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Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex

Photo gallery for Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex

Exterior
Beach Side of Duplex
Remodeled bath with upgraded tile shower
New and remodeled Kitchen with all new ss appliance
Living area

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Emerald Isle, NC
  • Place, Emerald Isle Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Flatwaters Paddling
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, New Bern, NC (EWN-Coastal Carolina Regional)
    ‪64 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom main floor Ocean side

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom upstairs street side

1 Queen Bed

Loft two twin beds

2 Single Beds

Queen Bed Main floor Street Side

1 Queen Bed

Queen Bed upstairs Ocean side

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom main floor - Ocean Side

Toilet · Shower only

Jack and Jill upstairs

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex

Dunecastle – East
Renovated. Oceanfront. Steps from the sand.
Some beach rentals claim oceanfront. Dunecastle East actually delivers it. Situated directly on the Atlantic in Emerald Isle — one of North Carolina's most beloved and uncrowded barrier island beaches — this fully renovated retreat puts the ocean right outside your door. Step off your huge front deck and you're on the sand in seconds. No road to cross. No parking lot to navigate. No long walk. Just you, your family, and the Crystal Coast at its finest.
A Home Worth Coming Back To
After a long day in the sun, you'll appreciate that this isn't your typical beach rental. Dunecastle East has been completely renovated from top to bottom. The kitchen features all-new shaker cabinets, gleaming stainless steel appliances, and everything you need to cook real meals instead of eating out every night. Both bathrooms have been fully updated with beautiful custom tile showers. New flooring runs throughout the entire home, and all-new Living room furniture means you're relaxing in comfort — not on someone's worn-out hand-me-downs.
Room for Everyone
The 4-bedroom plus loft layout sleeps up to 10 guests comfortably. The bedroom configuration — 1 King, 3 Queens, and 2 sets of twin bunkbeds tucked in the loft — works perfectly for families, multi-family trips, or a group of friends who all want their own space. Two full bathrooms keep the morning routine moving, and the outdoor shower is exactly where you want to be after a day on the beach.
The Details That Matter

🌊 Direct oceanfront with private beach access — steps from your deck to the sand
🍳 Fully renovated kitchen with shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances
🚿 Updated bathrooms with custom tile showers
🛏️ Sleeps 10 — 1 King, 3 Queens, 2 twins in loft
📶 High-speed WiFi throughout
🐾 Pets welcome
🧺 In-unit washer and dryer
🚿 Outdoor shower
📺 HD flat-screen TVs

Explore Emerald Isle
When you're ready to venture beyond the deck, everything you need is close by. Local restaurants, golf, fishing, a public boat ramp, shops, and a full grocery store are all just minutes away. The historic waterfront towns of Beaufort and Swansboro make excellent day trips, and the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is a short drive up the coast.
Saturday-to-Saturday stays. Sleeps up to 10. Pets welcome.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
With Owner permission
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Max 2 dogs with a pet fee of 400.00 under 75ib. We
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No Smoking in the house or on the property. We hav

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Please take trash to the street on checkout
Trash should be taken to the street on Sunday night and Tuesday night for Monday and Friday pick up
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Guest needs to sign the rental agreement, Security Deposit required up to $300.00

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: With Owner permission
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Emerald Isle

Located in Emerald Isle, this condo is on the beach. Beach Wheels Bike Rental and Emerald Plantation are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area and Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail. Flatwaters Paddling and Emerald Isle Adventures are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, scuba diving and windsurfing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours.
Map
Emerald Isle, NC

What's nearby

  • Emerald Isle Beach - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Flatwaters Paddling - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Emerald Isle Adventures - 7 min drive - 9.3 km
  • Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier - 8 min drive - 9.3 km
  • Camp Lejeune Main Gate and Visitor Center - 49 min drive - 46.9 km

Getting around

  • Havelock Station - 43 min drive
  • New Bern, NC (EWN-Coastal Carolina Regional) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Frank's - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Frank's Pizza & Subs - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Surf's Up Grill And Bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Fish Hut Grill - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Village Market - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Dune Castle East: Oceanfront Beach Duplex located?

Nestled on the beach, this Emerald Isle condo building is within a 10-minute walk of Emerald Isle Beach and Flatwaters Paddling. 3rd Street Park is 2.6 mi (4.2 km) away.

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 40 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 40 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 40 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 40 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 40 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

8.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Stay

Wonderful owners to work with and great property. Had a wonderful time and loved the location. Clean home and met all expectations!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Jeffrey M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun memories at Dune Castle

We had a great time, the house was nicely decorated and furnished, very comfortable. Beautiful views of the ocean.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Clyde D.

Good Place in May

House is well located and the beach is nice. We had a good time with our dogs but the house needs a bit of work to make it an excellent place to stay. A bit of paint, new carpet, and some work on the deck would help a lot.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property on the beach

Location was excellent! Steps to the beach! Will definitely return. The only issue I had was that the AC turned off at night. I kept waking up hot, and having to adjust the thermostat.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Chris G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great beach week

Plenty of space for our 5 families in this duplex (we rented both sides). The kitchen and living spaces had what we needed for the week and being ocean front is a treat. The cleaning crew ran late making our arrival a bit more complicated than normal, but our host was on top of it and communicated well with us about the delay. Great weather, a beautiful week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Gretchen B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful view

Stayed on EAST side - great location on the beach. By end of summer house was missing a few essential kitchen items - communication with customer was great. House in a little older, but well-kept. Great for our family of 7. Shared walkway to beach. Quiet, empty beach!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location

Enjoyed speaking with owners! We did a cleaning job when we arrived and enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Donna L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

evaluation

Living room furniture looked dirty and used. Electricity/outlets need to be addressed. Not much lighting upstairs. I was concerned about this issue as one outlet actually sparked. Nice location. Glad for washline on deck.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ella T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Favorite Beach House!

We have been coming down here for years and this is our favorite beach house! We rent the whole house, there are four bedrooms on each side and two additional loft rooms which is great for our kids. The deck was brand new this year and the east side got new vinyl flooring since last time we were there. The owners are very easy to work with and we truly enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

No way to be “short” too many great things to say it was great

We lost my husband on April 3 and came to Emerald Isle for bereavement leave and to be near my son at Camp Lejune. It was 2 weeks of relaxation, grieving and beach therapy thanks so much! Oh and pets are welcome mine loved walking on the beach every morning and the property is easy to keep clean such as quality deck furniture, floors simple to sweep, pile up towels when done, etc. we’ll be back!
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Diane L.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Location, location

This house offered an excellent location on the beach. This is a less crowded area of Emerald Isle. The house was very roomy. Furniture in living area and kitchen were newer. I enjoyed the artwork throughout the house. The house offered granite countertops throughout. Shower enclosures were ok but definitely not maintained. Kitchen was missing steak knives and could use a good drawer cleaning. The deck was very large but in need of repair and could use a hose to wash off the sand. The propane grill on the deck was unusual but it did work. The under the house showers could be awesome but they are in need of an update. I would not use them. Definitely a reasonable priced house for a large family especially if you rent both sides. There is very much potentail here. Diane
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

6/10 Okay

john m.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

rental review

In need of repair and update as it has aged out and needs attention. The outside shower is deplorable. The mattresses are in need of replacement now!! The beach location is superb.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous vacation

From the start it was an easy process with this rental. Right on the beach and the owner was super easy to communicate with. We had a wonderful time and no complaints.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Donna C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Terrific beach front location

Great location and property configuration for our get-away! We had a wonderful vacation. Upon arrival we noticed some cleanliness issues, specifically with the air vents and nails popping up on the deck. The owners were quick to respond and sent over the cleaning crew. (Unfortunately the cleaners arrived without masks and without the proper tool to vacuum the vents.) They did change the air filter and fix the deck boards quickly. Appliances worked great. WIFI was strong in the common areas but did not work in bedrooms or on the deck (maybe a booster?). Ping pong table on the lower level was fun. This is a very busy rental. It could benefit from some fresh paint. Photos in the listing do not quite match the décor and furniture of the EAST property. Mattresses were firm and the beds a bit creaky. Outside shower is a plus. Awesome deck furniture! Enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

6/10 Okay

Brian W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Dog Friendly

House basics, good A/C, plenty of space, nice layout, very little noise from the other side. Location was great. The playroom needs some serious attention, very strong musty odor. The Deck has several nails that are raised that can tear your feet up. Granted it is a older beach house but it could stand some serious renovations in the two bathrooms, as well as the doors, thresholds, windows. Kitchen had lots of pots, pans, bowls, a unusable can opener (we bought a new one and left it). The large but comfortable couch prohibits a simple way to clean underneath it. Found two paper plates and lots of debris from past guests still on the floor.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Lydia C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay!!!

Loved the home but outdoor showers don’t work so made our stay a bit sandy. You share the Rec room with the other side of duplex. Worked great for us since we rented both sides but that wasn’t spelled out in listing so future guests should know that. Would rent again!!!! Thanks!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mareece C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Never Doubted

I never doubted that my family and I would have another awesome week of vacation at Dune Castle. This is our third year and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There's nothing like spending time with those you love.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Teddy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pre-Fourth of July

Our stay was end of June into July. The beach wasn't crowded, and we were leaving as the holiday crowd was arriving. The location was great. The house is close enough to drive to shops/dining/grocery in less than 8 minutes, but far enough away to not be in the middle of these locations. Ocean Dr is great for a walk/run. The house itself had some expected wear from sitting beach front. The lock on the upper level sliding glass door got stuck. Sand tracks in easily on the ground level. We found the common lower level room with the ping-pong table to be fine. It's a ground level room with no windows at a beach front house; it's great for a 10-minute diversion for the kids, but not the room to spend hours at a time. It could use new paddles, though what was there was fine for the small kids. Some of the house's furnishings are dated, but more than adequate and better than expected. The house allows dogs (which was a big draw for us), so we didn't go in expecting an immaculate mansion. We would definitely stay here again. The location and price make the house worth it for our family. The owner/manager is easy to contact and very responsive. The house is a good find for what I would consider a mid-to-higher level pet-friendly property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mareece C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place!

I have a large family, so we rent both sides. The connecting door makes for moving between units awesome. The location is great for all kinds of shopping. This was our second year here. Hoping to make 2020 our third!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

4/10 Poor

Nicole K.

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in

2.5 stars- We rented both sides

We had a large group, so we rented both sides (East & West) of this beach house. We had a wonderful vacation… Emerald Isle is hard to beat! Positives: the owners were very communicative throughout the process, door code made access very easy, beautiful location, beach (very clean; like having a private beach), great deck, convenient hose to wash off the sand, spacious kitchens, a door between the dining areas that connected the two sides (this was huge for us), good WiFi (we could stream video), the cleaning crew did a really great job, extra refrigerators downstairs (which made keeping bags of ice and extra food very convenient) Negatives: the property wasn’t cleaned and ready at the specified check-in times, the outside shower wasn’t operational and was very dirty (The one side you couldn’t get into because the door was broken. The other side you couldn’t use because the door was broken and the area was filled with sand, so it wouldn’t drain), the carpet throughout the property is pretty dirty (carpet in a beach house is just not practical), the beds are pretty uncomfortable (they seem like very cheap mattresses), missing remote in one of the bedrooms, a lot of junk laying outside (we cleaned it up), trash and gross stuff under one of the beds, it is evident that the downstairs (where the game room is) was fully or partially under water at one point- it is very musty down there (in fact we didn’t go down, accept to wash clothes) In general, this place was adequate, but not a place that will knock your socks off. Updates and upgrades are definitely needed to make it a 3,4, or 5 star property. We were nervous before our trip when we read a recent (April 2019) comment that was posted, so we contacted the owners. They were very kind and called us (not just emailed) to reassure us. This was very helpful and extremely appreciated! We arrived early and could see through the windows that the place was wrecked by the previous occupants, but we went to the beach and waited for the cleaning crew (as planned). When it got to be 30-45 minutes before the first check-in time (3:00 ET) we got nervous and called the owners. They were able to reach the cleaning crew, who was delayed due to cleaning other wrecked properties (which was understandable). While waiting for the cleaning crew I was in communication with the owners (via text) and took pictures of the dirty property so they would know how the other occupants left it (trying to be helpful). At one point
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Monique I.

"DOOM CASTLE" = RIP OFF!!!!

If you love filth, mold, broken everything, overpaying, no parking, a property falling apart at the seams, this is for you! I stayed here for a month and owner said beach rejuvenation project would last "1-2 days" so kept my reservation, drove 2000 miles for fishing/relaxing and what I got was a 2 week long nightmare with 24/7 heavy equipment noise/vibration, lights, and NO beach access. Do you think the owner would care or offer any type of reimbursement? NOPE! Air conditioner didn't work for 27 out of my 28 days and when AC guys finally show up, they say owner never pays them on time so they have paying customers that need service too. Dishwasher doesn't work, beds broken, bedroom doors don't open/shut because house has buckeled, parking is impossible for more than 1 car, many screens missing so opening windows/sliding glass doors isn't even possible for air flow, NO PRIVACY DECK, game room is a mold cave. Next to public access/mega condos so people poaching your beachfront. 2nd week I was there, a group of 18 workers stayed on other side and slept in shifts, partied, blasted mariachi music until 2-3am. I was trying to just suffer thru it until window guys show up and tell me the other side is supposed to be empty! I tell owner about nextdoor so he knows about "squatters" destroying his property (filling his GAS grill full of charcoal for grilling and almost burning the deck & house down) and owner thinks it's a good idea to tell 18 thugs what single girl next door is telling him (very safe for me) when I was trying to help him (why? I don't know...). Of course, they tell him there's only a couple people staying there and he believes them. Housekeeping showed up for 15 minutes tops after 18 thugs and next renters said there were eggs and food in drawers when they checked in, clothes/shoes left, and filth everywhere. I dropped an earring under my bed and was horrified when lifted bed skirt... a mountain of old wrappers, water bottles, used Kleenex, even a pair of fishing gloves! I have paid a fraction of the price for FAR better, cleaner, and exceptionally (professionally) managed properties in EI and suggest you do too. ***To the owner... you can still make this right and I'll be happy to update all reviews to let people know you're a champion for reimbursing for the misery I dealt with. My address is on the checks you had me pay you directly to avoid your VRBO fees.*** NOT HOLDING MY BREATH
Stayed 28 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

VIRGINIA D.

We loved staying in Dune Castle- Emerald Isle!

We thank the owner for having the repairs done in a timely manner so we were able to stay in your lovely home. We had a great time. We plan on reserving the house again next year, but for two weeks in October.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018
Verified

6/10 Okay

Thomas V.

Comfortable but needs updating

Overall a wonderful week but was inconvenienced by the horrendous amount of flies upon arrival, no vacuum to clean up the sand that would be imminently tracked in, and the dryer that was rusted and needed to be ran 4 times to get anything remotely dry. Would I stay again without small repairs, no.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mareece C.

Absolutely Best Vacation!!

Our family was fortunate enough to rent both sides of this awesome house in the month of July. It was perfect... 8 bedrooms and 2 lofts (= 10 bedrooms for us) .. a game room.. plus a short, short walk to the beach was perfect. The whole family (20+) were comfortable and had a great time!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Larry Y.

Simply wonderful

What a wonderful vacation. The property is in an ideal location with beautiful ocean front views. Watching the waves crash on the shore from the deck was a real stress reliever. The Beach house was perfection, plenty of room and all the kitchen ware needed to prepare meals, plenty of seating in the living room. The House was clean with a warm welcoming at home presence. I would definitely recommend this property to my friends and would rent Dune Castle again in a heartbeat. Next time, I would rent both sides to have my family all in one place. I have two suggestions for improvement. First would be the kettle grills. We realized too late, after using the rusted grill outside by foiling the grate, that there was a new and very nice grill in the laundry room just waiting to be used. I recommend getting rid of the rusted grills asap,and let the renters know that the new grill is in the laundry room. Second, provide fans for the first floor bedrooms . Installing ceiling fans would be ideal, however simply putting a fan in each coset for use would solve the problem. My son had to go out and buy a fan to use. Aside from that, I could not have had a better experience at Dune Castle. Thank you for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

About the host

Hosted by Koral Worsham

Host profile image
About Dune Castle Rentals
Nearly 25 years ago, we fell in love with Emerald Isle when our girls were still young — and we never looked back. What started as a family beach escape became something much more. Over the years, Dunecastle has been the backdrop for countless special memories: birthday celebrations, family reunions, and milestones we'll never forget. Our daughter Ashlie even said her vows right there on the sand in front of the cottage.
Today we're blessed with 11 grandchildren, and there's nothing quite like watching their faces light up when the dolphins swim and jump just offshore — the same stretch of beach where their parents played years before.
We share Dunecastle with other families because we know firsthand what this place can mean. We hope it becomes part of your family's story too.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with Dunecastle the moment we saw that huge oceanfront deck — the kind of space where every generation can gather, relax, and take in the Atlantic all at once. Grandparents, parents, and kids all have their place, with the ocean right there in front of them.
What makes Dunecastle truly unique is the flexibility. The East and West units can connect through an adjoining door, making it perfect for large families, reunions, or groups who want to be together without being on top of each other. Rent one side for up to 10 guests, or rent both sides and sleep up to 20 — with direct oceanfront access, a massive shared deck, and the beach just steps away.
Whether you're planning a multigenerational family vacation, a reunion, or just a week at the beach with great friends, Dunecastle is built for it.

What makes this property unique

We fell in love with Dunecastle because of its huge deck and the opportunity for all generations to be able to enjoy the beachfront. We also like the idea of the adjoining door that CAN connect to Dune Castle East that can be used for large groups or families for a fun filled vacation.

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