Country Vacations & Resorts

I figured since I promote vacation rentals on this blog and the web site, I should at least be willing to review my 2010 vacation rental experience so, here goes…

I already knew where I was going this year and when. If you are still trying to decide on a vacation destination I hope this blog and the web site provide some good suggestions. By the 4th of July weekend 2010, my destination of Corolla, North Carolina – on the beautiful Outer Banks, was decided and the week of September 19th was also chosen – although I was a tad flexible on dates. Now I had to find accommodations.

After about a morning’s worth of research I had narrowed down several potential properties for my vacation stay. I was also taking my dog, CoCo, so this variable both added to and reduced my research – limiting the sheer number of possibilities. Also, since I have no children, I was able to time my vacation during off-peak days and paid off-peak rates – which usually coincide with after Labor Day weekend and the resumption of the school year.

I found a 4-bedroom, 3-bath home, 133 feet from the ocean, with a pool in the backyard and a hot tub on the deck. This alone was quite a find since many vacation homes are meant not for my 2-person, 1-dog traveling crew, but for multi-family or family group vacations. Most of the homes I’d seen advertised had 6 or more bedrooms with nearly as many baths in 6 to 10,000 square feet! I’d get lost!!

Making the reservation online was easy. I paid the pet fee and also decided on hurricane insurance – which seemed a “no-brainer” for the North Carolina coast in mid-late September. (Turns out Hurricane Igor threatened 2 days before the start of my vacation!) The home was listed as having keyless entry. Sure enough, about 5 days before liftoff, I received an email with instructions on where and when to call to get the code along with a street map of the Corolla area with a big star on my vacation rental location.

What can I say? The house was awesome.

The management company provided an initial supply of soap, dish liquid, toilet paper, paper towels, and an adequate supply of clean towels. The beds were freshly made. The house was immaculate, particularly the kitchen and bathrooms. Light switches and fans were clearly marked. Instructions for the hot tub – temperature warnings, etc., were provided – along with an astonishing array of books and DVDs for those needing a little vacation diversion. In summary, everything was exactly where it needed to be.

Including the view!

We didn’t pay extra for it, but we also got a fantastic look at the Harvest Moon on September 22nd/23rd – photo taken off the 3rd-level deck:

The vacation week ended way too soon. The weather was near-perfect, warm and sunny every day. I strongly recommend the Outer Banks and particularly the Corolla and Duck, North Carolina areas – which are a little less commercial and to me, a little more restful than Nags Head.

Check-out was as easy as leaving the house broom-clean, washing and putting away any used kitchen items, and making a phone call to the rental office. It can’t be made much easier than this.

As a side-note…we received a phone call from the property’s owner our second day there. He wanted to ensure we had no issues or questions and also called to say that a bag of complimentary bagels were waiting for us in the shop nearby. Since the bagel bakery was right next to the Dairy Queen with the soft-serve ice cream, we already knew exactly where to retrieve our bagel treats!

Unless there is an emergency or quick turnaround trip in my future, I will probably never stay in a hotel again.

And yes, I am already planning a return visit 2011…