We stayed at Double T By The Sea 8/7/21-8/14/21. We’ve vacationed with friends the past 12 years, mainly staying on Topsail Island but this year we decided to try out Oak Island. Four adults and four kids (11-14).
Here is our review of Double T By The Sea. Our basis for comparison and/or expectation is set using the prior beach rentals that we’ve stayed in.
Pros:
• Proximity – you can’t get any closer to the beach than this house. Low dunes made transporting chairs, toys and canopy easy.
• Water Pressure – the water pressure in the showers was good, and there was adequate hot water for 4 adults and 4 tweenagers all week.
• House Temperature – the air conditioner and temperature were good and consistent. There is also an upstairs thermostat that we set one degree cooler since the upstairs bedrooms felt a bit warmer than the others.
• Deck – the deck is new and very nice.
Cons:
• Late check in – despite picking up keys at 3:50pm, we came to the house thereafter only to learn that housekeeping hadn’t been there yet. After calling OIA, they informed us that the housekeepers should be on their way. They arrived by 4:30 and were out of the house by nearly 6pm. Talk about a late check-in after a long drive….
• Cleanliness – there wasn’t trash or debris leftover in the house, but there was a significant amount of sand. The floors felt disgusting beginning on the first day so we all chose to have an indoor pair of sandals and also had an outdoor pair.
• Kitchen – of all the kitchen’s we’ve had as renters, this was by far the worst organized of them all. I think it was adequately equipped but it was hard to tell because finding anything was a challenge. After seeing the pantry and other dishes and cookware thrown about in the cabinets with no organization at all, we decided to purchase paper plates and plastic cups and forks, etc. It was just much easier this way for us.
• Outdoor Shower – this was a disappointment. It’s listed as an outdoor shower with cold water, but it’s not a shower at all. It’s a hose with a knee high spicket and there isn’t even a spray nozzle.
• Dampness – the house felt damp all week. The furniture and comforters were moist and we needed a dehumidifier. The AC was set at 73/74 so it wasn’t like we were trying to cool the house down to 65 degrees.
• Beds – the mattresses in each bed are either the oldest mattresses we’ve ever slept on, or the cheapest quality. If you move an inch while you sleep be prepared for l