Vacation Rentals by Owner

Best Beach Vacation Ever!

Guest: Patricia W.
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

I've never rented a home on the beach before and did not know what to expect, but I did conjure visions of what I wanted it to be like and I was NOT disappointed! We invited my family with my 9 yr old nephew, and friends to join us for the week and everyone agreed that this was the best vacation ever! Very relaxing, quiet and tranquil, the uncrowded beach a sheer joy (although plenty of friendly people, think secluded rather than remote), terrific ocean swimming, kayaking and walking. The house was clean, clean, clean, with 2 kitchens that made it so easy for my brother's family in the morning...yet evenings we all gathered to cook upstairs and enjoy each other. Nicely appointed, but not so that you felt that you couldn't relax in it. We thought we would go sight-seeing, eat out, go to the movies, shopping...nah! We chose to stay to ourselves. Although a 10+ mile drive would take you to all those things. My favorite part was all the wildlife that abounds; pods of leaping dolphins, wild horses on the beach and in our backyard, crabs of all sorts, birds galore, only a couple of miles to the National wildlife refuge, and having our much domesticated (and spoiled) dogs with us just made it perfect! I expected to have to leash my dogs on the beach, but it was not necessary and no one complained, and the beach is well patrolled but as long as your dog is under your control they do not interfere. We were prompted by other reviews to bring our own cleaning, paper products, etc...so I did, but there are plenty of pots, pans, dishes, eating and cooking utensils. Also, people did leave left over amenities like dish detergent so we left ours too for others to share. Beach umbrellas and some beach chairs made it easy too. Don't forget bath tissue and soap and laundry detergent. Everyone agreed that the beds were great! A good night's sleep in a comfy bed is paramount for my happiness! I would like to share this advice; when they say let the air out of your tires before driving on the beach (there are NO roads)...let the air out of your tires! Our menfolk were unreasonably resistant to this idea, not having experienced beach driving before they thought it unnecessary with a 4-wheel vehicle. NECESSARY. So ladies, apply pressure to menfolk from the point you leave the road; let out at least 11 lbs in each tire to traverse the beach. All in all, we were so spoiled by Carova Beach and the house, I don't think we can stay in any other

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

Best Beach Vacation Ever!

Guest: Patricia W.
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/09/11

I've never rented a home on the beach before and did not know what to expect, but I did conjure visions of what I wanted it to be like and I was NOT disappointed! We invited my family with my 9 yr old nephew, and friends to join us for the week and everyone agreed that this was the best vacation ever! Very relaxing, quiet and tranquil, the uncrowded beach a sheer joy (although plenty of friendly people, think secluded rather than remote), terrific ocean swimming, kayaking and walking. The house was clean, clean, clean, with 2 kitchens that made it so easy for my brother's family in the morning...yet evenings we all gathered to cook upstairs and enjoy each other. Nicely appointed, but not so that you felt that you couldn't relax in it. We thought we would go sight-seeing, eat out, go to the movies, shopping...nah! We chose to stay to ourselves. Although a 10+ mile drive would take you to all those things. My favorite part was all the wildlife that abounds; pods of leaping dolphins, wild horses on the beach and in our backyard, crabs of all sorts, birds galore, only a couple of miles to the National wildlife refuge, and having our much domesticated (and spoiled) dogs with us just made it perfect! I expected to have to leash my dogs on the beach, but it was not necessary and no one complained, and the beach is well patrolled but as long as your dog is under your control they do not interfere. We were prompted by other reviews to bring our own cleaning, paper products, etc...so I did, but there are plenty of pots, pans, dishes, eating and cooking utensils. Also, people did leave left over amenities like dish detergent so we left ours too for others to share. Beach umbrellas and some beach chairs made it easy too. Don't forget bath tissue and soap and laundry detergent. Everyone agreed that the beds were great! A good night's sleep in a comfy bed is paramount for my happiness! I would like to share this advice; when they say let the air out of your tires before driving on the beach (there are NO roads)...let the air out of your tires! Our menfolk were unreasonably resistant to this idea, not having experienced beach driving before they thought it unnecessary with a 4-wheel vehicle. NECESSARY. So ladies, apply pressure to menfolk from the point you leave the road; let out at least 11 lbs in each tire to traverse the beach. All in all, we were so spoiled by Carova Beach and the house, I don't think we can stay in any other

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

Relaxing Place

Guest: Debbie (Hartsville, SC)
Date of Stay: 06/04/11 Review Submitted: 06/16/11

My family and I had a great time! The drive down the beach (must have 4WD) was awesome. The house was clean and had everything we needed. We brought our 2 dogs and they loved it. We put a babygate at the top of the steps to keep them in. Remember to bring your food, paper products, and soaps. It is a long way back to town. The hot tub was great at night, after a day on the beach, unless you get sunburned (ouch) We cooked most of our meals on the grill and went shopping and ate out one day. Visited the Currituck Lighthouse. Mostly, just took it easy. We saw plenty of horses, even while laying out on beach! If you have a 4WD (with high clearance) and want a little something different, this is the place to be!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Family Reunion

Guest: Jax (Jacksonville)
Date of Stay: 05/28/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

This property was a perfect place for reuniting with our grown children and their families. The photographs of the property do it justice, as far as appearance, but cannot adequately convey how conducive this setting is for relaxing, laughing, reconnecting..... Another review mentioned bringing baby gates. This was a great tip. Our dogs and 10-month-old granddaughter had use of the balconies using a system of gates. Most of our meals came off the grill, with the Corolla farmers market providing fruits, veggies & desserts. At first I did not think to check in both kitchens when I searched for measuring spoons, colanders, cookies sheets, etc. There was a full complement of items for cooking--I just had to search in two places. Other review tips to heed: lower your tire pressure for sand driving and do bring a supply of paper products, garbage bags, soap, detergent,and some basic food items. It is a long drive down the beach, but also we did not want to leave our peaceful seclusion to trek down for supplies. I must say that the drives down the beach were always either scenic, or challenging, or entertaining with the wild ponies and sometimes all of the above. Each sunrise and sunset would find us cresting the dunes to capture the moment. If we had a large amount of gear we would use our SUV & drive around to the beach. We rented a surf board in Corolla and visited the lighthouse while we were there. This rental provides a unique experience and an opportunity to make some memories.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Spring Break 2011

Guest: Midwest Girl (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 04/03/11

We rented this house for Spring Break 2011, and were very happy with it! The accomodations were great, and as advertised! Comfortable beds, clean house, great decks and furnishings. The loft has a TV with PlayStation and XBox for the kids. It became a makeshift mancave for our boys - they loved having their own space! We had a question/issue with the heat while we were there, and there was someone at the house to resolve the issue within 1 hour of calling! I don't think we could have asked for more. We saw horses on 3 days of that week, and most thrilling was seeing a mare with her baby! There are a lot of steps in this house and it's a pretty good hike over the dune to the beach, which you might want to consider if you have someone that's older or has trouble walking in your party. But as someone else mentioned, you can load people up and drive to the beach to avoid part of that. The beach is great - if you're looking to have space to yourself, this is a great choice! We ate out a few nights during the week. Given the time of year we were there, a lot of the seasonal places were not open just yet. We ate at Mulligan's and had great local seafood....probably the best we had while there. We also ate Awful Arthur's and The North Banks Restaurant and Raw Bar. All were good, but Mulligan's was the best! We took our dog with us - she loved the beach, had lots of area to run, and things to check out. You'll see it's a popular place for people to take their pets. The weather was a little cooler than I would have liked, but my boys put on sweatshirts and swim trunks and still had a great time playing in the surf! All in all, this is a great place to stay if you're looking for relaxation, secluded beach and great accommodations!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Wonderful Getaway!

Guest: Starr (Grovetown, GA)
Date of Stay: 11/26/10 Review Submitted: 12/09/10

We are already talking about a trip back! Loved the drive up the beach to get to the property. Once there, the house was very comfy, with nice big windows to bring in the outside, We went walking on the beach every day and found some awesome shells. We saw horses almost everyday, waking up to find them grazing in the backyard one morning. Also saw deer and an opossum. The house was exactly what we were looking for ....a place to unwind and let the stress disappear. And the stars!! They are incredible there, bright & seemingly so close you can reach out and touch them - definitely bringing a telescope next time. We drove a Ford F150 4x4 and had no problems. Saul was a joy! We didn't have any problems, but we did call him a couple of times to ask questions.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place to get away from it all

Guest: MM (Fairfax, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/28/10

We really enjoyed this great get away. Wild horses, long walks on the beach, shore fishing, sun bathing and Jacuzzi time. We BBQ'ed every night and watched the beautiful sunsets while grilling and enjoying some beverages. The beach house is quite large. There is also a neat loft room that overlooks the main living room area and you can also see the ocean waves from this level. The one thing I would recommend is that you get a tide chart before you arrive. The best time to travel on the beach is between the 2hrs before or 2hrs after low tide. Also make sure to lower your tire pressure to 15 or 20 PSI. These two things are a must.

Recommended for:Families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Best Vacation by far!!

Guest: Geminiz (Cambridge, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/25/10

The beach house was exactly as described! Very relaxing and beautiful! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE to beach house without 4WD!! Probably best advice I could give! Even though the drive was long on the beach it was really nice! The ocean is beautiful and seen wild horses everywhere! We had the chance to meet our property manager Saul who was very helpful and kind to us. It's really nice to know you could count on him if you needed him. We brought our dogs and they really loved being on the beach, balcony which we blocked off with baby gate, and they especially loved the loft! A short trip over the dune we enjoyed the ocean everyday! The weather was great and we also got to see dolphins! Watching the sunrise in morning was beautiful and loved the incredible views in front of the house. Very nice to see the ocean and wild horses outside from the huge windows. At night it was very relaxing and romantic to sit in the hot tub which is huge and amazing! My husband and I went with friends so it was really nice that we all had our own floors so the stairs didn't bother us. The bedrooms are really nice, great stocked kitchens, awesome whirlpool tub in one of Master bedrooms, and relaxing, comfortable furniture in both living rooms! This is truley a great place to get away with friends, family, couples, children, &/or pooches. We would love to come back one day and enjoy it all over again! Thanks so much for a great beach house and best vacation so far!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great vacation!

Guest: Margi T. (Troy, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

We stayed at this home at the end of May 2010. Beautiful home, peaceful location! Not many people in the area at all during our stay, and we saw horses daily! The weather was perfect the whole week. My only complaint was getting over the dune to the ocean and back. We ended up just loading up the Expedition and driving everyone to the beach and back. It's a little too much to walk with the kids, and that sand gets HOT! We would stay there again, definitely.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Propery, Owner and Property Manager

Guest: Gene and Cherryl (Mount Holly, NJ)
Date of Stay: 04/22/10 Review Submitted: 04/29/10

This trip was off season in the middle of Spring. I thought it was going to be a disaster as soon as we arrived at the house. It was undergoing repairs and was not prepared for our arrival. In a near panic I called the owner, Morry, and explained the situation. I was worried because it was getting dark and everything was closed up in the area. Morry was very upset over the situation and showed genuine concern for us. He realized there was a miscommunication with the property manager, Saul, on our arrival date. He quickly got a hold of Saul who quickly contacted me and met us at the property. He explained he would handle this and fix everything. HE DID! He found us a property immediately in the middle of the night and we moved in and got relaxed in a beautiful house right on the beach in no time. This all proved to me that the property owner is a responsible and concerned person for his tenants and his property manager is professional and responsive to renters even in the off-season and even in the middle of the night. The next day I received a call from both Morry and Saul just to make sure we were happy and pleased with our situation. WE WERE! Although I didn't stay in this house, I highly recommend this property for it's beauty, location on the beach and mostly importantly for it's concerned owner and responsive manager. Gene and Cherryl Mt. Holly, NJ

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful Area

Guest: Zoecody (Rhode Island)
Date of Stay: 11/01/09 Review Submitted: 11/11/09

The house was a beautiful drive down the beach to a very relaxing vacation The owner was very easy to deal with and accomadating in everyway. We enjoyed seeing the horses everyday in the yards and on the beaches, visited the Currituck Lighthouse,Old Corolla Village, The Whalehead Club, and The Outer banks wild life mueseum. So much to see and do in this area including the wondeful beaches. we brought our dogs and our baby gates to keep them from the beach all the time, they enjoyed the sunny decks and ocean breezes. we plan on 2 weeks next year if possible!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, sightseeing.

Sept vacation

Guest: Ohio Yankee (Middlefield Ohio)
Date of Stay: 09/27/08 Review Submitted: 10/20/08

A storm before our arrival made things difficult, electric problems and flooding . We went to Kitty Hawk to Wright Brothers Museum and spent most of the time on the beach. We loved the wild horses and we took lots of pictures of them .

Owner response:The storm created a power outage that unfortunately prevented this renter from staying at my place. Hence I do not feel this review is relevant to my property. They do mention however some of the attractions of the area.

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YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE!!

Guest: KimmieL (Northern Virginia, USA!)
Date of Stay: 09/06/08 Review Submitted: 09/20/08

First and most important - DO NOT TRY WITHOUT 4X4 w/high clearance! The ride is great fun for passengers,tho! The drive up the beach is just beautiful. The turns for the houses are well marked by mile posts (one each half a mile). And don't miss the Carova Beach Rescue Squad/Fire Department.They have great Carova stuff that you can't find in Corolla or Duck. Now for the house. Pictures cannot accurately show how great this place is! First main floor (up one flight of steps) is very comfortable and relaxing with a nice kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a full bath with laundry room. The second floor is also very comfortable with LOTS of light (sunrises are fantastic!) and incredible views! There are 2 bathrooms on this level, kind of like his and hers with a shower in one and a HUGE whirlpool tub in the other. Then, there's the loft. We would sit there watching the dolphins swim by and my sister-in-law took her easel up there and painted a picture of the dunes. The out door hot-tub is incredible! It was almost a full moon while we were there, and sitting in the hot-tub, looking at the moon, hearing the surf over the dunes was the best! Very romantic. We saw horses everyday! Quite a few mares with babies, I even caught a "fight" between 3 stallions on video! Great furniture and decor, wonderful beds (almost as comfortable as my waterbed), fully stocked kitchen. Don't forget to bring your linens/pillows and paper products, soaps, etc. It's kind of hard to "run to the store" here. The property owner is very nice and makes the experience even better. I would recommend this house to families and couples. The stairs are a little tiring and not good for anyone with trouble walking, tho. Also, parents with small kids, take a baby gate. My family will hopefully be able to return to this beautiful place next year. I think we've found our new favorite vacation destination!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relax, relax, relax............

Guest: DGK9s (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/25/07

This house was everything advertised and more. the drive up the beach was long but well worth the trip! Low tide is definatley the best time to travel but I didn't have much trouble having to go up higher on the beach if the tide was coming in. I would suggest if you drive higher on the beach (closer to the dunes) in the softer sand that you do let air out of your tires, 20 psi is plenty to keep you from getting stuck and ALWAYS use 4 wheel drive. I had not taken a vaction in probably 5 years and this was a great way to get back into the swing of things. I am planning on a return trip next year! Also, the 2 individuals over seeing the propery during my stay were terrific, any time I had a question or needed anything they were just a phone call away and they came over within a few hours to deal with any problem or concern. This is a great house to rent if you have a dog(s), a short trip over the dune to the beach and you are at the water. The porches have great views and the steps can be easily blocked off with a baby gate so the pooches can hang out on the deck without escaping into the yard or like mine would have done, if given the chance: Head to the ocean for a swim that they never could get enough of! Terrific place can not say enough good things! Looking forward to my next visit!

Recommended for:

Great House + Great Rate = Best Vacation Ever

Guest: sbcurtiss (South Riding, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/07 Review Submitted: 04/11/07

Awesome house just a dune away from the beach. Plenty of space for just the four of us--3 levels plus the loft. 2 separate kitchens and 4 bedrooms plus the loft pullout. No crowding there! The kids loved the bunk bed and we all enjoyed the abundance of amenities offered in this home. Location, location, location. We loved the drives down the beach, went fishing every day, enjoyed the hot tub, saw some ponies in the neighbor's yard and watched the dolphins swim down the coast line. This house is in really good shape. Nothing essential missing as far as we could tell. Would definitely stay here again!

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Great Escape

Guest: safranin (Washington, D.C.)
Date of Stay: 10/01/06 Review Submitted: 02/26/07

This rental property was a lot of fun. Not as new and massive as the other mansions in Carova, this place is cozy and more the "real" beach house you look to escape to. Horses everyday, beach easily viewable from top floor/deck, great hot tub and comfortable rooms. Everything you need to live next to the beach for a week and get away from everything. If you have never been to Carova, YOU NEED A 4X4 auto. You will not make it in a 2-wheel or even an all wheel car.

Recommended for:

A week to remember...

Guest: USSS0ERT0MATTG (Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 08/01/06 Review Submitted: 09/22/06

Pictures and property descriptions just don't convey how perfect this place is! If you're looking for a vacation where you feel secluded but have access to a great beach, this house is it. If you like to sit on the deck at night, feel the wind on your face, listen to the sounds of the ocean and watch the moon cast a beautiful reflection on the water, THIS PLACE IS IT! It took us anywhere from 25 - 40 minutes drive time on the beach to get to the house. A lot depends on how many people are on the beach, and where the tide is. No problem with 4-wheel drive...just stay out of the soft sand. House is easy to find (we found it in the dark, never having been in the area before). The views from the top floor are great and our son loved sleeping in the loft. Be sure to use the hot tub at least once while you're there. It's about 100 yards from the house to the dune and maybe another 125 - 175 yards to the beach. (These are only guesses; at any rate, no one thought it was too far. Our age range was from 1 yr. to 50 yrs old, and nobody complained about the distance). We saw dolphins, caught some fish, saw a skate, and of course...the horses. Couldn't get close enough to pet them; but got great pictures. We'll have a hard time finding another house that we enjoyed as much as this one...

Recommended for:

GREAT

Guest: ccg62 (North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 09/09/06

Our family of 10, 3 children under the age of 12, had a great time, the hot tub was fantastic after a long day in the sun. We grilled, and the horses came right in the yard, we all got a chance to pet them the g-children loved it. The 4 wheeling was a little exciting for the 60 yr. olds but the young people loves it. Beds were great.

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