the Reef Ocean Resort — Hotel in Vero Beach

I have never stayed at any motel or hotel that has had such terrible parking arrangements for guests. I booked their most expensive ocean front unit. The hotel has a restaurant (Bobby's) on its property. I parked our car and the first night we came back to the hotel after shopping only to find that all the parking spaces were gone. Bobby's customers filled the lot. We had to roam for parking on the highway or side streets. I complained the next morning and the only response I got from the manager on duty was" We are so busy now." I asked about reserved parking for guests or blocking off spaces for hotel guests, or valet parking Bobby's guests and got no response. A lot attendant sits near the lot but I could not figure out what this person's job was. It wasn't to make sure people parked in spaces suited for their vehicles or to valet park cars. The attendant sat where he couldn't see what was going on. The next night the same "had to roam" experience took place. The third night I got a big door ding from a guest who parked so close to my vehicle with a large SUV in a compact space that making contact with his door was the only way he could squeeze out of his SUV. I complained again with no response. The last morning at the Reef was the final straw. On the way to checking out I saw a hotel maintenance employee talking to a lady guest about a large scrape on her vehicle. I proceeeded to the office to check out and when I returned to my car I discovered that both front and rear driver's side door had been mashed in. I was livid and told the desk and the manager said that all I could do was to file a police report. The same maintenance employee told me that the parking problems were a regular issues at the Reef and Bobby's customers often had a few drinks in them or were older and had reflex issues, or both . I got the phone number of the Reef Manager and contacted her. She said I should send her my emailed information and she would forward ti on to the Property Owners Board of Director's. I did hear back from the Board Chair and he told me that they had referred the matter to their insurance company. Its been several weeks and I have not been contacted by the insurance firm.

I will never stay at the Reef again and would advise anyone with a vehicle not to stay there either. Their parking situation is horrible and...

I like the "Homey" feel about the resort. It doesn't feel like a busy hotel at all. I love how close it is to the beach from my oceanfront room. The bathroom was very spacious and had plenty of hooks to hang towels. They even had a thin clothes line in the shower to hang wet bathing suites. Great water pressure. Tub could have been cleaned a bit better. TV instructions were vague and could not get Netflix as instructed. Staff very friendly.

Bobby's restaurant attached to the resort - although it had a great vibe was a disappointment! I ordered bacon wrapped scallops and it was not fresh at all. I got the feeling it was prepared earlier in the day and was heated up for me. Bacon hard and dry. I also ordered stuffed shrimp. I got 3 very small shrimp with nothing else for $18.00.

The Balcony had an awesome ocean-view very relaxing but switch out the chairs, they are super uncomfortable. Perhaps get the same chairs that are by the pool for the balcony's. Your whole bottom can not fit on the chairs and you cant put your head back. Get rid of the cushions, they stay damp, attract bugs and hold stains.

Check - in went very smoothly but I must say 4 pm check in is just wrong. I paid full price for my room and half the day is over before I can gain access. Perhaps hire one or two more housekeepers so the rooms can get cleaned faster or maybe prorate the first night. That check in time is almost a deal breaker for most.

Overall a really cool little place to get away to. Thank you Reef...

The staff is very friendly and helpful....the condo we were in was very small (identified as a studio) and not up to date although recently remodeled. Supposedly this condo sleeps 4, none privately, but 4 people and 4 people's stuff would not fit. The amenities were lacking and although the resort is right on the ocean, our condo was a block away. There is a tiny kitchen area that is awkward to actually use. Minor repairs have been left undone and just add to the lack of the condo's appeal. Parking is a problem...the resort shares their parking lot with a restaurant. On a positive note, the resort does have a very nice pool. Next day edit of above....apparently our condo and others I am sure are not terrific but in walking thru the resort to get to the beach, we found that property to be much nicer...guess it is all about location location location. Just inquire as to where your actual unit is and the details of what it is like. We were assigned the unit we were in thru a time share exchange. For us, this was a very lopsided trade. We did not realize until we arrived that we had no washer and dryer in our unit....definitely no space for it....very inconvenient but what we found even more irritating was, after lugging our laundry halfway thru the complex, that we needed quarters to operate this privately owned, without public access, washer and dryer....how insane when every timeshare exchange we have made in 30 years had a washer and dryer...