Just take me to the beach! Right?
We get it! and we are here to help you get there! But if you are trying to decide on the best accommodations for your beach vacation, read this first!
Vacationing in a Rental Home - What to Expect
When it comes to how to spend your time away from the real world, there are so many choices! On the Outer Banks, if tent camping is your thing, you will need to drive a bit further south from the Northern Beaches to find accommodations where you can legally set-up since tent camping directly on the beach, is not permitted in these areas.
If you are glamping, however, and you own an RV, there are many options to choose from throughout the Northern Outer Banks. But you can't beat Aunt Sheila in a game of billiards at 2:00 am in an RV.
Plus, if you need a bit more room to spread out while still being able to enjoy your family and friends with whom you are vacationing, then a rental home has more appeal. With private yards, private hot tubs, private pools, private bathrooms, well... you get the picture.
But then there's the hotel/motel option. One of the wonderful things about the Outer Banks is the lack of a strip or boardwalk flanked by hotels blocking the sun as the day progresses. We are proud of that. But we still have several great hotels and motels in each town. So how do you choose?
Here are a few things to consider when deciding between staying in a hotel or motel versus a vacation home:
- Maid Service - in a hotel, as you have experienced, they come daily. If you don't want them to, you must remember to hang your Do Not Disturb doo-hickey on the door, letting them know. If you forget to bring something, you can either call the front desk, visit their convenience shop (if they have one), or raid the abandoned housekeeping cart outside in the hallway (not that we are promoting that sort of thing!)
Staying in your own Vacation Home - if you forget your shower cap or coffee filters... well... someone's going to the store. Luckily, they are plentiful in each town! We got you!
Q: Wait, you mean I must bring my own t.p. if I rent a vacation home?
A: Yup. Just like at home, you will need to factor in essentials. A hotel typically has only one bathroom, and the cart with extra necessities is likely nearby. In a vacation home, many rental companies and their homeowners will provide Welcome Bags full of "in case you forgot" items and "we are glad you made it!" gifts. We also email our guests a list of "What to Pack" several times before arrival so they'll know what to bring. But just in case something is forgotten, (it happens) we throw in some overnight survival items! And despite the fact that some guests will leave "we only received one roll of toilet paper for our entire stay" in their reviews at trips end, we still love 'em!...and we'll keep stuffin' those bags!
- Private Pool - a very popular amenity and one of the visitors' top searches on our website.
Vacationers looking to book a hotel, also search for the same amenity. Pools are fun. Pools are great! But a private pool means no strangers in the pool, and it's open 24/7! So that's a definite plus! - Focus on Togetherness - "...our family had enough space to be together but also provided alone time when needed." Feedback like this from guests says it all! The ability to get away, together, and get away while together is priceless.
Staying in a rental home that gives everyone their own space while offering spaces that promote together time is one of the biggest attractions of renting a vacation home. Whether it's gathering in the kitchen, family room, game room, sun room, deck, patio by the pool, or somewhere unique such as this dune seating
... the pressures of every day life fade away, and the special moments that will last a lifetime emerge. (Photo above is Serendipity in Kill Devil Hills.) - "Our ages range from 27 to 85, and it’s perfect for everyone!"
When trying to gather the whole family, including multiple generations, there's nothing quite like having a new space away from the commitments of home without the pressures of playing host to the entire group! This, coupled with being able to get away and enjoy time without the distractions of everyday life and simply changing your address for a long weekend or a week or two, can be exactly what the family needs to reconnect.
Finding a home that provides all the comforts of home while "checking all the boxes" for everyone under one roof makes time spent away from home a great way to encourage quality time together. For large family gatherings, a popular option is to rent homes close to one another. Check out our side-by-side rental options here! - Private On-Site Parking If you have ever fallen victim to the situation where you are staying in a hotel and left something in the car and were faced with the daunting task of going to fetch said forgotten item, then you will greatly appreciate having the car close by, in the driveway instead of taking the lengthy trek down several long corridors, waiting for an elevator, and sauntering through the lobby toward the parking lot to ask the valet to fetch your car.
Oh the joy of sauntering, coffee in hand, in your comfy robe. Doesn't that sound better?
- Living Like a Local - There are those that prefer to 'visit' a destination, and then there are those that love to immerse themselves. To live as the locals do. Explore the neighborhood. Discover what you can't discover when staying in a hotel or campground. It's a different way to vacay when you choose the practical comforts of staying in an actual residence.
Some things to keep in mind
In a rental home, you are in a home. Just like when you are home, there may be dishes, beds to make (if you are into that sort of thing), and appliances to operate. You might even need to kill a bug or fetch a frog out of the pool, and depending on the neighborhood, you may need to roll the trash cans to and from the curb. You might also encounter something broken or unusable.
Just. Like. Home.
The good thing is, unlike at home, you can call us for help and not have to pay for the service! Now that's a definite plus!
So... much like camping, you will need to bring with you all of the things you can't live without. You can expect the basics, not the fancy waffle maker or electric wine opener. We make it a point to let our guests know what to bring with them and encourage making a list of any items that could easily get left behind and blend in with the home's provisions so they make their way back home!
Pack the cleaning supplies.
In a perfect scenario, you will arrive at a spotless vacation home and be able to settle right in without lifting a finger (with the exception of carrying your belongings inside). But in some cases, you may need to clean a window, a mirror, or another surface that may have been missed. We are proud to offer a clean home guarantee, but we require you to contact us ASAP upon check-in to catch our cleaners before they head home for the day. In many situations, guests don't want to wait to unpack for a cleaning crew to return, so instead, they touch up the "something missed" on their own (no, this does not entitle you to a refund). During the busy season, most homes turnover back-to-back, meaning they have guests checking out at 10:00 am and new groups hoping to check in early - leaving a very small window of time for additional unanticipated cleaning. If it's a pet-friendly home (dogs only), there may be an accidental "lawn ornament" left behind from the vacationing pups (please always clean up after your dog), and there might be lipstick on a glass or candy wrappers under the couch. We try to be perfect, but we are human. So while we completely understand not wanting to clean up before you go, it is a must in a vacation home, including taking out the trash and cleaning that grille. Our housekeepers will come behind you to do the floors, toilets, showers, sinks, fridge, microwave, bed-making, etc., but we most appreciate guests who leave the home as they found it! Oh, and if you were wondering where that 'other sock' went, we likely have it. Mystery solved!