Wonderful cottage

Guest: ELFUDGE (Reidsville, N.C.)
Date of Stay: 09/05/09 Review Submitted: 09/14/09

This is a wonderful cottage. We like it so much we have stayed there twice this year. The cottage is very clean and well kept. It is just as you see it in the picture . It comes with a washer/dryer, fully furnished kitchen, and great heating/air system. There is a fishing pond out back, it is just a short walk to the pier/beach, and comes with free fishing passes to the pier. Located around this cottage is shopping, dinning, and attractions for all ages. The owners are just wonderful to work with and even called us to make sure our stay was going well. This rental is worth every penny.

Owner response:Dear Larry and Kellie: We truly appreciate your generous comments on Cottage By The Pier! There's really nothing to add as you've covered it more thoroughly and said it much better than we could have were we posting it for rent on a website or in a newspaper! Thank you, also, for you kind words of my wife and I. Our continuing goal is to always provide our guests with comfort and relaxation away from home as that's what we believe "vacation" means! It is comments such as your that makes it all worthwhile! Larry and Janet

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Cottage By The Pier ~

Guest: Tracy B.
Date of Stay: 09/10/11 Review Submitted: 09/20/11

Hurricane IRENE took away roads leading to my vacation destination but I don't need to stay in the house to submit a review. I can't thank Larry & Janet enough for the constant emails, keeping us updated regarding the conditions. I was so saddened by the fact that they wouldn't have a tenant for the week, or weeks to come. We WILL go there in the future because of the owners. Thank you neighbor in Elliston, VA. We will never forget you. Todd & Tracy

Owner response:Hi Tracy & Todd: Thanks so much for your kind remarks!. Frankly they came at a good time for us as we're pretty sick, not just for our losses but for those of so many people here on Hatteras Island. When we first saw how Irene destroyed the swimming pool, hot tub, pool fence and even the cement decks of Pamlico Baywatch,our rental home on the Sound, it was heart wrenching. But, when we saw the near total destruction of the personal homes of our friends and neighbors, it was even worse. I then remembered an ole saying about the man who complained because he had no shoes until he saw a man who had no feet. We may have lost a swimming pool but so many lost everything, and they are the ones we truly hurt for! One family of 5 is living tempoairly in our Summer's Breeze as they lost their home & all their personal belongings. We also have a lady in Cottage By the Pier. We're happy we can share our homes with our brothers and sisters during such difficult times. Thank you again for sharing your feelings with us and those reading these reviews!! Sincerely, Larry and Janet J.

Recommended for:

A Jewel by the Sea

Guest: Dianne T. (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

This was a return trip to Randanthe for our family, and well worth it. Our son fished everyday from 6am to midnight, and was warmly welcomed by his old fishing buddies from last summer. And that is what makes this place so special - the way the local people just wrap their arms around you the minute you step onto the pier, onto the beach or into the local restaurants. The cottage is spectacular - warm, bright, comfortable. We felt at home within five minutes of unpacking. It lacks nothing, and smacks of the love and caring bestowed upon it by its wonderful owners, Janet and Larry. While our son fished everyday, we spent our time along the beautiful shoreline, picking a different place each day to hike over the dunes and enjoy the peace and solitude of the most marvelous beaches we have ever set foot on (and we have been all over the US coastline in the last 20 years). If you are a beach lover, bring a few good books and lots of sunscreen and enjoy the relaxation. Our only regret is that we did not get to actually meet lLrry and Janet in person. We had plenty of fish and would have loved to share a dinner at the Cottage by the Pier!! Maybe next year, since we definitely plan to return!!

Owner response:Dear Diane and Family: What a wonderful review! Thank you so much for your kind and gracious words! We are elated that you and your family had a great time at the beach, and that Cottage By the Pier met your needs and comfort. Nothing pleases us more than to read comments such as yours and to know we played a small part in making your vacation a memorable one! We have and will always strive to provide our guests with a clean, comfortable and well equipped home away from home! And, thanks for the invitation. Next year, if at all possible, we will make it a point to take you up on the fish dinner!! Sincerely, Larry and Janet

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Cottage of my heart!

Guest: Patty (Jamestown, NC)
Date of Stay: 04/16/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

Really loved our week in the OBX and the cottage was truly just what we needed for our getaway! This was our first family vacation in 5 years and the last before our oldest goes off to college in the fall. It was perfect! The weather was lovely in mid/late April (not too hot, not too cold!) and we enjoyed hitting all of the OBX highlights-- the lighthouses, fishing, full moonrise by the pier, great food, and every thrift shop between Frisco and Rodanthe! It was so great to have this cozy little place all to ourselves and not have to share it with other families or more boisterous groups, as is common in the larger properties. I am a teacher and this was our spring break trip. Too many kids around making lots of noise and I may as well be at work! lol! I was impressed with how clean it was on our arrival and how, despite three females in our family, we never ran out of hot water for showers! Daisy, our maltese, was very comfortable there, as well. We all had such a wonderful time and we all hope to return someday (tomorrow would be awesome, actually!) I don't know if I have returned completely yet-- still in an Outerbanks state of mind! Thank you for the use of the cottage. It was great!

Owner response:Dear Patty and Phillip: Thank you for sharing with all the wonderful time you had at the beach the week of April 16-23! We're very happy we could provide you a clean and comfortable cottage as your base of operations for seeing many of the sights and attractions offered on the outer banks. Sounds like you had a great time, and we do deeply appreciate your sharing it with us! We sincerely hope you will consider this, or one of our other vacation homes when you next plan a trip to Hatteras Island! Larry and Janet

Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, girls getaway, families with teenagers.

Cottage By the Pier

Guest: Barb (Marietta, Ga.)
Date of Stay: 09/23/10 Review Submitted: 10/06/10

I thought the description of the cottage was very accurate. I loved the well equipped kitchen. I loved the rocker in the sitting area. The cottage was very clean and easy to maintain.Anyone with kids would love the childrens room with bunk beds. The bedroom we stayed in had a queen sized bed and the other room had a double. Our bed was very comfortable and I am usually very picky about that. Larry, the owner, was so gracious. We really loved staying at the cottage. It's so close to everything....the beach, the pier and all sorts of stores. I have already recommended the cottage to friends should they decide to take a vacation at the outerbanks. My husband and I wanted a relaxing vacation and not one filled with a lot of activity. And, It was just that. We relaxed while fishing from the Rodanthe Pier, watching the young people kite surfing, and just sitting and walking on the beach. I collected lots of beautiful seashells. Our dog enjoyed the vacation as much as we did. She and the fiddler crabs did battle and the fiddler's won. As far as restuarants in the are go there are so many to choose from.We highly recomend The Captain's Table restaurant and the Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant (which is in Manchese) but is well worth the drive. The seafood was delicious! We, also, bought great seafood to cook ourselves.We purchased it from O'Neals in Manchese at the Fisherman's Wharf Industrial park. For $18.00, we got flouder and sea mullet that would have cost at least $60.00 at home from a retail store. Manteo is a great little town to walk around in. They have interesting little shops to explore and beautiful harbor views to enjoy. We liked visiting Buxton as well. It has large grocery stores and good prices. I enjoyed the Buxton Book Store and discovered a wonderful Southern writer that I was not familiar with. Her name is Karen White and the book I read is The Memory of Water. I could hardly put it down.. I look forward to vacationing at the outerbanks again and would definitely rent the Cottage By the Pier. Thank you, Larry, for the great time we had at your cottage and for just simply being SO NICE! Barbara and Ken

Owner response:DEar Barbara and Ken: We truly appreciate the very kind and generous remarks regarding your stay in Cottage By the Pier, and for sharing with all the wonderful time you and your family had while at the beach. We're so happy to hear such nice comments as it makes our efforts to provide our guests with a clean and well equipped home away from home all worthwhile. We pledge to continue providing our guests the best in comfort and cleanliness! Thank you! Larry and Janet

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

Great stay in Rodanthe

Guest: Bill and Kerry (Orange County, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/11/10

The property was all that the owners said it was. Close to the Pier, close to the sound, clean, well stocked, everything working! We had a great week. We really enjoyed the fishing pond behind the house where the kids could throw out a line and catch Spot, Croaker, and even a couple of crabs. Sea turtles swam right up to our shore! The beach and pier were very close, just a short walk down the road of a bit longer than a football field. We fished off the pier (no charge) and caught some bigger fish, went sea shelling every morning, body surfed during the day, and had beach fires at night (below the high tide mark). Really liked the outdoor shower, with hot water, when we got back to the cottage after a ocean swim. Being from California it was a completely different experience for us and we loved it. Thanks Larry for checking in with us as well to make sure everything was going well, appreciate it! Great place you have and the location and price were perfect!

Owner response:Dear William and Family: We very much appreciate your kind words regarding both your stay in our cottage and how you and family enjoyed the area and activities! When we read reviews such as yours, it makes our efforts all worthwhile! As for the personal touch we put forth in communicating with our guests, we do this as we very much want them to return home with wonderful memories of their vacation on the outer banks! Our sincere thanks again for your most gracious comments! Larry and Janet J.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great time in Rodanthe

Guest: Bill and Kerry (Orange County, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/11/10

The property was all that the owners said it was. Close to the Pier, close to the sound, clean, well stocked, everything working! We had a great week. We really enjoyed the fishing pond behind the house where the kids could throw out a line and catch Spot, Croaker, and even a couple of crabs. Sea turtles swam right up to our shore! The beach and pier were very close, just a short walk down the road of a bit longer than a football field. We fished off the pier (no charge) and caught some bigger fish, went sea shelling every morning, body surfed during the day, and had beach fires at night (below the high tide mark). Really liked the outdoor shower, with hot water, when we got back to the cottage after a ocean swim. Being from California it was a completely different experience for us and we loved it. Thanks Larry for checking in with us as well to make sure everything was going well, appreciate it! Great place you have and the location and price were perfect!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

March in Rodanthe

Guest: Megary (Northern Virginia)
Date of Stay: 03/19/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

We stayed at the cottage for a long weekend in March. It was wonderful! It's very quiet on the island in the off season. Good for romantic getaways! The cottage is very well kept, stocked, and clean. It has a very cozy feel. It's very close to the beach/pier, a few hundred feet. I loved it so much I hope to come back a couple more times this year!

Owner response:Dear Megan: We do sincerely appreciate your positive comments regarding your stay in Cottage By The Pier. It makes our efforts to provide a clean and comfortable home for our guests to enjoy worthwhile. We pledge to continue doing what is necessary to make our guests stay in the cottage most enjoyable. Thank you for taking the time to provide your most gracious comments. Larry and Janet J.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

March in Rodanthe 2010

Guest: Megary (Northern Virginia)
Date of Stay: 03/19/10 Review Submitted: 03/24/10

My boyfriend and I stayed at the cottage in March 2010. We had such a wonderful time. The cottage was just perfect for our needs, very clean, well maintained, well stocked. It's very close to the beach. The hot tub is wonderful at the end of the day. The owners even called during our stay to make sure everything was okay and we had everything we needed. They were a pleasure to do business with!! The pier and most attractions are closed in March but the privacy and quiet was just what the doctor ordered! I look forward to many trips in the future!! Many Thanks!!!!

Owner response:Dear Megan: We deeply appreciate the generous comments on your stay in Cottage By The Pier this past week, and are most happy that you and your boyfriend enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing time! We do strive to provide our guests with an ultra clean home away from home and all the amenities one can ask for in the cottage. It is your comments and those of many of our prior guests that makes it all worthwhile. We shall continue to maintain a high level of cleanliness and comfort for all of our guests. With sincere gratitude, we are Larry and Janet

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/29/09 Review Submitted: 11/29/09

Just wanted to let you know that we have arrived home safely and totally enjoyed our week in the Cottage by the Pier. Everything was just as described. I must compliment Janet for the very well equipped kitchen---we have stayed in plenty of larger houses with less kitchen ware than what you guys provide---I was able to cook a very nice Thanksgiving meal with what was available at the cottage. The fishing passes to the pier were a real plus. At $10 per day per person, having that included in the rental agreement is no small amenity! We caught 2 nice keeper flounder and a bunch of "dogfish" (shark), that are supposedly good to eat. Thanks again for letting us enjoy your little piece of Paradise! Also, the video collection was good---we particularly enjoyed "Benjamin Button." May have to buy that one myself! This is a perfect rental for a small family---it has everything you need. This particular time of year, there are virtually no restaurants open---you will need to buy food at the Food Lion in Avon and prepare at the cottage!

Owner response:Dear Martha: Thank you for your most generous comments, they are what make our efforts to provide the best for our guests worthwhile! Be assured we will continue keeping the cottage tiptop for our "great" guests! Larry and Janet

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