Good to know
No surprises.
Everything worth knowing before you book, in plain language. If something here is unclear, ask us — we would rather answer now than sort it out later.
Read this first
You cannot reach these houses without a 4x4
There is no paved road to any of the three homes. Access is by driving up the beach and then along sand tracks, and the last stretch is soft sand.
Four-wheel drive is required. All-wheel drive is not the same thing and regularly gets stuck. Many rental car agreements also forbid beach driving — check yours before you book, because a recovery out here is expensive.
If you are not comfortable with this, tell us before you book rather than after. We would far rather talk you through it than have you arrive at the ramp and turn around.
How the drive worksArriving
Check-in and checkout
- Check-in
- After 4:00 PM
- Checkout
- Before 10:00 AM
Self check-in with a smart lock. Your door code arrives before you travel, so there is no key to collect and no set arrival window.
If the house is free either side of your stay we can often flex these. Ask us and we will tell you straight away.
House rules
The same in all three homes
Short list, and we mean all of it. Everything here is on the listings too.
No pets
None of the three homes accepts animals, including dogs. This is firm — we have guests with allergies staying between bookings.
No smoking
Indoors or on the decks. This includes vaping. A smoking violation means a deep-clean charge.
No parties or events
These are family houses on a quiet stretch of sand. Weddings and gatherings are welcome when arranged with us in advance — get in touch before you book.
Quiet hours, 10pm to 8am
Sound travels a long way over open sand, and the three houses sit close together. Keep music and pool noise down between 10pm and 8am.
No commercial photography
Personal photographs are yours to take. Commercial or paid shoots need written permission first.
Maximum occupancy is strict
It is set by the septic system and our insurance, not by how many people could physically fit. The limit includes children and counts everyone staying overnight.
Maximum occupancy by home
- TripleSea
Sleeps 12. Heated pool.
- OBX to Sea
Sleeps 8. Heated pool, open year round.
- Shades of Murmaids
Sleeps 8. Pool open 16 April to 15 October; hot tub year round.
Safety
Things we would want to know
Disclosed up front rather than buried. None of it is unusual for a coastal house, but you should hear it from us first.
Exterior security cameras
There are cameras covering the outside of the property. There are none inside, and none pointed at the pool or hot tub.
Pool and hot tub, unfenced
The pools are not separately gated. Children must be supervised at all times — there is no lifeguard and no alarm.
Stairs
These are elevated coastal houses. Reaching the main living floor means climbing stairs, and there is no lift.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Fitted and tested in every home between stays.
Payment and cancellation
What you pay, and what happens if plans change
- Payment schedule
- 50% of the total is taken when you book. The remaining balance is charged automatically 30 days before you arrive — you do not need to do anything. Booking inside 30 days of arrival? The full amount is taken at the time of booking.
- Damage deposit
- $500, held rather than charged. Your card is pre-authorised, so the money is never actually taken — it shows as pending and the hold is released within 7 days of checkout. Accidents happen and we are reasonable about them: the deposit is there for genuine damage, not a chipped glass.
- Cancellation policy
- More than 60 days before arrival: refunded in full. Between 30 and 60 days: half of what you have paid so far is refunded. Inside 30 days: no refund, because that is the point at which we can no longer re-let the week.
- Storm and hurricane policy
- If a mandatory evacuation order is issued for Carova covering your dates, the whole booking is refunded in full — regardless of how close to arrival it happens, and even if you are already here and have stayed several nights. You will never have to choose between losing your money and driving into a storm.
- Minimum stay
- In peak season — Memorial Day to Labor Day — stays are seven nights, Saturday to Saturday. Arrivals and departures fall on a Saturday, so a week starting any other day cannot be booked in that window. Outside peak we are flexible on both length and arrival day; send us your dates and we will tell you what we can do.
- Minimum age of the booking guest
- The person making the booking must be at least 25. Younger guests are welcome as part of the group — this applies to whoever reserves and pays.
- Cleaning fee and taxes
- A $350 cleaning fee is added to every booking, plus 12.75% in North Carolina state and Currituck County taxes. Both appear as their own lines before you pay, and nothing else is added at checkout — no service fee, no booking fee, no resort fee.
Still unclear on something?
Send us a message. You get Joe and Shannon, not an agency.