• Best Hotels and Resorts in Vero Beach Florida,Spencer Bailey

    Best Hotels and Resorts in Vero Beach Florida

    Best Hotels and Resorts in Vero Beach Florida A closer look at the most luxurious stays on Florida's East Coast Are you thinking about staying in Vero beach and you need a good hotel or resort to stay at? Well you're in luck because in today's blog I'm going to be going over plenty of options that you have when visiting Vero Beach. I'm going to be going over some iconic resorts that Vero beach has to offer as well as some more affordable options to fit everyone's budget.   Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel  Now onward to our first hotel that we are going to go over and that's the Kimpton Vero Beach hotel and spa,  Rated the 2023 best hotel in Vero beach by us news and world report, the kimpton Vero Beach hotel and spa is an iconic hotel on Florida’s beach side. Located on Ocean Drive and close to all the local amenities, it's in an ideal location to experience all that Vero beach has to offer.     Kimpton has an abundance of accommodations and room styes that range from a 1 bed 1 bath that’s 386 square feet, all the way up to a three-bedroom grand oceanfront suite that can host up to eight people and has 2016 square feet. Some of the oceanfront sweets include a kitchen, So if you're looking to do some cooking on vacation you have that option.   Kimpton also has handicap accessible rooms and is a pet friendly hotel so if you're looking to travel with a pet friend of yours Kimpton can accommodate that.  As far as amenities go, Kimpton does not disappoint. they offer a 24/7 fitness center, free continental breakfasts, a heated oceanfront pool, rentable beach cabanas, and they even supply a yoga mat and Nespresso machine in every room. For the children to cruise around with, they provide micro kickboard scooters and guests also have access to the game room, which features video game consoles, Legos, and board games. Lastly, they provide 2 beach chairs with an umbrella, towels, and a table, along with valet parking.  Kimpton has some beach activities you can partake in as well such as kayaking, paddle boarding, or boogie boarding. After a long day of activities, you can relax at kimptons on-site spa called the white orchid, go to social hour which is daily from 5:00 to 6:00 at the on-site bar called Heaton’s, or have dinner at cobalt which is kimptons beachfront restaurant.   Prices  Pricing for kimpton as well as all the hotels I’m going to go over in this blog, really depends on when you go. Vero Beach has a heavy snowbird population that comes down in the colder months for the beautiful weather here, so you can expect to pay more during the fall and winter months.  as you can see in August the cheapest room can range from 2 to $300 a night however if you're trying to book in December, you're probably more likely to pay 7 to $800 per night  Overall, Kimpton is a great choice if you want a luxury experience right in the heart of Vero beach and you’re not worried about a budget.  It’s quieter than some hotels I’m going to go over, making it perfect for someone looking for relaxation  and luxury.   It's beach front, loaded with a ton of amenities, and in a great location Making it one of the top hotels to stay at in Vero beach.  DRIFTWOOD   Now let’s talk about a fun and historic hotel that Vero beach has to offer, and that is the Driftwood Resort!  Driftwood Inn and Restaurant, built in 1935 by Waldo Sexton, is a cherished piece of Vero Beach's history. Originally a private beach house known as the "Breezeway," it quickly transformed into a small resort hotel operated by Mrs. Waldo Sexton. To accommodate guests, a restaurant called Waldo's Restaurant was added in 1947.   Over the years, the Driftwood complex expanded with additional buildings, including an office, fishing shacks turned guest rooms, and apartment buildings. Waldo Sexton's legacy as an entrepreneur and colorful personality lives on through the charm of Driftwood Inn and Restaurant.  Much like Kimpton, The driftwood resort is located on the beach on ocean dr and right next to all the local amenities that Vero has to offer  This resort really embodies the history and charm of Vero beach, this is truly old Florida at its best and It is even listed on the national registry of historic places. Walking around you'll see all these different kinds of rooms made from driftwood as well as tons of Knick knacks and oddities that waldo has collected over the years.   As far as accommodations, there are around 100 rooms and about 10 room styles. Their rooms represent old Florida and are not modern by any means so don’t be surprised if they look a bit dated. It's also worth noting that they have timeshare options as well as short stay options available. So, they can accommodate you whether you need to stay for a day a week or maybe even a few months.  When I called the front desk to get some more information I was greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic representative named Charlie and he was excited to tell me all about the rich history driftwood has. He assured me that this is one of the best bang for your buck when you want to experience the true old Florida.   For pricing, During the summer months you can rent A room for as low as $200 per night and during the winter months you can look to pay more around 300 per night.  Now unlike Kimpton, driftwood does not have a laundry list of amenities. It doesn't have free breakfasts however that could be viewed as a good thing as you’ll need to go and experience the great breakfast selections that Vero beach has to offer such as lemon tree or one of my favorites, riococo cafe   If you are looking for a more cultural experience and to really discover Vero beaches’ rich culture and history I don't think there's a better place to stay at than driftwood. Driftwood is a place to stay if you really value culture and history over luxury, it one of the best historical hotels to stay in in Vero Beach throughout the years.   Costa d'Este   right next to driftwood resort lies our next hotel that we are going to cover and that is Costa de este beach resort and spa.   “Considered a top ten celebrity owned hotel in the world, Gloria and Emilio Estefan's Costa d'Este is located ocean side in Vero Beach with 94 deluxe guest rooms including four suites.   Dine indoors or out with amazing views of the Atlantic at The Wave Kitchen and Bar. Enjoy local ingredients and featured Cuban specialties straight from the Estefan family kitchen cookbook. Cool off in the pool or relax and unwind at the pool bar, break a sweat in the extensive fitness center or loosen up in the luxury spa. Meeting facilities are available for banquets and special events. Property is ADA accessible at all entrances and public spaces, and ADA compliant guest rooms are available,”  Fun fact This is where my sister had her wedding. She got married on the beach out front of costa de este  and the reception and party was held at costa de este. Everything went exceptionally well, and it was very beautiful venue to have a wedding, birthday, or any other special event at.   Costa De Este is located oceanfront so it does have some amenities such as snorkeling and paddle boarding available. You can even paddle board or snorkel to one of the famous sites that Vero Beach has to offer the SS Breconshire, a ship from England that sunk on its voyage from New York to England. This ship ran into the reef in 1894 and slowly began filling with water, eventually sinking right out front of Costa De este.   Some amenities that Costa De Este offers include valet parking, a fully equipped fitness center, beachfront lounge chairs, beach cruiser bicycles, and poolside concierge services. It's worth noting that they are pet friendly as well.  The resort offers a range of accommodations, including guest rooms, suites, and oceanfront villas. The rooms are well-appointed with modern amenities and feature a coastal-inspired design. As far as pricing goes at Costa De Este, during the summer months you can get a room for as low as $200 per night and in season youre looking at paying around $350-$400 per night.   Overall Costa De Este offers a luxurious stay in Vero beach With all the amenities to go with it. I've gone there a few times for drinks with my family and we are always treated well. I know my sister loved it for her wedding and I believe she stayed there for her last anniversary, so it definitely gets our family stamp of approval.  Costa de este gives an upbeat vibe in luxurious setting. They have music playing around the pool and overall it feels more lively than the other high end hotel we went over, the kimpton hotel beach and spa. With its upbeat vibe, beach access and long list of amenities costa de este is a very fun hotel to stay or have an event here at in Vero beach.  Caribbean court boutique hotel  Next on our list is very fun and unique and that is the Caribbean court boutique hotel. The Caribbean Court boutique hotel in Vero Beach Florida, is a charming, lush and colorful establishment with a unique atmosphere. This upscale hotel offers well-appointed rooms and suites with a Caribbean flair, providing a comfortable and unique experience for guests.  Much like the last hotels we covered, its located-on ocean Dr and While it not directly located on the beach, the hotel is conveniently situated across the street, allowing guests easy access to the beautiful beaches.  Caribbean court is one of the smaller resorts and there's only 18 rooms, so you get a more personable and intimate experience here. So, if you're not a fan of some of the bigger crowds, this may be the hotel you should consider.   On site is its renowned restaurant, Maison Martinique, which serves French and Mediterranean cuisine with a tropical twist. And if you're looking to have a little fun at night  the Havana Nights Piano Bar offers live music and a delightful selection of drinks. With a lush courtyard and a refreshing pool, guests can relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings after a fresh meal, possibly with a cocktail or two.  Some of the complementary amenities include bicycles, beach chair,s and umbrellas. this is also a pet friendly establishment as well.   Breakfast baskets are delivered to your door each morning. The breakfast basket contains croissants jams and butter fresh fruit hard boiled eggs water and coffee. If you're looking for more out of breakfast, they do have an onsite establishment called the creperie that you can get a full breakfast and lunch at.  As for pricing, during the summer months you can snag a room for as low as $175 per night and for the winter months it's closer to $300 per night.   This is one of my favorite hotels in Vero Beach because of its uniqueness and price point. For that little bit extra than a normal hotel, you get the unique, lush, and colorful Caribbean flare while also being steps away from the beach, so this is also a top pick when visiting Vero beach.  Disney Resort  The last hotel I want to talk in depth about before I give you some rapid fire options, is the Disney hotel and resort here in Vero Beach.  This hotel offers a completely different experience than the previous hotels we've covered because of its location. The Disney resort in Vero Beach is located  off floridas highway A1A in wabasso beach. This is a good 15 minute drive north from the other hotels that we have been covering. The Disney resort is in a non-populated area on the island giving you a very private and secluded feeling when you're staying there. This resort really is for the people who want to disconnect, get away from the hustle and bustle, and just relax on a sandy beach with the top notch service that Disney offers.  Much like driftwood this resort offers timeshare as well as short term stays, so a lot of the guests staying here are going to be apart of Disneys Vacation Club aka their timeshare club. When I went there to film I was surprised with how many people were there considering it is the middle of July, So this is a very popular Disney resort.  As for amenities there are so many and I will most likely miss a few, but Disney really rolls out the red carpet as far as there activities and amenities go.  For the kids of course Disney goes above and beyond to make sure they're accommodated for they have tons of events and activities that they can partake in including a decent sized water slide in the main pool, a game room, and mini golf for them as well.  Beachside they have a bunch of activities such as volleyball, archery, tennis and basketball that you can participate in as awell. Another really cool thing Disney does is every other day they host campfires on the beach that you and your loved ones can come, sit by the campfire and roast marshmallows with their complimentary smores kit.  This Disney resort has an on site spa, as well as a fitness room. They also have an on site restaurant, bar, and quick market, so you don't have to go far for a nice cold beverage or a bite to eat.   Speaking of beverages if you enjoy having a nice cocktail they do offer mixology classes for $50 a person. I recently did a mixology class on my vacation in Mexico and it was really fun and we made a lot of neat drinks so I definitely recommend it.  Now if you're familiar with Disney resorts you know that they offer a very premium experience but often at a very premium price point. After talking with the cast member she told me that normally it's hard to find a room because almost all of the guests there are part of the vacation club and available rooms will first go to them. She said if you're persistent you can find rooms that become available and if you do you're going to look to pay as low as 250-300 per night during the spring and summer months and that shoots up to around 450 per night during the fall and winter months.  I did watch a few videos where they said there's not a a lot of character interactions and Disney's decorations we're toned down, So you get a different feeling compared to other Disney resorts.   This is obviously the go to place to go if you are a big Disney fan like my wife is, and it also makes for a great family friendly environment as well. They have tons of activities for the kids to keep them occupied, so if you can get A room, this is a great option for families or Disney enthusiasts.  Now if you want to visit Vero Beach and you want a regular hotel that's a bit cheaper don't worry because there's also hotels that can accommodate that.   There's hotels such as the Hampton inn, Best Western, and comfort suites where you can regularly get a room for around $100 a night. While having a nice fancy hotel to stay at is nice, it is not needed to discover and truly experience what Vero beach has to offer. Personally I hate staying at the hotel and I would much rather be out and about enjoying the town and exploring.  So to recap we have the kimpton hotel which I would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing luxury experience right on the beach with a lot of amenities. We have the driftwood resort which is a great historical and funky hotel that truly represents old Florida and I would recommend people who values the history and culture of florida. Costa de este is a great hotel to stay at if you're looking for a luxury experience right on the beach with an upbeat latin vibe. Caribbean court is perfect for a romantic get away or someone who is looking for a smaller hotel that likes the cheaper price point but still wants to experience the unique and colorful style that Caribbean court has. And lastly the Disney resort which is perfect for families looking for activities and amenities for their kids and for Disney enthusiasts as well.    So those are the hotels and resorts that I would most recommend as a local here in Vero beach. Once you stay here you're gonna want to eventually move here, so please feel free to reach out to me  Im a realtor and, I would love to find you that perfect home here on florida's Treasure Coast. For now my friends that is all I have for you. I hope this blog was valuable to you, and I will see you on the next one, take care. Spencer.Bailey507@gmail.com507-951-2934  

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  • Buying a Home at Harbor Isle in Vero Beach, Florida,Spencer Bailey

    Buying a Home at Harbor Isle in Vero Beach, Florida

    Buying a Home at Harbor Isle in Vero Beach, Florida Luxury new construction homes that are 5 minutes away from the beach  A luxurious new construction community that is 5 minutes away from the beach is being built right here by Divosta called Harbor Isle. In this post we're going to be covering everything you need to know about this luxurious new construction community and make sure to stay till the end where I share my experience building my own new construction home right here in Vero beach, stay tunned.  OK everyone now I want to go into why I myself chose to buy a new construction home here in Vero Beach and there are a few reasons for that. First off I have the luxury of time I am in no big hurry and so I can afford to wait for my home to be built rather than needing to buy a resale home right now. That is one of the biggest limitations for buyers that I see around here and that's why I always try to tell my buyers to do their research a year to even a year and a half before they're thinking about moving down that way it'll give you plenty of time to get into a new construction community.   The biggest reasons that I bought a new construction home here in Vero would first be the purchase price. I bought my home for $343,000 and that got me a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom 1828 square feet brand new 2023 home. If you take a look at what's on the market around that same price point you will be very disappointed with what you can get.   As you can see on the Zillow page there is only one single family home for sale that’s a 4 bed 2 bath around that price range , it was built in 2005 and looks very dated. So not only did I purchase my new construction home for a cheaper price, but mine is going to be brand new, have brand new appliances,  a brand new roof, and it also sits  quarter acre lot. In addition This house gives me more time till I start running into insurance issues with the roof because we all know how crazy insurance companies are down here in Florida especially on the the Coast.  Also Newer homes also tend to sell faster and easier than older homes that may have problems with appraisals, inspections and insurance.  Builders will also often pay for closing costs, give Better interest rates, and offer home warranties as well. There are a ton more reasons why we chose to buy a new construction home besides the price and I go deeper into that in another post I made just the other week I will link that in the top right corner in case you're curious and want some more details.  If you have any questions or are thinking about buying or selling a home in Florida, give me a call or email! Spencer.Bailey507@gmail.com507-951-2934

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  • Top 5 Neighborhoods in Vero Beach ,Spencer Bailey

    Top 5 Neighborhoods in Vero Beach

    Top 5 Neighborhoods in Vero Beach  Pointe West, Florida Ridge, Vero Isle, VLE, and Winter Beach Today I'm going to show you five great neighborhoods in Vero Beach that if you’re considering moving here you should absolutely know about. As a resident of Vero Beach, I'm going to give you a locals perspective on where you should be looking when you’re making your move here to Vero beach. We are going to be sticking to areas and communities on the mainland for this video, and island communities will have to be for another post.   Hi everyone my name is spencer bailey, I’m a real estate agent here In Vero and I personally live in one of these neighborhoods.  I help people buy and sell around these 5 neighborhoods all the time so If you are thinking about moving down here or have a question about moving to Florida’s east coast, go ahead and give me a call, text or email, id love to help you out, and maybe answer a few of your questions when you’re making your move here to Florida’s. I also created a website just for people wanting more information about  my area called moveeastflorida.com, there you can search for properties, read blogs about our area, and overall gain a better understanding of why I love living here on Floridas east coast.   Pointe West  The first neighborhood on the list is point West. This is a great family friendly neighborhood that is off the beaten path, and away from a bit of the hustle and bustle. The location is great because you're going to get less drive through traffic, you're close to I-95, and you’re close to local amenities.  I can't forget to mention the 18 hole golf course that surrounds the community, So if you like golf you don't have to go far at all. You don't need to like or play golf in order to live here, I know plenty of people that live there just for the neighborhood.  Point West is broken up into four different segments East Village, South village north village and central village and they're all governed by the same community management company Elliott Merrill. They each have their own community pool so there's four pools throughout the entire community. On the north side they have only townhouses, central point west is made up of townhouses and detached single family homes, while South and east segments of point West are only single family detached homes. Prices in point West range from around 380 to 680,000 with the median home price being 462,000.  Another great thing I like about point West is the landscaping. Driving through point West is so nice because everything is lush and green so on sunny days it really is beautiful.   Another reason driving through point West is so nice is because since this is an HOA community, the houses are all very conform and in great condition. Homes built here range from 2001 to 2021, So not only do you get the lush, mature landscaping you also get newer great looking homes that are taken care of as well.  Overall point West is a great neighborhood to consider if you're looking for a family friendly community and you don't mind being a little bit more out West.  Florida Ridge/Vero Beach Highlands  This next neighborhood spans a bigger area and it has something for everyone and that is the Florida Ridge. The Florida Ridge is an area in South Vero Beach on the mainland, the reason I like this area is because it's a little bit more spread out than downtown Vero Beach, home prices are a little cheaper here, and it has housing options for everyone. It has condos if that's what you're looking for, new construction opportunities, gated HOA communities, As well as properties with no HOA whatsoever. It also has a diverse price range, So this is great for buyers at all price points.   Some of the HOA communities that are in the Florida Ridge are Falcon trace Serenoa Lexington place, Indian River club, and the preserve. Typically you can find houses for sale there around the 400 to $600,000 range, except for the Indian River club which starts around 750,000.   If you're looking for no HOA, the Vero Beach highlands, Oslo park and Dixie heights is where youll want to be.  The homes priced there are roughly 250 to 450,000.   If you're looking for condos,  the florida ridge has a lot of options for you. You have grand royal, Grove Isle,  vista royale, and timber Ridge. Prices for condos here are around 100,000 to 350000.  For New Construction, there are vacant lots you can buy and build your own home, or you can buy a spec home like I did from Dr Horton. I bought A brand new 4 bedroom 2 bath home that's 1828 square feet for 343,000 with a 4.99% interest rate. They also gave me $18,000 to pay for the  closing costs making buying a new construction home a no brainer for me.   If you want one of these spec homes from a builder you need to be on top of the ball because they sell very very quick. When I bought my spec home from Dr. Horton I bought it the day it went on market because I like many people knew exactly what I wanted and so when I saw it on the market I was quick to buy. Normally Dr. Horton builds a few spec Homes in Vero each year, and people are always looking out for them.   If you have the luxury of time I always encourage taking a look at new construction.  I made a video going deeper into new construction here and the benefits of it so if you're interested I'll leave a link down in the scription and in the top right corner for you to check out  Vero Isle   The next neighborhood is going to be for the people who love to be out on the water and that is the neighborhood of Vero Isles. Vero Isles is a neighborhood right off of Indian river Blvd In between the Merrill P Barber bridge and the 17th St. bridge. This community made it on my list because not only are you in the heart of Vero Beach, you're on the water with access to the intercoastal. This means at anytime you can hop on your boat parked out your private dock and have a day out on the river or the ocean. This community also is not governed by HOA so there's no dues or rules.   There are not many communities in vero beach that have intercoastal water access on the mainland, making this a highly sought after neighborhood to get into. Prices here really start at 1,000,000 and can go all the way up  3-4 or even $5 million dollars. If you're looking to get a property on the water on a smaller budget, there are the neighborhoods of Vero shores and river shores located a bit further South. These are also great neighborhoods to get into that have intercoastal water access, prices there start around 700,000, and they are also not governed by an HOA.  Vero Lake Estates (VLE) Now with this next neighborhood I'm gonna go the opposite route of Vero Isles and show you a neighborhood that is inland and a lot  more affordable, And that is Vero lake estates. Vero lake estates or VLE as we call it here,is located in the northernmost part of Vero beaches limits just south of Sebastian and next to I-95.  It is a good 25 minute drive to downtown Vero Beach and that's why this neighborhood is more affordable.  Realistically you can get a nice three bedroom 2 bathroom home with 1500 square feet or so for under 300,000. New construction is also a very popular option here as well since lot prices are very reasonable for 1/4 acre lot depending on location you're looking at roughly $30,000. If you're looking to build a brand new home prices for new construction spec homes start around 325,000.   I myself was thinking about building a home in Vero lake estates but there's one thing that kept me from building there and that is the sandy dirt roads. Most of the homes in VLE are off of dirt roads and for some that's not a huge issue but for me I have bad allergies and I'm not sure how well I would handle all the dust. However we were heavily considering moving there because your dollar goes a lot further they are then let's say in downtown Vero Beach.  This is also a good option if you have kids needing to go to high school because the Sebastian river high school is directly north about a mile or so. Sebastian river high school is where I myself graduated and I know a lot of my classmates lived in Vero lake estates.  Winter Beach  Another area   that made it on my list is winter beach winter beach is an area roughly 6 miles north of Vero Beach just South of wabasso. This area is where my parents live as well as my sister and her husband, and we like this area for a few different reasons. First you're about a 10 minute drive to the ocean, so we often have lots of fun days on the beach. Also, if youre an early riser, the ocean sunrise is a quick drive away. Another reason we like the location is because you're very close to US one making commuting very easy and there's  less traffic compared to downtown Vero Beach. You're also in between Sebastian and Vero Beach so it makes driving to both towns about a 10-15 minute drive each way.   The nearby communities that I would recommend are Vero Lago, lost tree preserve, high point, and the Antilles. These are all private gated communities and These are very quiet neighborhoods that aren’t surrounded by development so you get more of a relaxing and quiet environment.   For lost tree, the first few phases were built by Dr. Horton in 2019 to 2022, and Adam's home is currently building the next few phases right now. So this community has resale options as well as new construction options.  Prices in here go from the high three hundreds to low 5 hundreds. Fun fact, I currently have the highest sale in this community at 535,000 and that was for a four bedroom 2 bath pool home built by Dr. Horton.  High point is a new construction community currently being built by gho. Homes in high point are going to have more upgrades, Gho builds some really nice homes with the emphasis on luxury and high end finishes. Typical new construction home prices in high point are right around 550,000.  Antilles is a another great community to get into if you're looking for nice spacious homes. Homes in the Antilles start at 2000 square and can go all the way up to 3700 square feet. Homes here range from three bedrooms 2 bathrooms all the way up to four bedrooms 4 bathrooms. Prices here range from 500 to $800,000.  Vero Lago is the last neighborhood, this is a private gated community that offers a lot of amenities. They have tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center, a recreation center, and a heated community pool. I really like the style of houses here they go for the Mediterranean look. Prices here typically can range from high 300s to mid 600s. Square footage of the homes here can range from 1300 all the way up to 4000 square feet.  All four of these are neighborhoods that I would recommend, like I said I really like this area and I've lived in this area for the past two years. While I'm excited to move down to South Vero I am gonna miss just how close I am to the beach and the privacy and quietness that comes with living here.  So everyone those are the five areas and neighborhoods that I would consider looking at if you're thinking about moving down here to Vero Beach. There are so many other areas to look at so if you're interested in an area I didn't go over in this post please feel free to reach out. Like I said in the beginning, I am a real estate agent down here so if you had any questions or want me to help find that perfect home for you please feel free to call text or email me anytime.  Spencer.Bailey507@gmail.com507-951-2934

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