Outer Banks Vacation Rental

The North Carolina Outer Banks is a ninety mile long stretch of beautiful barrier islands. On the east side of these islands are white sandy beaches and the clear blue Atlantic Ocean. On the west side are brackish water Sounds stretching as far as the eye can see in places so it appears that you are surrounded by water except for the narrow stretch of land you are on. This being the case, there are villages which appear to be remote in some aspects giving you a peaceful quiet vacation, while others are quite commercialized inviting the shoppers at heart.

This combination of ocean and sound along with much wind in places like Waves, lends itself to some of the best windsurfing waters as well as being a kite flyers dream. Sunbathing is extraordinary with the breezes off of the ocean cooling you while the sun gently warms your body. Hang gliding, strolling and biking trails, shipwreck scuba exploration, lighthouse discovery and much more. The unspoiled natural landscape of The Outer Banks is breathtaking in its innate beauty.

Inhabited for thousands of years these beautiful stretch of islands has a deep, rich heritage to study. Legends as well as history are deeply ingrained in these parts with The Outer Banks Historical Society keeping paperwork and pictures available to the public. The Wright Brothers Museum, The Wild Horses of Corolla and the Lost Colony being just a few of the day trip attractions.

You can see why this is a relative paradise with your choice of quiet relaxation or hearty adventure. So much awaits you here on the North Carolina Outer Banks. Take a look through our menu to the left and see what Outer Banks beach pleasure appeals to your vacation hungry heart.

With so many obx rentals to choose from, how do you choose one? First, use a company that specializes in outer banks vacation rentals only. Most have several hundred (or more) vacation homes in their inventory and should be able to meet your needs and wants. So do pepper the staff with all your questions, whether you want a rental in Southern Shores, Duck, Corolla, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, or Ocracoke. All the good companies will be happy to spend time with you to make sure your stay is a memorable one (in a good way).

When talking to these outer banks vacation rental companies, here are some things to ask that are not obvious if you don't know the area. So, we won't tell you about decisions you have to make such as the number of bedrooms, your budget, when you want to go, pool vs. no pool, whether you want an elevator, etc...

However, we will tell you about some tips to avoid potential pitfalls.

    * Nothing is as spectacular as an oceanfront house. However, do ask whether the oceanfront you want has a private access to the beach, and how far it takes to walk to the beach. Do not simply ask for the distance to the beach: a house that is 100 ft. from the beach may in fact require more than that to walk.
    * For any rentals other than an oceanfront, do ask how far it is to the nearest PUBLIC beach access. While you may see a nice photo of the ocean on the brochure, you may end up walking several hundreds yards!
    * When renting a semi-oceanfront, do ask whether you need to cross a road to get to the beach.
    * Some days the ocean is too rough to swim in. So do think about a house with a pool.
    * If renting a house with a pool, ask about the pool size. It is sometimes hard to tell how big a pool really is from brochure or web photos.
    * For big savings do check out the SPECIALS pages from rental companies. You may just find a good deal.
    * Do go during the off-season to save beaucoup bucks. An oceanfront that rents for $7495/week in the height of summer can easily drop to $1495 during the off-season.
    * Do ask whether the property backs to the main road.
    * If you are flexible and can wait 2-3 weeks prior to travel, then do ask for a discount. Most owners would much rather rent their house at a reduced rate rather than have an empty house for a week.
    * Do ask where you need to pick up and drop off the house key. The last thing you want to do after a long trip is to find out that you need to head North, and then backtrack South to get to the rental. A delay of say 20 miles will feel like a lot more after a long road trip. Worse, during the busy season, this can easily add an extra 30 mns! Ideally, you will pick up the key somewhere on the way to the rental. So be sure to ask the rental company whether the key pick-up point is on the way, or at least not too far from the house.

We hope that you find these tips useful.Enjoy your vacation!