Rustic Cottage Getaway on the Bay- 1/2+ Mile to the Beach! 4-Wheel Drive (Obx)

• Carova - What an adventure!

  Carova - What an adventure!

  • Guest Jennifer
  • Date of stay 09/16/11
  • Review Submitted 09/26/11
  We had a wonderful time. The fact that the house is located on the sound and just 1/2 mile from the beach means you have two great and very distinct environments to play in. The four wheel beach was a true adventure and we really enjoyed kayaking and crabbing on the sound. The house is charming and the kitchen is surprisingly well-equipped. The water does smell of sulfur, but it's fine for bathing and filtered drinking water is provided. This is a rustic and charming home and the amenities are wonderful. We really appreciated the owner providing boats, crab pods, fishing poles, kite, etc. The house and Carova provide a great combination of action, adventure and idyllic natural beauty and relaxation. The ability to access both the sound and the beach is wonderful. Sunsets over the sound are amazing! Carova is a remarkable place. We enjoyed both adventure and serenity all in one area. The owner provided great customer service.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/4

• Never Again

  Never Again

  • Guest Tony
  • Date of stay 09/22/12
  • Review Submitted 12/04/12
  Stayed there 4 nights. The horses were beautiful but also left a lot of presents in the yard, which caused smell and brought flies. The coffee maker's water reservior was dirty so we boiled water in a pot to make coffee. The AC stopped working the same day we arrived. Luckily the weather was not too hot. I would suggest to the owner to spend a little money and buy some new pots, pans, silverware and a new coffee machine from Walmart. A little re-investment in her business would not be a bad thing. Also, a few new sheets, pillows and comforters are needed. Didn't enjoy the way they smelled. There are a few safety concerns too. The stairs to the loft and to the first floor were narrow. If you have children, do not rent this house. They will definitely fall off the loft. The spiral staircase was dengerous for me let along kids and old people.

  Owner response: I'm surprised and disappointed in this review. You wrote earlier that you enjoyed your stay and thanked me for my hospitality. I really appreciated your assistance with trying to get the HVAC working and the other feedback you gave while at the house. As explained in our email conversation, the HVAC unit is new as of last year. It was working for the previous guests and I understood that it was fine to have the repair made after your visit. No other guest has said the bedding smelled. I replace the kitchen items, bedding, toys, boating and recreational items, furniture and furnishings as needed at the beginning of the season at a cost of $500 to $1000 per year. Many of the items that would last for years at my home wear out and are replaced annually at the beach house. The house is safe for children and elderly guests. You indicated that you had a dog and no children. Guest with young children can put the gate-guard up, and I'm unclear as to why you think an elderly person would need to access the master bedroom on the top floor. You moved the cot up the circular stairs; I hired two men to safely return it to the bottom floor at no charge to you. I will post a picture of the circular stairs on the web - hopefully this will be helpful for future guests. Guests have the ability to greatly damage my reputation and I appeal to people to be fair in their evaluations. Many families have enjoyed this get-away, and when I hear from guests how much they've enjoyed their get-away it warms my heart - I truly enjoy providing an affordable place with toys for healthy activities. I invite and welcome my guests to share their concerns and suggestions directly with me so I can continue to make this a comfortable home with lots of options for fun.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• A week away from the commercial

  A week away from the commercial

  • Guest Chad
  • Date of stay 08/24/12
  • Review Submitted 09/03/12
  Serendipity was as advertised and we were pleased with the accommodations and will most likely book it again. While it was not on the ocean, the back bay was just as inviting, maybe more so for the quiet that was found there. Horses in the yard were a pleasant addition and our grandkids all enjoyed watching them. The rule about maintaining at least 50 feet away is impossible to keep - they are not afraid of people. We enjoyed fresh boiled crabs caught off the dock and Black Drum caught in the surf. Surprisingly our Cell Phone coverage was excellent. While we made do with the available cooking pots and pans, the lack of a good, large fry pan made for single servings of pancakes the only way to do those, but it still worked out. Forget the Britta Water Filter - while it clears up the tap water, the salt content cannot be removed, so be prepared to bring more bottled water. Getting to the house was easy - make sure you lower your tire pressure down to about 20 lbs and bring lots of quarters for the air machine when you need to refill the air in the tires at the last Chevron Station before the beach - and a tire gage of your own, the one on the air machine is not accurate. We had a great week with the family without the distractions of shopping, Putt- Putt or other artificial entertainment, the surf, sand and wildlife were wonderful, reading stories out loud to the children brought back memories. The natives were all friendly and helpful and seeing all those pick-up trucks parked along the beach was a sight that you will only find at a football game - tailgating at its' best.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, age 55+, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Shalom Shalom (Perfect Peace)

  Shalom Shalom (Perfect Peace)

  • Guest Clarence R.
  • Date of stay 07/13/12
  • Review Submitted 08/07/12
  We enjoyed this wonderful Rustic Cottage on our family vacation. We had 7 people total, ages 47, 45, 27, 26, 18, 13, 10. I asked each member of my family what they enjoyed most about the house and I wanted to include the responses so that you may take it for what it's worth in making your decision about renting. My wife enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of the house the most, my 26 yo son enjoyed the 4wd driving everywhere you went, his 27 yo girlfriend loved the beach, my 18 yo daughter enjoyed the fact that the house had wifi internet access, the boys ages 13 & 10 loved the horses in the yard so much so that they named them because they were in the yard at some time everyday. We used the kayaks and the canoes in the canals behind the house. We caught crabs in the pots supplied with the rental and steamed them up one evening. My oldest son and I fished the surf most everyday, morning and night. We all fished from the dock at the house. I think that Kathie (owner) was very forthcoming with everything you should expect in the property and never tried to make it something that it is not. I have to be honest by saying that the entire rental expierence was pure joy in dealing with Kathie from the first contact through our stay.The house was clean, there were plenty of dishes and cooking utensils. The fact that there is 2 fridges was a big bonus when shopping for a large number of people for the week. The Fire Department a short ride away sold ice and snacks. We will rent this house again for our family vacation. I hope your stay is as enjoyable as ours.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Vacation

  Vacation

  • Guest Todd
  • Date of stay 06/09/12
  • Review Submitted 07/08/12
  This was our first time staying in the 4x4 area. The beach was great and a true vacation. The house was defintley an older house but it has a lot of charecter and is a great place to stay. We had wild horses running laps around the house at night and had great sunset views. The house is loaded with everything you need for a vacation. All you need is food and clothes. The kayaks were a blast and the canoes in the sound worked great. We didnt have the best luck surf fishing which we love to do but the views and the experience made up for it. I would reccoment staying at this house to anyone that want to experience just a good old vacation away from the tourist traps and hassles. Reccomendations: Bring a brita water filter pitcher because the water is a little rough to drink but doesnt effect showering or laundry. If you have ever stayed in an older beach house anywhere on OBX, you know what I mean. Mosquitos were rough at places and at times but not as bad as some people complain. The decks around the house were mosquito free zones. We brought our little Yorkie and he was pestered by the sea ticks getting on his legs but we expected it and planned ahead with bringing some tweezers..

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Thanksgiving Weekend 2011

  Thanksgiving Weekend 2011

  • Guest Becky
  • Date of stay 11/23/11
  • Review Submitted 11/30/11
  We had a great time! The location is quiet and fun. The house is large and lots of things to do even in the cold weather. The kayaks and canoe were used, as were games. The dogs loved the beach and the bay. We watched ballgames and listened to music and hiked and watched the dogs play in the water. The kitchen is well equipped and we made a great Thanksgiving dinner. Having 2 refrigerators was very helpful. The house is rustic but could have been a little cleaner & in better repair. You do need to take drinking water and paper products. We thought the house is a good value.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, pet owners, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/5

• great spot

  great spot

  • Guest tim J.
  • Date of stay 07/29/11
  • Review Submitted 08/25/11
  We love this place and have returned to stay the past four years. The home is quite comfortable with items you might see in many rentals. But the location provides amenities you will find practically nowhere else, particularly at the cost. We enjoy very much the ability to take a kayak and explore whenever we want. The wild horses,the tranquility and the beauty of this place are so unusual in a rental property. Fishing gear and the great dock are also a terrific bonus. The 4 wheel drive is not always an easy one but is no problem at low tide so you will need to check out the tide charts.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, pet owners, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/6

• Dilapidated and dirty

  Dilapidated and dirty

  • Guest GAK
  • Date of stay 07/08/11
  • Review Submitted 08/10/11
  The pictures of this home are apparently old, because the house was very run down looking. The dock is not sturdy. I was half afraid it would break. The inside of the home was dirty. I had to Bleach everything before I would unpack. The floors were dirty, but this is most likely due to the fact the the vacuum cleaners did not work properly. I tried to use a broom to sweep the carpets as best as I could. There was some food left from the previous renters and the inside of the refrigerators was filthy and it took them forever to cool. Most of the body boards were broken as were a couple of the beach chairs. There weren't enough oars for the boats, which weren't in the best of shape either. It's a shame because this house has A LOT of potential. The location is great, the neighbors are very nice, and the house has good "bones." It needs cleaned, painted, and regular maintenance. Looking beyond all the above listed items (you had to overlook them) it was very peaceful and would have been idyllic had the above mention items not been an issue. I may never get my security deposit back since I left a negative review (it's already been almost 4 weeks since we left and have yet to receive it) but I wanted others to be well informed before they spent their money on this place. I definately would not have rented it had I known then what I know now. There are several other properties in this beautiful area of Outer Banks that are available to rent.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Let me first say that I not only welcome feedback, I count on it. It’s a challenge to know what’s working and what’s in need of care. I’m sorry my guests found Serendipity to be less than you hoped for. It’s been a tough year with the sudden passing of my handyman. His close friend who had been cleaning the house had difficulty adjusting to her great loss and recently resigned. I was trying to help her by keeping her employed. I suspected the quality of her work had suffered though I didn’t realize the extent. I pay for Serendipity to be thoroughly cleaned for guests prior to their arrival, and rely on my guests for feedback. Since purchasing the house in 2005 we’ve replaced the septic system, the roof on the wings, the main level flooring, and all the appliances including the heating/cooling unit (the salt air wrecks havoc on metal!); We’ve also painted both bathrooms and the exterior of the house, replaced the mural, removed several trees and a ton of weed bushes/vines. This fall, we’re fixing the dock. Also, please keep in mind that I don’t market this as the Hilton of homes… it’s a rustic house with character and I hope it’s a great value. I have ALWAYS returned folks deposits and rarely charged for allowable deductions. The contract gives me 45 days to return the deposit because I wait to receive a report from the cleaning person and can sometimes be overwhelmed with life events. Please rest assured your deposit is on its way. The only way I know there’s a problem is if I hear from quests. Unfortunately Miller (previous comments) didn’t call to let me know the large temporary AC unit was pouring hot air into the room. It needed to be vented out the window - a fairly easy correction. I asked that he consider $50 refund (in addition to the security deposit) since he hadn’t called as agreed in the contract, but I sent the full $100 that he asked for. I’ve always done my best to ensure my guests have lots of toys and options for fun. My goal is to reduce the cost and the baggage folks have to bring to have a healthy fun get-away. Your feedback is much appreciated, and again I am sorry that you had a bad experience. I would like to believe that it represents a minority of guests’ feelings, as much of the season Serendipity is rented by families who come back each year.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/6

• needs a lot of work

  needs a lot of work

  • Guest Miller
  • Date of stay 04/22/11
  • Review Submitted 06/14/11
  This property has a lot of potential for a great getaway, but is still a long way from it. The owner has explained that she has put a lot of money into fixing it up, but as of April 2011 this still left much to do. I had to call the first evening because the gas oven filled the whole 2nd floor with the smell of gas due to a partially clogged line... scary! The whole chicken we had begun to cook was finished on the grill outside, but that was no worry. The rest of the weekend, temperatures inside the cottage hovered in the high 80s. The temporary air conditioning unit the owner had paid for was incorrectly installed, and her local maintenance/cleaning crew (who were very friendly) were unable to improve. With an infant there for the weekend, and no place to seek out air conditioning, this made for a challenging weekend. The stench of the sulfur in the local water supply was not as big a deal for me, but the ant, wasp and rodent infestations were. Suffice it to say my wife would describe the situation in much less pleasant terms. I do love the area, and would cheerfully recommend a stay in Carova. The beaches are beautiful, the people friendly and the culture much more laid back than your typical vacation destination. However, I would strongly recommend finding a property other than this one. Kathie (property owner) was easy to deal with during the booking process, though it sometimes took a couple of days for a phone call to be returned. She seemed a little annoyed at being called about the gas stove issue, but it was Friday night and I can understand. She was also apologetic about the air conditioning issue, if also defensive about having just paid for a temporary unit and also being on a tight budget. She did reluctantly agree to issue a small refund (less than one day's rent, not including 14% tax), but took well over a month to issue a deposit. Called back after a month, she did issue a check for the deposit, but got abrasive about the subject of the small refund we'd negotiated. She did agree to send it, but was snappy about it. Two weeks after that, I'm not surprised not to have seen the check. Nonetheless, I have no axe to grind. However, given the response (and subsequent lack thereof), I feel less guilty posting the information I wish I'd known before my stay. I feel sorry for Kathie, as the property must be frustrating to keep up with, but then I'm not the one cashing the weekly rent checks.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Great Weekend Getaway

  Great Weekend Getaway

  • Guest Esta73
  • Date of stay 04/16/10
  • Review Submitted 04/20/10
  We spent a much needed weekend away from our home.The rental price was great and there are plenty of toys to keep you busy if you want to just do something different at the beach. There were even fishing poles with a stocked tackle box. All we needed were the worms. The views of Back Bay were great from the deck. We spent most of our time on the deck looking at the Bay and soaking up some much needed sun. This is just an old beach cottage at a great price. Thank you so much for allowing us to stay and getaway from the stress we are under at home.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, pet owners, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/5

Additional information about rental rates

Rates are subject to change until the reservation is confirmed.

50% to book and the remainder due at least 30 days before arrival. The complete terms and conditions are included in the contract.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

There is a pet fee of $100 for a week stay, prorated for shorter visits. There are no other fees. The tax rate is 12.75%. Travel insurance is not included in the price.