation. It is so much fun for a family. I usually rent beach chairs for the week I am there through shore beach that way I always have a nice spot on the beach. If you can get a resort definitely HHI

 

[ldo]

also, for flying, SAV is only 45 minutes away, much bigger airport and you'll want a rental car anyway.

 

[MrsBooch]

Another note for HHI - we fly out of PHL/Philly airport - and there is actually an American Airlines flight that goes direct, from PHL to Hilton Head airport which is roughly 10 minutes away from the resort and has rental cars available.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We have been to both. We LOVE HHI! We own there and go every year. We will likely never go back to Vero. HHI is on the marsh, which we love. It's like two vacations in one. You have the marsh with all its wildlife and the fishing pier, and then you can go to the Beach House right up the road. The beach at HHI is awesome. Flat and easy to walk/ride bikes on. Very gentle waves. Also lots of great restaurants around HHI. Vero is very isolated. And even though it's right on the beach, we did not like the beach at all. It's very sloped and hard to walk on, and the waves are very tall and strong--like right at the edge. We did not have little ones with us, but if we did, I would have been a nervous wreck. I don't see how little ones could enjoy the beach at Vero. My vote is definitely for HHI. A 2-BR is easier to get at 7 months than a 1-BR or a studio.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We've only been to HHI, but have talked with people who've done both. From what I understand, Vero is more about the ocean. It's right on the ocean, and that's the big draw. HHI is more nature, bicycling (although the beach exists, it's not necessarily THE thing). Do other people feel that way?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I’ll give my vote for Vero. We used to own there and stay quite often. We liked it so much we bought property and built a house 10 minutes away.
I have stayed at HHI once several years ago. We enjoyed it, but like Vero much better.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I love the ocean view inn rooms, because I love seeing the ocean.