FAQs / Frequently Asked Questions

Search for your next favorite vacation home on this website and book directly with us online. We hope you enjoy browsing our website and find it easy to use!

If you have questions, our friendly Vacation Specialists are available at 252-489-4700. We are happy to answer any questions you may have to help you book the perfect Outer Banks vacation.

We look forward to having you as our guest!

Our calendars for the following year open at varying dates based on the property and its owner.

If you have a specific property and dates in mind, but don't see it open on the calendar, give us a call at 252-489-4700 and our dedicated Vacation Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Reservations are made on a first come, first serve basis, meaning that when the property is open, it is available to anyone to book. So don't delay. Once you find the right home for your next vacation, book it. 

Travel Insurance is not required, but it is strongly encouraged for many reasons, the most important reason being, no refunds will be given for hurricane evacuations without Travel Insurance. 

Trip Preserver from Red Sky covers trip cancellation or interruption due to:

- Mandatory evacuation due to a named hurricane or other natural disaster

- Uninhabitability of the destination vacation home caused by a natural disaster

- Uninhabitability of your primary residence or your traveling companion's primary residence caused by a natural disaster

- Sickness, injury, or death of you, a family member, or traveling companion

Want to learn more? Visit our OBX Travel Insurance Page for more details.

Yes! Many of our homes offer flexible and short stays. You can search for the dates of your stay and browse the available homes. Our homes list in the amenities section whether the home is available for Nightly or Hybrid (nightly during part of the year) stays.

Check-in begins at 4 PM.

Our service teams will be working diligently to prepare your home after the previous guests to ensure everything is ready for you.

If your home is ready prior to the 4 PM check-in time, you will receive a text notification making you aware. Please rely on this notification system for early access, as much of our staff spends turnover day in the field prepping houses for your arrival. 

Access instructions will be sent via email.

Some homes may require physical keys while most will have keyless entry. If you have any questions regarding your specific home's access instructions you may call 252-489-4700.

You will need to bring the following:

• Food, Condiments, Spices
  
• Specialty Food Equipment (if needed)
  
• Paper Products (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.)
  
• Trash Bags
  
• Cleaning Supplies
  
• Beach Equipment (chairs, umbrellas, toys, fishing items, etc.)
  
• Beach Towels (or rent Beach Towels from us)
  
• Flashlights, Radios, and Batteries
  
• Baby Equipment - cribs, highchairs, baby gates, etc. (or rent from Ocean Atlantic Rentals)

Provided for you:

• Linens (sheets, pillowcases, blankets, bath towels, washcloths) are provided.
  
• Pillows are included.
  
• Each home will have one roll of paper towels and one roll of toilet paper per bathroom. 

Beach Item Rentals:

Ocean Atlantic Rentals is a local vendor who rents and delivers many items to your home on the day of check-in including beach chairs, umbrellas, grills, bikes, baby equipment and more. Click here for more information about beach rental equipment.

Give us a call for other vendor recommendations for your area. 

Bed Linens:

Yes, all bed linens will be provided at no additional cost to you. Our laundry service packages the linens after laundering and they will not be opened until they are opened to make the beds. (top bunks and sofa beds are not made) 

Bath Towels:

We provide one bath towel and one wash cloth per guest permitted at the property as well as two hand towels per bathroom. The kitchen will have two hand towels and hot pads.

Beach Towels:

We ask that guests bring beach towels, as the towels provided cannot be used at the beach or pool. We do rent beach towels if that is more convenient for you.

If you're bringing a pet, don't forget to bring a towel for them, too! 

No. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premise of the rental home. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, marijuana, drugs of any kind and vaping are prohibited. 

Upon your departure, if there are signs of smoke remaining at the property, fees will be charged to clean and repair the home of any damage.

***No firearms or fireworks are allowed on the premises.***

The leaseholder is financially responsible for damage done to the property beyond normal wear and tear. Coastal Carolina Vacations reserves the right to run a credit card authorization to cover any damages to the property. You will be notified of any excessive cleaning charges or damages made and the amount that will be charged to your credit card IF necessary.

Charcoal or gas grills are provided at many of our properties for our guests to use while occupying the home for their vacation week (see listing for each property to see which is provided as sometimes this can change during the course of the year).

If the propane in your gas grill appears to be out, call our office for assistance at 252-489-4700.

Guests are responsible for cleaning and removing the remnants from around and on the grill after usage.

Grills are not permitted to be moved or placed on the wooden decks of the house due to the hazard of fire. (These rules also apply to large propane deep fryers.) The heat and grease can cause extensive damage to screens, wood & siding on the home as a result of being placed or left too close and of course also present a fire hazard. Grills and fryers should only be used on concrete surfaces away from the house for safety’s sake

Please report any issues with cable or internet to our office and we will contact the local provider (vendor) to report the problem.

Coastal Carolina Vacations is not responsible for any cable and/or internet connectivity or speed. 

Due to the Outer Banks’ diverse ecosystem, common insects such as ants, mosquitoes, palmetto bugs, midges, house flies and spiders are prevalent in the area. Factors such as rain, wind speed/direction, and temperatures will influence the likelihood of encountering these pests in or around your rental home. While most homeowners participate in quarterly pest control treatments, there is no way to completely prevent or predict these local nuisances.

A few ways you can help mitigate common pests during your vacation are:

• Keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible
• Placing trash into the designated receptacles frequently & following local trash pickup schedules
• Properly storing any food items & cleaning up after cooking or grilling
• Turning off excessive lighting, especially in the evening
• Avoid leaving buckets or items that can create standing water

Coastal Carolina Vacations is not licensed to spray or treat for pests and bugs. However, we can arrange for additional pest control services should they be needed.

*Please know that flying insects such as mosquitoes and midge flies are not treatable*

What is a Palmetto Bug? (aka Water Bug)

While it’s true that palmetto bugs are in the cockroach family, palmetto bugs are not an indicator of an unsanitary home (they are not equivalent to the German cockroach) and are simply not 100% preventable. Quite common in the Outer Banks, these unsightly pests are found both outside, and often times inside, the home as they are driven to damp, dark areas (such as lower-level bathrooms or closets) due to harsh weather conditions. While alarming to see, they are not harmful. Should you have an issue with excessive palmetto bugs, please contact our office for assistance.

What are Midges?

Midges are small, winged flies that often breed and travel in swarms. They are more common in the spring and summer months, attracted to bright lights and heat. While they are a nuisance, they do not spread disease and thankfully have a short life span of around 24 hours. If a swarm is in the area, it is common to find large piles of expired midges around the exterior of your home. Since these flies are a food source for other pests, like spiders, daily sweeping of outdoor areas is one of the best ways to deter other bugs that may be attracted by them. Unfortunately, there is no preventative treatment for midges.

Hot tubs are open year-round (unless stated otherwise in the description).

Private Pools are open the weekend before Easter through the week of Columbus day (unless stated otherwise in the description).

Pool Heat:

If your home has a heated pool, it will be listed in the amenity section of your home's description. If pool heat is not listed, your home does not offer pool heat.

Pools that offer pool heat are heated on the dates listed below (when the pool heat fee is paid):

• Spring: the week before Easter through Memorial Day week
• Fall: Labor Day weekend through Columbus Day week

Pool temperatures vary and degree of warmth cannot be guaranteed.

If your home is listed as Dog Friendly, absolutely! Our Dog Friendly homes typically permit up to two dogs (no cats or other types of animals are permitted).

Is your dog a Service Dog? Click here for Service Dog and Assistance Animals information.

Here are some tips below to ensure your pet has a great vacation, too. 

• Keep your dog leashed whenever you're outside of your home (most municipalities here have strict leash laws).
  
  
• Sand and pavement get extremely hot during the Summer. If you can't walk on the sand or pavement barefooted, neither can they! Early mornings and evenings are the best times for walking your dog.
  
  
• Fleas and ticks are prevalent on the Outer Banks. Ensure your dog is protected prior to your stay.
  
  
• Bring plenty of fresh water for your dog to drink. Drinking salt water could cause vomiting and diarrhea. 
  
  
• In the case of an emergency, there are several local veterinary hospitals that can assist you during the day. If you happen to have a problem at night, options are available but very limited. The closest 24-hour staffed emergency clinic is at least an hour away in Chesapeake, Virginia. 

Even Fido loves a great beach day! Just be aware that every town has their own set of rules and restrictions for pet owners. Make sure you clean up after your pet and deposit it in the appropriate containers.

Nags Head

Dogs are allowed year-round as long as they are on a leash not exceeding 10 feet. 

Kill Devil Hills

Dogs are not permitted on public beach areas during the hours of 9 am and 6 pm between May 15 and September 15. Service animals are allowed. Between September 16 and May 14, dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed and with an owner. 

Kitty Hawk

Dogs are allowed beginning the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor day between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm. They must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. After Labor Day, dogs must be on a leash up to 12 feet and can be off the leash if they will not disturb others at the beach. Unleashed dogs must be within 30 feet of their owner at all times and the leash must be with the owner. Violation of these rules is punishable as a misdemeanor and a fine of not more than $50. 

Southern Shores

Dogs are not allowed on the beach from May 15 - September 15. There is a year-round leash law.

Duck

Dogs are allowed on the beach unleashed year-round but must be under the control of their owner at all times. 

Corolla

Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round. Leashes are required at all times but there are no length requirements in Currituck County. 

No problem! We have a 24 hr on-call line with staff to assist you. However, we do ask that non-emergencies wait until the morning when our office is open.

And of course, call 911 for medical emergencies or fire.

No. You must remove your personal & rental items from the beach at the end of each day. Outer Banks beaches are enforcing a policy as of 2013 to permanently remove items left on the beach overnight, not to be recovered.

Coastal Carolina Vacations is not responsible for any personal or rental items left on the beach over night. 

If you're looking for the most convenient way to shop, order groceries online and have them delivered straight to your door by Instacart. Choose from local stores including Publix, Food Lion, Walgreens, and more. Our local zip codes are (Nags Head 27959, Kill Devil Hills 27948, Kitty Hawk/Duck 27949, Corolla 27927)

Visit this link below to begin your Instacart order: Instacart Grocery Delivery

Prefer to shop in person? Here are some links for our local grocery stores and pharmacies so you can locate the nearest one to you.

Food Lion

Publix

Harris Teeter

Walgreens

CVS

Looking to support local? Here are some options we recommend including a local grocer, Farmer's Markets and Stands, and more.

Browse Outer Banks Farmers Markets

Outer Banks Hospital 24/7 Emergency Room - MP 14 Nags Head, 4800 S Croatan Highway 252-449-4500

Outer Banks Health Urgent Care - Nags Head, 5002 S. Croatan Highway 252-449-6115

Surf Urgent Care - Kill Devil Hills, 400 South Croatan Highway 252-441-7870

Outer Banks Health Urgent Care - Kitty Hawk, 5112 N. Croatan Highway 252-449-7474

Beach Medical Urgent Care - Kitty Hawk, 5200 North Croatan Highway 252-261-4187

Remember: if you purchased Travel Insurance for your reservation, you do have medical coverage and should file a claim at www.trippreserver.com for reimbursement of out of pocket expenses during your travel dates.

Mail will not be delivered to the rental house. Please have items shipped directly to our office at 106 W. Woodhill Dr, Nags Head, NC 27959.

Dumpsters - If you are staying in a home or condo community that provides a dumpster, please bag and deposit your trash in the dumpster.

Corolla - Trash and recycling occur together on the following schedules:

Summer Schedule, May 1 to September 30, Monday & Friday: Buck Island, Corolla Light, Crown Point, The Currituck Club, Pine Island, Spindrift, Ocean Sands South (sections A, B and C), and remaining residences fronting NC 12 not included in the adjacent summer schedule.

Winter Schedule, October 1 to April 30, Monday only: Buck Island, Corolla Light, Crown Point, The Currituck Club, Pine Island, Spindrift, Ocean Sands South (sections A, B and C), and remaining residences fronting NC 12 not included in the adjacent winter schedule

Summer Schedule, May 1 to September 30, Wednesday & Saturday: Corolla Village, Monteray Shores, Ocean Hill, Ocean Sands (sections D and Q), Villages at Ocean Hill, and Whalehead.

Winter Schedule, October 1 to April 30, Wednesday only: Corolla Village, Monteray Shores, Ocean Hill, Ocean Sands (sections D and Q), Villages at Ocean Hill, and Whalehead.

Duck In-Season: May 1 through October 31: garbage pick-up is Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Recycling occurs on Monday.

Duck Off-Season: November 1 through April 30: garbage pick-up is Monday and Friday. Recycling occurs on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month and December 30.

Southern Shores In-Season: June 1 through September 30: garbage pick-up is Monday and Friday. Recycling occurs on Mondays.

Southern Shores Off-Season: October 1 through May 30: garbage pick-up and recycling occurs on Monday.

Kill Devil Hills, East of U.S. Hwy. 158/Croatan Hwy.: Mondays and Thursdays during the in-season; West of U.S. Hwy. 158/Croatan Hwy.: Tuesdays and Fridays during the in-season: You are responsible for bagging and depositing your own trash. Please remember to roll your bins out the night before trash pick-up, handles facing the home, as pick-up begins early. Trash placed on top of or around bins will not be picked up. Please know that during the off-season, Kill Devil Hills trash pick-up is scheduled for Mondays only.

Recycling: Occurs on Tuesday. Or you can drop-off on West Ocean Bay Boulevard, off Colington Road.

Nags Head, East of U.S. Hwy. 158/Croatan Hwy In-Season: (beginning the third week in May) Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Off-Season: (beginning the last Monday in September) Monday and Friday. You are responsible for bagging and depositing your own trash. Please remember to roll your bins out the night before trash pick-up, handles facing the home, as pick-up begins early. Trash placed on top of or around bins will not be picked up.

Recycling: In Nags Head occurs on Tuesday. Or you can drop-off at Nags Head Town Hal.

Nags Head, West of U.S. Hwy. 158/Croatan Hwy Tuesdays and Fridays year-round: You are responsible for bagging and depositing your own trash. Please remember to roll your bins out the night before trash pick-up, handles facing the home, as pick-up begins early. Trash placed on top of or around bins will not be picked up.

Check-out is no later than 10:00 am.

Our dedicated cleaning teams will be arriving beginning at 10:00 am to prepare the home for the next guests, so make sure all of your personal belongings are out no later than your check-out time. For keyless entry homes, your code will expire promptly at 10:00 am. 

We appreciate you taking care of these details prior to your departure. Thank you!

- Strip the sheets and pillow cases (leave the mattress pads in place) and leave them piled on top of the beds.

- Gather the bath towels and washcloths in the bathrooms.

- Don't forget to take all of your personal items and food when you leave.

- Any remaining food should be removed from the fridge and kitchen cabinets and disposed of properly.

- Dishes must be washed and put away or loaded into the dishwasher and started.

- Place trash in exterior property trash cans.

- Clean the BBQ grill

- Tidy the pool or deck areas, removing pool toys, seashells, trash, etc. (if applicable).

- Clean the yard after your dog (if applicable)

- The thermostat must be set to 75 degrees for AC or 55 degrees for heat.

- Ensure all windows and doors are securely locked.

If there are non-perishable items you wish to donate to the local food pantry, you may drop those items off at the office on your way out or simply leave them on the kitchen counter. 

If your home is keyless entry, your code will expire promptly at 10 am on the date of your check-out.

Our team will attempt to locate your items and if found will contact you to set up a return. You will be responsible for the cost of postage to return your items. Items not claimed within 30 days of check-out will be donated to a local charity.

Coastal Carolina Vacations will not be responsible for any items left behind. 

Norfolk International Airport is the closest major airport, and is located about 90 minutes from the Outer Banks in Norfolk, VA. There are car rental services available at the airport.

Dare County Regional Airport is located in Manteo, NC and offers charter services.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located approximately 3-4 hours west of the Outer Banks. 

Richmond International Airport is located approximately 3-4 hours north of the Outer Banks.

The Outer Banks has a very beautiful, and fragile, shoreline. In efforts to protect and preserve the shoreline, Beach Nourishment projects are essential. The process involves dredging sand from the ocean floor off-shore to be pumped on to the shoreline in an effort to widen the beach shoreline. The schedule of these projects is government regulated.

Click here for more FAQs about beach nourishment from Dare County.

Click here to see the status of any beach nourishment project in Dare County.

There are several public and semi-public golf courses in the area:

The Currituck Club, Corolla (888) 453-9400 or (252) 453-9400 - The Currituck Club website 

Duck Woods Country Club, Southern Shores (252) 261-2609 - Duck Woods Country Club website

Sea Scape Golf Links, Kitty Hawk (252) 261-2158 - Sea Scape Golf Links website

The Pointe Golf Club, Powell’s Point (252) 491-8388 - The Pointe Gold Club website

Kilmarlic Golf Club, Point Harbor (252) 491-4220 - Kilmarlic Golf Club website

The Carolina Club, Grandy (252) 453-3588 - The Carolina Club website

Nags Head Golf Links, Nags Head (252) 441-8073 - Nags Head Golf Links website

Holly Ridge Golf Course, Point Harbor - (252) 491-2893 - Holly Ridge Golf Course Link

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, houses hundreds of marine creatures that you'll find native to the North Carolina coast. 

Outlets Nags Head offers a variety of brand name & designer outlet stores.

Outer Banks Salt Cave located in Kitty Hawk offers Halotherapy. An alternative healthcare service that utilizes salt for its health benefits. Step into the Salt! The cave floor has 4.5 tons of Himalayan salt to walk on. Relax, breathe, repeat!

Pioneer Theater located in Manteo is a quaint, compact, family-run theater dating back to 1918, showing 1 movie a night without trailers. 

Visit our "Things To Do" tab for more suggestions.