Horseplay

HORSEPLAY! Remaining weeks are discounted. Come enjoy fantastic beach views at a fantastic price! Private pool, hot tub, game room, well stocked kitchen, lovely decor!

Come Escape…Relax…Dream at Horseplay Great ocean views.
Create your memories at Horseplay - an enchanting home where the wild horses roam! This gorgeous five-bedroom home is located less than 400 feet from the beach on the 4x4 beach. It boasts magnificent views of the ocean from all three levels. Wake up to the amazing sunrise over the Atlantic

Location

1627 Sandpiper Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 26' 35.592" N, 75° 50' 36.0924" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Horseplay

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Horseplay 2024

Reviewed by Timothy C. on 2024-10-28
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This is our second time staying at Horseplay. We love the house, the spaciousness and the proximity to the hard road (for errands, etc.) Laura was a gem to work with. Horseplay met all of our needs. We had a family of 10; there was space for everyone.
Looking forward to more vacations in the years to come.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your nice review and for your return visit to Horseplay. We LOVE our returning guests. Horseplay is a great home for families, with three living rooms for diverse needs! Kids can be playing video games while another group listens to music and the other group watches a movie. Everyone is HAPPY! :-) We hope you'll come again. We have a repeat guest discount for our returning guests! :-)

Family time @ Horseplay

Reviewed by Mary R. on 2024-09-09
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Recommend to Others
Very happy with the rental property. Our host was always available and friendly, providing us with good information.
Manager response on 2024-11-15 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your nice review. Horseplay was a grand adventure wasn't it? I know your group

Lance Review

Reviewed by Bob L. on 2024-07-29
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The entire family enjoyed Horseplay very much. There is plenty of room for our family of 11. Plenty of bedrooms and common area to make all of us comfortable. This is the 2nd time we've stay here in the past 5 years. This house is however starting to show wear and tear and could use some general maintenance. We had an issue with not having adequate ice. A commercial ice machine would be very helpful. We had an issue with the pump quitting and had to be repaired. A handle in the 1st floor bathroom was off the shower. The front of the a drawer in the kitchen came off and needs repaired.
Manager response on 2024-08-02 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review. Horseplay is a very spacious home with multiple areas for living, so large families can be together or apart as needed.... never on top of each other. As far as upkeep, these owners work diligently every year to keep the house in good shape. As you can imagine, it is a constant battle to keep up with everything on any house, much less one in the vacation rental market. Things break, we just have to fix them in a timely fashion, which we did. Sorry you were disappointed.

Great house and location

Reviewed by David B. on 2024-08-02
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We had an awesome time with the whole family. This house is an easy walk over the dune to the beach, and being about 3 miles from the end of the road it's the perfect balance of not too much beach driving, but still remote enough to have lots of space on the beach. Driving on the beach was a fun novelty. The house itself has so many full bathrooms! And the top floor is great being completely open concept with great views. We had a great stay and highly recommend for anyone wanting a more remote beach trip, but still close enough where going into town for shopping or ice cream isn't too much of a hassle.

Wonderful week (despite hurricane Debby, lol)

Reviewed by Karen D. on 2024-08-12
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This was our 26th year coming to OBX, so we've been in many houses. This is one of our favorites! Despite weather from tropical storm, we had beach time every day, loads of fun, and loved the layout and everything about this house. In fact, we are booking it again in 2025. Also, Laura was FANTASTIC from day one in communication, service, and professionalism.
Manager response on 2024-11-22 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are SO GLAD you loved Horseplay. The layout makes it easy for you to gather or disperse!! ;-) Sorry about Debby!! What a pain she was! Thanks so much for your kind words and for your nice review.

Horsing Around at HorsePlay

Reviewed by Patricia P. on 2024-08-05
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What awesome accommodations, this house was wonderful. All 11 of us had plenty of room to be together yet a place to go to for privacy. Our view of the ocean was spectacular, saw dolphins jumping and loved seeing and hearing the waves. We all enjoyed the ocean and the horses were definitely a highlight. We even had some go right below our balcony! Highly recommend this house.

Horses Abound

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-06-26
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Great week at Horseplay. The house was well maintained and had plenty of room for our guests. The pool was great, not too big, but just right. Everything was clean and the service and amenities just right. Good location with just a short drive to the beach. Plenty of wild horses that actually set up in the back yard several times, cool. Laura was great and couldn't be more satisfied. Next time we plan to vacation in Carova, this place will be on our short list!
Manager response on 2023-06-29 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So glad you enjoyed your stay!! The owners of Horseplay love their home and it really shows! The house is so comfortable, with spaces for everyone to do their own thing or gather together. Hopefully you all will consider coming again.. we'd love to have you. And thanks for all your hard work upon departure. :-)

Wow!

Reviewed by William B. on 2023-08-07
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It was awesome! Perfect!
Manager response on 2023-08-30 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
WOW! is the best review ever. THANK YOU!!! So glad you are coming back next year. It is our pleasure to have you again!

Great vacation home!

Reviewed by shawn M. on 2023-12-11
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House was as described and very clean. Excellent views and a great floor plan for a family vacation. We have rented other homes in the area that we were disappointed with the cleanliness and overall condition and Horseplay was a pleasant surprise.
Manager response on 2023-12-19 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your nice review. We are so glad you were pleasantly surprised!! It's always good when you can relax in a home that is well cared for! Please come again. :-)

Best Time Ever!!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-08-09
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This was our second year in a row renting a house on the beach. This house has it all! The setup is great. All the bedrooms have their own bathroom. The kitchen is well-stocked with all sorts of utensils and “tools”. They even had measuring cups and spoons! The house was clean and the property manager is excellent....very helpful and very responsive! I would definitely rent this house again!!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your review of Horseplay. You are right, the kitchen is ready for any avid cook as well as the frozen pizza chef. ;-) Each bedroom having their own bath makes it EASY to be private in private while multiple living spaces allow for much gathering and gabbing. Horseplay makes it easy to do either or both! Don't forget though, the horses also love Horseplay!! You are sure to see quite a few throughout the week. We are so glad you are Carova Cottages fans. Come again, we'd love to have you!!

Almond Beach Week 2023

Reviewed by finley a. on 2023-10-16
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We had a blast! Worked out perfect. Laura was great to work with the whole way through. The house had everything we needed and then some. Our children loved that we could park the car with all of our stuff on the beach! We also saw horses just about everyday, sometimes in our yard! Watch your step. A great stay , would highly recommend. Will definitely book again with Carova Cottages!
Manager response on 2023-11-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Wow, so the horses left you some gifts??? ;-) We're so glad you loved the house and the vacation and EVERYTHING!! Please do come again!

Excellent Place to Stay

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-07-03
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We have zero complaints
Manager response on 2023-07-03 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I like that. Zero complaints is the goal!!!!! LOL THANKS

Horseplay Vacation

Reviewed by Nickolus S. on 2024-06-26
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Recommend to Others
Laura is great to work with and our vacation experience was plesant. We have rented this home 3 times over the past 3 years and Carova Cottages does a good job with upkeep.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your kind words. We do our best, but really it is about the owner's involvement as well. These owners LOVE their house and keep it up nicely. It's a tough job in this sandy, salty, windy environment. Did I mention sand and salt? LOL THANKS so much for your review. Will you be coming back in 2025?

Wonderful vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-07-21
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Recommend to Others
We had the entire family with us for the week. There was so much space escape from each other and big enough space for when we wanted to hang out together. Loved the location. We really loved seeing the wild horses roaming around. I'm pretty sure we saw at least 4 of them a day. We had a mom and her baby greet us on the patio when we arrived. So neat!

Wonderful stay at Corolla, NC with the wild horses!!

Reviewed by CONNIE C. on 2019-09-30
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Vacation was delayed for 2 1/2 days due to Hurricane Dorian evacuation. But that didnt stop us from enjoying the rest of our time there. It is an absolutely beautiful location on the 4x4 beach. Very quiet and relaxing which is what we were looking for. Property manager, Laura, is absolutely wonderful to deal with and kept us posted on the re-entry process. The house is a fabulous layout and very roomy. Loved the pool and short walk to the beach. Although this is our 2nd year at this home, I must say it is in need of some maintenance. Coat of paint on lots of areas, replace some broken pool furniture, repair 2 doors that are very difficult to lock and unlock....but still a very enjoyable place to stay.

Location Location Location

Reviewed by Unknown on 2019-11-04
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This was our first time visiting Corolla and it didn’t disappoint. A very short walk to the beach and a pool and hot tub at the house meant we barely left to go into town! This area is very unique and absolutely stunning. We brought along our dogs for a very reasonable fee. Certainly one of our best vacations ever. Laura was very helpful answering all of our questions and we appreciated this very much! We did see the horses very close to the house which was amazing.

Awesome Getaway

Reviewed by Jessie P. on 2020-06-15
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Recommend to Others
Horseplay is an excellent home and a great getaway. This is our 2nd year at this wonderful house and I would highly recommend this property. It is well appointed and maintained perfect for large families or multiple family vacations
Manager response on 2020-06-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad you had another good week at Horseplay! The weather sure was PERFECT! I hope you will make this home your annual vacation spot! :-)

Best Vacation Ever

Reviewed by Jen w. on 2020-07-23
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Horseplay was everything we'd hoped it would be - and more. Watching the horses graze and the dolphins swim was just magical.
Manager response on 2020-07-29 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So you are coming back next year right? We'd love to have you. VIRGOS RULE! ;-)

Perfect Place to Vacation during Pandemic

Reviewed by Sarah G. on 2020-08-04
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Recommend to Others
We had a very nice time!!! The manager was really helpful and answered all of our questions very promptly. The facilities were wonderful and clean. I highly recommend!
Manager response on 2020-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review. I hope you all had a great time. We all need a vacation this year... and if you have to go somewhere, may as well be a one stop shop. Horseplay has everything you need. Please come again!

Fabulous Getaway!

Reviewed by Jenni C. on 2020-11-02
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We were lucky enough to spend two weeks in Oct-20 staying in this wonderful home. Thanks to remote work and school, we were able to keep up with regular life while enjoying all the extras this home and the beach had to offer! There was plenty of room for our family to spread out in the house and the kitchen was great for serving up family dinners. The beds were comfy and we enjoyed both the pool and hot tub. We didn't have any maintenance issues that required assistance while we were there.

The beach is just a short walk away, and the horses made regular appearances! They surrounded the house one day, so it was like we had our own personal horse show. Sunrises and sunsets were beautiful. We also saw dolphins on the last day, which was fun, too!

Hope to go back someday!

Fantastic Views

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-09-13
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Recommend to Others
great house! great location,! great views!

Magnificent Family Vacation spot

Reviewed by Ann C. on 2021-09-06
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Beautiful weather, great accommodations and wonderful family fun! We truly enjoyed the natural habitat of Corova. Quiet and Beautiful location. The layout of Horseplay was perfect for our family and Laura was fantastic!

#seeyououtthere

Reviewed by Timothy C. on 2021-10-26
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Wow! What a fantastic week we had.(Oct 16-23, 2021) Horseplay met all of our needs and expectations! We had a family of 8; there was plenty of room for all of us! We enjoyed sitting on the beach, fishing and watching the horses. My son brought RC planes and did some flying both day and night. Laura did a wonderful job communicating with us prior to the vacation and even stopped by on the day we departed. It was sad for all of us to leave this beautiful place. We would definitely return to this area in the future. (Try that # in the title for interesting places folks travel to)

Fantabulous!!!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-11-01
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It was a wonderful vacation! Met all expectation! Laura the property manager was extremely helpful, very personable and so easy to work with. She made all the difference in the world. She answered every question and helped throughout our stay, always available. Thank you to her and to the owners. This place was clean, well taken care of and some occasions breath taking.. Our first day we woke up to the wild horses roaming and seen them probably 4 days while we were there. Sun rise was beautiful! The accommodations were excellent, very well stocked kitchen. Weather was a little rough first couple of days but this was expected we went in the off season. House was more then expected with decks almost all the way around 2nd and 3rd floor, the screened in deck on the 3rd floor was a great way to start a day. Beds were comfortable, pool and hot tub were the best... I would recommend this place to anyone, and already have...

HorsePlay

Reviewed by JENNIFER G. on 2022-08-08
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Excellent Vacation Home! Some issue when we arrived all electrical surge related from a storm, Laura had everything taken care of by the next morning, and she was super helpful. Excellent to work with!!

Paradise in the sand

Reviewed by Unknown on 2022-10-05
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Our vacation was more than we were hoping for. The house was/is clean, very well stocked with plenty of room.

Perfect Family Home

Reviewed by Aaron F. on 2022-09-25
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This was our first time staying on the 4x4 beach & let me tell you it did not disappoint. This house was perfect for our family vacation & was very easy to find. The views were so pretty & the wild horses made it even better. Very clean and everything was easy to find. We would recommend this house to everyone.

Another Memorable Stay

Reviewed by Nickolus S. on 2023-06-19
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This is our second stay at Horseplay. The accommodations were great for a family of 10.
Manager response on 2023-06-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So glad you enjoyed your second visit. We hope you will make it for a third!!!

Beautiful Serene Setting

Reviewed by Mark G. on 2023-05-29
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House was fantastic, location was ideal, wild horses were wonderful but the weather was awful. Thank goodness the house was so spacious and well-stocked because the weather kept us indoors for 5 straight days.
Manager response on 2023-06-13 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
And the week after as well!! That nor'easter lasted almost TWO WEEKS! ACK! But yeah, at least Horseplay was a good place to be, with a good view of the ocean with all that beautiful surf. It is so cool to watch a good storm with the ocean all kicked up! Maybe you should try again? LOL. You are bound to get better weather!!

Great Getaway

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-06-22
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I was very impressed with the size, cleanliness, and location of this house! The weather wasn't great so we spent a lot of time inside playing games. It never felt crowded and the view was beautiful! We saw wild horses daily. Laura was great at communicating with us! She went above and beyond reaching out to give us alternate directions due to the weather. We enjoyed our stay immensely and hope to visit again next year!
Manager response on 2023-06-23 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your nice review. Hopefully the wind will stop blowing the next time you come!! ;-)

Great place to stay!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-05-02
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We had a great time. Accommodations are clean and comfortable and perfect for a large family stay. We woke up to horses 3 out of 7 days right outside this house. Perfect place to unplug listen to the waves and get away from the hustle and bustle.

Can't wait to return!

Reviewed by Tawnea L. on 2016-05-09
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We had an absolutely wonderful time during our vacation. The house was beautiful and comfortable and we felt instantly at home. We are looking forward to returning next year for a longer stay.

4x4 Carova cottage vacation

Reviewed by Terry A. on 2016-07-18
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This vacation was way above our expectations.. Absolutely gorgeous !! From the moment we entered the sand road, to see horses walking by you on the beach .. Was just awesome .. The house was just as pictured ~beautiful ! We had our family with us and not once did we feel crowded.. Loved sitting on the deck watching the Dolphins .. And hearing the ocean waves .. The pool was perfect, our grandkids loved it ... We would love to come back, everyone's favorite vacation spot .. Thank you Laura for everything .

Ultimate family get away

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-08-22
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Our family of 11 aged 1 to 84 had a very peaceful week with perfect weather. The house was roomy enough that anyone who wanted quiet alone time could have it. The pool and hot tub were wonderful, the kitchen well equipped, and the views spectacular. Loved the horses and lizards too.

Carova Beach May, 2016

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-06-13
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My Husband and I had never been to the Outer Banks. Seeing the wild horses was on my Bucket list.....and the result was beyond my wildest dreams!! Beautiful beach, house and horses!!We met Laura, the property manager. She was wonderful to work with and provided appropriate info for our trip. Can't wait to go back!!!! 4WD a must ....worked out perfectly!!

Such a wonderful vacation

Reviewed by Danielle N. on 2017-07-31
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We had such a great time at Horseplay! Laura, the property manager was always very responsive to all our pre-trip questions and the odd question we had while at the house.
Horseplay was clean, well equipped, comfy...exactly as others had reviewed. The pool was perfect - and take the advise of management - summer heat sufficiently heats the pool!
When we arrived on the beach to drive to the house, within a few minutes of our drive we not only saw some wild horses, we also saw dolphins jumping out of the water. All week long we continued to see playful dolphins and horses. The horses were both at the beach and around the house. Absolutely amazing.
A few notables - not negatives, more just nice to knows. Weekends are very busy on the island but if you stay out of Duck you will avoid most of this traffic. Arriving ahead of your check in time is advisable to get ahead of the weekend beach traffic. Also, for those with kids, cars do get the right of way on the beach...this is especially important during low tide.
Overall, our group of 8 (4 adults and 4 kids) had a fabulous week. We definitely recommend this house and the area. What an incredible experience we had!
Manager response on 2017-08-01 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for the nice review. The wildlife here is so thrilling! We never tire of watching the horses, particularly when they are playing! The beach driving is part of the excitement, but you are right, it is a little unnerving when relaxing on the beach. Using a vehicle for a barricade is pretty effective, but even so, Carova is definitely not your typical beach setting! There is an untamed feel here that is part of the draw! I hope you will return to Horseplay again. Come in September and we'll crank that pool heat up! ;-)

Horseplay

Reviewed by YAZMIN M. on 2017-05-08
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Great
Manager response on 2017-05-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you. We are happy you enjoyed your stay.

Vacation at Horseplay

Reviewed by Renee K. on 2017-09-12
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Beautiful home, felt warm and welcoming. Saw wild horses every day, short stroll to the beach. Ocean view was breathtaking.
Manager response on 2017-09-13 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much. Horseplay is a nice place to unwind!

Must Play at Horseplay

Reviewed by Stephen T. on 2018-01-10
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Arrived at Horseplay to find everything in order. Laura James was excellent in insuring the home was ready and any problems were addressed. House is in great location to the beach (two minute walk). Kitchen was well stocked. Really enjoyed eating in enclosed porch during sunset. My dog had lots of space to play and relax. If you want to see wild horses, they frequently pass through and even stay on the property. Swimming pool and hot tub nice for a cooler day or when the ocean waters are rough. I highly recommend this property.
Manager response on 2018-01-15 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANK you for the nice review. You managed to capture the essence of relaxation that comes with a stay at Horseplay. It is a nice spacious house with an easy walk to the beach! Sunsets from the screened porch with a nice meal and family gathered around... PERFECT!

Excellent first trip to outerbabks

Reviewed by Unknown on 2017-10-26
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Horseplay was a great place to stay for our family’s first trip to the outer banks! It had everything we needed. The hot tub and pool were great. We went in mid/ October so we added pool heat and it was perfect. It was an easy 3 min walk to the beach. Laura was awesome! We left a few things accidentally after our stay and she shipped them to us immediately. She was always willing to answer questions.
Manager response on 2017-10-27 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANK you for the nice review. We are so glad to be able to offer pool heat for those chilly fall months. Sometimes the ocean is warm enough but buying the pool heat is playing it safe! Hope you can make it back next fall.

Horseplay Adventure

Reviewed by Unknown on 2018-07-04
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We had a wonderful vacation. There were many visiting horses, the home met the needs of our family and everything functioned. Property manager Laura and VRBO were extremely helpful. Be aware that you DEFINITELY need 4 wheel drive and the mile markers are difficult to spot. For the cost of this home, I did not expect rust in the toilets and tubs, knobs that fell off the bottom of the coffee table, dining room chairs that we kept reassembling or dishes (clean?) still in dishwasher upon arrival. These are minor issues, however - it is a beautiful location and great home.
Manager response on 2018-07-05 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your review. SO SORRY the dishwasher was not unloaded... that sometimes happens when the guest before didn't start it and the housekeeping staff arrives later in the day and must start it for them. Thanks for the heads' up on the chairs and the coffee table. These are things I cannot know unless I stay at the home myself, so I am glad you let me know. There is a water conditioning system at Horseplay to alleviate "beach water". The iron can sometimes get through anyway, but I will be sure to mention it to the water service technician. It seems as though the vacation was successful despite these issues and I am glad you enjoyed your stay. The wild horses do make it magical.

Beautiful interior, great floor plan, and quick access to beach

Reviewed by Leonard B. on 2018-08-30
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The house will not disappoint. Having the main areas (living room, dining room, and kitchen) on the top level with an open floor plan and lots of windows worked very well. Beds were comfortable too. Location is away from the crowded beach areas which is a big plus.
Manager response on 2018-09-22 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
WE love it when folks love our houses! I hope you will consider a repeat stay at Horseplay. We would be very happy to have you.

Wonderful Vacation

Reviewed by Kim S. on 2018-09-14
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The house was perfect, the weather that week was perfect - couldn't ask for a better vacation! My family enjoyed all the space, was great to take a dip in the pool after a day at the beach!
Manager response on 2018-09-22 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Horseplay is the perfect house! I hope you will come and stay again. What a GREAT WEEK of weather you had too... PERFECT!

Incredible week

Reviewed by Perry S. on 2018-10-22
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Stayed here for the last week of September. Woke up three separate mornings with several horses grazing in the yard. Add the sunrises and it was such a surreal start to each day. The houses is very adequate and would certainly rent again. Shows some wear and tear of a rental, but expected. Stocked with everything! Forgot a few items for preparing meals before we left home and always found what we needed in the house. Quick walk to the beach. Only 3 miles off the paved road was perfect for getting back into town when needed. Barely saw any neighbors all week. Pool and hot tub were great. For anyone who plans on watching some sports on TV, you might be disappointed. Cable is basic, there are no ESPN channels, FS1, etc. Wasn’t a big deal for us, but a heads up for the sports fan. Laura was readily available for any questions. She was outstanding and would be happy to rent from her again.

Fabulous house for a big family! The horses come to you!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2018-08-25
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Great house to spread out the family on three floors. Great views, easy walk to the beach. Plenty of beaming sunshine in the house. Greatly appointed. Wrap around deck is huge with a great screened in porch on the side. Small pool but lovely. Master bedrooms are great but could use new mattresses and pillows. We would go back again and again but be prepared for not only the sandy drive but potential flooding on the “roads” if it rains. It’s a part of the seclusion though that we loved. We saw the wild horses day and night, it was magical!
Manager response on 2018-08-30 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for the nice review. Your stay coincided with that EPIC amount of rainfall. I think they said it was 20 inches before it was all said and done. What a crazy storm. And the "roads"... rivers? But what a nice house to be stuck indoors! And I think you ended up with some sunshine before the week was out. Your rainy beach stay is crossed off the list, so next time, you are bound to have some sun! But sounds like the magic happened anyway. So please come again. :-)

First vacation with a newborn

Reviewed by Elaine W. on 2018-09-10
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We had a wonderful time at Horseplay! This was the first vacatuon we’ve taken since having our son, and it was everything we expected. We vacatuoned with another couple who also had a newborn and the house was perfect. It was exactly as listed. The house was clean and provided every accommodation we hoped for! The staff was very responsive and helpful as we planned our trip.
Manager response on 2018-09-22 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you chose Horseplay to introduce your brand new son to the ocean. We hope you will come again and repeat the stay for years to come!

HORSEPLAY - beautiful, clean, great location, pool & hot-tub!

Reviewed by CONNIE C. on 2018-09-17
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We arrived about the same time as Hurricane Florence was taking shape as a hurricane. She headed our way so our week was cut short. Arrived late Saturday night and by Monday they had issued mandatory evacuation. But the short time we had there was great! Beds slept great, number of bathrooms swas great also. We enjoyed the pool, hottub and even were able to see the wild horses before leavinng. It definitely requires a 4x4 vehicle!! For sure get insurance...we lost 4 1/2 days due to hurricane evacuation and couldn't get a refund without it.
Manager response on 2018-09-22 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
FLORENCE. The big storm that thankfully changed course at the last minute. If it hadn't, we would have had a TERRIBLE mess here. I feel sorry for the southern coastal part of the state. STILL flooded a week later! SEPTEMBER is the middle of hurricane season and we try to advise people to purchase the travel insurance. But it is another couple hundred dollars and if you have never had your trip interrupted before, it seems an unnecessary expense. I wish I could make everyone buy it and I even asked our insurance company if I could add it to the cost of the vacation and make it mandatory. Of course I could not.... but I wish I could!!! THAT would throw off all those actuary tables wouldn't it? SO GLAD you are considering a repeat stay next year. How about June? ;-)

Beautiful

Reviewed by Lisa Z. on 2018-11-05
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We enjoyed peace and quiet - had the beach to ourselves most of the time. The house is nice and seeing the wild horses was magical!

Awesome Getaway

Reviewed by Jessie P. on 2019-08-05
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
The property was even better than as advertised. We had a great trip and enjoyed the solitude of Carova. Wild Horses were abundant and the beach was not too packed.
Manager response on 2019-08-05 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Horseplay. It is a lovely area and the house is well cared for! The horses LOVE this section of the beach. I guess the sea oats swaying in the breeze are the draw for them. But they also tend to help you forget that there is any other thing to do, except relax and go with the flow. I hope you will return for another visit soon.

Like no other beach in North Carolina!

Reviewed by Kim M. on 2019-08-06
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We were looking for a beach get-away with our teens and their friends that was different than our past trips to the beaches of North Carolina. We wanted it to be something fun and like nothing any of us had done before... Carova Beach checked all the boxes and our stay at Horseplay made the week unforgettable! Working with Laura to arrange our travel was a breeze and she was very attentive throughout our stay. Once we hit the "beach road," we couldn't believe the ride! The beach and sand go on for miles and with no road, the experience of getting there was half the fun!!! Four Wheel Drive is a must! Each morning, we enjoyed coffee on the top deck with beautiful views of the ocean as well as the occasional wild horse or two. We loved spending days on the beach, using our Jeep like a giant beach wagon to carry all of our gear. Then heading back to Horseplay in the evening for some time poolside and games and laughter at the enormous dining room table once the sun went down. The house had plenty of room for four adults, seven teens and all of our beach gear. The kitchen is well stocked and having two dishwashers was a help with all of our crew. The beds were extremely comfortable and having a bathroom for each bedroom was wonderful! We really relaxed on this trip, had lots of family time and just enjoyed being away from it all! Thank you, Carova Cottages, for an amazing week!
Manager response on 2019-08-12 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOVE YOUR REVIEW! Thank you so much for the nice review of this lovely home. Your words have managed to capture the serenity of the beach here, even with SEVEN teens in tow. What a GREAT house for your family with plenty of space for everyone. I hope you will consider a return visit. We would be happy to have you!

Great house

Reviewed by Mark S. on 2019-08-13
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This house met and exceeded all of our expectations. We saw the wild horses every day and we enjoyed the privacy and peacefulness of the location. Laura, the property manager, did an outstanding job. She answered all of our questions, was very responsive and took care of the only minor problem we had. We also enjoyed driving on the beautiful beach. Just know that 4 wheel drive is necessary. This may have been the best vacation my family has ever taken.
Manager response on 2019-08-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
That is such a nice thing to hear. Having your best vacation ever is such high praise! THANK YOU!.

Media

  • outside storage unit combination is 2827

Horseplay! 4x4 beach. All remaining weeks reduced!

Unit Code: HP

Horseplay

HORSEPLAY! Remaining weeks are discounted. Come enjoy fantastic beach views at a fantastic price! Private pool, hot tub, game room, well stocked kitchen, lovely decor! Come Escape…Relax…Dream at Horseplay Great ocean views. Create your memories at Horseplay - an enchanting home where the wild horses roam! This gorgeous five-bedroom home is located less than 400 feet from the beach on the 4x4 beach. It boasts magnificent views of the ocean from all three levels. Wake up to the amazing sunrise over the Atlantic Two passes for parking on the 4x4 beach will be available for your use while staying at Horseplay. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Living areas on each floor of this home provide plenty of space for family and friends to wind down or gear up. The first-level game room comes equipped with a pool table and kitchenette complete with sink, full-size refrigerator and microwave. Watch the big game or your favorite movie on the flat screen. Or take advantage of the surround sound with indoor/outdoor speakers. The first-level has an adorable master bedroom with twin beds and a private master bathroom, a comfy queen sleeper sofa, and a half-bath. The hot tub and swimming pool are just steps away. Ocean views abound from the hot tub! Turn the corner and you will find an outside shower with a bench and hooks to hang your towels. The second-level boasts another spacious living area for watching TV, an antique desk for relaxing with a great book, and a wrap-around deck, The same deck, accessible by two master king bedrooms is spectacular for lounging and watching the surf. A third master bedroom on this level offers two pyramid bunk beds, providing plenty of personal space for children to unwind after a long day of playing in the ocean or the pool. The third-level great room with a convenient half-bath provides spacious and comfortable accommodations, inviting you to relax and enjoy the expansive ocean views. The well-equipped gourmet kitchen with granite counter-tops and two dishwashers beckons you to bring your “A” game and to show off your culinary skills. Two large dining tables provide plenty of space to spread out and enjoy a meal. Play your favorite music on surround-sound speakers or catch up on the news from the flat screen TV that is visible from the kitchen, dining and great room area. As the waves roll in, watch for dolphins playing in the surf or look for the families of horses grazing on the dunes. Or grab the binoculars to search for the boats sailing by in the distance. At the end of the day, retire to the comfortable master king bedroom or soak in the whirlpool tub and fall asleep in serenity. Inventory for Horseplay: • salt water pool • hot tub • pool table • second full sized refrigerator in game room • second dishwasher in gourmet kitchen • drinking water filtration system • flat screen TVs in every room • extra sink, microwave and cabinetry in game room • granite counter tops • Fully stocked kitchen • Sheets, pillows, blankets, and bedspreads provided. Towels available for a fee • Iron and ironing board • Telephone • Wireless internet service • Central heat and air • Dishwasher, microwave • Washer/Dryer • Outdoor Furniture • Outdoor Shower • BBQ Grill (charcoal) • Beach chairs (five) Among a host of amenities, this well-equipped vacation home features a salt-water pool and hot tub. 4-wheel drive is required to reach this private retreat just three miles up the beach off the hard road. Guest check is on Saturdays. Linens are provided, towels are not provided but available for a fee. Dogs are welcome to join the family fun at Horseplay. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. No graduation groups or events are allowed in any of our homes. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website: ***Fireplace is not available for guest use.
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DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/02/2025$261 /nt
05/03/2025 - 05/09/2025$284 /nt
05/10/2025 - 05/16/2025$333 /nt
05/17/2025 - 05/23/2025$356 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$450 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$550 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/13/2025$650 /nt
06/14/2025 - 06/20/2025$827 /nt
06/21/2025 - 06/27/2025$946 /nt
06/28/2025 - 07/04/2025$958 /nt
07/05/2025 - 07/11/2025$946 /nt
07/12/2025 - 07/18/2025$996 /nt
07/19/2025 - 08/01/2025$946 /nt
08/02/2025 - 08/08/2025$996 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$846 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/22/2025$684 /nt
08/23/2025 - 08/29/2025$618 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/05/2025$514 /nt
09/06/2025 - 09/12/2025$447 /nt
09/13/2025 - 09/19/2025$323 /nt
09/20/2025 - 10/31/2025$298 /nt
11/01/2025 - 04/03/2026$314 /nt
4.9455
(55 Review)

Horseplay 2024

October 2024
, Thomasville, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is our second time staying at Horseplay. We love the house, the spaciousness and the proximity to the hard road (for errands, etc.) Laura was a gem to work with. Horseplay met all of our needs. We had a family of 10; there was space for everyone.
Looking forward to more vacations in the years to come.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your nice review and for your return visit to Horseplay. We LOVE our returning guests. Horseplay is a great home for families, with three living rooms for diverse needs! Kids can be playing video games while another group listens to music and the other group watches a movie. Everyone is HAPPY! :-)

We hope you'll come again. We have a repeat guest discount for our returning guests! :-)

Family time @ Horseplay

August 2024
, N/A, CO United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Very happy with the rental property. Our host was always available and friendly, providing us with good information.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your nice review. Horseplay was a grand adventure wasn't it? I know your group

Wonderful week (despite hurricane Debby, lol)

August 2024
, Gainesville, GA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was our 26th year coming to OBX, so we've been in many houses. This is one of our favorites! Despite weather from tropical storm, we had beach time every day, loads of fun, and loved the layout and everything about this house. In fact, we are booking it again in 2025. Also, Laura was FANTASTIC from day one in communication, service, and professionalism.

Manager's Response

We are SO GLAD you loved Horseplay. The layout makes it easy for you to gather or disperse!! ;-) Sorry about Debby!! What a pain she was!

Thanks so much for your kind words and for your nice review.

Horsing Around at HorsePlay

July 2024
, Gladwin, MI US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

What awesome accommodations, this house was wonderful. All 11 of us had plenty of room to be together yet a place to go to for privacy. Our view of the ocean was spectacular, saw dolphins jumping and loved seeing and hearing the waves. We all enjoyed the ocean and the horses were definitely a highlight. We even had some go right below our balcony! Highly recommend this house.

Great house and location

July 2024
, Blue Bell, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had an awesome time with the whole family. This house is an easy walk over the dune to the beach, and being about 3 miles from the end of the road it's the perfect balance of not too much beach driving, but still remote enough to have lots of space on the beach. Driving on the beach was a fun novelty. The house itself has so many full bathrooms! And the top floor is great being completely open concept with great views. We had a great stay and highly recommend for anyone wanting a more remote beach trip, but still close enough where going into town for shopping or ice cream isn't too much of a hassle.

Lance Review

July 2024
, Salem, Oh United States

Overall
3
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
3

The entire family enjoyed Horseplay very much. There is plenty of room for our family of 11. Plenty of bedrooms and common area to make all of us comfortable. This is the 2nd time we've stay here in the past 5 years. This house is however starting to show wear and tear and could use some general maintenance. We had an issue with not having adequate ice. A commercial ice machine would be very helpful. We had an issue with the pump quitting and had to be repaired. A handle in the 1st floor bathroom was off the shower. The front of the a drawer in the kitchen came off and needs repaired.

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review. Horseplay is a very spacious home with multiple areas for living, so large families can be together or apart as needed.... never on top of each other. As far as upkeep, these owners work diligently every year to keep the house in good shape. As you can imagine, it is a constant battle to keep up with everything on any house, much less one in the vacation rental market. Things break, we just have to fix them in a timely fashion, which we did. Sorry you were disappointed.

Wonderful vacation

June 2024
, Everett, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had the entire family with us for the week. There was so much space escape from each other and big enough space for when we wanted to hang out together. Loved the location. We really loved seeing the wild horses roaming around. I'm pretty sure we saw at least 4 of them a day. We had a mom and her baby greet us on the patio when we arrived. So neat!

Horseplay Vacation

June 2024
, LaGrange, KY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Laura is great to work with and our vacation experience was plesant. We have rented this home 3 times over the past 3 years and Carova Cottages does a good job with upkeep.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your kind words. We do our best, but really it is about the owner's involvement as well. These owners LOVE their house and keep it up nicely. It's a tough job in this sandy, salty, windy environment. Did I mention sand and salt? LOL

THANKS so much for your review. Will you be coming back in 2025?

Almond Beach Week 2023

October 2023
, madison heights, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a blast! Worked out perfect. Laura was great to work with the whole way through. The house had everything we needed and then some. Our children loved that we could park the car with all of our stuff on the beach! We also saw horses just about everyday, sometimes in our yard! Watch your step. A great stay , would highly recommend. Will definitely book again with Carova Cottages!

Manager's Response

Wow, so the horses left you some gifts??? ;-)

We're so glad you loved the house and the vacation and EVERYTHING!!

Please do come again!

Great vacation home!

September 2023
, PLYMOUTH, MA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

House was as described and very clean. Excellent views and a great floor plan for a family vacation. We have rented other homes in the area that we were disappointed with the cleanliness and overall condition and Horseplay was a pleasant surprise.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your nice review. We are so glad you were pleasantly surprised!! It's always good when you can relax in a home that is well cared for! Please come again. :-)

Wow!

July 2023
, Nashville, TN US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

It was awesome! Perfect!

Manager's Response

WOW! is the best review ever. THANK YOU!!!

So glad you are coming back next year. It is our pleasure to have you again!

Best Time Ever!!

July 2023
, Kingston, MA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was our second year in a row renting a house on the beach. This house has it all! The setup is great. All the bedrooms have their own bathroom. The kitchen is well-stocked with all sorts of utensils and “tools”. They even had measuring cups and spoons! The house was clean and the property manager is excellent....very helpful and very responsive! I would definitely rent this house again!!

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your review of Horseplay. You are right, the kitchen is ready for any avid cook as well as the frozen pizza chef. ;-) Each bedroom having their own bath makes it EASY to be private in private while multiple living spaces allow for much gathering and gabbing. Horseplay makes it easy to do either or both! Don't forget though, the horses also love Horseplay!! You are sure to see quite a few throughout the week. We are so glad you are Carova Cottages fans. Come again, we'd love to have you!!

Excellent Place to Stay

June 2023
, Jacobsburg, OH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We have zero complaints

Manager's Response

I like that. Zero complaints is the goal!!!!!

LOL

THANKS

Horses Abound

June 2023
, Saxonburg, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
4
Property condition
5

Great week at Horseplay. The house was well maintained and had plenty of room for our guests. The pool was great, not too big, but just right. Everything was clean and the service and amenities just right. Good location with just a short drive to the beach. Plenty of wild horses that actually set up in the back yard several times, cool. Laura was great and couldn't be more satisfied. Next time we plan to vacation in Carova, this place will be on our short list!

Manager's Response

So glad you enjoyed your stay!! The owners of Horseplay love their home and it really shows! The house is so comfortable, with spaces for everyone to do their own thing or gather together. Hopefully you all will consider coming again.. we'd love to have you. And thanks for all your hard work upon departure. :-)

Another Memorable Stay

June 2023
, LaGrange, KY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is our second stay at Horseplay. The accommodations were great for a family of 10.

Manager's Response

So glad you enjoyed your second visit. We hope you will make it for a third!!!

Great Getaway

May 2023
, Pelzer, SC US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

I was very impressed with the size, cleanliness, and location of this house! The weather wasn't great so we spent a lot of time inside playing games. It never felt crowded and the view was beautiful! We saw wild horses daily. Laura was great at communicating with us! She went above and beyond reaching out to give us alternate directions due to the weather. We enjoyed our stay immensely and hope to visit again next year!

Manager's Response

Thanks for your nice review. Hopefully the wind will stop blowing the next time you come!! ;-)

Beautiful Serene Setting

May 2023
, Canton, MI United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

House was fantastic, location was ideal, wild horses were wonderful but the weather was awful. Thank goodness the house was so spacious and well-stocked because the weather kept us indoors for 5 straight days.

Manager's Response

And the week after as well!! That nor'easter lasted almost TWO WEEKS! ACK!

But yeah, at least Horseplay was a good place to be, with a good view of the ocean with all that beautiful surf. It is so cool to watch a good storm with the ocean all kicked up!

Maybe you should try again? LOL. You are bound to get better weather!!

Paradise in the sand

September 2022
, Mechanicsburg, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our vacation was more than we were hoping for. The house was/is clean, very well stocked with plenty of room.

Perfect Family Home

September 2022
, Lyndhurst, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was our first time staying on the 4x4 beach & let me tell you it did not disappoint. This house was perfect for our family vacation & was very easy to find. The views were so pretty & the wild horses made it even better. Very clean and everything was easy to find. We would recommend this house to everyone.

HorsePlay

July 2022
, THORNHURST, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Excellent Vacation Home! Some issue when we arrived all electrical surge related from a storm, Laura had everything taken care of by the next morning, and she was super helpful. Excellent to work with!!

#seeyououtthere

October 2021
, Thomasville, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wow! What a fantastic week we had.(Oct 16-23, 2021) Horseplay met all of our needs and expectations! We had a family of 8; there was plenty of room for all of us! We enjoyed sitting on the beach, fishing and watching the horses. My son brought RC planes and did some flying both day and night. Laura did a wonderful job communicating with us prior to the vacation and even stopped by on the day we departed. It was sad for all of us to leave this beautiful place. We would definitely return to this area in the future. (Try that # in the title for interesting places folks travel to)

Fantabulous!!!

October 2021
, Jeffersonville, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

It was a wonderful vacation! Met all expectation! Laura the property manager was extremely helpful, very personable and so easy to work with. She made all the difference in the world. She answered every question and helped throughout our stay, always available. Thank you to her and to the owners. This place was clean, well taken care of and some occasions breath taking.. Our first day we woke up to the wild horses roaming and seen them probably 4 days while we were there. Sun rise was beautiful! The accommodations were excellent, very well stocked kitchen. Weather was a little rough first couple of days but this was expected we went in the off season. House was more then expected with decks almost all the way around 2nd and 3rd floor, the screened in deck on the 3rd floor was a great way to start a day. Beds were comfortable, pool and hot tub were the best... I would recommend this place to anyone, and already have...

Fantastic Views

September 2021
, N. Chesterfield, VA United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

great house! great location,! great views!

Magnificent Family Vacation spot

August 2021
, Elkton, MD US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
3
Location
5
Property condition
3

Beautiful weather, great accommodations and wonderful family fun! We truly enjoyed the natural habitat of Corova. Quiet and Beautiful location. The layout of Horseplay was perfect for our family and Laura was fantastic!

Fabulous Getaway!

October 2020
, Blacksburg, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We were lucky enough to spend two weeks in Oct-20 staying in this wonderful home. Thanks to remote work and school, we were able to keep up with regular life while enjoying all the extras this home and the beach had to offer! There was plenty of room for our family to spread out in the house and the kitchen was great for serving up family dinners. The beds were comfy and we enjoyed both the pool and hot tub. We didn't have any maintenance issues that required assistance while we were there.

The beach is just a short walk away, and the horses made regular appearances! They surrounded the house one day, so it was like we had our own personal horse show. Sunrises and sunsets were beautiful. We also saw dolphins on the last day, which was fun, too!

Hope to go back someday!

Perfect Place to Vacation during Pandemic

July 2020
, Charleston, WV United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
3

We had a very nice time!!! The manager was really helpful and answered all of our questions very promptly. The facilities were wonderful and clean. I highly recommend!

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review. I hope you all had a great time. We all need a vacation this year... and if you have to go somewhere, may as well be a one stop shop. Horseplay has everything you need. Please come again!

Best Vacation Ever

June 2020
, NY, NY Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Horseplay was everything we'd hoped it would be - and more. Watching the horses graze and the dolphins swim was just magical.

Manager's Response

So you are coming back next year right? We'd love to have you. VIRGOS RULE! ;-)

Awesome Getaway

June 2020
, CREWE, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Horseplay is an excellent home and a great getaway. This is our 2nd year at this wonderful house and I would highly recommend this property. It is well appointed and maintained perfect for large families or multiple family vacations

Manager's Response

We're so glad you had another good week at Horseplay! The weather sure was PERFECT! I hope you will make this home your annual vacation spot! :-)

Location Location Location

October 2019
, Westerville, Oh United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

This was our first time visiting Corolla and it didn’t disappoint. A very short walk to the beach and a pool and hot tub at the house meant we barely left to go into town! This area is very unique and absolutely stunning. We brought along our dogs for a very reasonable fee. Certainly one of our best vacations ever. Laura was very helpful answering all of our questions and we appreciated this very much! We did see the horses very close to the house which was amazing.

Wonderful stay at Corolla, NC with the wild horses!!

September 2019
, Spiceland, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
3

Vacation was delayed for 2 1/2 days due to Hurricane Dorian evacuation. But that didnt stop us from enjoying the rest of our time there. It is an absolutely beautiful location on the 4x4 beach. Very quiet and relaxing which is what we were looking for. Property manager, Laura, is absolutely wonderful to deal with and kept us posted on the re-entry process. The house is a fabulous layout and very roomy. Loved the pool and short walk to the beach. Although this is our 2nd year at this home, I must say it is in need of some maintenance. Coat of paint on lots of areas, replace some broken pool furniture, repair 2 doors that are very difficult to lock and unlock....but still a very enjoyable place to stay.

Great house

August 2019
, Denver, NC US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house met and exceeded all of our expectations. We saw the wild horses every day and we enjoyed the privacy and peacefulness of the location. Laura, the property manager, did an outstanding job. She answered all of our questions, was very responsive and took care of the only minor problem we had. We also enjoyed driving on the beautiful beach. Just know that 4 wheel drive is necessary. This may have been the best vacation my family has ever taken.

Manager's Response

That is such a nice thing to hear. Having your best vacation ever is such high praise! THANK YOU!.

Awesome Getaway

July 2019
, Crewe, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The property was even better than as advertised. We had a great trip and enjoyed the solitude of Carova. Wild Horses were abundant and the beach was not too packed.

Manager's Response

We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Horseplay. It is a lovely area and the house is well cared for! The horses LOVE this section of the beach. I guess the sea oats swaying in the breeze are the draw for them. But they also tend to help you forget that there is any other thing to do, except relax and go with the flow. I hope you will return for another visit soon.

Like no other beach in North Carolina!

June 2019
, Cary, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We were looking for a beach get-away with our teens and their friends that was different than our past trips to the beaches of North Carolina. We wanted it to be something fun and like nothing any of us had done before... Carova Beach checked all the boxes and our stay at Horseplay made the week unforgettable! Working with Laura to arrange our travel was a breeze and she was very attentive throughout our stay. Once we hit the "beach road," we couldn't believe the ride! The beach and sand go on for miles and with no road, the experience of getting there was half the fun!!! Four Wheel Drive is a must! Each morning, we enjoyed coffee on the top deck with beautiful views of the ocean as well as the occasional wild horse or two. We loved spending days on the beach, using our Jeep like a giant beach wagon to carry all of our gear. Then heading back to Horseplay in the evening for some time poolside and games and laughter at the enormous dining room table once the sun went down. The house had plenty of room for four adults, seven teens and all of our beach gear. The kitchen is well stocked and having two dishwashers was a help with all of our crew. The beds were extremely comfortable and having a bathroom for each bedroom was wonderful! We really relaxed on this trip, had lots of family time and just enjoyed being away from it all! Thank you, Carova Cottages, for an amazing week!

Manager's Response

LOVE YOUR REVIEW! Thank you so much for the nice review of this lovely home. Your words have managed to capture the serenity of the beach here, even with SEVEN teens in tow. What a GREAT house for your family with plenty of space for everyone. I hope you will consider a return visit. We would be happy to have you!

Beautiful

October 2018
, Charlotte, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We enjoyed peace and quiet - had the beach to ourselves most of the time. The house is nice and seeing the wild horses was magical!

Incredible week

September 2018
, Bridgeport, Pa United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Stayed here for the last week of September. Woke up three separate mornings with several horses grazing in the yard. Add the sunrises and it was such a surreal start to each day. The houses is very adequate and would certainly rent again. Shows some wear and tear of a rental, but expected. Stocked with everything! Forgot a few items for preparing meals before we left home and always found what we needed in the house. Quick walk to the beach. Only 3 miles off the paved road was perfect for getting back into town when needed. Barely saw any neighbors all week. Pool and hot tub were great. For anyone who plans on watching some sports on TV, you might be disappointed. Cable is basic, there are no ESPN channels, FS1, etc. Wasn’t a big deal for us, but a heads up for the sports fan. Laura was readily available for any questions. She was outstanding and would be happy to rent from her again.

HORSEPLAY - beautiful, clean, great location, pool & hot-tub!

September 2018
, Spiceland, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

We arrived about the same time as Hurricane Florence was taking shape as a hurricane. She headed our way so our week was cut short. Arrived late Saturday night and by Monday they had issued mandatory evacuation. But the short time we had there was great! Beds slept great, number of bathrooms swas great also. We enjoyed the pool, hottub and even were able to see the wild horses before leavinng. It definitely requires a 4x4 vehicle!! For sure get insurance...we lost 4 1/2 days due to hurricane evacuation and couldn't get a refund without it.

Manager's Response

FLORENCE. The big storm that thankfully changed course at the last minute. If it hadn't, we would have had a TERRIBLE mess here. I feel sorry for the southern coastal part of the state. STILL flooded a week later!


SEPTEMBER is the middle of hurricane season and we try to advise people to purchase the travel insurance. But it is another couple hundred dollars and if you have never had your trip interrupted before, it seems an unnecessary expense. I wish I could make everyone buy it and I even asked our insurance company if I could add it to the cost of the vacation and make it mandatory. Of course I could not.... but I wish I could!!! THAT would throw off all those actuary tables wouldn't it?


SO GLAD you are considering a repeat stay next year. How about June? ;-)

HORSEPLAY - beautiful, clean, great location, pool & hot-tub!

September 2018
, Spiceland, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

We arrived about the same time as Hurricane Florence was taking shape as a hurricane. She headed our way so our week was cut short. Arrived late Saturday night and by Monday they had issued mandatory evacuation. But the short time we had there was great! Beds slept great, number of bathrooms swas great also. We enjoyed the pool, hottub and even were able to see the wild horses before leavinng. It definitely requires a 4x4 vehicle!! For sure get insurance...we lost 4 1/2 days due to hurricane evacuation and couldn't get a refund without it.

Manager's Response

FLORENCE. The big storm that thankfully changed course at the last minute. If it hadn't, we would have had a TERRIBLE mess here. I feel sorry for the southern coastal part of the state. STILL flooded a week later!


SEPTEMBER is the middle of hurricane season and we try to advise people to purchase the travel insurance. But it is another couple hundred dollars and if you have never had your trip interrupted before, it seems an unnecessary expense. I wish I could make everyone buy it and I even asked our insurance company if I could add it to the cost of the vacation and make it mandatory. Of course I could but I wish I could!!! THAT would throw off all those actuary tables wouldn't it?


SO GLAD you are considering a repeat stay next year. How about June? ;-)

First vacation with a newborn

September 2018
, Fairfax, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a wonderful time at Horseplay! This was the first vacatuon we’ve taken since having our son, and it was everything we expected. We vacatuoned with another couple who also had a newborn and the house was perfect. It was exactly as listed. The house was clean and provided every accommodation we hoped for! The staff was very responsive and helpful as we planned our trip.

Manager's Response

We are so glad you chose Horseplay to introduce your brand new son to the ocean. We hope you will come again and repeat the stay for years to come!

Wonderful Vacation

August 2018
, Ringoes, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was perfect, the weather that week was perfect - couldn't ask for a better vacation! My family enjoyed all the space, was great to take a dip in the pool after a day at the beach!

Manager's Response

Horseplay is the perfect house! I hope you will come and stay again. What a GREAT WEEK of weather you had too... PERFECT!

Wonderful Vacation

August 2018
, Ringoes, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was perfect, the weather that week was perfect - couldn't ask for a better vacation! My family enjoyed all the space, was great to take a dip in the pool after a day at the beach!

Manager's Response

Horseplay is the perfect house! I hope you will come and stay again. What a GREAT WEEK of weather you had too... PERFECT!

Beautiful interior, great floor plan, and quick access to beach

August 2018
, Damascus, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house will not disappoint. Having the main areas (living room, dining room, and kitchen) on the top level with an open floor plan and lots of windows worked very well. Beds were comfortable too. Location is away from the crowded beach areas which is a big plus.

Manager's Response

WE love it when folks love our houses! I hope you will consider a repeat stay at Horseplay. We would be very happy to have you.

Beautiful interior, great floor plan, and quick access to beach

August 2018
, Damascus, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house will not disappoint. Having the main areas (living room, dining room, and kitchen) on the top level with an open floor plan and lots of windows worked very well. Beds were comfortable too. Location is away from the crowded beach areas which is a big plus.

Manager's Response

WE love it when folks love our houses! I hope you will consider a repeat stay at Horseplay. We would be very happy to have you.

Fabulous house for a big family! The horses come to you!

July 2018
, Louisa, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Great house to spread out the family on three floors. Great views, easy walk to the beach. Plenty of beaming sunshine in the house. Greatly appointed. Wrap around deck is huge with a great screened in porch on the side. Small pool but lovely. Master bedrooms are great but could use new mattresses and pillows. We would go back again and again but be prepared for not only the sandy drive but potential flooding on the “roads” if it rains. It’s a part of the seclusion though that we loved. We saw the wild horses day and night, it was magical!

Manager's Response

Thank you for the nice review. Your stay coincided with that EPIC amount of rainfall. I think they said it was 20 inches before it was all said and done. What a crazy storm. And the "roads"... rivers? But what a nice house to be stuck indoors! And I think you ended up with some sunshine before the week was out. Your rainy beach stay is crossed off the list, so next time, you are bound to have some sun! But sounds like the magic happened anyway. So please come again. :-)

Horseplay Adventure

June 2018
, Germantown, WI United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

We had a wonderful vacation. There were many visiting horses, the home met the needs of our family and everything functioned. Property manager Laura and VRBO were extremely helpful. Be aware that you DEFINITELY need 4 wheel drive and the mile markers are difficult to spot. For the cost of this home, I did not expect rust in the toilets and tubs, knobs that fell off the bottom of the coffee table, dining room chairs that we kept reassembling or dishes (clean?) still in dishwasher upon arrival. These are minor issues, however - it is a beautiful location and great home.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your review. SO SORRY the dishwasher was not unloaded... that sometimes happens when the guest before didn't start it and the housekeeping staff arrives later in the day and must start it for them. Thanks for the heads' up on the chairs and the coffee table. These are things I cannot know unless I stay at the home myself, so I am glad you let me know. There is a water conditioning system at Horseplay to alleviate "beach water". The iron can sometimes get through anyway, but I will be sure to mention it to the water service technician.

It seems as though the vacation was successful despite these issues and I am glad you enjoyed your stay. The wild horses do make it magical.

Excellent first trip to outerbabks

October 2017
, Noblesville, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Horseplay was a great place to stay for our familys first trip to the outer banks! It had everything we needed. The hot tub and pool were great. We went in mid/ October so we added pool heat and it was perfect. It was an easy 3 min walk to the beach. Laura was awesome! We left a few things accidentally after our stay and she shipped them to us immediately. She was always willing to answer questions.

Manager's Response

THANK you for the nice review. We are so glad to be able to offer pool heat for those chilly fall months. Sometimes the ocean is warm enough but buying the pool heat is playing it safe! Hope you can make it back next fall.

Must Play at Horseplay

September 2017
, Flemington, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Arrived at Horseplay to find everything in order. Laura James was excellent in insuring the home was ready and any problems were addressed. House is in great location to the beach (two minute walk). Kitchen was well stocked. Really enjoyed eating in enclosed porch during sunset. My dog had lots of space to play and relax. If you want to see wild horses, they frequently pass through and even stay on the property. Swimming pool and hot tub nice for a cooler day or when the ocean waters are rough. I highly recommend this property.

Manager's Response

THANK you for the nice review. You managed to capture the essence of relaxation that comes with a stay at Horseplay. It is a nice spacious house with an easy walk to the beach! Sunsets from the screened porch with a nice meal and family gathered around... PERFECT!

Vacation at Horseplay

September 2017
, PEQUEA, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Beautiful home, felt warm and welcoming. Saw wild horses every day, short stroll to the beach. Ocean view was breathtaking.

Manager's Response

THANKS so much. Horseplay is a nice place to unwind!

Such a wonderful vacation

July 2017
, Toronto, ON Canada

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had such a great time at Horseplay! Laura, the property manager was always very responsive to all our pre-trip questions and the odd question we had while at the house.
Horseplay was clean, well equipped, comfy...exactly as others had reviewed. The pool was perfect - and take the advise of management - summer heat sufficiently heats the pool!
When we arrived on the beach to drive to the house, within a few minutes of our drive we not only saw some wild horses, we also saw dolphins jumping out of the water. All week long we continued to see playful dolphins and horses. The horses were both at the beach and around the house. Absolutely amazing.
A few notables - not negatives, more just nice to knows. Weekends are very busy on the island but if you stay out of Duck you will avoid most of this traffic. Arriving ahead of your check in time is advisable to get ahead of the weekend beach traffic. Also, for those with kids, cars do get the right of way on the beach...this is especially important during low tide.
Overall, our group of 8 (4 adults and 4 kids) had a fabulous week. We definitely recommend this house and the area. What an incredible experience we had!

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for the nice review. The wildlife here is so thrilling! We never tire of watching the horses, particularly when they are playing! The beach driving is part of the excitement, but you are right, it is a little unnerving when relaxing on the beach. Using a vehicle for a barricade is pretty effective, but even so, Carova is definitely not your typical beach setting! There is an untamed feel here that is part of the draw! I hope you will return to Horseplay again. Come in September and we'll crank that pool heat up! ;-)

Horseplay

April 2017
, IRMO, SC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
3
Location
4
Property condition
4

Great

Manager's Response

Thank you. We are happy you enjoyed your stay.

Ultimate family get away

August 2016
, Burlington, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our family of 11 aged 1 to 84 had a very peaceful week with perfect weather. The house was roomy enough that anyone who wanted quiet alone time could have it. The pool and hot tub were wonderful, the kitchen well equipped, and the views spectacular. Loved the horses and lizards too.

4x4 Carova cottage vacation

July 2016
, Easton, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This vacation was way above our expectations.. Absolutely gorgeous !! From the moment we entered the sand road, to see horses walking by you on the beach .. Was just awesome .. The house was just as pictured ~beautiful ! We had our family with us and not once did we feel crowded.. Loved sitting on the deck watching the Dolphins .. And hearing the ocean waves .. The pool was perfect, our grandkids loved it ... We would love to come back, everyone's favorite vacation spot .. Thank you Laura for everything .

Carova Beach May, 2016

May 2016
, Wolcott, CT United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My Husband and I had never been to the Outer Banks. Seeing the wild horses was on my Bucket list.....and the result was beyond my wildest dreams!! Beautiful beach, house and horses!!We met Laura, the property manager. She was wonderful to work with and provided appropriate info for our trip. Can't wait to go back!!!! 4WD a must ....worked out perfectly!!

Carova Beach May, 2016

May 2016
, Rotonda West, FL United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My Husband and I had never been to the Outer Banks. Seeing the wild horses was on my Bucket list.....and the result was beyond my wildest dreams!! Beautiful beach, house and horses!!We met Laura, the property manager. She was wonderful to work with and provided appropriate info for our trip. Can't wait to go back!!!! 4WD a must ....worked out perfectly!!

Can't wait to return!

April 2016
, Woodstown, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had an absolutely wonderful time during our vacation. The house was beautiful and comfortable and we felt instantly at home. We are looking forward to returning next year for a longer stay.

Great place to stay!

April 2016
, Cazenovia, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

We had a great time. Accommodations are clean and comfortable and perfect for a large family stay. We woke up to horses 3 out of 7 days right outside this house. Perfect place to unplug listen to the waves and get away from the hustle and bustle.

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5 Bed
6 Baths
Sleeps 12

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Sands of Time

"Sands of Time" was designed with relaxation in mind but there are also plenty of diversions. Pool table, ping pong table, "Legends 3" arcade game with 130 games, private pool with tiki bar, hot tub, wifi, X-box 360, 2 DOG MAX. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

Location

2257 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 31' 45.4908" N, 75° 51' 53.028" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Sands of Time

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A Great Getaway

Reviewed by Dan S. on 2024-09-22
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Recommend to Others
Our stay at Sands Of Time was a great experience. The location is fantastic, just a few short steps from the beach. The home was an instant favorite with everyone in my family. It is super comfortable--the furniture, the views, the decor, the diversions (gaming, etc.). Every bed in the house slept great. The kitchen was perfectly equipped and needs nothing. Every spot where you'd stand to see something outside had a pair of binoculars in reach! We saw wild horses in the yard daily, deer in the street, and even got to see a sea turtle during our stay. We had one minor hiccup getting the hottub operating, but mgmt was super helpful and responsive and got us on track swiftly. I've stayed in a ton of oceanfront homes and this one was probably the best! We'll be back!!
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Sands of Time really is the cream of the crop. Any potential needs are thought of and satisfied BEFORE you even knew you needed it! ;-) The house has a history of being "the best vacation we've ever had"! Come again and stay longer, that's the way to make it even better!!

Beautiful well stocked paradise

Reviewed by Frederick H. on 2024-09-15
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Recommend to Others
Excellent communication! The home was everything we would need ...plus. We have been coming to OBX for 20 years and this house was the best! The beach driving was tough but that had nothing to do with the spectacular house.
Manager response on 2024-10-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your review. Best house in TWENTY YEARS!!! That is high praise :-) The September weather gave us quite a few storms this year that make the driving more difficult. I am glad the house made it worth it! Please come again!

Great Home For Unforgettable Vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-07-07
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Recommend to Others
Drive the sandy shore to a beautifully designed and opulent built home on the Northern Outer Banks. We opened the door to an interior that enhanced our beach experience with an esthetic interior decorated with inspiring art which must have been collected over years of travel. The house is totally functional with picture windows framing beach dunes and sea in the kitchen and bedrooms. Laura, from Carova Cottages quickly responded to all our questions and was available to handle any concerns during our vacation.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your nicely worded review. Sands of Time is a beautifully outfitted home!! You are right about the collection of lovely art, just the right piece in just the right place! I'm not sure the dusty ceiling fan warranted a 3 for the cleanliness rating, I believe you all are already set up for a repeat stay for 2025 so it must not have been a deal breaker!! So glad you are returning to you enjoy another week at Sands of Time.

Perfect for family time!

Reviewed by Paula K. on 2024-08-11
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Recommend to Others
Sands of Time is the perfect family beach vacation:) It is both cozy and spacious at the same time...providing everything your family will need...you will love it!

Family vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-08-04
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Recommend to Others
My family loved every part of this house. So much detail Incorporated into every aspect of this home. Our family has been coming to the Outer Banks for 10 years and we all said this is one of the cleanest houses we’ve ever stayed in !!

It's not just a house, it's a home

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-08-18
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Recommend to Others
Perfectly appointed. Exceptionally clean. An effective and efficient layout that creates a space for every member of your party. Stop to shop on your way in, deflate your tires, and remove yourself from the world in this other-worldly retreat.
Manager response on 2024-11-17 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are so right. Sands of Time offers complete decompression. Just get here. The rest of the week will be effortless!

Fantastic Stay with Friends

Reviewed by Colette J. on 2022-07-05
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Recommend to Others
We are 6 couples who went on our first week long vacation together. Sands of Time was the perfect spot! From the exhilarating drive down the beach to get to the house to the wonderful walks up the beach spying dolphins and seeing wild horses at every turn, our stay was fantastic. There was plenty of room for us to congregate - the spacious living room, the fun game rooms (inside and out), the bonus tiki bar, the front sunset-watching deck - yet space to hang by yourself in your spacious bedroom, your choice of outdoor decks, or other small nooks in the house. Well appointed, beautifully decorated. Highly recommend.

June Family Vacation 2022

Reviewed by Sarah S. on 2022-06-20
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Recommend to Others
Wonderful experience! House was clean and well-stocked! Ocean was still a bit cold this time of year but the beach was beautiful and the wild horses visited our area daily. The house had a wonderful pool, tiki bar, and game room that kept adults and kids having a great time. The owner and manager were great and answered questions before and during the trip to help us enjoy our stay.

Family Time

Reviewed by Christie H. on 2022-06-06
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Recommend to Others
Often photos of rental properties are better than the reality. Shot from perfect angles etc. but Sands of Time exceeded our expectations. The house has everything you could think of. Including things not listed..high chair, pack n play, boosters, appliances and beach items galore. The horses, and dolphins visited almost every day making the week very special
A 4 wheel drive is a must, read the tide charts for travel to and from and you’ll have a wonderful time.

Sands of Time Carova Beach

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-06-22
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Recommend to Others
Sands of Time was a beautiful house with anything and everything you could possibly need. Perfect location on the beach. We enjoyed seeing the wild horses and dolphins.Sunrises and sunsets were amazing!! It was a memorable vacation with our family!! We highly recommend this property.
Manager response on 2023-06-23 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad you enjoyed your stay. This home has it all and then some.. hope you will come again!

Amazing vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-07-10
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Recommend to Others
Amazing home that offers such a huge variety of things to do for all ages. Clean, beautiful, fully stocked. Loved every minute!
Manager response on 2023-07-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much. You are right, Sands of Time is chock full of activity. There is SO MUCH to do!! Please come again so you can finish your list!! lol

Better Than Ever

Reviewed by Brian U. on 2023-08-22
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Recommend to Others
Hands down the best place we've had the pleasure of staying at in our 10 years of OBX! Home is beautiful, very well appointed, and comfortable! Management company is hands on and extremely helpful and responsive. Even the home owners take a personal interest in our enjoyment and have reached out directly to make sure eveything was as it should be! If you are disappointed staying here, you should probably stay home because you will never be happy!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOL That is funny! This home really just CAN'T disappoint can it? The whole experience is perfect. I know you said you may have to take a year off, which is a big bummer, but I hope you all will try to get back to Sands of Time in 2025! . We'll keep the light on.

Complete

Reviewed by Bryan W. on 2023-06-22
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Recommend to Others
This home is amazing! The owners didn't overlook any detail to make this a perfect place! Any want or any need was fulfilled with how the home was fully stocked with ammenities. Throughout the kitchen you will find every cooking essential all the way to oyster shucking knives. The weather was not very kind so we found ourselves indoors more than we wanted but we were kept occupied with games, books and small secluded nooks to take an afternoon nap. We are absolutely returning for round two next year! It is a wonderful home!
Manager response on 2023-06-23 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I think if I was going to be stuck inside somewhere during my vacation, it would have to be Sands of Times. The diversions are endless! And the ocean is still just a few steps away for those who want to brave the wind!!! I hope you will come again and bring a better beach week with you!.

Best Vacation Ever at Sands of Time

Reviewed by audrey b. on 2024-05-26
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Recommend to Others
We had 14 adults, 22 to 74, and everyone had fun in this house. I especially loved the reading nook and the table for four over the Tiki hut. The kitchen was expertly equipped and my son loved the weight room.
Manager response on 2024-06-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
NICE! It's so cool to see what people liked about Sands of Time. There are so many things from which to choose!! I can picture myself in that reading nook, just far enough away to read, but close enough to join the action should it appear irresistible!! ;-) We'd love to have you return for a repeat stay. Some of our guests have been vacationing here for years, and they have become family! Come again!

Sands of Time, Corova cottages

Reviewed by Unknown on 2017-08-14
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Recommend to Others
It was everything that was advertised and more. The house, amenities and location were exceptional . It satisfied the expectations and hopes of all of us from an 80 year old to the 10 year old. Laura and her staff were extremely helpful and friendly.
Manager response on 2017-08-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
There are quite a few unadvertised hidden treasures at Sands of Time. We are so glad you found and enjoyed them. :-)

Amazing week!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2017-08-07
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Recommend to Others
Our family had a wonderful week at Sands of Time. Everyone enjoyed their stay from grandparents to our three year old nephew. There was so much for the kids to do and plenty of space for everyone to have a quiet spot if they wanted one. The owners have thought of everything.
Manager response on 2017-08-07 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Sands of Time. The owners really have thought of EVERYTHING! I know there was a milestone celebration at the house this week, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY. How about next year's celebration?

Perfect set up!

Reviewed by Sonya L. on 2017-09-19
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Recommend to Others
If you are willing to have a true relaxing vacation, this is the place! This house had everything we needed. The pool deck and tiki bar were our absolute favorite places to hang out. We were never bored with the pool table, darts and ping pong. The fitness room was a really nice addition as well. We saw our fair share of wild horses and really enjoyed this location.
Manager response on 2017-09-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANK you for reminding us of some of the nice diversions you will find at Sands of Time. There is so much available for guests to do, you will need TWO WEEKS!

Relaxing Getaway

Reviewed by Unknown on 2018-08-13
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This was a very easy experience. The property was nice, full stocked and well maintained in one of the best areas of the beach. Wild horses live in the front yard!
Manager response on 2018-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you had a good week at this lovely home. Well stocked is an understatement! :-) Everything you could possibly need is there! If not, just give us a call and we'll see what we can do! So glad you have decided to return. We'll see you next year!

Another fantastic week at the Sands of Time

Reviewed by Clayton C. on 2018-07-23
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This is our 2nd time staying at the Sands of Time and as with our first stay it did not disappoint! The house is very well maintained and is always being updated. It's well stocked with pretty much everything you need except for food and drinks. I really can't overstate how awesome this house and location is. You won't be disappointed staying at the Sands of Time!!
Manager response on 2018-08-23 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much. IT truly is an AWESOME home. The owners have thought of everything!

Lives Up To Its Name

Reviewed by Unknown on 2018-08-17
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
One of the best stocked houses on the beach. Best appointed, kept, and chock full of amenities. The storage closet off the tiki bar is a treasure trove of beach activities. Everything was perfect with our house. This is the second time visiting and we will be back for a third. (The management company and folk are also top-notch!)
Manager response on 2018-08-30 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you like Sands of Time. The whole house is a treasure trove! Come again soon. We LOVE our repeat guests!

Amazing week!

Reviewed by Brian W. on 2018-06-20
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Perfect house in perfect location for an amazing family vacation. The owners have thought of everything you might need or want!
Manager response on 2018-06-20 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are so right. Sands of Time has everything you need and some things you don't even KNOW you need. ;-)

perfect rental

Reviewed by Marcia W. on 2018-09-25
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
WE had a great time. The house has everything you could possibly need.

Simply beautiful

Reviewed by Brenda C. on 2019-05-20
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
The place is just beautiful. They have everything you could possibly need to make you stay comfortable. I would definitely return
Manager response on 2019-06-07 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much. So glad you found everything you needed and I hope you do return. We have a repeat guest discount!! ;-)

BEST HOUSE EVER

Reviewed by Allison O. on 2019-08-08
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This house was amazing! Every time we turned around we were noticing all the small "attention to details" that were covered. Binoculars hanging near the doors of the oceanfront rooms, a cup of random reading glasses in the lounge area, beach games, cornhole boards, rafts, etc. so you don't have to transport your own. Clean, beautiful, great location - it ticked all the boxes for us so much that we are going back again next year! Laura with Carova Cottages always answered her phone if we had any questions or needed information. She was very friendly and provided great customer service. You won't regret booking this home!
Manager response on 2019-08-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your nice review. We are so glad your family had such a great time... and that you are coming back!! :-) The best testament to a great place is a repeat customer. Thank you!

Sands of Time

Reviewed by Anne M. on 2019-08-03
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We vacationed with our family of 13 people (5 children, 11-16) and one Labrador Retriever. The home is beautiful. It was stocked with any piece of equipment or tool we needed. We had plenty of space for everyone. The pool and tiki hut next to it were a great way to stay cool during a hot 4th of July week. Great home for a group.
Manager response on 2019-08-05 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are so right, Sands of Time has plenty of space for everyone. There are so many spaces that it is somewhat like a treasure chest... finding a new place to enjoy around every corner both inside and out. We are so glad you had a good week with your family.

Perfect vacation home!!

Reviewed by Deborah T. on 2020-06-29
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Amazing vacation home!!!! Fabulous pool! Gorgeously decorated home!
Manager response on 2020-06-30 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
PERFECT GUESTS!

Great Family vacation at the sand of time!

Reviewed by Victor B. on 2021-05-31
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Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had a wonderful time! The house was one of our favorite!
The house had everything we possible needed.
We loved the wild horses too.
Manager response on 2021-06-08 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Yes sir... Sands of Time has everything you need. :-) Bring your family and some groceries and you are set!

Amazing Week at Sands of Time!

Reviewed by Karen L. on 2021-08-02
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Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Definitely a keeper! Our entire family had an amazing stay at Sands of Time. There is everything that you can imagine! Such a relaxing week at the pool or our own ocean front beach! An experience we will always cherish. The horses are amazing to look at each day. So beautiful!

Best time ever!

Reviewed by Sherry N. on 2021-08-19
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Recommend to Others
Wonderful house! Super property manager who was the best to work with! Location was awesome !

do it again

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-09-29
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Recommend to Others
Wonderful,perfect location. This home has everything needed for large family gatherings.

The house with everything

Reviewed by John H. on 2016-08-26
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Recommend to Others
Entire family loved every minute of our stay. The house was exquisite and lacked nothing. There was so much to do and so many places to enjoy. Loved having the horses visit.

Outstanding Vacation Home!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-07-28
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
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Recommend to Others
Sands of Time was everything and more than we had hoped for! The home has everything you could possibly want in a vacation home. The location was outstanding and the horses came by the home often!! Gorgeous sunrises from the top deck, the tiki bar, pool, game room for the was all just so perfect! We loved the large dining area too! This home made our vacation!!

It is easy: Come Stay Here!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-07-18
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Recommend to Others
In short: Excellent! We have been coming to the OBX for 20+ years and typically rent a different house each year for a different experience. This house was easily the best we have had. It was fully stocked with everything you could think of - and more. A Crockpot? Yep, there. A bean grinder? That, too. Extra beach towels, sunglasses, hats and umbrellas for those who forget? There. And the supplies and kitchen gadgets clearly are not the 2nd home or beach home type stuff many owners stock with; all items were quality and thoughtful. The book and move selections were amazing. The home was clean and neat and the tiki bar was a fabulous addition! Highly recommend this place. (Best place in the house besides the rec area, balconies and tiki bar?? The reading nook off the main floor where you can curl up with a great book and watch the sunset!)

Awesome vacation experience!!

Reviewed by Clayton C. on 2016-08-11
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Recommend to Others
Probably one of the best vacation's we've had in a long time. The house is BEAUTIFUL! and the beach is awesome! We were suprised with how completely furnished this house is. You literally just need to bring your normal items and food for the week and you're all set! Beautiful beach setting with easy access and plenty of space. The new deck with Tiki bar really makes the outside pool area wonderful! This was our first OBX experience but it will not be out last, and this house would be hard to top!!

Sand of Time, OBX

Reviewed by Tonya B. on 2016-09-25
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Services from rental manager
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Location
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Recommend to Others
Wonderful vacation! This home is beautiful, inviting, and well cared for. Very clean. Lots of amenities. The owners have thought of everything!

Amazing Beach Vacation

Reviewed by Kathleen S. on 2017-07-03
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Recommend to Others
My family of 10 adults and three children and a wonderful vacation in Corolla made possible by a stay in a beautiful home. The house was spacious, clean, and had everything you could possibly need from a perfectly supplied kitchen, board games, pools toys, etc. The beds were very comfortable as was the family room sectional! The pool area had plenty of lounge chairs and the bonus of a "tiki bar" which allowed for lounging by the pool in the shade. Access to the beach was very easy and the owners were clever to place a hose right next to the entrance to the pool so that you could rinse off before returning home. My family and I would return here in a heartbeat! The management company was very helpful and responsive. We never had any issues with the house, appliances, 4x4 beach road, etc.
Manager response on 2017-07-04 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANK you for capturing the essence of a vacation in Sands of Time. I can't think of one thing that is missing from this generously supplied home. The owners have thought of EVERYTHING! So glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come visit again!

Clean Well Kept Home - Great Management!

Reviewed by Shannon B. on 2017-07-10
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Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
House was clean, well kept, management was very responsive before & during our stay. Would definitely stay here again! Can't beat the quiet location, just don't forget the 4x4 vehicle! Saw plenty of horses too!
Manager response on 2017-07-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for the lovely review. We work hard to make sure everyone is happy, which is a VERY easy job at Sands of Time. What a wonderful house! The owners have thought of everything. Hope we see you again next year.

Serenity

Reviewed by Suzanne R. on 2017-06-19
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Recommend to Others
This is so much more than a house on a beach. It is a place for family, laughter, memories. There was no detail overlooked. Amazing. The stain glass with the morning light shining through was beautiful. Drinking my morning tea while sitting on the bench overlooking the water brought me the dolphins as if they had been ordered just for my personal viewing pleasure. This family was blessed to spend the week with our Marine, family and close friends. We hope to go back every year. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough. Your generosity of sharing your home is appreciated more than words can say.
Manager response on 2017-06-20 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your wonderful words. We are so happy that you were able to build memories that will certainly last, at least until your arrival next year! ;-)

GORGEOUS OCEANFRONT Pool, Hot tub, Game room, tiki bar. 4x4 beach

Unit Code: ST

Sands of Time

"Sands of Time" was designed with relaxation in mind but there are also plenty of diversions. Pool table, ping pong table, "Legends 3" arcade game with 130 games, private pool with tiki bar, hot tub, wifi, X-box 360, 2 DOG MAX. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Sands of Time was designed with relaxation in mind but there are also plenty of diversions. Panoramic ocean views and multiple living spaces are just the beginning of the many comforts you will enjoy at this home on the 4x4 beach. There is a pool table, ping pong table, two arcade games, private pool with tiki bar, three levels of outside seating, hot tub, X-box 360 and so much more!! The spacious third level with reverse floor plan, offers many seating opportunities. Choose to separate into intimate groups or large gatherings as desired. The huge gourmet kitchen has plenty of room for multiple chefs as well as cheering bystanders on the seating side of the huge island. The dining area which seats 10 is also connected to the sunroom, which can hold more diners or the latest puzzle / game. The great room has gorgeous views of the ocean and boasts a huge seating area with many entertainment options. Find relaxation in the ships watch, which overlooks the great room. It’s wonderfully oversized lounge seating invites you to partake in a lazy afternoon nap or a quiet conversation with a friend or a book! The KING master bedroom, just off the living room, has an iLE Sleep Number bed, private deck access, private bath with jetted tub and satellite smart tv. Descend the stairs to the second level with two master bedrooms (K,K) with private baths, two more bedrooms (K, Q with trundle) with a shared bath, a laundry and an exercise room. Wood flooring on this level makes everything fresh! Access the oceanfront decks from all levels of this well thought out home, as well as from four of the six bedrooms. The first level offers more spaces for congregating and diversion. The game room has a pool table and TWO arcade sized video consoles, the Legends 3 arcade game with 130 games and the Multicade Arcade Legends Game. There is also a kitchenette with full sized refrigerator, ice machine, and microwave, a full bath, a full sized sleeper sofa and a room with two queens in bunk form. Outside level one, choose from ping pong, pool area or grilling. Pool area includes a huge pool, hot tub and tiki bar with full sized refrigerator, hot/cold sink, bar stools, and picnic table with roof deck and more seating. ALL beautifully landscaped and waiting for your sunbathers! This home has amenities to satisfy every member of your family. Reserve your dream vacation at “Sands of Time”, a luxury home in the best part of the North Carolina Outer Banks. INVENTORY for Sands of Time: • Covered TIKI BAR with full sized refrigerator, sink and bar. . • Granite counters • LEGENDS 3 Arcade game with 130 games • Multicade Arcade Legends Game • Pool Table • Sleep number bed in level 3 and level 2 king bedrooms • Multiple TVs and DVDs • Keurig coffee maker • X-Box 360 game system and games • Ground floor patio with ping pong table • Ships watch • Second full size refrigerator in level 1 game room, 3rd frig in the tiki bar • Private boardwalk to the beach • Oceanfront Pergola • Video, Book and Game library • Fully stocked kitchen • Reverse osmosis faucet in kitchen • Sheets, pillows, blankets and bedspreads for all beds, as well as towels • Commercial icemaker! • Wireless internet service • Central heat and air • Dishwasher, microwave • TV in main living room • DVD player • Satellite TV • Washer/Dryer • Outdoor Furniture • Outdoor Shower • BBQ Grill area with hot/cold sink (gas and charcoal) • Beach chairs • NO SMOKING in this home SATURDAY CHECK IN - 4 WHEEL DRIVE REQUIRED - BED AND BATH LINENS PROVIDED - Approximately 9.3 miles up the 4x4 beach - Pool and hot tub open for the entire rental season. - 2 dogs MAXIMUM no exceptions. No cats please. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Guests will borrow the two season passes for parking on the beach. Save by booking directly with Carova Cottages.
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DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/02/2025$700 /nt
05/03/2025 - 05/09/2025$800 /nt
05/10/2025 - 05/16/2025$875 /nt
05/17/2025 - 05/23/2025$935 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$1,047 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$1,205 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/13/2025$1,275 /nt
06/14/2025 - 06/20/2025$1,470 /nt
06/21/2025 - 06/27/2025$1,560 /nt
06/28/2025 - 07/04/2025$1,595 /nt
07/05/2025 - 07/18/2025$1,560 /nt
07/19/2025 - 07/25/2025$1,482 /nt
07/26/2025 - 08/01/2025$1,560 /nt
08/02/2025 - 08/08/2025$1,495 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$1,371 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/22/2025$1,175 /nt
08/23/2025 - 08/29/2025$1,099 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/05/2025$1,095 /nt
09/06/2025 - 09/12/2025$896 /nt
09/13/2025 - 09/19/2025$885 /nt
09/20/2025 - 09/26/2025$721 /nt
09/27/2025 - 04/03/2026$693 /nt
4.9744
(39 Review)

A Great Getaway

September 2024
, Thomasville, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our stay at Sands Of Time was a great experience. The location is fantastic, just a few short steps from the beach. The home was an instant favorite with everyone in my family. It is super comfortable--the furniture, the views, the decor, the diversions (gaming, etc.). Every bed in the house slept great. The kitchen was perfectly equipped and needs nothing. Every spot where you'd stand to see something outside had a pair of binoculars in reach! We saw wild horses in the yard daily, deer in the street, and even got to see a sea turtle during our stay. We had one minor hiccup getting the hottub operating, but mgmt was super helpful and responsive and got us on track swiftly. I've stayed in a ton of oceanfront homes and this one was probably the best! We'll be back!!

Manager's Response

Sands of Time really is the cream of the crop. Any potential needs are thought of and satisfied BEFORE you even knew you needed it! ;-)

The house has a history of being "the best vacation we've ever had"! Come again and stay longer, that's the way to make it even better!!

Beautiful well stocked paradise

September 2024
, Newtown Square, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
3
Property condition
5

Excellent communication! The home was everything we would need ...plus. We have been coming to OBX for 20 years and this house was the best! The beach driving was tough but that had nothing to do with the spectacular house.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your review. Best house in TWENTY YEARS!!! That is high praise :-)

The September weather gave us quite a few storms this year that make the driving more difficult. I am glad the house made it worth it!

Please come again!

It's not just a house, it's a home

August 2024
, Mendham, NJ US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Perfectly appointed. Exceptionally clean. An effective and efficient layout that creates a space for every member of your party. Stop to shop on your way in, deflate your tires, and remove yourself from the world in this other-worldly retreat.

Manager's Response

You are so right. Sands of Time offers complete decompression. Just get here. The rest of the week will be effortless!

Perfect for family time!

August 2024
, Marysville, OH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Sands of Time is the perfect family beach vacation:) It is both cozy and spacious at the same time...providing everything your family will need...you will love it!

Family vacation

July 2024
, Waynesboro, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My family loved every part of this house. So much detail Incorporated into every aspect of this home. Our family has been coming to the Outer Banks for 10 years and we all said this is one of the cleanest houses we’ve ever stayed in !!

Great Home For Unforgettable Vacation

June 2024
, Ellicott City, MD United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
3
Location
5
Property condition
4

Drive the sandy shore to a beautifully designed and opulent built home on the Northern Outer Banks. We opened the door to an interior that enhanced our beach experience with an esthetic interior decorated with inspiring art which must have been collected over years of travel. The house is totally functional with picture windows framing beach dunes and sea in the kitchen and bedrooms. Laura, from Carova Cottages quickly responded to all our questions and was available to handle any concerns during our vacation.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your nicely worded review. Sands of Time is a beautifully outfitted home!! You are right about the collection of lovely art, just the right piece in just the right place!

I'm not sure the dusty ceiling fan warranted a 3 for the cleanliness rating, I believe you all are already set up for a repeat stay for 2025 so it must not have been a deal breaker!!

So glad you are returning to you enjoy another week at Sands of Time.

Best Vacation Ever at Sands of Time

May 2024
, North Attleboro, MA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had 14 adults, 22 to 74, and everyone had fun in this house. I especially loved the reading nook and the table for four over the Tiki hut. The kitchen was expertly equipped and my son loved the weight room.

Manager's Response

NICE! It's so cool to see what people liked about Sands of Time. There are so many things from which to choose!! I can picture myself in that reading nook, just far enough away to read, but close enough to join the action should it appear irresistible!! ;-) We'd love to have you return for a repeat stay. Some of our guests have been vacationing here for years, and they have become family! Come again!

Better Than Ever

July 2023
, Waxhaw, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Hands down the best place we've had the pleasure of staying at in our 10 years of OBX! Home is beautiful, very well appointed, and comfortable! Management company is hands on and extremely helpful and responsive. Even the home owners take a personal interest in our enjoyment and have reached out directly to make sure eveything was as it should be! If you are disappointed staying here, you should probably stay home because you will never be happy!

Manager's Response

LOL That is funny! This home really just CAN'T disappoint can it? The whole experience is perfect.

I know you said you may have to take a year off, which is a big bummer, but I hope you all will try to get back to Sands of Time in 2025! . We'll keep the light on.

Amazing vacation

July 2023
, Canton, MI United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Amazing home that offers such a huge variety of things to do for all ages. Clean, beautiful, fully stocked. Loved every minute!

Manager's Response

Thanks so much. You are right, Sands of Time is chock full of activity. There is SO MUCH to do!! Please come again so you can finish your list!! lol

Sands of Time Carova Beach

June 2023
, Confluence, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

Sands of Time was a beautiful house with anything and everything you could possibly need. Perfect location on the beach. We enjoyed seeing the wild horses and dolphins.Sunrises and sunsets were amazing!! It was a memorable vacation with our family!! We highly recommend this property.

Manager's Response

We're so glad you enjoyed your stay. This home has it all and then some.. hope you will come again!

Complete

May 2023
, Johnson City, TN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This home is amazing! The owners didn't overlook any detail to make this a perfect place! Any want or any need was fulfilled with how the home was fully stocked with ammenities. Throughout the kitchen you will find every cooking essential all the way to oyster shucking knives. The weather was not very kind so we found ourselves indoors more than we wanted but we were kept occupied with games, books and small secluded nooks to take an afternoon nap. We are absolutely returning for round two next year! It is a wonderful home!

Manager's Response

I think if I was going to be stuck inside somewhere during my vacation, it would have to be Sands of Times. The diversions are endless! And the ocean is still just a few steps away for those who want to brave the wind!!! I hope you will come again and bring a better beach week with you!.

Fantastic Stay with Friends

June 2022
, Bennington , NH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We are 6 couples who went on our first week long vacation together. Sands of Time was the perfect spot! From the exhilarating drive down the beach to get to the house to the wonderful walks up the beach spying dolphins and seeing wild horses at every turn, our stay was fantastic. There was plenty of room for us to congregate - the spacious living room, the fun game rooms (inside and out), the bonus tiki bar, the front sunset-watching deck - yet space to hang by yourself in your spacious bedroom, your choice of outdoor decks, or other small nooks in the house. Well appointed, beautifully decorated. Highly recommend.

June Family Vacation 2022

June 2022
, Mooresville, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

Wonderful experience! House was clean and well-stocked! Ocean was still a bit cold this time of year but the beach was beautiful and the wild horses visited our area daily. The house had a wonderful pool, tiki bar, and game room that kept adults and kids having a great time. The owner and manager were great and answered questions before and during the trip to help us enjoy our stay.

Family Time

May 2022
, White, GA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

Often photos of rental properties are better than the reality. Shot from perfect angles etc. but Sands of Time exceeded our expectations. The house has everything you could think of. Including things not listed..high chair, pack n play, boosters, appliances and beach items galore. The horses, and dolphins visited almost every day making the week very special
A 4 wheel drive is a must, read the tide charts for travel to and from and you’ll have a wonderful time.

do it again

September 2021
, Basye, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wonderful,perfect location. This home has everything needed for large family gatherings.

Best time ever!

August 2021
, Pottstown, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wonderful house! Super property manager who was the best to work with! Location was awesome !

Amazing Week at Sands of Time!

July 2021
, Enola, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Definitely a keeper! Our entire family had an amazing stay at Sands of Time. There is everything that you can imagine! Such a relaxing week at the pool or our own ocean front beach! An experience we will always cherish. The horses are amazing to look at each day. So beautiful!

Great Family vacation at the sand of time!

May 2021
, PARKER, CO US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a wonderful time! The house was one of our favorite!
The house had everything we possible needed.
We loved the wild horses too.

Manager's Response

Yes sir... Sands of Time has everything you need. :-) Bring your family and some groceries and you are set!

Perfect vacation home!!

June 2020
, Wadsworth, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Amazing vacation home!!!! Fabulous pool! Gorgeously decorated home!

Manager's Response

PERFECT GUESTS!

BEST HOUSE EVER

July 2019
, Williamsburg, Virginia United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house was amazing! Every time we turned around we were noticing all the small "attention to details" that were covered. Binoculars hanging near the doors of the oceanfront rooms, a cup of random reading glasses in the lounge area, beach games, cornhole boards, rafts, etc. so you don't have to transport your own. Clean, beautiful, great location - it ticked all the boxes for us so much that we are going back again next year! Laura with Carova Cottages always answered her phone if we had any questions or needed information. She was very friendly and provided great customer service. You won't regret booking this home!

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your nice review. We are so glad your family had such a great time... and that you are coming back!! :-) The best testament to a great place is a repeat customer. Thank you!

Sands of Time

June 2019
, Getzville, NY US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

We vacationed with our family of 13 people (5 children, 11-16) and one Labrador Retriever. The home is beautiful. It was stocked with any piece of equipment or tool we needed. We had plenty of space for everyone. The pool and tiki hut next to it were a great way to stay cool during a hot 4th of July week. Great home for a group.

Manager's Response

You are so right, Sands of Time has plenty of space for everyone. There are so many spaces that it is somewhat like a treasure chest... finding a new place to enjoy around every corner both inside and out. We are so glad you had a good week with your family.

Simply beautiful

May 2019
, Hudson falls, NY US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
4
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The place is just beautiful. They have everything you could possibly need to make you stay comfortable. I would definitely return

Manager's Response

THANKS so much. So glad you found everything you needed and I hope you do return. We have a repeat guest discount!! ;-)

perfect rental

September 2018
, Charlottesville, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

WE had a great time. The house has everything you could possibly need.

Lives Up To Its Name

August 2018
, Mt. Airy, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

One of the best stocked houses on the beach. Best appointed, kept, and chock full of amenities. The storage closet off the tiki bar is a treasure trove of beach activities. Everything was perfect with our house. This is the second time visiting and we will be back for a third. (The management company and folk are also top-notch!)

Manager's Response

We are so glad you like Sands of Time. The whole house is a treasure trove!

Come again soon. We LOVE our repeat guests!

Relaxing Getaway

July 2018
, Washington, DC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

This was a very easy experience. The property was nice, full stocked and well maintained in one of the best areas of the beach. Wild horses live in the front yard!

Manager's Response

We are so glad you had a good week at this lovely home. Well stocked is an understatement! :-) Everything you could possibly need is there! If not, just give us a call and we'll see what we can do! So glad you have decided to return. We'll see you next year!

Another fantastic week at the Sands of Time

July 2018
, Terre Haute, Indiana United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is our 2nd time staying at the Sands of Time and as with our first stay it did not disappoint! The house is very well maintained and is always being updated. It's well stocked with pretty much everything you need except for food and drinks. I really can't overstate how awesome this house and location is. You won't be disappointed staying at the Sands of Time!!

Manager's Response

THANKS so much. IT truly is an AWESOME home. The owners have thought of everything!

Amazing week!

June 2018
, Cary, North Carolina United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Perfect house in perfect location for an amazing family vacation. The owners have thought of everything you might need or want!

Manager's Response

You are so right. Sands of Time has everything you need and some things you don't even KNOW you need. ;-)

Perfect set up!

August 2017
, Fuquay Varina, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

If you are willing to have a true relaxing vacation, this is the place! This house had everything we needed. The pool deck and tiki bar were our absolute favorite places to hang out. We were never bored with the pool table, darts and ping pong. The fitness room was a really nice addition as well. We saw our fair share of wild horses and really enjoyed this location.

Manager's Response

THANK you for reminding us of some of the nice diversions you will find at Sands of Time. There is so much available for guests to do, you will need TWO WEEKS!

Amazing week!

July 2017
, RIVER FOREST, IL United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our family had a wonderful week at Sands of Time. Everyone enjoyed their stay from grandparents to our three year old nephew. There was so much for the kids to do and plenty of space for everyone to have a quiet spot if they wanted one. The owners have thought of everything.

Manager's Response

We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Sands of Time. The owners really have thought of EVERYTHING! I know there was a milestone celebration at the house this week, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY. How about next year's celebration?

Sands of Time, Corova cottages

July 2017
, ocala, FL United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

It was everything that was advertised and more. The house, amenities and location were exceptional . It satisfied the expectations and hopes of all of us from an 80 year old to the 10 year old. Laura and her staff were extremely helpful and friendly.

Manager's Response

There are quite a few unadvertised hidden treasures at Sands of Time. We are so glad you found and enjoyed them. :-)

Clean Well Kept Home - Great Management!

July 2017
, albany, MN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

House was clean, well kept, management was very responsive before & during our stay. Would definitely stay here again! Can't beat the quiet location, just don't forget the 4x4 vehicle! Saw plenty of horses too!

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for the lovely review. We work hard to make sure everyone is happy, which is a VERY easy job at Sands of Time. What a wonderful house! The owners have thought of everything. Hope we see you again next year.

Amazing Beach Vacation

June 2017
, Alexandria, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My family of 10 adults and three children and a wonderful vacation in Corolla made possible by a stay in a beautiful home. The house was spacious, clean, and had everything you could possibly need from a perfectly supplied kitchen, board games, pools toys, etc. The beds were very comfortable as was the family room sectional! The pool area had plenty of lounge chairs and the bonus of a "tiki bar" which allowed for lounging by the pool in the shade. Access to the beach was very easy and the owners were clever to place a hose right next to the entrance to the pool so that you could rinse off before returning home. My family and I would return here in a heartbeat! The management company was very helpful and responsive. We never had any issues with the house, appliances, 4x4 beach road, etc.

Manager's Response

THANK you for capturing the essence of a vacation in Sands of Time. I can't think of one thing that is missing from this generously supplied home. The owners have thought of EVERYTHING! So glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come visit again!

Amazing Beach Vacation

June 2017
, ALEXANDRIA, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My family of 10 adults and three children and a wonderful vacation in Corolla made possible by a stay in a beautiful home. The house was spacious, clean, and had everything you could possibly need from a perfectly supplied kitchen, board games, pools toys, etc. The beds were very comfortable as was the family room sectional! The pool area had plenty of lounge chairs and the bonus of a "tiki bar" which allowed for lounging by the pool in the shade. Access to the beach was very easy and the owners were clever to place a hose right next to the entrance to the pool so that you could rinse off before returning home. My family and I would return here in a heartbeat! The management company was very helpful and responsive. We never had any issues with the house, appliances, 4x4 beach road, etc.

Manager's Response

THANK you for capturing the essence of a vacation in Sands of Time. I can't think of one thing that is missing from this generously supplied home. The owners have thought of EVERYTHING! So glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come visit again!

Serenity

May 2017
, Kinderhook, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is so much more than a house on a beach. It is a place for family, laughter, memories. There was no detail overlooked. Amazing. The stain glass with the morning light shining through was beautiful. Drinking my morning tea while sitting on the bench overlooking the water brought me the dolphins as if they had been ordered just for my personal viewing pleasure. This family was blessed to spend the week with our Marine, family and close friends. We hope to go back every year. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough. Your generosity of sharing your home is appreciated more than words can say.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your wonderful words. We are so happy that you were able to build memories that will certainly last, at least until your arrival next year! ;-)

Sand of Time, OBX

September 2016
, Grove City, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wonderful vacation! This home is beautiful, inviting, and well cared for. Very clean. Lots of amenities. The owners have thought of everything!

The house with everything

July 2016
, Venetia, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Entire family loved every minute of our stay. The house was exquisite and lacked nothing. There was so much to do and so many places to enjoy. Loved having the horses visit.

Awesome vacation experience!!

July 2016
, Terre Haute, Indiana United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Probably one of the best vacation's we've had in a long time. The house is BEAUTIFUL! and the beach is awesome! We were suprised with how completely furnished this house is. You literally just need to bring your normal items and food for the week and you're all set! Beautiful beach setting with easy access and plenty of space. The new deck with Tiki bar really makes the outside pool area wonderful! This was our first OBX experience but it will not be out last, and this house would be hard to top!!

It is easy: Come Stay Here!

July 2016
, Mt. Airy, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

In short: Excellent! We have been coming to the OBX for 20+ years and typically rent a different house each year for a different experience. This house was easily the best we have had. It was fully stocked with everything you could think of - and more. A Crockpot? Yep, there. A bean grinder? That, too. Extra beach towels, sunglasses, hats and umbrellas for those who forget? There. And the supplies and kitchen gadgets clearly are not the 2nd home or beach home type stuff many owners stock with; all items were quality and thoughtful. The book and move selections were amazing. The home was clean and neat and the tiki bar was a fabulous addition! Highly recommend this place. (Best place in the house besides the rec area, balconies and tiki bar?? The reading nook off the main floor where you can curl up with a great book and watch the sunset!)

Outstanding Vacation Home!

June 2016
, Naples, Fl United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Sands of Time was everything and more than we had hoped for! The home has everything you could possibly want in a vacation home. The location was outstanding and the horses came by the home often!! Gorgeous sunrises from the top deck, the tiki bar, pool, game room for the was all just so perfect! We loved the large dining area too! This home made our vacation!!

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6 Bed
6.5 Baths
Sleeps 14

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Bikinis and Bellinis

"Secluded location" Direct beach access Lovely six bedroom home with ocean views. New state of the art kitchen. Private Pool, hot tub, pets allowed. Big DVD selection. 4x4 required

Location

2031 Sandpiper Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 30' 4.0248" N, 75° 51' 38.0988" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Bikinis and Bellinis

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B & B Stay

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-09-23
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Recommend to Others
We enjoyed our stay at Bikinis and Bellinis. The pool and hot tub were enjoyable. The house was well equipped with all th eelectronics, games, blankets and most anything else we could have possibly needed. The horses roamed through the yard and roads daily, a nice experience. The beach was awesome.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bikinis and Bellinis. The updates have been an act of love/patience/planning for the new owners. They have poured heart and soul into making it comfortable for their guests, and it really shows. That kitchen is perfection, but their insightful touches can be felt throughout the home. A rainy week would not be a disaster at Bikinis and Bellinis since there are so many diversions available!! Hopefully, you all will come again. We'd love to have you.

Great View

Reviewed by Patrick W. on 2024-09-20
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Recommend to Others
I'd rent this property again!
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review!! So glad you'd stay again. Bikinis and Bellinis is a pretty special vacation home with plenty of diversion for your two week stay! There is a LOT to do there but also there is a lot of relaxation to be had as well!! Two weeks might not be enough!! ;-)

Perfect home

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-06-24
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Recommend to Others
This was our second year staying in this home. The house is more than accommodating. Has everything you need and more. Any questions we had or problems that arose the property management was very quick to respond. This is the perfect home for our large family.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your review. Bikinis and Bellinis is a great house for a large family. There are so many places to hang out, both inside and out. Lovely decor and comfortable seating really round out the whole experience. Stay tuned for an enlarged pool area for 2025! Hope you will come see it!!

Favorite Vacation Three Years Running

Reviewed by Theresa W. on 2024-07-09
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Recommend to Others
We visit this property every summer for the week of the 4th - this is our third summer and we loved every minute of it. The house has an amazing brand new kitchen and all the gear you'd need to enjoy any meal. The property is always clean and well maintained and Laura is quick to respond to any inquiry we send during our stay. We're already booked for next year and can't wait to come back!
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad you found this home. I believe it was still Screamin Mimi when you first started coming here. Your mimi and this mimi were both screamers!! LOL. Anyway, the newest addition to Bikinis and Bellinis, the fantastic kitchen, is coveted by EVERY GUEST that arrives! You are not alone in your desire to take that kitchen home with you.!!! So glad you are coming back next year. See you then!!

Great Get Away

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-07-22
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Recommend to Others
This is our 3rd year staying here and it’s always a great time. Very responsive if you ever need anything, clean, and we always see so many horses! So wonderful. Thank you!

1st timers!

Reviewed by Marisa C. on 2024-08-27
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Recommend to Others
This is our 3rd year coming to 4x4 but our 1st ti.e renting with Carova Cottages and staying at bikins and bellinis! What an amazing house! The attention for detail, all the little amenities!!! Anything that could possibly be needed, is there. (We actually made a game out of it to see if someone could name something!lol) Felt like family and staying at home from the very 1st (crazy) incident I had booking and Laura took care of it so incredibly fast, to the checking out procedures. Everything was perdect!!!!
Manager response on 2024-11-17 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
The mini heart attack while booking was NOT a precursor of things to come. We handled that little issue with no problem. ;-) We're so glad you loved Bikinis and Bellinis. The owners have done a fantastic job of making their guests feel welcome and at home. Please do come again, we'd love to have you.

Wonderful Family Spot

Reviewed by Unknown on 2022-07-19
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Recommend to Others
We had a blast! The house is beautiful with a great location and just all around great service! If you’re bringing little ones you might want to bring a baby gate though lots of steps!

Private, Beautiful Beach House

Reviewed by Lowell B. on 2022-06-28
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Recommend to Others
This house was absolutely beautiful, and offers privacy, as it isn't close to any other houses. There is one house in front of the Screamin' Mimi, but it isn't very close. I love the location of this house- the beach is wide and spacious. One of my favorite things to do was lay in the hammock, reading a book, and watching the wild horses graze in the yard. The pool and hot tub were very nice. The pool table was fun, and we played for hours. The kitchen has everything you will need to prepare meals, along with a grill outside. There are lots of books and movies for rainy days. They provide many beach chairs which makes packing so much easier! The house is spacious, clean, and beautiful. Most importantly, the beds are very comfortable for a good night's rest. The view from most of the bedrooms is a gorgeous view of the ocean. We had a wonderful trip, and will definitely be back next year!

Perfect vacation home on the beach

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-06-27
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Recommend to Others
The home is amazing and has everything you need and more. We didn’t have the best weather but there was so much in the home that we were able to have an amazing time. Horses were in the yard daily and the kids loved it! Property manager was quick to respond to our questions and we even had a few laughs :)
Manager response on 2023-06-29 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
And the laughing continues. I love my job.. meeting nice people and helping them have a good time! Thanks so much for your nice review. Bikinis and Bellinis really doesn't disappoint. All the extra touches make it an easy place to relax, even on the rainy days. Maybe next year should be TWO weeks, then you are sure to get a few nice days in! ;-) More laughs too!

beach family vacation

Reviewed by serge c. on 2023-06-20
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Recommend to Others
best all family vacation we are 2 grandparents with 4 children with their partners and 5 grandchildrens from 1and half to 17 yo this house was perfect the location 2 blocks from the ocean was great few houses around we could watch the ocean better privacy nice pool and hot tub for all the kitchen was better equipped than mine and i like to cook we love horses i own 10 we had wild horses every day around us i mean right in the yard perfect vacation all were super happy ps we had 2 large very large black snakes on the rafters INTERESTING you really need 4 wheel drive as 7 miles of driving on sand beach new exoerience for all i am use to mud and snow btw need a bigger toaster in the kitchen all was first class but an elcheapo 2 slices toaster not good when you make breakfeast x 14 people
Manager response on 2023-06-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOL. We'll have to get a bigger toaster.!!! But sounds like that was not a deal breaker for you! Let me know next time and I'll bring an extra over. haha. So glad you enjoyed the vacation. Even with some black snake activity. The one thing I say about snakes is they earn their keep by keeping the mice down. It sounds like you all enjoyed your family time at Bikinis and Bellinis. I hope you will consider a return stay soon!

Family Getaway

Reviewed by Janice B. on 2023-06-21
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Recommend to Others
We've travelled to the area annually for years. Love the house, which we've been blessed to rent multiple times. Laura and Dave at Carova Cottages are wonderful. Highly recommend them and the location.
Manager response on 2023-06-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your nice words. We are so glad you love Bikinis and Bellinis and that you have chosen it to house your family for your annual vacation. It's nice to find a place that suits you with no surprises!! Next year, there will be a new kitchen!! I have already blocked your weeks for spring 2024. We'll see you then! :-)

All about the property managers

Reviewed by Jacqui B. on 2023-06-20
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Recommend to Others
We had another great vacation. We have stayed at 3 properties from Carova Cottages over the last three years. Each house has been a different size and different features. But every year, as all vacations have, we have things that go wrong or are missing or broken,etc. certain things can ruin a vacation. For every vacation to the OBX we haven taken care of above and beyond with Laura at Carova Cottages. They truly care about whether u had a good time. She had a hot tub guy out as soon as the motor stopped. She answered every text we had about some high tech appliances and even spoke to the owner when we had an issue. Vacations will always have things go wrong but if the property managers are anything like Carova Cottages then you will be well taken care of.
This specific house was newly updated and very beautiful. It has every thing you need except a keurig which Laura ended up bringing us one before check in. The pool table could be updated and they need new pool sticks. But other than that the house is beautiful, updated, and big. You don’t deal with any people around your house as you are two rows back from the ocean. We saw one herd of horses multiple times In our yard. 10/10 would stay at this house again.
Manager response on 2023-06-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
It is unfortunate that sometimes, things just go wrong with a house! We try our best to fix it, whatever it is, asap. What I want to say though, is that it really helps when a guest realizes as you do, that we are doing our best! Thanks so much for your understanding <3 and we're glad we could get the hot tub resolved quickly. I hope your vacation next year is without any issues. I think your family is due!! ;-)

Perfect home in paradise

Reviewed by Nicole H. on 2023-08-08
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Recommend to Others
We had an amazing week here, the house is beautiful with tasteful and elegant decor. It has everything you could need, well stocked kitchen, two dishwashers great for large groups, the pool and hot tub are clean and have lots of seating, nice beach chairs available, and is the first house in Carova I have visited where the water didn’t smell like sulfur thanks to the filtration system at the house. Thanks for making our stay amazing!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So glad your stay was amazing!! The new owners of Bikinis and Bellinis have really worked hard to include everything someone might want! They have a knack for making you feel at home! Additions continue as after you departed, they put in lighting around the pool and an arcade game in the level one game room. Improvements galore are the order of business. This winter a new kitchen is being installed. I hope you guys will come again to experience the improvements!!

Perfect Family Vacation Week!

Reviewed by Angie B. on 2023-07-05
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Recommend to Others
Wow, is all I can say about our vacation week! We had perfect weather and the perfect house! We have been coming to OBX for 10 years now and this was by far the best house we have ever stayed in. The extra amenities - beach gear, indoor/outdoor games, fire pit, hot tub/pool, new grills, and so much more made this stay fantastic. The house was the cleanest one we have ever stayed in and the extra personal touches made it even better. This was our first time staying on the 4x4 beach and we enjoyed the laid back atmosphere so much. We only left the house/beach one time to venture into Corolla to climb the lighthouse, do some shopping and eat out. The kitchen was fully stocked with everything we needed to make our favorite meals each night.
Laura and Dave were so accommodating and quick to resolve any issue or answer any question we had. They even brought firewood over one night so we could have a s'mores night in the outdoor fire pit. We enjoyed talking with them when they stopped by to take care of something and realizing that they used to live near us in Maryland...such a small world!!
We appreciate you sharing your beach house with us and look forward to visiting again soon!
Manager response on 2023-07-05 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your nice review and your kind words! We are so happy you love Bikinis and Bellinis! The amenities really make a vacation so much fuller, particularly if the weather doesn't cooperate. Sounds like that was not the issue here! lol. We can all hope for PERFECT weather. Please come again.. we'd love to have you. :-)

AMAZING! Can't say enough good things about Screamin' Mimi!

Reviewed by Christine K. on 2019-06-04
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Recommend to Others
My sisters and I rented Screamin' Mimi for a family reunion/vacation and we had a fabulous week. The house was immaculate, very open and airy, decorated beautifully, more than enough room for the 7 of us and could have easily accommodated more. We thoroughly enjoyed the pool and the hot tub, and had the most amazing sunrise views from the top deck. Waking up to horses in the yard was such a cool experience! Short walk to the beach, the sound of the ocean every night, couldn't get any better! I highly recommend Screamin' Mimi and I can't wait to go back!
Manager response on 2019-06-07 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We appreciate your comments and are glad you enjoyed your stay. The owners have worked hard over the past 12 years of renting Screamin' Mimi, to make it a home and not just a rental. They feel that the location and the wild life offer a unique experience in a beach house. Hopefully you'll come back and thanks again.

Amazing vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2019-08-17
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Recommend to Others
2nd time staying at this wonderful house. This is a slice of heaven. The views are magical. Perfect for family gatherings. This house has everything you could need and is warm and inviting. The house is clean and spotless. The lay is out is great and the house is sound proof. We can’t wait to go back next year!!!!
Manager response on 2019-08-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So glad you found Screamin' Mimi under the new Carova Cottages management. We are so happy to have her in our inventory! :-) And we LOVE our repeat guests!

Screamin Mimi

Reviewed by Susan W. on 2020-07-28
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Recommend to Others
The house was lovely, kitchen very well equipped. The bedrooms were spacious, only complaint about one bedroom was that the fan made a racket noise but I should have called and had it adjusted, also bunk bedroom needs a fan of some sort.
We were very close to the beach easy to walk to but nice to be able to drive your truck and park there. The wild horses were so fascinating, almost daily they were in the yard munching away.
Managing the sand coming on and off the island was something to get used to.
Manager response on 2020-07-29 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOL... if you figure out how to manage the sand, you could patent it and make a million!! That sand can be such a pain! Sorry about the lack of a ceiling fan in the bunk room, we are not allowed to put a ceiling fan in there since it would be too close to the top bunk and could prove a hazard. So glad you enjoyed your stay at Screamin' Mimi. Please come again.

Screamin Mimi July 2020

Reviewed by Nicole W. on 2020-07-21
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We had a wonderful two weeks @ Screamin Mimi. We walked to the beach almost every day (short walk) and spent some afternoons in the pool. We found room for everyone in our 3 family party. Laura was responsive to every request or question we had during our time. We never used grocery delivery, but it is available along with pizza delivery from Pasquale's. There are plenty of amenities in the kitchen to cook for large groups.
Manager response on 2020-07-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS for your nice review. Screamin Mimi has a great location with such an EASY walk to the beach. I didn't realize the pizza delivery came this far 've been missing out!! LOL. I will call and check. Thank you.

Great Vacation

Reviewed by Lisa C. on 2020-10-19
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Recommend to Others
Our vacation rental, Screamin Mimi, was perfect. We were close enough to the beach and far away from more populated areas which made this the perfect vacation spot for what is happening this year.

Really enjoyed staying at this property

Reviewed by Eric S. on 2020-06-30
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Took a group of 4 adults and 4 kids for a first time stay on the 4x4 beach and really glad we selected Screamin' Mimi. Property managers were super friendly & helped us arrange grocery delivery in advance of check-in so that we arrived to a fully stocked kitchen. Families loved the pool, hot tub and easy walk to the ocean.
Manager response on 2020-06-30 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you enjoyed your time at Screamin MIimi. What a wonderful home it is and so close to the ocean. You chose the right house for your first time in Carova. We hope you are your family will return! ;-)

Family Vacation

Reviewed by Abby H. on 2021-08-03
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Great house!

Great time

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-09-28
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
The home was nice, the pool and hot tub were great. Good sunrise view. Appreciated the towels,paper products and soaps. There was a sewage type smell in the basement sometimes and the grill burners are nearly dead. Love the owner's personal touches and tastes. Thanks for a great time.

Great house!

Reviewed by Melody K. on 2022-06-01
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This was a great house. We enjoyed the house so much which was great as the weather did not cooperate as we had 3 days of a nor’easter

Bikinis and Bellinis. 3 spring weeks left are reduced! Game Rm, 4x4 required

Unit Code: BB

Bikinis and Bellinis

"Secluded location" Direct beach access Lovely six bedroom home with ocean views. New state of the art kitchen. Private Pool, hot tub, pets allowed. Big DVD selection. 4x4 required
3 spring weeks left at this beautifully outfitted home, May 25, June 1, and June 15. Great prices! Bellinis and Bikinis is a beautifully maintained 3rd row home with wonderful views of the ocean and a short walk to the 4x4 beach. The brand new state of the art kitchen makes meal prep a breeze! Outside you will find a gas or charcoal grill and a HUGE pool with plenty of lounging space. Relax in the hot tub before heading inside to the game room on level one. Here you will find a pool table, arcade game, streaming tv, darts, many other games and plenty of comfortable seating. On level two there are four bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms (K, Q) have east deck access and private baths. A two twin room also has east deck access and shares a hallway bath with the two twin bunk sets room. The fourth bedroom is a Queen with private bath. Every room is as desirable as the last, so no worries about claiming a space, they are all superb. Just off the Great Room on level three is a KING bedroom with private bath, deck access and SmarTV. The gorgeous views in the living room are enough to keep you entertained, but there is also a huge Smartv and a huge selection of movies! The new kitchen is a joy! You will want this kitchen in your house!! You'll want for nothing while making meals, and just in case you have trouble boiling water, there is safety on the sidelines of the large kitchen island. The rule at my house is that dishes will be done by the folks who don't cook... don't worry, even that will be a joy in this well planned kitchen! Inventory for Bikinis and Bellinis • Three refrigerators, two dishwashers • Fully stocked kitchen • Sheets, pillows, blankets, and bedspreads provided. Bath towels provided. Bring your beach towels. • TVs in every bedroom, living room and game room • Dogs welcome with a fee • Huge private pool • Hot tub • Game room with pool table, TV, refrigerator, arcade table, arcade game and multiple seating arrangements. • Gas and charcoal grill • Outdoor shower • Carport • Games and books • Drinking water filtration system • Iron and ironing board • Wireless internet service • Beach chairs • Central heat and air • No smoking in the house • Central heat and air • Washer/Dryer • Outdoor Furniture Sunday Check in - 4 Wheel Drive Required - Linens/Towels included - located approximately 7.25 miles up the 4x4 beach - Pool open May through September. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. 2 pets max will be considered. No cats No graduation groups in any of our homes. Guests will borrow the two season parking passes for parking on the beach. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website!
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/03/2025$299 /nt
05/04/2025 - 05/10/2025$375 /nt
05/11/2025 - 05/17/2025$415 /nt
05/18/2025 - 05/24/2025$472 /nt
05/25/2025 - 05/31/2025$428 /nt
06/01/2025 - 06/07/2025$571 /nt
06/08/2025 - 06/14/2025$835 /nt
06/15/2025 - 06/21/2025$804 /nt
06/22/2025 - 06/28/2025$999 /nt
06/29/2025 - 07/05/2025$1,035 /nt
07/06/2025 - 08/02/2025$999 /nt
08/03/2025 - 08/09/2025$959 /nt
08/10/2025 - 08/16/2025$898 /nt
08/17/2025 - 08/23/2025$775 /nt
08/24/2025 - 08/30/2025$650 /nt
08/31/2025 - 09/06/2025$558 /nt
09/07/2025 - 09/13/2025$499 /nt
09/14/2025 - 09/20/2025$425 /nt
09/21/2025 - 04/04/2026$326 /nt
4.9630
(27 Review)

B & B Stay

September 2024
, Archdale, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

We enjoyed our stay at Bikinis and Bellinis. The pool and hot tub were enjoyable. The house was well equipped with all th eelectronics, games, blankets and most anything else we could have possibly needed. The horses roamed through the yard and roads daily, a nice experience. The beach was awesome.

Manager's Response

We're so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bikinis and Bellinis. The updates have been an act of love/patience/planning for the new owners. They have poured heart and soul into making it comfortable for their guests, and it really shows. That kitchen is perfection, but their insightful touches can be felt throughout the home. A rainy week would not be a disaster at Bikinis and Bellinis since there are so many diversions available!! Hopefully, you all will come again. We'd love to have you.

Great View

September 2024
, Liverpool, NY United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
4
Property condition
4

I'd rent this property again!

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review!! So glad you'd stay again. Bikinis and Bellinis is a pretty special vacation home with plenty of diversion for your two week stay! There is a LOT to do there but also there is a lot of relaxation to be had as well!! Two weeks might not be enough!! ;-)

1st timers!

August 2024
, Schenectady, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is our 3rd year coming to 4x4 but our 1st ti.e renting with Carova Cottages and staying at bikins and bellinis! What an amazing house! The attention for detail, all the little amenities!!! Anything that could possibly be needed, is there. (We actually made a game out of it to see if someone could name something!lol) Felt like family and staying at home from the very 1st (crazy) incident I had booking and Laura took care of it so incredibly fast, to the checking out procedures. Everything was perdect!!!!

Manager's Response

The mini heart attack while booking was NOT a precursor of things to come. We handled that little issue with no problem. ;-) We're so glad you loved Bikinis and Bellinis. The owners have done a fantastic job of making their guests feel welcome and at home. Please do come again, we'd love to have you.

Great Get Away

July 2024
, Crownsville, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is our 3rd year staying here and it’s always a great time. Very responsive if you ever need anything, clean, and we always see so many horses! So wonderful. Thank you!

Favorite Vacation Three Years Running

June 2024
, Washington, DC Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We visit this property every summer for the week of the 4th - this is our third summer and we loved every minute of it. The house has an amazing brand new kitchen and all the gear you'd need to enjoy any meal. The property is always clean and well maintained and Laura is quick to respond to any inquiry we send during our stay. We're already booked for next year and can't wait to come back!

Manager's Response

We're so glad you found this home. I believe it was still Screamin Mimi when you first started coming here. Your mimi and this mimi were both screamers!! LOL.

Anyway, the newest addition to Bikinis and Bellinis, the fantastic kitchen, is coveted by EVERY GUEST that arrives! You are not alone in your desire to take that kitchen home with you.!!!

So glad you are coming back next year. See you then!!

Perfect home

June 2024
, Warfordsburg, PA Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was our second year staying in this home. The house is more than accommodating. Has everything you need and more. Any questions we had or problems that arose the property management was very quick to respond. This is the perfect home for our large family.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your review. Bikinis and Bellinis is a great house for a large family. There are so many places to hang out, both inside and out. Lovely decor and comfortable seating really round out the whole experience. Stay tuned for an enlarged pool area for 2025! Hope you will come see it!!

Perfect home in paradise

July 2023
, West Chester, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had an amazing week here, the house is beautiful with tasteful and elegant decor. It has everything you could need, well stocked kitchen, two dishwashers great for large groups, the pool and hot tub are clean and have lots of seating, nice beach chairs available, and is the first house in Carova I have visited where the water didn’t smell like sulfur thanks to the filtration system at the house. Thanks for making our stay amazing!

Manager's Response

So glad your stay was amazing!! The new owners of Bikinis and Bellinis have really worked hard to include everything someone might want! They have a knack for making you feel at home! Additions continue as after you departed, they put in lighting around the pool and an arcade game in the level one game room. Improvements galore are the order of business. This winter a new kitchen is being installed. I hope you guys will come again to experience the improvements!!

Perfect Family Vacation Week!

June 2023
, Hagerstown , MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wow, is all I can say about our vacation week! We had perfect weather and the perfect house! We have been coming to OBX for 10 years now and this was by far the best house we have ever stayed in. The extra amenities - beach gear, indoor/outdoor games, fire pit, hot tub/pool, new grills, and so much more made this stay fantastic. The house was the cleanest one we have ever stayed in and the extra personal touches made it even better. This was our first time staying on the 4x4 beach and we enjoyed the laid back atmosphere so much. We only left the house/beach one time to venture into Corolla to climb the lighthouse, do some shopping and eat out. The kitchen was fully stocked with everything we needed to make our favorite meals each night.
Laura and Dave were so accommodating and quick to resolve any issue or answer any question we had. They even brought firewood over one night so we could have a s'mores night in the outdoor fire pit. We enjoyed talking with them when they stopped by to take care of something and realizing that they used to live near us in Maryland...such a small world!!
We appreciate you sharing your beach house with us and look forward to visiting again soon!

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your nice review and your kind words! We are so happy you love Bikinis and Bellinis! The amenities really make a vacation so much fuller, particularly if the weather doesn't cooperate. Sounds like that was not the issue here! lol. We can all hope for PERFECT weather.

Please come again.. we'd love to have you. :-)

Perfect vacation home on the beach

June 2023
, Warfordsburg, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The home is amazing and has everything you need and more. We didn’t have the best weather but there was so much in the home that we were able to have an amazing time. Horses were in the yard daily and the kids loved it! Property manager was quick to respond to our questions and we even had a few laughs :)

Manager's Response

And the laughing continues. I love my job.. meeting nice people and helping them have a good time! Thanks so much for your nice review. Bikinis and Bellinis really doesn't disappoint. All the extra touches make it an easy place to relax, even on the rainy days. Maybe next year should be TWO weeks, then you are sure to get a few nice days in! ;-) More laughs too!

Perfect vacation home on the beach

June 2023
, Warfordsburg, PA Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The home is amazing and has everything you need and more. We didn’t have the best weather but there was so much in the home that we were able to have an amazing time. Horses were in the yard daily and the kids loved it! Property manager was quick to respond to our questions and we even had a few laughs :)

Manager's Response

And the laughing continues. I love my job.. meeting nice people and helping them have a good time! Thanks so much for your nice review. Bikinis and Bellinis really doesn't disappoint. All the extra touches make it an easy place to relax, even on the rainy days. Maybe next year should be TWO weeks, then you are sure to get a few nice days in! ;-) More laughs too!

beach family vacation

June 2023
, French Creek, WV US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

best all family vacation we are 2 grandparents with 4 children with their partners and 5 grandchildrens from 1and half to 17 yo this house was perfect the location 2 blocks from the ocean was great few houses around we could watch the ocean better privacy nice pool and hot tub for all the kitchen was better equipped than mine and i like to cook we love horses i own 10 we had wild horses every day around us i mean right in the yard perfect vacation all were super happy ps we had 2 large very large black snakes on the rafters INTERESTING you really need 4 wheel drive as 7 miles of driving on sand beach new exoerience for all i am use to mud and snow btw need a bigger toaster in the kitchen all was first class but an elcheapo 2 slices toaster not good when you make breakfeast x 14 people

Manager's Response

LOL. We'll have to get a bigger toaster.!!! But sounds like that was not a deal breaker for you! Let me know next time and I'll bring an extra over. haha.

So glad you enjoyed the vacation. Even with some black snake activity. The one thing I say about snakes is they earn their keep by keeping the mice down.

It sounds like you all enjoyed your family time at Bikinis and Bellinis. I hope you will consider a return stay soon!

All about the property managers

May 2023
, Seymour, CT United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

We had another great vacation. We have stayed at 3 properties from Carova Cottages over the last three years. Each house has been a different size and different features. But every year, as all vacations have, we have things that go wrong or are missing or broken,etc. certain things can ruin a vacation. For every vacation to the OBX we haven taken care of above and beyond with Laura at Carova Cottages. They truly care about whether u had a good time. She had a hot tub guy out as soon as the motor stopped. She answered every text we had about some high tech appliances and even spoke to the owner when we had an issue. Vacations will always have things go wrong but if the property managers are anything like Carova Cottages then you will be well taken care of.
This specific house was newly updated and very beautiful. It has every thing you need except a keurig which Laura ended up bringing us one before check in. The pool table could be updated and they need new pool sticks. But other than that the house is beautiful, updated, and big. You don’t deal with any people around your house as you are two rows back from the ocean. We saw one herd of horses multiple times In our yard. 10/10 would stay at this house again.

Manager's Response

It is unfortunate that sometimes, things just go wrong with a house! We try our best to fix it, whatever it is, asap. What I want to say though, is that it really helps when a guest realizes as you do, that we are doing our best! Thanks so much for your understanding <3 and we're glad we could get the hot tub resolved quickly. I hope your vacation next year is without any issues. I think your family is due!! ;-)

Family Getaway

May 2023
, Concord, NH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We've travelled to the area annually for years. Love the house, which we've been blessed to rent multiple times. Laura and Dave at Carova Cottages are wonderful. Highly recommend them and the location.

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your nice words. We are so glad you love Bikinis and Bellinis and that you have chosen it to house your family for your annual vacation. It's nice to find a place that suits you with no surprises!! Next year, there will be a new kitchen!!

I have already blocked your weeks for spring 2024. We'll see you then! :-)

Wonderful Family Spot

July 2022
, Crownsville , MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a blast! The house is beautiful with a great location and just all around great service! If you’re bringing little ones you might want to bring a baby gate though lots of steps!

Wonderful Family Spot

July 2022
, Crownsville, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a blast! The house is beautiful with a great location and just all around great service! If you’re bringing little ones you might want to bring a baby gate though lots of steps!

Private, Beautiful Beach House

June 2022
, Christiansburg, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house was absolutely beautiful, and offers privacy, as it isn't close to any other houses. There is one house in front of the Screamin' Mimi, but it isn't very close. I love the location of this house- the beach is wide and spacious. One of my favorite things to do was lay in the hammock, reading a book, and watching the wild horses graze in the yard. The pool and hot tub were very nice. The pool table was fun, and we played for hours. The kitchen has everything you will need to prepare meals, along with a grill outside. There are lots of books and movies for rainy days. They provide many beach chairs which makes packing so much easier! The house is spacious, clean, and beautiful. Most importantly, the beds are very comfortable for a good night's rest. The view from most of the bedrooms is a gorgeous view of the ocean. We had a wonderful trip, and will definitely be back next year!

Private, Beautiful Beach House

June 2022
, Christiansburg, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house was absolutely beautiful, and offers privacy, as it isn't close to any other houses. There is one house in front of the Screamin' Mimi, but it isn't very close. I love the location of this house- the beach is wide and spacious. One of my favorite things to do was lay in the hammock, reading a book, and watching the wild horses graze in the yard. The pool and hot tub were very nice. The pool table was fun, and we played for hours. The kitchen has everything you will need to prepare meals, along with a grill outside. There are lots of books and movies for rainy days. They provide many beach chairs which makes packing so much easier! The house is spacious, clean, and beautiful. Most importantly, the beds are very comfortable for a good night's rest. The view from most of the bedrooms is a gorgeous view of the ocean. We had a wonderful trip, and will definitely be back next year!

Great house!

May 2022
, Mechanicsville, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was a great house. We enjoyed the house so much which was great as the weather did not cooperate as we had 3 days of a nor’easter

Great time

September 2021
, King George, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

The home was nice, the pool and hot tub were great. Good sunrise view. Appreciated the towels,paper products and soaps. There was a sewage type smell in the basement sometimes and the grill burners are nearly dead. Love the owner's personal touches and tastes. Thanks for a great time.

Family Vacation

July 2021
, Columbiana, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Great house!

Great Vacation

August 2020
, Syracuse, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our vacation rental, Screamin Mimi, was perfect. We were close enough to the beach and far away from more populated areas which made this the perfect vacation spot for what is happening this year.

Screamin Mimi

July 2020
, Estero, FL United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was lovely, kitchen very well equipped. The bedrooms were spacious, only complaint about one bedroom was that the fan made a racket noise but I should have called and had it adjusted, also bunk bedroom needs a fan of some sort.
We were very close to the beach easy to walk to but nice to be able to drive your truck and park there. The wild horses were so fascinating, almost daily they were in the yard munching away.
Managing the sand coming on and off the island was something to get used to.

Manager's Response

LOL... if you figure out how to manage the sand, you could patent it and make a million!! That sand can be such a pain!

Sorry about the lack of a ceiling fan in the bunk room, we are not allowed to put a ceiling fan in there since it would be too close to the top bunk and could prove a hazard.

So glad you enjoyed your stay at Screamin' Mimi. Please come again.

Screamin Mimi July 2020

July 2020
, Washington, DC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

We had a wonderful two weeks @ Screamin Mimi. We walked to the beach almost every day (short walk) and spent some afternoons in the pool. We found room for everyone in our 3 family party. Laura was responsive to every request or question we had during our time. We never used grocery delivery, but it is available along with pizza delivery from Pasquale's. There are plenty of amenities in the kitchen to cook for large groups.

Manager's Response

THANKS for your nice review. Screamin Mimi has a great location with such an EASY walk to the beach. I didn't realize the pizza delivery came this far 've been missing out!! LOL. I will call and check. Thank you.

Screamin Mimi July 2020

July 2020
, Washingtonn, DC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

We had a wonderful two weeks @ Screamin Mimi. We walked to the beach almost every day (short walk) and spent some afternoons in the pool. We found room for everyone in our 3 family party. Laura was responsive to every request or question we had during our time. We never used grocery delivery, but it is available along with pizza delivery from Pasquale's. There are plenty of amenities in the kitchen to cook for large groups.

Manager's Response

THANKS for your nice review. Screamin Mimi has a great location with such an EASY walk to the beach. I didn't realize the pizza delivery came this far 've been missing out!! LOL. I will call and check. Thank you.

Really enjoyed staying at this property

June 2020
, Arlington, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Took a group of 4 adults and 4 kids for a first time stay on the 4x4 beach and really glad we selected Screamin' Mimi. Property managers were super friendly & helped us arrange grocery delivery in advance of check-in so that we arrived to a fully stocked kitchen. Families loved the pool, hot tub and easy walk to the ocean.

Manager's Response

We are so glad you enjoyed your time at Screamin MIimi. What a wonderful home it is and so close to the ocean. You chose the right house for your first time in Carova. We hope you are your family will return! ;-)

Amazing vacation

July 2019
, Pylesville , MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

2nd time staying at this wonderful house. This is a slice of heaven. The views are magical. Perfect for family gatherings. This house has everything you could need and is warm and inviting. The house is clean and spotless. The lay is out is great and the house is sound proof. We can’t wait to go back next year!!!!

Manager's Response

So glad you found Screamin' Mimi under the new Carova Cottages management. We are so happy to have her in our inventory! :-)

And we LOVE our repeat guests!

AMAZING! Can't say enough good things about Screamin' Mimi!

May 2019
, West Boylston, MA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My sisters and I rented Screamin' Mimi for a family reunion/vacation and we had a fabulous week. The house was immaculate, very open and airy, decorated beautifully, more than enough room for the 7 of us and could have easily accommodated more. We thoroughly enjoyed the pool and the hot tub, and had the most amazing sunrise views from the top deck. Waking up to horses in the yard was such a cool experience! Short walk to the beach, the sound of the ocean every night, couldn't get any better! I highly recommend Screamin' Mimi and I can't wait to go back!

Manager's Response

We appreciate your comments and are glad you enjoyed your stay. The owners have worked hard over the past 12 years of renting Screamin' Mimi, to make it a home and not just a rental. They feel that the location and the wild life offer a unique experience in a beach house. Hopefully you'll come back and thanks again.

Leave a Review
6 Bed
6 Baths
Sleeps 14

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Northwind

Lovely 4 bedroom oceanfront home, pool and hot tub.

Location

1947 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 29' 28.248" N, 75° 51' 21.996" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Northwind

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Beautiful house with horses!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-08-15
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
The house was wonderful! It was very comfy and spacious. We used the pool everyday. It was a easy drive down to the beach to hang out. The porch was so nice to sit on in the morning and watch the sunrise.
Manager response on 2024-11-17 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We love the sunrises at Northwind. The sun warms the sky with pinks and oranges and then it peeks over the horizon. A cup of coffee in hand and a horse or two on the dune and the peace settles over you. Nirvana.

Northwind July 13 -20 family vacation

Reviewed by Dennis E. on 2024-08-09
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Our family will remember our week at Northwind for many years. All of us, from the one year old to the 60+year old grandparents, enjoyed this home's incredible accommodations. The nine of us were able to spend lots of time together, without feeling cramped (or impeding on the little one's nap times). The pool and the hot tub were major wins, making it easy to spend many happy hours in the sun. We won't forget the view of wild horses near the house and the rainbow over the ocean on our last night. The home is in impeccable shape with every comfort available. A must-book house for families looking to make memories by the sea.

Amazing accommodations for our family

Reviewed by Lauren M. on 2023-09-26
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had great communication ahead of our stay and throughout our stay. The house is very clean. It feels very new. The upstairs bedrooms are extremely spacious. The shared shower between the two is a nice feature so that both rooms had a primary suite feel. The kitchen was large! There was also a second refrigerator/ freezer in the laundry room. My mother stayed in the villa. She enjoyed the feel of having her own escape when she went to bed. One note... the steps to the bed of the loft are extremely steep. The loft is not very spacious but perfect for the villa. The pool was warm! The horses were near daily! The beach is beautifully right in your view. You do have to walk out front and around the corner versus straight out to the beach because of the dunes. We enjoyed the sunrises and sunsets each day!
Manager response on 2023-09-26 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS for your nice review! Northwind and The Villa are a perfect fit for your family. I think The Villa is my spot as well. Let all the activities happen while I sleep in!! There is a path off to the right of the house over the dune in front. You should've called me!! LOL NEXT TIME! Hope you will come again!

Beautiful home to make family memories!

Reviewed by Krista M. on 2024-07-21
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had a great stay at Northwind. We are very particular with cleanliness and really appreciated that the home was clean, well maintained, and simple in decor. The bedrooms/cottage were perfect for our family. The views were spectacular. We hope that we’re able to come back in the future !

Northwind

Reviewed by Charles H. on 2024-07-29
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Beautiful newer home in the 4x4 of the Outerbanks, It was our first time on the 4x4 beach, The access to the beach was so convenient just a short walk over the dune, and a great view! The parking under the house is great to keep the sun and rain off your gear and vehicle. Many refrigerators and tons of pantry space for all the food storage. The interior has a great layout for large family and fellowshipping at the dinner table. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone coming to the 4x4 beach!
Manager response on 2024-08-02 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your review. Northwind is a little gem! So glad you and your family enjoyed it... see you next year!!

June 8-15, 2024

Reviewed by Melissa M. on 2024-06-17
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Second trip back to Northwind. Family of 8. The house was amazing and the management company always goes above and beyond. My only recommendation would be privacy blinds/curtains in the bedrooms. Especially the windows facing the beach in the upstairs bedrooms. While we loved to watch the sunrise, we also like to sleep in on vacation which is next to impossible when the sun shines directly into the room. There also isn't much privacy in the evening in any of the bedrooms due to thin shear curtains only.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your input. It's funny how different people want different things! I don't like lights shining in my windows at night, but LOVE the early morning sun streaming in. I guess it depends on whether you're trying to sleep in!! At any rate, I guess you could always drape a towel or blanket over the curtain rod if you are trying to sleep in!! Please consider a repeat stay... I know being in his happy place was a good thing for your dad!! :-)

Gorgeous House but with Design Issues

Reviewed by Kristen D. on 2023-08-26
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We stayed here with our family of five, including three adult children. The house was brand-new and decorated beautifully. The check in was super easy. The bedrooms in the main house were all great sizes and very spacious. We also loved the large deck and the hot-tub. However, there were also some significant design flaws. In the first floor master, the open shower was large and wonderful, but if not using the rain shower head, the handheld shower head sprayed water everywhere all over the bathroom floor due to no shower curtain or door. The upstairs shower was enormous. However, because it is shared by two rooms, it would've been better to have two separate, smaller showers. There were no blinds or curtains on the vast majority of windows, and the houses next door could look straight into the bedrooms and bathrooms.While the villa was gorgeous and it was very nice having a second fully stocked kitchen, there were also some major issues. First, the bed is on a second level within the villa, and the stairs are very, very steep. They would not be safe for young children or grandparents. We loved the idea of having a separate space for in-laws to come down with a family, but would worry about the safety of any older adults or children on the stairs. Additionally, the shower in the villa is very small, and the door is arranged such that the door opens inward into the shower. This means you had to open the shower door into the shower, step into the shower, squish against the back wall, and pull the shower door across your body to close it. Only our youngest daughter was able to step into the shower without being shoved into the back corner, and my husband physically could not get into the shower and close the door. A simple fix would be a door that opens outward. It was wonderful seeing the horses nightly and lots of peace and quiet, but very difficult to get to the rest of the island (an hour each way), so do your grocery shopping ahead of time.
Manager response on 2023-09-04 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your review. We're so glad you had a great stay. The bathrooms you mention in your review do not have design flaws. But you do have to use them correctly. The Villa shower door pulls OUT, so pushing it IN means you won't have room to move around as you discovered. I wish you had called me to investigate that for you! The main bedroom shower in Northwind is completely tiled around the walk in shower. You can allow the water to pelt away and it won't harm anything. The hand held portion of the shower can be directed wherever you want. Upstairs, the shared shower is unusual, yes, but it works perfectly for those two rooms. The owners love it, and it fits their needs. I want to mention that there is a hot water shower outside that is perfectly delightful. It is enclosed with enough walls for privacy but you are showering with the ocean breeze sweeping in. It is quite an experience to get an outside shower and once you do, you may never go back inside! ;-) ALSO since your departure, there is now a deck walkway between the pool, the outside shower and stairs up to the house. It makes sandy feet a thing of the past! The curtains in those bedrooms have been installed!! Thanks! The stairs in the Villa meet the local building code and there is a handrail all the way up. So sorry you found them uncomfortable. I think the Villa is the perfect spot for a couple that wants some privacy. There are three other bedrooms in this home.... choose your own adventure. The owners of this home created a space they love; they made every decision with painstaking consideration. While it might not have jived with your tastes, it is their masterpiece.

Beach Getaway

Reviewed by Andrew W. on 2023-09-11
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We needed a week away just to rest from the busy world. This was perfect!! We shut ourselves off and just enjoyed each other and God’s creation. This house was so perfect. Placed right by the water with a pool and hot tub. The owner has the house well stocked and the house is just gorgeous. We saw wild horses almost everyday. The sunrises and sunsets were my favorite! We hope to return in the future to make more memories.
Manager response on 2023-09-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
And we would welcome you. :-) So glad you and your family enjoyed Northwind and the Villa. The house was a perfect fit for your family. I know the kids created some memories and the Villa was a nice respite from all the hubbub for your father. I hope he didn't mind being compared to Bryan Cranston, the resemblance was a little uncanny. Funny that he had no idea who that was.!! :-) Please do come again!! We'd love to have you.

Northwind July19&26 wks open/reduced! Oceanfrnt, pool, Astounding Views! 4x4

Unit Code: 1947

Northwind

Lovely 4 bedroom oceanfront home, pool and hot tub.
"Northwind and Villa" have two JULY weeks (reduced) and two August weeks open! Come experience the 4x4 beach in this one-of-a-kind custom home with some pretty fantastic spaces. The delightful design offers the main house with three bedrooms and the "Villa" with a fourth bedroom, independent kitchen and bath. This set up allows one couple to get away from it all if desired!! A novel approach to the very real possibility that someone in the group will need more [sleep? - quiet? - privacy? - fill in the blank! ] Find the link to the Villa 3d tour in the dining room doorway of the 3D tour of the main house. The main house has three levels with a ground level entrance. Up the stairs to the right, level two offers a huge oceanfront living space with kitchen, dining, living room, laundry and half bath. If you go left at the top of the entry stairs, you're in the king bedroom with private bath and deck access. There is a hot tub on this level on the northeast level two deck. Upstairs to level three you'll find an oceanfront living space with couch, tv and deck with fantastic oceanfront views. Two bedrooms behind this living area offer two Queens in one room and a King with twin trundle in the other. These two rooms have their own private half bath (toilet and sink) but there is an access from either side to get into the "shower room". "Villa" is connected to the main house by the level two deck. This tiny house is situated to the south of the main house and offers a small living space with sleeper sofa, kitchenette, full bath and a loft with queen bed. Perfect for a young couple or small family. See the 3D tour here: Enjoy the large private pool on the ocean side of this lovely home, with ample seating and either gas or charcoal grill. Walkways/ boardwalk between the house, pool and outside shower mean no sandy feet from pool to living room!! :-) Northwind is a dreamy place, with so many spaces for gathering or for solitude. Come enjoy the oceanfront experience; crashing waves, soft ocean breezes and blue expanses from every level of Northwind and Villa. The huge number of stars in the sky and the moon rising over the ocean will remind you of how grand the world is and how lucky you are to be right where you are. Saturday Check in - 4 Wheel Drive Required - Linens and Towels Provided - Approximately 7 miles up the 4x4 beach. No pets! Hot tub and pool open Mid May to late September. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Guests will borrow the two season passes for parking on the beach. No graduation or event groups of any kind are allowed in our homes. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website:
May 2025
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/02/2025$600 /nt
05/03/2025 - 05/23/2025$700 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$800 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$900 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/20/2025$1,024 /nt
06/21/2025 - 06/27/2025$1,105 /nt
06/28/2025 - 07/04/2025$1,207 /nt
07/05/2025 - 08/08/2025$1,186 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$1,066 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/22/2025$992 /nt
08/23/2025 - 08/29/2025$900 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/26/2025$799 /nt
09/27/2025 - 04/03/2026$600 /nt
4.8889
(9 Review)

Beautiful house with horses!

August 2024
, east liverpool, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was wonderful! It was very comfy and spacious. We used the pool everyday. It was a easy drive down to the beach to hang out. The porch was so nice to sit on in the morning and watch the sunrise.

Manager's Response

We love the sunrises at Northwind. The sun warms the sky with pinks and oranges and then it peeks over the horizon. A cup of coffee in hand and a horse or two on the dune and the peace settles over you. Nirvana.

Northwind

July 2024
, North East, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

Beautiful newer home in the 4x4 of the Outerbanks, It was our first time on the 4x4 beach, The access to the beach was so convenient just a short walk over the dune, and a great view! The parking under the house is great to keep the sun and rain off your gear and vehicle. Many refrigerators and tons of pantry space for all the food storage. The interior has a great layout for large family and fellowshipping at the dinner table. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone coming to the 4x4 beach!

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your review. Northwind is a little gem! So glad you and your family enjoyed it... see you next year!!

Northwind July 13 -20 family vacation

July 2024
, Mahopac, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our family will remember our week at Northwind for many years. All of us, from the one year old to the 60+year old grandparents, enjoyed this home's incredible accommodations. The nine of us were able to spend lots of time together, without feeling cramped (or impeding on the little one's nap times). The pool and the hot tub were major wins, making it easy to spend many happy hours in the sun. We won't forget the view of wild horses near the house and the rainbow over the ocean on our last night. The home is in impeccable shape with every comfort available. A must-book house for families looking to make memories by the sea.

Beautiful home to make family memories!

June 2024
, Annapolis, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a great stay at Northwind. We are very particular with cleanliness and really appreciated that the home was clean, well maintained, and simple in decor. The bedrooms/cottage were perfect for our family. The views were spectacular. We hope that we’re able to come back in the future !

June 8-15, 2024

June 2024
, Centreville, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Second trip back to Northwind. Family of 8. The house was amazing and the management company always goes above and beyond. My only recommendation would be privacy blinds/curtains in the bedrooms. Especially the windows facing the beach in the upstairs bedrooms. While we loved to watch the sunrise, we also like to sleep in on vacation which is next to impossible when the sun shines directly into the room. There also isn't much privacy in the evening in any of the bedrooms due to thin shear curtains only.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your input. It's funny how different people want different things! I don't like lights shining in my windows at night, but LOVE the early morning sun streaming in. I guess it depends on whether you're trying to sleep in!! At any rate, I guess you could always drape a towel or blanket over the curtain rod if you are trying to sleep in!! Please consider a repeat stay... I know being in his happy place was a good thing for your dad!! :-)

June 8-15, 2024

June 2024
, Centreville, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Second trip back to Northwind. Family of 8. The house was amazing and the management company always goes above and beyond. My only recommendation would be privacy blinds/curtains in the bedrooms. Especially the windows facing the beach in the upstairs bedrooms. While we loved to watch the sunrise, we also like to sleep in on vacation which is next to impossible when the sun shines directly into the room. There also isn't much privacy in the evening in any of the bedrooms due to thin shear curtains only.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your input. It's funny how different people want different things! I don't like lights shining in my windows at night, but LOVE the early morning sun streaming in. I guess it depends on whether you're trying to sleep in!! At any rate, I guess you could always drape a towel or blanket over the curtain rod if you are trying to sleep in!! Please consider a repeat stay... I know being in his happy place was a good thing for your dad!! :-)

Amazing accommodations for our family

September 2023
, Valley City, OH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had great communication ahead of our stay and throughout our stay. The house is very clean. It feels very new. The upstairs bedrooms are extremely spacious. The shared shower between the two is a nice feature so that both rooms had a primary suite feel. The kitchen was large! There was also a second refrigerator/ freezer in the laundry room. My mother stayed in the villa. She enjoyed the feel of having her own escape when she went to bed. One note... the steps to the bed of the loft are extremely steep. The loft is not very spacious but perfect for the villa. The pool was warm! The horses were near daily! The beach is beautifully right in your view. You do have to walk out front and around the corner versus straight out to the beach because of the dunes. We enjoyed the sunrises and sunsets each day!

Manager's Response

THANKS for your nice review! Northwind and The Villa are a perfect fit for your family. I think The Villa is my spot as well. Let all the activities happen while I sleep in!!

There is a path off to the right of the house over the dune in front. You should've called me!! LOL NEXT TIME! Hope you will come again!

Beach Getaway

September 2023
, Indianapolis, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We needed a week away just to rest from the busy world. This was perfect!! We shut ourselves off and just enjoyed each other and God’s creation. This house was so perfect. Placed right by the water with a pool and hot tub. The owner has the house well stocked and the house is just gorgeous. We saw wild horses almost everyday. The sunrises and sunsets were my favorite! We hope to return in the future to make more memories.

Manager's Response

And we would welcome you. :-) So glad you and your family enjoyed Northwind and the Villa. The house was a perfect fit for your family. I know the kids created some memories and the Villa was a nice respite from all the hubbub for your father. I hope he didn't mind being compared to Bryan Cranston, the resemblance was a little uncanny. Funny that he had no idea who that was.!! :-)

Please do come again!! We'd love to have you.

Gorgeous House but with Design Issues

July 2023
, Chadds Ford, PA United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
4

We stayed here with our family of five, including three adult children. The house was brand-new and decorated beautifully. The check in was super easy. The bedrooms in the main house were all great sizes and very spacious. We also loved the large deck and the hot-tub. However, there were also some significant design flaws. In the first floor master, the open shower was large and wonderful, but if not using the rain shower head, the handheld shower head sprayed water everywhere all over the bathroom floor due to no shower curtain or door. The upstairs shower was enormous. However, because it is shared by two rooms, it would've been better to have two separate, smaller showers. There were no blinds or curtains on the vast majority of windows, and the houses next door could look straight into the bedrooms and bathrooms.While the villa was gorgeous and it was very nice having a second fully stocked kitchen, there were also some major issues. First, the bed is on a second level within the villa, and the stairs are very, very steep. They would not be safe for young children or grandparents. We loved the idea of having a separate space for in-laws to come down with a family, but would worry about the safety of any older adults or children on the stairs. Additionally, the shower in the villa is very small, and the door is arranged such that the door opens inward into the shower. This means you had to open the shower door into the shower, step into the shower, squish against the back wall, and pull the shower door across your body to close it. Only our youngest daughter was able to step into the shower without being shoved into the back corner, and my husband physically could not get into the shower and close the door. A simple fix would be a door that opens outward. It was wonderful seeing the horses nightly and lots of peace and quiet, but very difficult to get to the rest of the island (an hour each way), so do your grocery shopping ahead of time.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your review. We're so glad you had a great stay.


The bathrooms you mention in your review do not have design flaws. But you do have to use them correctly. The Villa shower door pulls OUT, so pushing it IN means you won't have room to move around as you discovered. I wish you had called me to investigate that for you! The main bedroom shower in Northwind is completely tiled around the walk in shower. You can allow the water to pelt away and it won't harm anything. The hand held portion of the shower can be directed wherever you want. Upstairs, the shared shower is unusual, yes, but it works perfectly for those two rooms. The owners love it, and it fits their needs. I want to mention that there is a hot water shower outside that is perfectly delightful. It is enclosed with enough walls for privacy but you are showering with the ocean breeze sweeping in. It is quite an experience to get an outside shower and once you do, you may never go back inside! ;-) ALSO since your departure, there is now a deck walkway between the pool, the outside shower and stairs up to the house. It makes sandy feet a thing of the past!


The curtains in those bedrooms have been installed!! Thanks!


The stairs in the Villa meet the local building code and there is a handrail all the way up. So sorry you found them uncomfortable. I think the Villa is the perfect spot for a couple that wants some privacy. There are three other bedrooms in this home.... choose your own adventure.


The owners of this home created a space they love; they made every decision with painstaking consideration. While it might not have jived with your tastes, it is their masterpiece.

Leave a Review
4 Bed
4 Baths
Sleeps 10

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Paradise at Blue Fin

New owners of this home are making it their own.

Location

2265 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 31' 45.084" N, 75° 51' 53.244" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Paradise at Blue Fin

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Anniversary Getaway

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-11-11
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Home was perfect. Loved the pool and hot tub and the location was perfect. All the windows gave you a clear view of the ocean and sunrises. On several occasions the wild horses appeared on the property.
Breath taking views and it was so quiet this time of year.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Fall is perfect in Carova. The temps are usually still nice and the heated pool helps if there is a chill in the air. We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come again.

Birthday Extravaganza 2024

Reviewed by finley a. on 2024-10-14
Overall satisfaction
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Family of six had a wonderful time. The layout and location up the beach was exactly what we were looking for. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, had horses in our yard almost every morning. You can't go wrong with Blue Fin. Laura was great to work with as well!

Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Birthdays at the beach are the BEST! The horses like to graze on the oceanfront dune at Paradise at Blue Fin. It can be quite a spectacle seeing them grazing as the sun rises. Paradise!! Thanks for your repeat business and hope you all will come again!

Amazing oceanfront home

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-09-12
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Beautiful newly renovated oceanfront home! Has everything you need for an amazing vacation,they even have beach chairs and all of the kitchen utensils and pans you could ever need!!
Beds were very comfortable with an en-suite for all of the bedrooms.
It’s a once in a lifetime experience!! The wild ponies also visited our yard multiple times which was so cool!!
Manager response on 2023-09-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much for your review!! :-) You're right, Paradise at Blue Fin does have everything you need The new owners know what makes a comfortable and inviting living space!! The new kitchen and bathrooms are so clean and sleek. It was beautifully done! The horses like the sea oats on the dune!! They are so much fun to watch! Hope you will come again! We'd be happy to have you.

Very nice house

Reviewed by Mike M. on 2023-10-09
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had a great experience with this house. Everything was as expected except for the BBQ, not as shown or described in post. Would definitely look to come back again.
Manager response on 2023-11-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I think that grill was on it's last legs by the time you stayed. I'll put a bug in the owner's ear on it. They don't last long here!!! Next time, give us a call. We may be able to figure something out. So glad everything else was good. We hope you will consider coming again. We'd love to have you.

Peaceful week retreat

Reviewed by Ashlie S. on 2024-06-10
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Very clean property, our family of 10 had plenty of room and privacy. During our stay we saw the horses right over the sand dunes to the beach and dolphins were spotted a few times as well. The porch offers both Sun and shade spots to sit and catch up with your family. If you've never ruined on a four-wheel drive Beach, it's an experience. Definitely would recommend making sure you have all your items so you don't have to go back and forth into town since it is such a long Beach drive. Owner was easy to get a hold of if I had questions. My whole family thoroughly enjoyed our stay!
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad you loved PARADISE at BLUE FIN! It's a pretty nice spot! The new pool right off the dune deck now has a TIKI BAR!! :-) The owners are improving the house every winter so stay tuned for the next improvement. The beach drive is almost ten miles, so you are pretty far up. If you try to get all of your supplies there early in the week, then you can really relax the rest of the time. ICE can be purchased at machine at the fire hall about a mile south. DEFINITELY, no one is going out to get coffee every morning, but the trade off is such peach and serenity, you won't mind!! LOL. We're so glad your family liked their stay. Please come and visit again!!

Family vacation in Carova!

Reviewed by Tammy S. on 2024-10-07
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Great place & great time with family! Fabulous view with all the windows & house was very well equipped with all that we needed. We would absolutely stay here again, thanks!!
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
And we would absolutely love to have you!! It was hard to tell your pets had even been with you!! We so appreciate that effort! Many thanks! Please do come again!

Spring Break 2023

Reviewed by Derrick M. on 2023-04-18
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
House was great, bathrooms good, plenty of space for our family. Clean, updated, good location, comfortable beds! Downside was some cooking utensils to have would have been nice for number of people and cooking- electric griddle, larger skillet/lids. Otherwise great place.
Manager response on 2023-04-25 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your wonderful review. Paradise at Blue Fin has been a labor of love for the new owners. They have outfitted it with everything you should need but it sounds like we should double check for the larger fry pans. Griddles are a personal choice.. but I'll check in with the owners and see if they would like to supply one for the house. They are not a typical standard. THANKS and we hope you will come again.

Media

Paradise at Blue Fin! FREE pool heat open Apr/May weeks and now10% off, 4x4

Unit Code: BLUE

Paradise at Blue Fin

New owners of this home are making it their own.
FREE POOL HEAT for new reservations! Some 2025 spring weeks still open and now reduced 10% Beautifully updated home w/new kitchen on the 4x4 beach! Welcome to Paradise at Blue Fin! The new owners of this home are definitely making it their own. New kitchen, updated bathrooms, new paint, new hot tub, new lighting, new furniture and so many other gorgeous updates! The pictures show their attention to every detail. The new kitchen with plenty of cooking equipment will delight even the grumpiest chef! Drinking water is available from the RO faucet on the sink and through the refrigerator filter. The big open floor plan offers fantastic oceanfront views across the entire east side of the house. Level three also offers a queen bedroom with private west facing deck and private entrance to the bath that is also shared with the living room. Plenty of comfortable seating and brand new hot tub on the level three deck make it easy to stargaze or watch the sunrise over the big blue ocean that is just steps away! On level two you will find five bedrooms and a laundry closet. The bedrooms include a huge king bedroom with interesting circular wall of windows, private bath and south deck access. This level also offers four more bedrooms. A queen room that shares a bath with a twin bunk room (with a twin trundle), both with tv's and private east deck access. The other two bedrooms also share a bath between them and include a queen room with a private west deck and a duo-bunk room. Duo-bunks have a double bottom bunk and a twin top bunk. This level also includes an outside shower on the level two deck! Entertainment includes smartv's in the living room and four of the five bedrooms as well as a tv and futon/seating on level one. A beautifully lit, private walkway over the oceanfront dune has washing up spigots for a quick rinse on the way home after a sunny, salty day at the beach. Cook dinner on the gas grill for an easy end to a glorious beach day. Two extra refrigerators on level one make it easy to store an entire week's worth of food. No need to head to town since this lovely home has all you need. Welcome to Paradise! Sunday Check In - 4 wheel drive required - Linens and Towels Provided - Approximately 9.5 miles up the 4x4 beach. Dogs allowed with a per pet fee, 2 pet max, no cats! New hot tub. New heatable pool (fee). Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Guests will use the two season passes that belong to the house for parking on the beach. No graduation groups or events of any kind are allowed in our homes. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website:
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/03/2025$350 /nt
05/04/2025 - 05/10/2025$355 /nt
05/11/2025 - 05/17/2025$455 /nt
05/18/2025 - 05/24/2025$500 /nt
05/25/2025 - 05/31/2025$575 /nt
06/01/2025 - 06/07/2025$699 /nt
06/08/2025 - 06/14/2025$945 /nt
06/15/2025 - 06/21/2025$975 /nt
06/22/2025 - 06/28/2025$1,027 /nt
06/29/2025 - 08/09/2025$1,151 /nt
08/10/2025 - 08/16/2025$980 /nt
08/17/2025 - 08/23/2025$788 /nt
08/24/2025 - 08/30/2025$694 /nt
08/31/2025 - 09/06/2025$605 /nt
09/07/2025 - 09/13/2025$554 /nt
09/14/2025 - 09/20/2025$432 /nt
09/21/2025 - 09/27/2025$401 /nt
09/28/2025 - 10/04/2025$400 /nt
10/05/2025 - 10/11/2025$385 /nt
10/12/2025 - 04/04/2026$353 /nt
5.0000
(7 Review)

Anniversary Getaway

October 2024
, Rixeyville, VA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
3
Location
5
Property condition
5

Home was perfect. Loved the pool and hot tub and the location was perfect. All the windows gave you a clear view of the ocean and sunrises. On several occasions the wild horses appeared on the property.
Breath taking views and it was so quiet this time of year.

Manager's Response

Fall is perfect in Carova. The temps are usually still nice and the heated pool helps if there is a chill in the air.

We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come again.

Birthday Extravaganza 2024

October 2024
, madison heights, VA Unknown

Overall
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Family of six had a wonderful time. The layout and location up the beach was exactly what we were looking for. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, had horses in our yard almost every morning. You can't go wrong with Blue Fin. Laura was great to work with as well!

Manager's Response

Birthdays at the beach are the BEST! The horses like to graze on the oceanfront dune at Paradise at Blue Fin. It can be quite a spectacle seeing them grazing as the sun rises. Paradise!!

Thanks for your repeat business and hope you all will come again!

Family vacation in Carova!

September 2024
, Ellwood City, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Great place & great time with family! Fabulous view with all the windows & house was very well equipped with all that we needed. We would absolutely stay here again, thanks!!

Manager's Response

And we would absolutely love to have you!! It was hard to tell your pets had even been with you!! We so appreciate that effort! Many thanks!

Please do come again!

Peaceful week retreat

June 2024
, hanoverton, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
4

Very clean property, our family of 10 had plenty of room and privacy. During our stay we saw the horses right over the sand dunes to the beach and dolphins were spotted a few times as well. The porch offers both Sun and shade spots to sit and catch up with your family. If you've never ruined on a four-wheel drive Beach, it's an experience. Definitely would recommend making sure you have all your items so you don't have to go back and forth into town since it is such a long Beach drive. Owner was easy to get a hold of if I had questions. My whole family thoroughly enjoyed our stay!

Manager's Response

We're so glad you loved PARADISE at BLUE FIN! It's a pretty nice spot! The new pool right off the dune deck now has a TIKI BAR!! :-) The owners are improving the house every winter so stay tuned for the next improvement.

The beach drive is almost ten miles, so you are pretty far up. If you try to get all of your supplies there early in the week, then you can really relax the rest of the time. ICE can be purchased at machine at the fire hall about a mile south. DEFINITELY, no one is going out to get coffee every morning, but the trade off is such peach and serenity, you won't mind!! LOL. We're so glad your family liked their stay. Please come and visit again!!

Very nice house

October 2023
, Lanoka Harbor , NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a great experience with this house. Everything was as expected except for the BBQ, not as shown or described in post. Would definitely look to come back again.

Manager's Response

I think that grill was on it's last legs by the time you stayed. I'll put a bug in the owner's ear on it. They don't last long here!!! Next time, give us a call. We may be able to figure something out.

So glad everything else was good. We hope you will consider coming again. We'd love to have you.

Amazing oceanfront home

September 2023
, Perrysburg, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Beautiful newly renovated oceanfront home! Has everything you need for an amazing vacation,they even have beach chairs and all of the kitchen utensils and pans you could ever need!!
Beds were very comfortable with an en-suite for all of the bedrooms.
It’s a once in a lifetime experience!! The wild ponies also visited our yard multiple times which was so cool!!

Manager's Response

Thanks so much for your review!! :-) You're right, Paradise at Blue Fin does have everything you need The new owners know what makes a comfortable and inviting living space!!

The new kitchen and bathrooms are so clean and sleek. It was beautifully done!

The horses like the sea oats on the dune!! They are so much fun to watch!

Hope you will come again! We'd be happy to have you.

Spring Break 2023

April 2023
, MONROE, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

House was great, bathrooms good, plenty of space for our family. Clean, updated, good location, comfortable beds! Downside was some cooking utensils to have would have been nice for number of people and cooking- electric griddle, larger skillet/lids. Otherwise great place.

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your wonderful review. Paradise at Blue Fin has been a labor of love for the new owners. They have outfitted it with everything you should need but it sounds like we should double check for the larger fry pans. Griddles are a personal choice.. but I'll check in with the owners and see if they would like to supply one for the house. They are not a typical standard. THANKS and we hope you will come again.

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6 Bed
5.5 Baths
Sleeps 12

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Sandy Paws

Oceanfront w/dune walkway. Pool w/heater Elevator Game Room 4x4
SANDY PAWS: Oceanfront w/dune walkway. Pool w/heater Elevator Game Room 4x4

Location

2213 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 31' 23.304" N, 75° 51' 49.716" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Sandy Paws

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Family Beach Getaway 2024

Reviewed by Brenda R. on 2024-10-03
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Recommend to Others
For years we talked of going away with all of us and I made that finally happen! Sandy Paws was perfect for our multi generational family. The house was more beautiful than the pictures! Everyone enjoyed the pool and the gorgeous sun rises. These professional got to relax and appreciate what's important. Laura was wonderful. Hope to return next summer. Loved the hatching of the sea turtles and 4 x 4 beach driving was awesome.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
There are so many reasons to LOVE Sandy Paws. The fact that it was a long awaited family getaway makes it even more special! When you throw in the wild horses, a "turtle boil" of hatchlings, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, it reaches PERFECTION! It was long awaited but maybe now it's time to make it an annual celebration... please come back!

Great Escape!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-10-03
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Recommend to Others
This home offered plenty of room for the whole family. The kitchen with all it's supplies, extra cooktop, extra refrigerators, and extra dishwasher came in handy. The heated pool was perfect for the cooler days. Thanks for providing such great customer service too!
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
That kitchen!!!! TWO of everything!! So cooking is a breeze and cleanup is a breeze and keeping track from the sidelines is a breeze with the plentiful island seating. ;-) Sandy Paws will pamper you with an elevator and pool heat as well! And the gas grill right next to the pool area, makes for a fun picnic! Thanks for your nice review! Please come again!

Amazing Vacation

Reviewed by Patricia D. on 2024-07-22
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Recommend to Others
Our first time at Sandy Paws, we were so excited we got to bring our dogs which made the experience better. Our family got to spread out in the many rooms which were very clean and comfortable, kitchen fully stocked and spacious for multiple people to be cooking at the same time. Outside the kids used the pool and hot tub every day, the adults loved to grill and of course the beach. What an experience driving on the beach!!!! A four wheel drive lovers dream and great to not have to lug all our beach gear. We had a wonderful vacation!
House managers are terrific, came right over when we noticed a safety issue with one of the beds, thank you again!

Perfect stay

Reviewed by Jeff F. on 2024-09-16
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Recommend to Others
Everything was perfect as usual. Repeat customer for good reason, they are perfect.
Manager response on 2024-11-15 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Wow, perfect is a pretty nice complement. :-) :-) :-) Thank you! See you next year!

Excellent Family Vacation

Reviewed by Dwight K. on 2024-07-17
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Recommend to Others
Wonderful adventure for our family of ten. The house was perfect with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms. The lay out provided room for everyone to spread out and spend time together or separately when they wanted to. The outside grilling area, hot tub and pool were great. A really nice sized pool with plenty of lounging furniture. View was obstructed a bit by the dune but that can't be changed. When they say you need a four wheel drive, believe them. Our family drivers had no problem but one of the riders (grandma) didn't exactly love the 9 mile drive on the beach. Luckily with all the refrigerators and freezers, we were able to take enough supplies that the only trip back into to Corolla was for sunscreen. Management team was so easy to work with and responded quickly when we needed some help with a smoke detector. The best part was the horses who came to visit almost daily. They truly are beautiful !!

Sandy Paws A++

Reviewed by Sue Z. on 2023-08-04
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Recommend to Others
We could not have been more pleased with our week at Sandy Paws. Beautifully decorated home with a wonderful location and fully stocked with everything we needed. It was the perfect size for our family, and the memories created there will last a lifetime! Great dealing with Laura at Carova Cottages. We loved everything about this house and hope to be back again!
Manager response on 2023-08-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad your family is returning for more "A++" vacation. Truly a testament to the wonderful family time you can get at Sandy Paws!! See you next year!!

Wonderful stay

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-08-29
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Recommend to Others
We loved Sandy Paws, quick, walk over the dunes to the beach, kitchen was well stocked with all the utensils we needed, and beds were comfortable.
We are an older couple, and don’t have a lot of streaming apps on our phones, and the owner provided ESPN for us to watch the Little League World Series!! Much appreciated!!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
That was a first for us... Little League World Series please!! LOL So glad it worked out. I hope you all will come again. That would make it three years with Carova Cottages!! We'd love to see you again!

Best family vacation ever!

Reviewed by Kim W. on 2023-09-05
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Recommend to Others
Sandy Paws is a great property. Kitchen has every single thing you can imagine and settings for 20+ people. My bartender daughter was especially impressed with the completely stocks barware to include all the glassware and gadgets. Elevator was a huge plus for my Mom who had knee surgery in the Spring. Loved having the little table on the same floor as the great room and kitchen for games and puzzles. Even though the tropical storm came to visit, we had plenty to do inside with the game room and tv's o'plenty. House is staged with beautiful artwork and is very updated and well kept. Pool and horrible are top notch. My only suggestion would be to include more beach chairs to replace some of the Sandy Paws camping chairs. They are cute with the personalized logo on the back but not practical for our older family members. As usual, Laura is a dream and is available and responsive to answer questions and assist with requests. Best family vacation ever!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Wow, such a great review. Sandy Paws is a joy for most chefs as evidenced by all the "kitchen wows" we get!! ;-) The elevator is also useful for us lazy folks who don't want to carry 25 bags of groceries up two flights of stairs ;-) I want to put a spin on the storm. I LOVE A GOOD STORM! When else can you sit and watch waves roll in from 500 yards out... white water for as far as the eye can see? What beauty! And it was short lived enough that you got your sun back before you departed. I think that is the best of both worlds. I'll let the owners know about your beach chairs concern. I know it gets harder every day to get out of a low chair. I end up rolling out. Damnit. lol

Lovely home!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-08-08
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Recommend to Others
I’ve stayed in many rentals including in the Outer Banks. Sandy Paws is the best we’ve stayed at - well appointed, clean and just nice and comfortable all around. Location may be a bit far from Corolla if you like heading into town a lot. But if you want a relaxing time on the beach without a ton of people around, Sandy Paws is a truly lovely place to be. The kitchen is organized and had lots of things most rentals do not. The bed rooms are comfortable. We’ll loved the place. We loved our stay!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you so much for your great review. Everyone seems to feel the same way about the kitchen at Sandy Paws! Make your own meals in this fantastic kitchen with enough refrigerators to keep seven days of food on hand. Add the two dishwashers for clean up and all you have to do is work up your appetite while sitting poolside! We're so glad you loved your stay in this comfortable home. Please come again!!

Great house!

Reviewed by michelle r. on 2024-05-21
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Recommend to Others
This house has absolutely EVERYTHING you need for your stay. It’sa welcoming space with great decor and enough room for everyone comfortably. Having your own bathroom for each room was a big plus. Only recommendation is to bring your own hand soap for the bathrooms.
Manager response on 2024-06-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are right, this house is really comfortable for any group. There are plenty of spaces to group together or find respite in your own bedroom with private bath. The location can't be beat either, with a dune walk to the ocean, and a quiet section of beach. You can really relax here! Thanks for your nice review and so glad you are coming back in 2025!! We LOVE our repeat guests!

Beauty and comfort and adventure all in one.

Reviewed by Kris E. on 2024-06-18
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Recommend to Others
Laura was awesome and very responsive! The pool was perfect and it was awesome to be able to drive all our beach supplies down to the beach to set up each day. The house was perfect with a huge table and large family gathering area. It was quiet and beautiful and everyone loved seeing the horses along the beach, on the dunes and even up around the house. As for location, this was our first time staying on the OBX and we decided it isn’t for everyone. We had two medical emergencies which meant a VERY LONG drive to an emergency facility. Also, plan to bring basic supplies like shampoo, hand soap, hair dryer, dish soap, toilette paper, paper towels, all spices starting with salt and pepper. Because of the drive we only left for our 2 emergencies and a couple of times to get supplies. I have been to drive on beaches before, but this was a totally different experience. You HAVE to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle with plenty of clearence below your truck to get through the soft sand ruts. As for returning, some loved being in a remote area. Some wanted to explore the area and have easier access to the amenities of Corolla, Duck and sites off the island. The only time it rained was at night so I don’t know what it was like to drive on the beach in the rain. Also, because the dunes are so high, there is not a clear view of the beach. You can see the water, but not the actual beach. Bottom line, we are all glad we went there for our family vacation this year. The house was outstanding and we loved being in a rental property that quickly felt like home. And it offered bit of adventure and sights that you would get no where else! Oh yes. There is a shed in the driveway that is FULL with beach and pool toys which was awesome.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I think the beach driving is a love/hate thing. LOVE that you are secluded and there aren't many people around, HATE that you have to travel so far to get to the store. Emergency services are available from the local fire dept/ems but I guess if it isn't an emergency, the drive to Kitty Hawk is a slog, particularly if someone isn't feeling well. SO SORRY you had that happen TWICE!!!!! Somehow that drive gets longer and longer when you need to be somewhere fast!! It sounds like you enjoyed the house, but maybe the drive was a detraction... as you say, it isn't for everyone. So bring your supplies, don't have any stressful emergencies, and experience the adventure that is Carova. It can be very relaxing!!

Neat Experience!

Reviewed by Leah A. on 2024-05-13
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Recommend to Others
We had a fantastic time at Sandy Paws! The house was HUGE, the pool was perfect, and the direct access to the beach was great! The drive to get there was crazy (9 miles on the sand!) but as long as you catch it when the tide is lower it’s not too bad. Definitely an adventure! Saw lots of wild horses — a couple even came trotting through our carport at one point during the week. The one downside to the wild horses were the horse flies that bothered us on hot days both on the beach and at the pool — didn’t think to bring bug spray, though not sure it would have helped with the biting! Luckily it’s not like mosquitos where the bites itch afterward, they were just a bit of a nuisance. Other than that just make sure to bring your own spices as the house only has salt and pepper, though it was definitely a well-equipped kitchen and had all the equipment/utensils we needed to make meals (which was good because it was a 30 min back down the beach to get to any restaurants). My husband also enjoyed seeing military aircrafts fly by during the day — some came super close and made for a really neat experience!

All in all it was a great vacation and we were so grateful to have been able to make so many wonderful memories!
Manager response on 2024-06-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
What a nice review. You are right, the kitchen at Sandy Paws is very well equipped, even if your go-to meal is frozen pizza!! Three fridges means you could just stock up and go nowhere!! Sounds like a VERY nice way to spend a week at the beach! So sorry about the horseflies. The wind must've been out of the west that day, so the bugs come west with it. When the wind changes, they go with it. Maybe a tennis racket would have made it into a sport? Send them west!!! Lol We're so glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope you will return! We'd love to have you.

Wonderful spot for family fun!

Reviewed by Morgan P. on 2024-06-10
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Recommend to Others
Perfect spot for family fun. The house is set up to accommodate a crowd of all ages. The pool and hot tub were perfect and the location was remote enough to not feel crowded.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
HAHA, you are right, it is the perfect spot for a crowd of all ages!! Three living rooms means you don't have to agonize over who gets to watch what on the living room tv since there are THREE living rooms!! ALSO, I don't know about your family, but in our family, there is always a group playing PS5 or some other game, so they can set up and play wherever they want! It's a pretty great setup for any largish family. And the elevator is a HUGE plus to get all the supplies up to the kitchen!! That's for any age group to enjoy!! LOL Thanks for your nice review. Hope you enjoyed your OBX Boil!!!

Most relaxing vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-07-18
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Recommend to Others
We have been going to carova for 15 years. This was our first year at paws. The first thing we lived was how clean they keep it. It was great to have everything there in the house. We loved the second couch on the middle floor. There was so much space for all of us.
Manager response on 2023-07-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are so right. There are living areas on every floor. It makes it easy to have a quiet conversation with a small group. But the house can certainly handle a big family. We're so glad you found it clean and complete!! Thanks so much for your review!

Amazing house, amazing location

Reviewed by Michelle B. on 2023-05-09
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Recommend to Others
House is beautiful and stocked with everything you need. So close to the beach and the pool area with hot tub was great.
Manager response on 2023-06-13 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Sandy Paws really is a beautiful home. The owners have thought of everything!! So glad you all enjoyed your time there!

Highly Recommend Sandy Paws!

Reviewed by Kathie H. on 2023-06-28
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Recommend to Others
Our family (6 adults & 5 children) all highly recommend Sandy Paws!
We loved all the space, beachy decor, boardwalk to the beach, wonderful views of the dunes, ocean, sunrises & wild horses! We saw wild horses everyday! One wild horse even pooped on the boardwalk that leads to the beach! How’s that for wild horse beach charm?! Funny!
The kitchen is perfect for 3 families. It has all the equipment you could want and then some! Three refrigerators, a freezer, 2 dishwashers, 2 stove tops, many quality kitchen appliances, a crab pot, and every imaginable kitchen utensil! Thanks, Sandy Paws owners!
The elevator was a life saver in getting all our supplies upstairs. It has safety features which we appreciated since our group included 5 children, ages 5-8.
The fenced in pool (we paid the extra to have it heated) was great! The outside pool seating & chairs on all the decks were plentiful & perfect.
Laura James, Carova Cottages, answered our many questions promptly. We appreciated her help!
Manager response on 2023-06-29 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
What a wonderful recap of what sounds like a wonderful vacation! We're so glad you had so much fun. Sounds like the horses provided plenty of entertainment!! They are so funny sometimes. Sandy Paws really does have everything you need for a large family to just relax and enjoy each other. Meals don't prepare themselves but at least the cooking is easy in the well thought out kitchen. I hope you will bring your family back to Sandy Paws, though your trip to Alaska sounds pretty enticing too! Can I come along?.. what's one more? ;-) Thanks Kathie! After this review went public, the owner wrote to me and I am copying her words here: "We work hard to make sure that the kitchen has everything anyone would need. Just stayed in a rental cabin in TN with our friends and their teens. Couldn’t find a single platter to present a family meal. It lacked a lot of things that cooks need. I was missing the kitchen at Sandy Paws!!! "

True Getaway

Reviewed by Jennifer H. on 2023-07-05
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Recommend to Others
Our vacation to Sandy Paws was simply, perfect! The home, location, and amenities created a relaxing getaway from life! This was our first vacation to the Outer Banks and the 4x4 beach location is going to be hard to top! We were away from crowds and most days, had the beach to mostly to ourselves! There are so many positives this house has to offer: elevator, huge open upper floor, pool, hot tub, drive your belongings to the beach, beautiful views, and many more. But really, the best part was the daily visits from the many horses that roam freely. Most times, they were between the houses, on the dunes, or in our driveway! This vacation was definitely one of the best!
Manager response on 2023-07-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
NICE!! Sandy Paws is a relaxing spot in a relaxing spot! What more could you ask for? LOL. The horses love those dunes, and isn't it picturesque to see them grazing? I bet you got some pretty fantastic pictures. So glad you had such a great week. Please consider a return visit. We'd love to have you!

McMullin - Sandy Paws - Week Ended 5-14-23

Reviewed by Brian M. on 2023-05-24
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We had a great time and loved the house! Would definitely stay again.
Manager response on 2023-06-13 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Come back any time. We would LOVE to have you! :-)

SANDY PAWS: Open May weeks reduced with FREE pool heat! Oceanfront, elevator!

Unit Code: Sandy

Sandy Paws

Oceanfront w/dune walkway. Pool w/heater Elevator Game Room 4x4 SANDY PAWS: Oceanfront w/dune walkway. Pool w/heater Elevator Game Room 4x4
Open May weeks have been REDUCED and you get FREE pool heat! Serious value! Drive Your Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle Up the 4x4 Beach to Your Family’s Oceanfront OBX Happy Place! Extraordinary experiences await your arrival at Sandy Paws, a tranquil, pet-friendly oceanfront retreat with heatable pool, elevator and everything you could possibly need for the ultimate vacation. This home was lovingly designed for your family AND your beloved dog to enjoy fun-filled gatherings on wild and wonderful Carova Beach. Take in the panoramic views and sea air while watching the famous wild horses grazing peacefully on your dune. Delight in a lingering ocean sunrise, enjoy a seaside picnic with the kids and beloved dog, steal away for a refreshing afternoon dip in the private pool (heated for a fee), sunbathe in a poolside lounge chair with your favorite book, marvel at the sunsets over the sound from your front porch and then be dazzled by the starriest night sky from the serenity of your private spa with LED lighting. At 4,023 square feet, Sandy Paws welcomes your family to its casually gracious spaces as well as generously sized bedrooms with private bathrooms for each. Bring your groceries and never leave! Three refrigerator/freezers and a chest freezer in the shed mean you don’t have to go back to town to replenish your supplies!! Grill on the propane or charcoal grill while enjoying happy hour at the picnic table and watching the kids in the pool. With its double refrigerator/freezers, double cooktops and double dishwashers, the spacious indoor kitchen accommodates many chefs – with ample room for all. Use the high-speed internet service to stream on your private device or the large screens in the living areas. A vibrant, surf-themed recreation room offers lounge furniture, a dart set, retro-style refrigerator/freezer and pool table as well as a large screen television (Dish TV cable). When the day is done, restore your body and mind through revitalizing slumber in one of Sandy Paws’ spacious, themed bedrooms. Whether you seek active adventures, shopping and dining in Corolla, (a 9-mile drive down the beach) a chilled-out vacation or anything in between, make Sandy Paws your ultimate, most memorable vacation. It has everything you need and more. Please visit Carova Cottages website for the savings enjoyed when booking direct. 4-wheel drive vehicle required. Linens are provided. Sunday Arrival. Two dogs allowed with fee. Pool heat available for a fee.
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/10/2025$357 /nt
05/11/2025 - 05/17/2025$492 /nt
05/18/2025 - 05/31/2025$570 /nt
06/01/2025 - 06/07/2025$892 /nt
06/08/2025 - 06/14/2025$1,064 /nt
06/15/2025 - 06/21/2025$1,285 /nt
06/22/2025 - 06/28/2025$1,289 /nt
06/29/2025 - 07/05/2025$1,299 /nt
07/06/2025 - 08/09/2025$1,289 /nt
08/10/2025 - 08/16/2025$1,113 /nt
08/17/2025 - 08/23/2025$982 /nt
08/24/2025 - 08/31/2025$765 /nt
09/01/2025 - 09/06/2025$720 /nt
09/07/2025 - 09/13/2025$554 /nt
09/14/2025 - 09/20/2025$486 /nt
09/21/2025 - 09/27/2025$432 /nt
09/28/2025 - 04/04/2026$407 /nt
4.9474
(19 Review)

Great Escape!

September 2024
, Altoona, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This home offered plenty of room for the whole family. The kitchen with all it's supplies, extra cooktop, extra refrigerators, and extra dishwasher came in handy. The heated pool was perfect for the cooler days. Thanks for providing such great customer service too!

Manager's Response

That kitchen!!!! TWO of everything!! So cooking is a breeze and cleanup is a breeze and keeping track from the sidelines is a breeze with the plentiful island seating. ;-)

Sandy Paws will pamper you with an elevator and pool heat as well! And the gas grill right next to the pool area, makes for a fun picnic! Thanks for your nice review! Please come again!

Family Beach Getaway 2024

September 2024
, Eastlake, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

For years we talked of going away with all of us and I made that finally happen! Sandy Paws was perfect for our multi generational family. The house was more beautiful than the pictures! Everyone enjoyed the pool and the gorgeous sun rises. These professional got to relax and appreciate what's important. Laura was wonderful. Hope to return next summer. Loved the hatching of the sea turtles and 4 x 4 beach driving was awesome.

Manager's Response

There are so many reasons to LOVE Sandy Paws. The fact that it was a long awaited family getaway makes it even more special! When you throw in the wild horses, a "turtle boil" of hatchlings, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, it reaches PERFECTION!

It was long awaited but maybe now it's time to make it an annual celebration... please come back!

Perfect stay

August 2024
, Oakton, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Everything was perfect as usual. Repeat customer for good reason, they are perfect.

Manager's Response

Wow, perfect is a pretty nice complement. :-) :-) :-)

Thank you! See you next year!

Amazing Vacation

July 2024
, Mountain Top, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our first time at Sandy Paws, we were so excited we got to bring our dogs which made the experience better. Our family got to spread out in the many rooms which were very clean and comfortable, kitchen fully stocked and spacious for multiple people to be cooking at the same time. Outside the kids used the pool and hot tub every day, the adults loved to grill and of course the beach. What an experience driving on the beach!!!! A four wheel drive lovers dream and great to not have to lug all our beach gear. We had a wonderful vacation!
House managers are terrific, came right over when we noticed a safety issue with one of the beds, thank you again!

Excellent Family Vacation

July 2024
, Greenville, NC US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

Wonderful adventure for our family of ten. The house was perfect with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms. The lay out provided room for everyone to spread out and spend time together or separately when they wanted to. The outside grilling area, hot tub and pool were great. A really nice sized pool with plenty of lounging furniture. View was obstructed a bit by the dune but that can't be changed. When they say you need a four wheel drive, believe them. Our family drivers had no problem but one of the riders (grandma) didn't exactly love the 9 mile drive on the beach. Luckily with all the refrigerators and freezers, we were able to take enough supplies that the only trip back into to Corolla was for sunscreen. Management team was so easy to work with and responded quickly when we needed some help with a smoke detector. The best part was the horses who came to visit almost daily. They truly are beautiful !!

Beauty and comfort and adventure all in one.

June 2024
, State College, PA US

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
3
Property condition
4

Laura was awesome and very responsive! The pool was perfect and it was awesome to be able to drive all our beach supplies down to the beach to set up each day. The house was perfect with a huge table and large family gathering area. It was quiet and beautiful and everyone loved seeing the horses along the beach, on the dunes and even up around the house. As for location, this was our first time staying on the OBX and we decided it isn’t for everyone. We had two medical emergencies which meant a VERY LONG drive to an emergency facility. Also, plan to bring basic supplies like shampoo, hand soap, hair dryer, dish soap, toilette paper, paper towels, all spices starting with salt and pepper. Because of the drive we only left for our 2 emergencies and a couple of times to get supplies. I have been to drive on beaches before, but this was a totally different experience. You HAVE to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle with plenty of clearence below your truck to get through the soft sand ruts. As for returning, some loved being in a remote area. Some wanted to explore the area and have easier access to the amenities of Corolla, Duck and sites off the island. The only time it rained was at night so I don’t know what it was like to drive on the beach in the rain. Also, because the dunes are so high, there is not a clear view of the beach. You can see the water, but not the actual beach. Bottom line, we are all glad we went there for our family vacation this year. The house was outstanding and we loved being in a rental property that quickly felt like home. And it offered bit of adventure and sights that you would get no where else! Oh yes. There is a shed in the driveway that is FULL with beach and pool toys which was awesome.

Manager's Response

I think the beach driving is a love/hate thing. LOVE that you are secluded and there aren't many people around, HATE that you have to travel so far to get to the store. Emergency services are available from the local fire dept/ems but I guess if it isn't an emergency, the drive to Kitty Hawk is a slog, particularly if someone isn't feeling well. SO SORRY you had that happen TWICE!!!!! Somehow that drive gets longer and longer when you need to be somewhere fast!!


It sounds like you enjoyed the house, but maybe the drive was a detraction... as you say, it isn't for everyone. So bring your supplies, don't have any stressful emergencies, and experience the adventure that is Carova. It can be very relaxing!!

Wonderful spot for family fun!

June 2024
, Morgantown, WV United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Perfect spot for family fun. The house is set up to accommodate a crowd of all ages. The pool and hot tub were perfect and the location was remote enough to not feel crowded.

Manager's Response

HAHA, you are right, it is the perfect spot for a crowd of all ages!! Three living rooms means you don't have to agonize over who gets to watch what on the living room tv since there are THREE living rooms!! ALSO, I don't know about your family, but in our family, there is always a group playing PS5 or some other game, so they can set up and play wherever they want! It's a pretty great setup for any largish family. And the elevator is a HUGE plus to get all the supplies up to the kitchen!! That's for any age group to enjoy!! LOL

Thanks for your nice review. Hope you enjoyed your OBX Boil!!!

Great house!

May 2024
, Bensalem, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house has absolutely EVERYTHING you need for your stay. It’sa welcoming space with great decor and enough room for everyone comfortably. Having your own bathroom for each room was a big plus. Only recommendation is to bring your own hand soap for the bathrooms.

Manager's Response

You are right, this house is really comfortable for any group. There are plenty of spaces to group together or find respite in your own bedroom with private bath. The location can't be beat either, with a dune walk to the ocean, and a quiet section of beach. You can really relax here!

Thanks for your nice review and so glad you are coming back in 2025!! We LOVE our repeat guests!

Neat Experience!

May 2024
, Columbia Station, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

We had a fantastic time at Sandy Paws! The house was HUGE, the pool was perfect, and the direct access to the beach was great! The drive to get there was crazy (9 miles on the sand!) but as long as you catch it when the tide is lower it’s not too bad. Definitely an adventure! Saw lots of wild horses — a couple even came trotting through our carport at one point during the week. The one downside to the wild horses were the horse flies that bothered us on hot days both on the beach and at the pool — didn’t think to bring bug spray, though not sure it would have helped with the biting! Luckily it’s not like mosquitos where the bites itch afterward, they were just a bit of a nuisance. Other than that just make sure to bring your own spices as the house only has salt and pepper, though it was definitely a well-equipped kitchen and had all the equipment/utensils we needed to make meals (which was good because it was a 30 min back down the beach to get to any restaurants). My husband also enjoyed seeing military aircrafts fly by during the day — some came super close and made for a really neat experience!

All in all it was a great vacation and we were so grateful to have been able to make so many wonderful memories!

Manager's Response

What a nice review. You are right, the kitchen at Sandy Paws is very well equipped, even if your go-to meal is frozen pizza!! Three fridges means you could just stock up and go nowhere!! Sounds like a VERY nice way to spend a week at the beach!

So sorry about the horseflies. The wind must've been out of the west that day, so the bugs come west with it. When the wind changes, they go with it. Maybe a tennis racket would have made it into a sport? Send them west!!! Lol

We're so glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope you will return! We'd love to have you.

Best family vacation ever!

August 2023
, Linthicum, MD Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Sandy Paws is a great property. Kitchen has every single thing you can imagine and settings for 20+ people. My bartender daughter was especially impressed with the completely stocks barware to include all the glassware and gadgets. Elevator was a huge plus for my Mom who had knee surgery in the Spring. Loved having the little table on the same floor as the great room and kitchen for games and puzzles. Even though the tropical storm came to visit, we had plenty to do inside with the game room and tv's o'plenty. House is staged with beautiful artwork and is very updated and well kept. Pool and horrible are top notch. My only suggestion would be to include more beach chairs to replace some of the Sandy Paws camping chairs. They are cute with the personalized logo on the back but not practical for our older family members. As usual, Laura is a dream and is available and responsive to answer questions and assist with requests. Best family vacation ever!

Manager's Response

Wow, such a great review. Sandy Paws is a joy for most chefs as evidenced by all the "kitchen wows" we get!! ;-) The elevator is also useful for us lazy folks who don't want to carry 25 bags of groceries up two flights of stairs ;-)

I want to put a spin on the storm. I LOVE A GOOD STORM! When else can you sit and watch waves roll in from 500 yards out... white water for as far as the eye can see? What beauty! And it was short lived enough that you got your sun back before you departed. I think that is the best of both worlds.

I'll let the owners know about your beach chairs concern. I know it gets harder every day to get out of a low chair. I end up rolling out. Damnit. lol

Wonderful stay

August 2023
, Broomall, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We loved Sandy Paws, quick, walk over the dunes to the beach, kitchen was well stocked with all the utensils we needed, and beds were comfortable.
We are an older couple, and don’t have a lot of streaming apps on our phones, and the owner provided ESPN for us to watch the Little League World Series!! Much appreciated!!

Manager's Response

That was a first for us... Little League World Series please!! LOL So glad it worked out. I hope you all will come again. That would make it three years with Carova Cottages!! We'd love to see you again!

Lovely home!

July 2023
, Lincoln University, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

I’ve stayed in many rentals including in the Outer Banks. Sandy Paws is the best we’ve stayed at - well appointed, clean and just nice and comfortable all around. Location may be a bit far from Corolla if you like heading into town a lot. But if you want a relaxing time on the beach without a ton of people around, Sandy Paws is a truly lovely place to be. The kitchen is organized and had lots of things most rentals do not. The bed rooms are comfortable. We’ll loved the place. We loved our stay!

Manager's Response

Thank you so much for your great review. Everyone seems to feel the same way about the kitchen at Sandy Paws! Make your own meals in this fantastic kitchen with enough refrigerators to keep seven days of food on hand. Add the two dishwashers for clean up and all you have to do is work up your appetite while sitting poolside! We're so glad you loved your stay in this comfortable home. Please come again!!

Sandy Paws A++

July 2023
, South Elgin, IL United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

We could not have been more pleased with our week at Sandy Paws. Beautifully decorated home with a wonderful location and fully stocked with everything we needed. It was the perfect size for our family, and the memories created there will last a lifetime! Great dealing with Laura at Carova Cottages. We loved everything about this house and hope to be back again!

Manager's Response

We're so glad your family is returning for more "A++" vacation. Truly a testament to the wonderful family time you can get at Sandy Paws!! See you next year!!

Most relaxing vacation

July 2023
, Manahawkin , NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
4
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We have been going to carova for 15 years. This was our first year at paws. The first thing we lived was how clean they keep it. It was great to have everything there in the house. We loved the second couch on the middle floor. There was so much space for all of us.

Manager's Response

You are so right. There are living areas on every floor. It makes it easy to have a quiet conversation with a small group. But the house can certainly handle a big family.

We're so glad you found it clean and complete!! Thanks so much for your review!

Most relaxing vacation

July 2023
, Manahawkin , NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
4
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We have been going to carova for 15 years. This was our first year at paws. The first thing we lived was how clean they keep it. It was great to have everything there in the house. We loved the second couch on the middle floor. There was so much space for all of us.

Manager's Response

You are so right. There are living areas on every floor. It makes it easy to have a quiet conversation with a small group. But the house can certainly handle a big family.

We're so glad you found it clean and complete!! Thanks so much for your review!

True Getaway

June 2023
, Schuylkill Haven , PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our vacation to Sandy Paws was simply, perfect! The home, location, and amenities created a relaxing getaway from life! This was our first vacation to the Outer Banks and the 4x4 beach location is going to be hard to top! We were away from crowds and most days, had the beach to mostly to ourselves! There are so many positives this house has to offer: elevator, huge open upper floor, pool, hot tub, drive your belongings to the beach, beautiful views, and many more. But really, the best part was the daily visits from the many horses that roam freely. Most times, they were between the houses, on the dunes, or in our driveway! This vacation was definitely one of the best!

Manager's Response

NICE!! Sandy Paws is a relaxing spot in a relaxing spot! What more could you ask for? LOL.

The horses love those dunes, and isn't it picturesque to see them grazing? I bet you got some pretty fantastic pictures.

So glad you had such a great week. Please consider a return visit. We'd love to have you!

Highly Recommend Sandy Paws!

June 2023
, Van Meter, IA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our family (6 adults & 5 children) all highly recommend Sandy Paws!
We loved all the space, beachy decor, boardwalk to the beach, wonderful views of the dunes, ocean, sunrises & wild horses! We saw wild horses everyday! One wild horse even pooped on the boardwalk that leads to the beach! How’s that for wild horse beach charm?! Funny!
The kitchen is perfect for 3 families. It has all the equipment you could want and then some! Three refrigerators, a freezer, 2 dishwashers, 2 stove tops, many quality kitchen appliances, a crab pot, and every imaginable kitchen utensil! Thanks, Sandy Paws owners!
The elevator was a life saver in getting all our supplies upstairs. It has safety features which we appreciated since our group included 5 children, ages 5-8.
The fenced in pool (we paid the extra to have it heated) was great! The outside pool seating & chairs on all the decks were plentiful & perfect.
Laura James, Carova Cottages, answered our many questions promptly. We appreciated her help!

Manager's Response

What a wonderful recap of what sounds like a wonderful vacation! We're so glad you had so much fun. Sounds like the horses provided plenty of entertainment!! They are so funny sometimes.

Sandy Paws really does have everything you need for a large family to just relax and enjoy each other. Meals don't prepare themselves but at least the cooking is easy in the well thought out kitchen.

I hope you will bring your family back to Sandy Paws, though your trip to Alaska sounds pretty enticing too! Can I come along?.. what's one more? ;-)

Thanks Kathie!


After this review went public, the owner wrote to me and I am copying her words here:

"We work hard to make sure that the kitchen has everything anyone would need. Just stayed in a rental cabin in TN with our friends and their teens. Couldn’t find a single platter to present a family meal. It lacked a lot of things that cooks need. I was missing the kitchen at Sandy Paws!!! "

McMullin - Sandy Paws - Week Ended 5-14-23

May 2023
, Harleysville, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a great time and loved the house! Would definitely stay again.

Manager's Response

Come back any time. We would LOVE to have you! :-)

Amazing house, amazing location

April 2023
, North Reading, MA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

House is beautiful and stocked with everything you need. So close to the beach and the pool area with hot tub was great.

Manager's Response

Sandy Paws really is a beautiful home. The owners have thought of everything!! So glad you all enjoyed your time there!

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6 Bed
8 Baths
Sleeps 14

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Witches Bikini

Witches Bikini. Great views. Game room. shuffleboard, private pool, Lovely decor. 4x4

Location

1672 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 26' 58.128" N, 75° 50' 41.604" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Witches Bikini

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Another Great Vacation

Reviewed by Brooks C. on 2024-07-23
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Recommend to Others
As always, great place to enjoy the sun, sand, surf, and our daily wild horse visitors.

Great House and Location

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-07-21
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Recommend to Others
We all were very happy with the house and its location. The details about the home are accurate and Carova Cottages was quick to respond to a question I had while at the house. We visit OBX every summer but this was our first trip to Carova - by far our favorite!

Another Great Experience at the Witches!

Reviewed by Brooks C. on 2023-07-11
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Recommend to Others
Great accommodations, amazing location, great management folks to work with! Idyllic place to reconnect with nature and loved ones. Wonderful experience all around!
Manager response on 2023-07-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review! :-) And we'll see you next year!!!

Great for a family!!!

Reviewed by Melissa Y. on 2023-08-23
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Recommend to Others
The house was amazing. There were 8 of us and there was plenty of room when we wanted to be together and plenty of room for everyone to have some down time. Great location! 4x4 beach is the way to go!!! The pool was our after beach haven to just relax. We got to see the horses up close and everyone loves that.
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Isn't it cool when you are just minding your own business and then you hear this unmistakable sound?.. horses snorting or clomping or neighing. The horses are here!! LOL And they do just kinda show up don't they? They are so funny with their little antics. But horses are just the sidenote since the Witches Bikini is the main attraction. This home has fantastic views of the ocean, a very easy walking access and enough room inside for everyone to relax and wind down. We're so glad you found Witches Bikini fit your family's wishes. Hope you will come again.

Super Family Vacation at Witches Bikini!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-07-05
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Recommend to Others
This house had everything we needed to stay there all week with our children and grandchildren with the pool, the recreation room with shuffle board table, corn hole in the carport, multiple decks with rockers, seating areas and a hammock all with a view of the ocean and wild horses, the giant dining table for meals and a kitchen with all we needed, two large refrigerators and two smaller ones, lots and lots of seating area space, bedroom space, six bathrooms and even a telescope! The owner had decorated it in charming ocean themed ways. All was fresh and clean. Laura James of Carova Cottages was super helpful and accessible for questions both before and during our trip. The best thing about Witches Bikini even with all its wonderful features is the location. It is a on the Carolla 4X4 beach but not a long drive. It is adjacent to a walkway to use to walk over a small sand dune and be at the ocean. We never needed to drive to the beach and could come and go easily. The wild horses were somewhere within sight every day and sometimes right near the house. It was such a joy to see them. No other houses blocked the beautiful ocean view. It was an amazing experience to stay at Witches Bikini with our family! We also hired Outer Banks Seafood Boil to come one evening and cook a traditional boil for us which was a new experience. That was a real treat we recommend!
Manager response on 2023-07-05 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I didn't know about Outer Banks Seafood Boil! That sounds like a lot of fun! What a nice summation of the house and your perfect vacation!! It seems like Witches Bikini checked off all the boxes. Hope you all will come again!! We'd love to have you!

Home away from Home

Reviewed by Alicia B. on 2024-06-16
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Recommend to Others
This property is amazing!! It has everything you could imagine for a vacation at the beach. The description of everything is accurate. Would recommend to a friend and stay here again.
Manager response on 2024-07-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your review. Witches Bikini is kinda fun isn't it? I think the shuffleboard in the bar, the patio out to the pool, shade and sun seating ... all make for a nice afternoon! Particularly when you've had enough of the salt and sand!! And the inside is just as comfortable with three of the five bedrooms having private baths. Then the one jack-and-jill bath for the bunkroom and twin room to share. There's a second seating area inside on level two as well as porch and deck seating on all three levels. There are so many places to be, even a large family will enjoy Witches Bikini!

House is amazing

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-09-27
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Recommend to Others
This house is one of the best properties we have stayed at in OBX in all the years we have been coming here. The kitchen was so well stocked with appliances and the whole house was very clean. We appreciated all the large king bedrooms and the top living room/open concept kitchen was perfect. The bar is a cool aspect as well. We could not have asked for a better house. We only wish it wasn't on the 4x4 beach as our only downside of the trip was the beach itself. We were unaware that cars drive down below beach-goers near the water. With 5 small children in our family this was difficult to make sure they didn't dart out in front of cars on their way to the water. This is an issue with the 4x4 beach only though and no reflection of the house. The communication from the rental company was great and the owners also have their numbers listed in case of a problem. If the 4x4 beach works for you then you will want to stay in this house!

Perfect Family Vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2022-07-18
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Recommend to Others
We were extremely excited for this vacation and as first timers for an outer banks family vacation, this house didnt disappoint. They directions yo the house were easy to follow and the house was perfectly situated front row behind the dunes. The house itself had all the amenities and little odds and ends some vacation rental homes dont have. We loved star gazing at night and could see the milkyway as clearly as I ever have. The sun rise and sun sets were by far my favorite and the kids loved seeing the wild horses. In the afternoon when we were tired of the sand, we relaxed by the pool. I would absolutely come back to this place.

Awesome Time!

Reviewed by Marianne B. on 2022-07-11
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Recommend to Others
This was our first time down in the OBX and Witches Bikini did not disappoint! This vacation home is clean, well apopointed with everything you could possibly need, comfortable and the perfect location on the 4x4 Carova beach. What a relaxing time we all had! My favorite memory was seeing the horses wonder on property and listening to the waves while relaxing with morning coffee! Plus, Laura from Carova Cottages was easy to work with and super responsive. Thank you OBX for providing us with and aweome week!!

Awesome Vacation Rental

Reviewed by Brooks C. on 2022-07-11
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
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Recommend to Others
Everything was great; well equipped, spotless, and very relaxing.

2022 Review

Reviewed by Unknown on 2022-08-23
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Recommend to Others
Best Ever!!!!

Horse Beach

Reviewed by Kendra H. on 2022-06-20
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Services from rental manager
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Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Loved the house.
Had every amenity you could need.
Had horse visitors almost every day.
Ocean view and breeze was fantastic.

Amazing home, amazing views

Reviewed by Leigh Anna Y. on 2023-06-15
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
It truly is an amazing home. The views are top notch. The house is roomy and no one felt as though they were on top of one another and the four full baths and two half baths help a whole lot! The beds are comfortable. The kitchen is fully stocked for cooking your meals. I have recommended the house to friends already. Laura and David are great with communication and assisting with whatever one may need before arrival and while at the house. The 4x4 beach, if one has never been, may seem intimidating but it is not and packing your beach gear in a pickup truck bed to the beach is much better than hauling it by hand! It is a full sized swimming pool, when most beach houses are not. I totally recommend this beach house, if you couldn't tell!!
Manager response on 2023-06-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOL We could tell!!! We're so glad you liked Witches Bikini! All the extra living spaces, second level living room, lower level game room/bar and then the outside porches and carport make it easy to hide or congregate. Your choice!! I agree that pickup bed is a LOT easier than your back when hauling the beach gear out to the beach. But you CAN walk if you want to get your steps in. Nothing beats a good appetite after a good day in the sand. Everything is better at the beach! Hope you will come again.!!

Relaxing and remote getaway with Family.

Reviewed by Todd W. on 2023-06-19
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We all had a great time and like always, it went by too fast. The home was clean, pool was great for kids, saw plenty of horses, and being able to walk to the beach was a big plus. Would love to stay again.
Manager response on 2023-06-21 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We'd love to have you stay again. This home is on a section of beach where there aren't that many other homes next door. So it feels so secluded as you sit on your deck looking at the surf. And there are plenty of those vantage points from the house. The walk out over the dune is very easy... so nice to be able to run back to the house for a drink break without having to get in the car. Maybe you can come again? Hope so!

11 Years of Family Fun at Carova Beach

Reviewed by Cassandra D. on 2021-08-09
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Witches Bikini is the perfect sized house for our family. Location is excellent as well as the house amenities. This if the 4th time renting this house and every time the home owners have made improvements. This year new shower enclosures for all the 2nd level bathrooms and changed out bunk beds to queen size. Kids loved the new beds. So much fun in the party room having shuffle board tournaments and karaoke. Horses every day (except when it was storming). Love the 4x4 beach. And Laura and James at Carova Cottages are great! Quick to respond and just a pleasure to deal with. Also, the house was the cleanest we've seen upon arrival. Hoping to be back again for year 12 in OBX.

Never wanted to leave

Reviewed by Mike S. on 2021-09-06
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Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This is our second year vacationing in the OBX on the 4x4 beach. Our house last year was right down the street from this house. Witches Bikini and Carova cottages exceeded our expectations. The house was perfect for our group, the layout was perfect with the bar/ hangout are being on the first floor, bedrooms being on the Second and 3rd. The location and Views were amazing. On our drive home I called Laura from Carova to book it again for next year. The only thing I would change was the grilling situation, the charcoal grill was a pain and the largest pan that was provided the coating was peeling off so we had to use smaller pans to cook with. I mean really.... These aren’t complaints, and it didn’t effect our stay that much, if at all. We loved this house, and our vacation. Can’t wait to come back.

Did not want to leave.

Reviewed by Terrie J. on 2021-06-23
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Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This place was perfect for our family. Plenty of room and lots of activities for all ages. If you have never driven on a 4x4 beach read up on it and make sure the tides are in your favor. Our family would definitely go back. ***** stars!

Perfect Vacation in the Sand and Sun

Reviewed by Randy F. on 2021-07-19
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Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We loved watching the beautiful view of the sunrise coming up over the ocean all from our bedroom balcony. Watched the wild horses everyday pass by the house. The house was had plenty of room including everything we needed to cook our meals The large table allowed all 9 of us to eat together at the table. The owner has thought of everything from all the movies, books , games and beach gear . We loved coming back from the beach and jumping in the pool and playing bar room athletics in the bar.

Fantastic house

Reviewed by Lori M. on 2021-09-13
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This was our second stay at this house. It has everything you could possibly want.
Laura and her team were responsive and a pleasure to work with!

Media

Witches Bikini! Oceanfront Fantastic views, pool, shuffleboard, 4x4 required

Unit Code: WB

Witches Bikini

Witches Bikini. Great views. Game room. shuffleboard, private pool, Lovely decor. 4x4
"Witches Bikini" located on the 4x4 beach, has spectacular, uninterrupted views of the ocean and many decks from which to enjoy them. Level three has a huge living room with ship's watch, newly updated kitchen with granite counters and island seating, half bath, big king suite with private that is just level three. Enjoy the sunrise from the front deck or take your coffee to the screened in porch conveniently located just off the kitchen. Down one flight, you will find another lovely living room with tv and wet bar complete with sink and beverage refrigerator as well as four more bedrooms. 2 King rooms with private baths, a room with 2 Singles and a room with 2 queens that share a bath. The twin room also has deck access. The level one game room/bar will be a favorite gathering spot, with TV, shuffle board, half bath and the exterior patio all just steps from the private pool. This home has so many diversions, that a rain day will be welcome! Tournament anyone? 5 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths Inventory: • Huge private pool • second full sized refrigerator just outside game room • drinking water filtration system • flat screen TVs in every ensuite bedroom and in all the living rooms • extra sink, microwave and cabinetry in second floor living room • granite counter tops • Fully stocked kitchen • Sheets, pillows, blankets, and bedspreads provided. Towels available for a fee • Iron and ironing board • Telephone • Wireless internet service • Central heat and air • Dishwasher, microwave • Washer/Dryer • Outdoor Furniture • Outdoor Shower • BBQ Grill (charcoal) • Beach chairs (five) • Pet free • No Smoking in this home Saturday Check In - 4 wheel drive Required - Linens provided. Towels available for a fee. Approximately 3 miles up the 4x4 beach Parking passes for parking two cars on the beach are included with this home. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Pool and hot tub typically open late May to end of Sept No pets No graduation groups or events of any kind are allowed in this home. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website:
May 2025
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/09/2025$450 /nt
05/10/2025 - 05/16/2025$500 /nt
05/17/2025 - 05/23/2025$565 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$641 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$735 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/13/2025$950 /nt
06/14/2025 - 06/20/2025$990 /nt
06/21/2025 - 06/27/2025$1,102 /nt
06/28/2025 - 07/04/2025$1,125 /nt
07/05/2025 - 08/08/2025$1,102 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$937 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/22/2025$839 /nt
08/23/2025 - 08/29/2025$794 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/05/2025$694 /nt
09/06/2025 - 09/12/2025$608 /nt
09/13/2025 - 09/19/2025$425 /nt
09/20/2025 - 09/27/2025$400 /nt
09/28/2025 - 04/03/2026$382 /nt
5.0000
(21 Review)

Great House and Location

July 2024
, Bristow, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We all were very happy with the house and its location. The details about the home are accurate and Carova Cottages was quick to respond to a question I had while at the house. We visit OBX every summer but this was our first trip to Carova - by far our favorite!

Another Great Vacation

June 2024
, Elkin, NC Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
3

As always, great place to enjoy the sun, sand, surf, and our daily wild horse visitors.

Home away from Home

June 2024
, Sykesville, MD US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This property is amazing!! It has everything you could imagine for a vacation at the beach. The description of everything is accurate. Would recommend to a friend and stay here again.

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your review. Witches Bikini is kinda fun isn't it? I think the shuffleboard in the bar, the patio out to the pool, shade and sun seating ... all make for a nice afternoon! Particularly when you've had enough of the salt and sand!!

And the inside is just as comfortable with three of the five bedrooms having private baths. Then the one jack-and-jill bath for the bunkroom and twin room to share.

There's a second seating area inside on level two as well as porch and deck seating on all three levels. There are so many places to be, even a large family will enjoy Witches Bikini!

Great for a family!!!

July 2023
, Coopersburg, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was amazing. There were 8 of us and there was plenty of room when we wanted to be together and plenty of room for everyone to have some down time. Great location! 4x4 beach is the way to go!!! The pool was our after beach haven to just relax. We got to see the horses up close and everyone loves that.

Manager's Response

Isn't it cool when you are just minding your own business and then you hear this unmistakable sound?.. horses snorting or clomping or neighing. The horses are here!! LOL And they do just kinda show up don't they? They are so funny with their little antics. But horses are just the sidenote since the Witches Bikini is the main attraction. This home has fantastic views of the ocean, a very easy walking access and enough room inside for everyone to relax and wind down. We're so glad you found Witches Bikini fit your family's wishes. Hope you will come again.

Another Great Experience at the Witches!

July 2023
, Elkin, NC Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Great accommodations, amazing location, great management folks to work with! Idyllic place to reconnect with nature and loved ones. Wonderful experience all around!

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review! :-) And we'll see you next year!!!

Super Family Vacation at Witches Bikini!

June 2023
, South Haven, MI United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house had everything we needed to stay there all week with our children and grandchildren with the pool, the recreation room with shuffle board table, corn hole in the carport, multiple decks with rockers, seating areas and a hammock all with a view of the ocean and wild horses, the giant dining table for meals and a kitchen with all we needed, two large refrigerators and two smaller ones, lots and lots of seating area space, bedroom space, six bathrooms and even a telescope! The owner had decorated it in charming ocean themed ways. All was fresh and clean. Laura James of Carova Cottages was super helpful and accessible for questions both before and during our trip. The best thing about Witches Bikini even with all its wonderful features is the location. It is a on the Carolla 4X4 beach but not a long drive. It is adjacent to a walkway to use to walk over a small sand dune and be at the ocean. We never needed to drive to the beach and could come and go easily. The wild horses were somewhere within sight every day and sometimes right near the house. It was such a joy to see them. No other houses blocked the beautiful ocean view. It was an amazing experience to stay at Witches Bikini with our family! We also hired Outer Banks Seafood Boil to come one evening and cook a traditional boil for us which was a new experience. That was a real treat we recommend!

Manager's Response

I didn't know about Outer Banks Seafood Boil! That sounds like a lot of fun! What a nice summation of the house and your perfect vacation!! It seems like Witches Bikini checked off all the boxes.

Hope you all will come again!! We'd love to have you!

Relaxing and remote getaway with Family.

June 2023
, Belmont, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

We all had a great time and like always, it went by too fast. The home was clean, pool was great for kids, saw plenty of horses, and being able to walk to the beach was a big plus. Would love to stay again.

Manager's Response

We'd love to have you stay again. This home is on a section of beach where there aren't that many other homes next door. So it feels so secluded as you sit on your deck looking at the surf. And there are plenty of those vantage points from the house. The walk out over the dune is very easy... so nice to be able to run back to the house for a drink break without having to get in the car. Maybe you can come again? Hope so!

Amazing home, amazing views

June 2023
, Ellettsville, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

It truly is an amazing home. The views are top notch. The house is roomy and no one felt as though they were on top of one another and the four full baths and two half baths help a whole lot! The beds are comfortable. The kitchen is fully stocked for cooking your meals. I have recommended the house to friends already. Laura and David are great with communication and assisting with whatever one may need before arrival and while at the house. The 4x4 beach, if one has never been, may seem intimidating but it is not and packing your beach gear in a pickup truck bed to the beach is much better than hauling it by hand! It is a full sized swimming pool, when most beach houses are not. I totally recommend this beach house, if you couldn't tell!!

Manager's Response

LOL We could tell!!!

We're so glad you liked Witches Bikini! All the extra living spaces, second level living room, lower level game room/bar and then the outside porches and carport make it easy to hide or congregate. Your choice!! I agree that pickup bed is a LOT easier than your back when hauling the beach gear out to the beach. But you CAN walk if you want to get your steps in. Nothing beats a good appetite after a good day in the sand. Everything is better at the beach!

Hope you will come again.!!

2022 Review

July 2022
, Irwin, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Best Ever!!!!

Awesome Vacation Rental

July 2022
, Reidsville, NC US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Everything was great; well equipped, spotless, and very relaxing.

Awesome Vacation Rental

July 2022
, Elkin, NC Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Everything was great; well equipped, spotless, and very relaxing.

Perfect Family Vacation

June 2022
, Clemmons, NC US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We were extremely excited for this vacation and as first timers for an outer banks family vacation, this house didnt disappoint. They directions yo the house were easy to follow and the house was perfectly situated front row behind the dunes. The house itself had all the amenities and little odds and ends some vacation rental homes dont have. We loved star gazing at night and could see the milkyway as clearly as I ever have. The sun rise and sun sets were by far my favorite and the kids loved seeing the wild horses. In the afternoon when we were tired of the sand, we relaxed by the pool. I would absolutely come back to this place.

Awesome Time!

June 2022
, Walpole, MA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was our first time down in the OBX and Witches Bikini did not disappoint! This vacation home is clean, well apopointed with everything you could possibly need, comfortable and the perfect location on the 4x4 Carova beach. What a relaxing time we all had! My favorite memory was seeing the horses wonder on property and listening to the waves while relaxing with morning coffee! Plus, Laura from Carova Cottages was easy to work with and super responsive. Thank you OBX for providing us with and aweome week!!

Horse Beach

May 2022
, Harleysville, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Loved the house.
Had every amenity you could need.
Had horse visitors almost every day.
Ocean view and breeze was fantastic.

House is amazing

September 2021
, Terra Alta, WV United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This house is one of the best properties we have stayed at in OBX in all the years we have been coming here. The kitchen was so well stocked with appliances and the whole house was very clean. We appreciated all the large king bedrooms and the top living room/open concept kitchen was perfect. The bar is a cool aspect as well. We could not have asked for a better house. We only wish it wasn't on the 4x4 beach as our only downside of the trip was the beach itself. We were unaware that cars drive down below beach-goers near the water. With 5 small children in our family this was difficult to make sure they didn't dart out in front of cars on their way to the water. This is an issue with the 4x4 beach only though and no reflection of the house. The communication from the rental company was great and the owners also have their numbers listed in case of a problem. If the 4x4 beach works for you then you will want to stay in this house!

Fantastic house

September 2021
, Pennellville , NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was our second stay at this house. It has everything you could possibly want.
Laura and her team were responsive and a pleasure to work with!

Never wanted to leave

August 2021
, Macedon, NY Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is our second year vacationing in the OBX on the 4x4 beach. Our house last year was right down the street from this house. Witches Bikini and Carova cottages exceeded our expectations. The house was perfect for our group, the layout was perfect with the bar/ hangout are being on the first floor, bedrooms being on the Second and 3rd. The location and Views were amazing. On our drive home I called Laura from Carova to book it again for next year. The only thing I would change was the grilling situation, the charcoal grill was a pain and the largest pan that was provided the coating was peeling off so we had to use smaller pans to cook with. I mean really.... These aren’t complaints, and it didn’t effect our stay that much, if at all. We loved this house, and our vacation. Can’t wait to come back.

11 Years of Family Fun at Carova Beach

July 2021
, Edison, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Witches Bikini is the perfect sized house for our family. Location is excellent as well as the house amenities. This if the 4th time renting this house and every time the home owners have made improvements. This year new shower enclosures for all the 2nd level bathrooms and changed out bunk beds to queen size. Kids loved the new beds. So much fun in the party room having shuffle board tournaments and karaoke. Horses every day (except when it was storming). Love the 4x4 beach. And Laura and James at Carova Cottages are great! Quick to respond and just a pleasure to deal with. Also, the house was the cleanest we've seen upon arrival. Hoping to be back again for year 12 in OBX.

11 Years of Family Fun at Carova Beach

July 2021
, Edison, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Witches Bikini is the perfect sized house for our family. Location is excellent as well as the house amenities. This if the 4th time renting this house and every time the home owners have made improvements. This year new shower enclosures for all the 2nd level bathrooms and changed out bunk beds to queen size. Kids loved the new beds. So much fun in the party room having shuffle board tournaments and karaoke. Horses every day (except when it was storming). Love the 4x4 beach. And Laura and James at Carova Cottages are great! Quick to respond and just a pleasure to deal with. Also, the house was the cleanest we've seen upon arrival. Hoping to be back again for year 12 in OBX.

Perfect Vacation in the Sand and Sun

July 2021
, Deerfield, NY US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We loved watching the beautiful view of the sunrise coming up over the ocean all from our bedroom balcony. Watched the wild horses everyday pass by the house. The house was had plenty of room including everything we needed to cook our meals The large table allowed all 9 of us to eat together at the table. The owner has thought of everything from all the movies, books , games and beach gear . We loved coming back from the beach and jumping in the pool and playing bar room athletics in the bar.

Did not want to leave.

June 2021
, Dandridge, TN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This place was perfect for our family. Plenty of room and lots of activities for all ages. If you have never driven on a 4x4 beach read up on it and make sure the tides are in your favor. Our family would definitely go back. ***** stars!

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5 Bed
5.5 Baths
Sleeps 12

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Playing Hooky

5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms. Situated on a high positioned lot with panoramic views of the ocean and the Currituck Sound. A roof deck adds to the expansive views. 2 living rooms with flat screen TV's. Dish Network, Blue Ray, ROKU PS2

Location

1626 Sandpiper Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 26' 35.0448" N, 75° 50' 38.5728" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Playing Hooky

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perfect location with great views

Reviewed by Cole J. on 2024-09-16
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
we absolutely loved the location and the house. it worked great for the 8 of us. very clean and was what we expected, no surprises. Laura helped us very quickly with a small issue. She's awesome, along with the pool/hot tub guy. sorry but forgot his name. he was very professional while there. would definitely stay again.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Yeah, so glad we got that hot tub up and running. Brad was ON IT! Things happen that are out of our control, so your patience was appreciated. I hope you will consider repeating your stay! We'd love to have you!

August 2024

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-08-18
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Playing Hookey was a very nice place to stay on our vacation. We loved the pool was to the side of the house and in the sun the entire day.
Manager response on 2024-11-17 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So glad you enjoyed your stay. The pool area at Playing Hooky is huge!! And the southern exposure makes it usable all day AND NIGHT! Hot tub on level two overlooking the pool means privacy for the hot tub and since it's in the screened porch, there are no bugs to bother you during a soak! PLUS you can still see the sunset from that hot tub since it is on the southwestern edge of the screened porch. All around, great planning for the pool and hot tub!!

Best house ever

Reviewed by Rita H. on 2023-08-07
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Love this house .. very close to the beach.. amazing views from the deck to see the ocean.. lots of room .. the pool is a very good size plenty of room for everyone to play and float .. I will be renting this house for next years .. kids loved the game room
Manager response on 2023-08-30 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Playing Hooky does check off all the boxes. The pool is a nice size for all the floaties people use these days. KING SIZE SWANS!! lol So glad you enjoyed your stay and thanks for your nice review!

Whalen

Reviewed by Randy W. on 2023-08-17
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had a fantastic time. The home is beautiful.
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you liked Playing Hooky!! :-) That name brings up memories of stealing days from school to have a lazy day off from life and it's requirements. I hope you got a little of that during your week there. I bet it was easy to conjure with the ocean just over the dune, and the sunset just over the sound. Life is good!

Great house and location

Reviewed by Rita H. on 2024-07-21
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This was a great house in a good location to the beach .. lots of privacy.. has a nice pool and hot tub .. plenty of room inside to be together or go to different levels for alone time .. basement area great for kids and adults .. great ocean views for sunrise and sunsets .. we’ve rented this house for 3 years in a row ..

Great Family Time...

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-07-12
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had a great week. Laura the property manager got us in a couple hours early and was attentive to any questions we had. The secluded nature of this house really gave us time to reconnect as a family.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review. Playing Hooky is very nicely located for peace and quiet. We're glad you could take advantage of that and reconnect!

Playing Hooky--Great week of vacation

Reviewed by Peter T. on 2021-08-02
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Laura and David were easy people with which to work and kept us informed about the rental property and what to expect. The week was without incident and enjoyable for all.

Great place to Relax!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-05-12
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We had a great vacation at Playing Hooky. It was everything we wanted from our vacation: a place to get away, sit around, watch the horses, and walk the beach. Even though there are houses up and down the “street” it still felt secluded enough for our needs. I would definitely book with any Carova Cottages property again based on the experience we had with Laura: quick responses, professional, and very informative. Awesome all around!
Manager response on 2021-06-08 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
What a nice review. THANK YOU! Playing Hooky really is a great place to relax. Pool tournaments and puzzles are the most important tasks for the day!! Well I guess that is MY idea of a fun day, but the possibilities are endless. The huge pool and secluded hot tub are another diversion. Not to mention morning coffee watching the sunrise OR favorite beverage watching the sunset from way up top in the crow's nest. Please come and stay again! There are still things to do!! ;-)

Wonderful place

Reviewed by Jonathan B. on 2021-05-24
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Recommend to Others
Easy rental through Carova Cottages as always. All costs provided upfront, no secrets.

The house was very nice. Only complaint I would say is that we could never figure how to get the ice maker to work. I guess we could have called, but we brought 2 huge bags of ice for coolers anyway.
Manager response on 2021-06-08 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOL. I wonder what was going on with that ice maker. It works! Sorry we didn't get to you before you bought the bags, but honestly, I think bagged ice is JUST EASIER! LOL. Hope to see you next year! THANKS

Quiet Getaway

Reviewed by Christopher R. on 2022-06-07
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Recommend to Others
It was as expected, a spacious home for our small gathering, close to beach, nice view from crow's nest.

Perfect Vacation!

Reviewed by Kim S. on 2022-10-04
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Recommend to Others
What a wonderful house and a wonderful week away! House had everything we could possibly want, was a great location and could hear the waves at all times and watching the sunrise and sunset from the nest up top was worth it! Already regretting coming home, wish we could have stayed longer! Next year! Always a wonderful trip and love renting from Carova Cottages, everything is taken care of!

Playing Hooky July 2023

Reviewed by Peter T. on 2023-07-31
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Recommend to Others
Cottage was exactly as advertised. This is the second time we visited this cottage. The other time was a week in 2021. Visit was excellent each time. Laura, the property manager is great and if there is an issue, she responds and corrects the issue quickly.
Manager response on 2023-08-01 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS for your nice review. I hope you all will come and visit again. Hooky is the perfect fit!!!

Family Vacation

Reviewed by Angie Y. on 2023-07-11
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Recommend to Others
All in all we had a good vacation. Great area and location. Loved the wild horses. The rental house was not up to par. The downstairs air-conditioner did not work the internet was off and on and the outdoor bathroom next to the pool looked like it had never been cleaned. For $7,200 a week I would expect more.
Manager response on 2023-07-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I wish you had let me know about these issues that concerned you. Now I understand why the house was left in such disarray. You didn't think we cared. We do. We had the AC repaired the day you notified us. We can't control how the internet works. We warn everyone that the internet here is not the most dependable. The outside bathroom is hosed down every week but the sand blows back in in a matter of hours. So sorry you were disappointed with your stay.

Playing Hooky was fantastic peaceful and clean

Reviewed by Diana D. on 2023-07-05
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Recommend to Others
We had an amazing time at OBX. Laura and their rental team was wonderful to deal with. We had a couple minor issues but they were on the scene with assistance within minutes of my call. We look forward to going back and using their rental services again next year. The home was very clean one of the cleanest I've stayed in.
Manager response on 2023-07-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much Diana. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. And we have you all signed up for next year. Hope you can hold on for 51 weeks!! lol

Nice house in 4x4 area

Reviewed by James H. on 2017-08-15
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Recommend to Others
We had a nice visit to Playing Hooky. Overall we had a good impression. The house is designed well and is in a great location up the beach. It does need some attention to get it in top shape as most rentals do. The property management company was very responsive to our requests and we appreciated their efforts to rectify any issues that came up during our stay.
Manager response on 2017-08-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thank you for your review. We sure did have a minute of panic there when the sheets weren't on the beds. But finding them untouched in the linen bucket at least made it easy to rectify. THANKS for your patience with that. I hope you will come again.

Amazing Trip

Reviewed by Susan S. on 2017-07-17
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Our vacation at Playing Hooky was amazing!! We will stay here again. Owners were very responsive when the wifi wasn't working. We saw the wild horses every day along with deer and a few foxes! Oh and lots of frogs that my 5 year old loved!!! House has everything you need. Beds were super comfy (which isn't usually the case). Amazing ocean views and sunset views at night!! Nothing but fabulous things to say!
Manager response on 2017-07-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANK you for the wonderful review. We like those beds so much we got the same brand for our house! PLEASE come and visit again. The frogs want to play some more!

Our stay at playing hooky October 2017

Reviewed by Doug J. on 2017-10-09
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Recommend to Others
Our stay at playing hooky was wonderful traveling on the beach was fantastic going over the dunes to our house was quite the challenge glad we had a four-wheel drive without it you'd be stuck in the sand for sure don't leave home without it.
The sun rises and the sun sets were incredible from the top of the house in the widow's peak or the crows nest. Harvest Moon coming up over the ocean was a beautiful sight.
Laura and David James the management team took great care of us and would recommend playing hooky to anyone wanting to go to the Outer Banks for great memories. thanks Doug in Charlotte
Manager response on 2017-10-12 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Doug, We are so happy you enjoyed your stay at Playing Hooky. The full moon over the ocean.. what a beautiful sight. THANKS for the pictures! See you next year!

Playing Hooky

Reviewed by Dawn N H. on 2018-08-14
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Recommend to Others
The house was beautiful, except the back yard had trash all around. A broken wooden chair, half buried yellow aluminum sliding in back of the fence, 2 old semi rusted propane tanks, old wood panels and glass
window on the side of the house and a glass door that was out side in the dunes.I notified the rental manger concerning this matter and was first told that it would be picked up after our stay. When I ask if the owners would give some money back,I received another email that stated the owner would not and that they didn't have any storage space. When you look at the picture you don't see any of the trash that is around the house. When you pay over $5000.00 for the week you don't except trash in your yard. Hopefully ,I won't be the only one that will complain about that.The pool man that came during the week and saw the trash, did take the glass door on the dune so the wild horses wouldn't step on it.which I totally appreciated.
Manager response on 2018-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
I think "The house was beautiful" is the wording to pay attention to. Yes, there are some building materials outside around the back. They are not even visible from the ground level unless you walk behind the house and behind the pool fence. If you look straight down from the third level deck you will see what is being called trash... extra siding and the storm doors. The siding should be moved since the wind always seems to toss it around. We will be addressing that. The only "trash" is empty propane tanks that were part of a gas fireplace. It was removed during the extensive interior updates that took place this past winter. We will get those out as well. This home just needs an outside storage area for the storm doors. They are not strewn about but stacked neatly, so why it was a big deal is still a mystery.

We Loved it!

Reviewed by Sarah A. on 2018-07-18
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Recommend to Others
We had a group of 8 and there was plenty of space for all of us. I really like the fact that it has 3 king sized beds. The crow's nest deck is also fantastic. I spent a lot of time up there enjoying the view and watching the wild horses. A couple mornings there were a bunch of horses hanging around the front door!
Overall it was a wonderful place to stay at a beautiful location.
Manager response on 2018-07-19 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS Sarah, So glad you enjoyed the crow's nest. The sunrises and sunsets and your favorite beverage make that spot pretty inviting. I hope you and your family will PLAY HOOKY again! ;-)

Salmon Vacation 18

Reviewed by Danny S. on 2018-08-04
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Recommend to Others
We had an excellent experience. Playing Hooky was awesome as usual. Everyone in the family had a great time this summer.
Manager response on 2018-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Salmon family... we love you guys. REPEAT guests make our day! Don't you just love all the improvements at Playing Hooky? See you next year!

A great time Playing Hooky

Reviewed by william d. on 2018-08-14
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Recommend to Others
We really enjoyed our stay at Playing Hooky, wonderful vacation house with a ton of space and play areas, very easy walk to the beach as well.
Manager response on 2018-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are right, Playing Hooky really has quite a few nice spaces. The game room is a nice gathering spot, and large enough for MANY people to relax or play pool, or watch a movie, or play a game. Outside in the screened porch (with hot tub) is a big table for games or poker night. Pong anyone? I like the sun-room table for puzzles! The outside rockers spread throughout the decks are so comfy, you can sit and watch the ocean for hours. The roof deck/crow's nest at sunset offers a spectacular sight over the sound. We would love to have you come back to enjoy all those spaces again! :-) THANKS for the nice review!

Great location, comfortable home, horses everywhere

Reviewed by Unknown on 2018-09-12
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Recommend to Others
Our stay was wonderful. The home is few miles up the 4wd beach and 2 lines back so make sure you have a good suv or truck. We were there with 3 kids and besides going for groceries we didn’t find the need to buy anything else. We had to bring a pack and play but there was already a high chair which was a nice surprise. The internet is fast and reliable. The TV has decent channels.. The pool gets sun all day. The ac can be controlled for each floor. There are quite a few board games, a pool table and few other things that can keep you entertained if the weather is bad. There is a small Weber grill that we used every day.
The service is great - the pool pump needed cleanup and after we called the service guy showed up within 2 hours
I highly recommend getting the sheets. It is totally worth it
Manager response on 2018-09-22 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. Playing Hooky is a VERY comfortable house will good spaces for many types of activities. OR HOW ABOUT NO ACTIVITIES! :-) Please come again. We would love to have you.

Spring break 2019 at Playing Hooky

Reviewed by Unknown on 2019-04-29
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Recommend to Others
Nice house, not too far up the beach, so easy trip into Corolla. Sun room, pool table, and roof deck got lots of use. Comfortable furniture, beds, and nice big kitchen with a good RO filter at the sink for good water! Clean and tidy inside, but in need of a fair bit of maintenance, many screens missing or damaged, outdoor lights not working, problems with some doors, hot tub controls, nothing serious, but for a high-end property a bit surprising. Pool was not open, which we understood, when we were there (too early) but it was not covered and was ugly - algae-green with things floating in it. Right next to the grill also, so not a great place to cook out. Attention to maintenance and repairs would bring it up to 5-stars. A few other suggestions for the property owner - some sharp knives would be nice, along with a bench to sit to take off shoes at the door along with a few coat hooks for hats, coats, and dog leashes. Management contact was very responsive and helpful in getting a few issues quickly resolved - thanks Laura!
Manager response on 2019-07-01 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS Dave for the honest appraisal of the house. We were ready INSIDE but not ready OUTSIDE! Quite honestly, we were working against the clock for the exterior spring work. Sorry you had to deal with the torn screens and the door knob to the level 2 deck. I guess the pool will always look dirty until it is opened, typically by mid MAY. But the floater stuff you mentioned was paper that had rolled out of the cabana bath all winter. We just ran out of time on the outside work... :-/ I'll suggest the coat hook/peg board and a bench for the outside. That would be a nice addition. Thanks for your review and please come and stay again.

Great Expectation

Reviewed by Sandra D. on 2019-08-14
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Recommend to Others
We had the best time at Playing Hooky. The house was perfect and we couldn’t have found a better house. Easy access to the beach and grocery store and other activities. The pool was a bonus. Thanks so much Carova Cottages.
Manager response on 2019-08-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
You are so welcome. We LOVE Playing Hooky too. Great house with lots of room for everyone! Hope you will come back and visit again. Hope your husband is doing well.

Summer Vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2019-08-22
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Recommend to Others
It was the best week ever! The horses came almost every day, the house was awesome, had everything! The management company went above and beyond our expectations, we will definitely be back!
Manager response on 2019-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your nice review!! So glad you had a great time and we look forward to having you return!

Perfect Family Getaway

Reviewed by Teresa W. on 2020-08-15
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Recommend to Others
Playing Hooky was just the right place for our large family to enjoy a fun week at the beach. Only two roads back from the beach, it's an easy walk, but we loaded up the SUV and truck each day and set up camp on the beach. The horses joined us for half the week, adding a beautiful dimension to the natural beauty of the area. This house has a well-stocked kitchen with several coffee makers to make mornings easier for such a large crew. The bedrooms and living areas were exactly as photographed as well as clean and nicely appointed. The pool was such a great place to end the day at the beach, too! The view of the ocean from the top deck was nice, but the view from the crow's nest was spectacular! There we saw spectacular sunrises and sunsets. We also brought along our two dogs, who enjoyed the beach and swimming in the ocean. This house is perfect!
Manager response on 2020-08-28 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Wow. we are so glad you enjoyed Playing Hooky! It is a great home with lots of space, comfortable furniture and YES LOTS OF COFFEE MAKERS! LOL. We know how important that liquid is! ;-) For whatever reason, there seem to be three of them there this year! The crow's nest is a favorite spot for taking a different liquid (think corks) to watch the sunsets. But coffee works as well for the sunrise over the ocean!! Wonderful review and thanks so much for your job upon departure. We appreciate it when folks take the time to get things back in order. :-) Please come again!.

Playing Hookey

Reviewed by Steven and Betty M. on 2020-06-22
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Recommend to Others
Had a wonderful time...weather at the beginning was stormy but enjoyed family time then the last of the vaca was on to the beach. Plenty of horses, sun and sand. House was great with lots of activities and amenities.
Manager response on 2020-06-23 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your nice review. We were worried for those first two days... it was looking like it was going to rain FOREVER!! Thankfully, the clouds broke and the sun peeked out. Smooth sailing from then on! Thanks for your attention to the house upon checkout. We really appreciate it when folks take the time to lessen their impact! It was obvious that you cared for the house as if it were your own. :-)

One of my best vacations.

Reviewed by Karen W. on 2020-06-08
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Recommend to Others
What a wonderful experience. I will definitely be back. The house was perfect. Loved the horses. And the property management professional was so helpful. I didn't want to leave. Highly recommend. The locals that live there were helpful when I had questions about area.
Manager response on 2020-06-10 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANK you for your nice review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay.

Last minute getaway

Reviewed by Rodrigo C. on 2020-06-15
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Recommend to Others
The total experience was great. The house had all the amenities we needed. Having a pool was a big plus for our grandchildren.
Manager response on 2020-06-16 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. It's so nice that your family could re-unite here! :-)

Amazing property with even better service

Reviewed by Kyle D. on 2020-10-05
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Recommend to Others
Everything from initial contact was great. Super friendly management. The house is beautifully decorated and super clean. Kitchen is fully stocked with every kind of tool, cookware, etc. Fridge on bottom and top level which is very convenient. 3 minute walk to the beach. Highly recommended.

Excellent Vacation

Reviewed by Danny S. on 2016-08-03
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Recommend to Others
We had another fantastic experience at Playing Hooky, the house was in perfect condition. We saw horses, dolphins, and foxes. We had a wonderful time on the beach and in the pool.

First time OBX Visit

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-08-23
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Recommend to Others
We had a great time in OBX. The house was nice but not as big as the pictures showed. Definitely would not have more than 10 people in the home. The pool and hot tub were perfect. The only minor negative was how far away we were from food store, shopping,restaurants etc. It took about 20 minutes to drive on beach to get to the paved road and then 10 mins from there so if you needed a quick trip to food store took a long time. But if you are looking for a house on the beach with beautiful views and seclusion this is your place. Overall we had a great time!!

Nice house, but you definitely need a 4X4!

Reviewed by Unknown on 2016-08-30
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Recommend to Others
The house was clean, except for the hot tub, which was full full of mildew.
Our stay was good. But the owner told us we could park our non 4x4 car in a public lot. When we arrived, we saw signs saying no overnight parking. I spoke to the police who told us cars get vandalized there. So, we paid (not very much) to park in a lot, and when I told the owner we would appreciate being reimbursed, rather than just saying "no", she responded with hostility.

Perfect relaxing vaca

Reviewed by keri s. on 2016-10-13
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Recommend to Others
The house was clean. Amenities are nice. Hosts were friendly and communicated well. Loved remote location.

Playing Hooky

Reviewed by Laura P. on 2016-10-11
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Recommend to Others
Management by far was the best, constant communication, friendly and helpful!

Amazing!!!!!

Reviewed by Bradley S. on 2016-09-27
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Recommend to Others
This was my first trip to the 4wd beaches and I couldn't be happier with the treatment I received from David and Laura. The house was clean and exactly where and how it was described. Even with a couple of days of hard rain and wind Playing Hooky had everything in the home to make this an enjoyable trip despite the weather. The kitchen was great for someone who loves to cook and the view from the top deck was amazing. Horses, deer, and foxes in the yard almost daily.

Playing Hooky Ocean/Sound Views! Pool/Hot tub Game rm PETS allowed 4x4 beach

Unit Code: PH

Playing Hooky

5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms. Situated on a high positioned lot with panoramic views of the ocean and the Currituck Sound. A roof deck adds to the expansive views. 2 living rooms with flat screen TV's. Dish Network, Blue Ray, ROKU PS2
Come Play Hooky... Transport back to childhood when the thrill of getting away from your responsibilities could be as simple as ‘playing hooky’. Feel your shoulders drop as soon as you leave the hard road to drive on the 4x4 beach right next to the gorgeous, blue ocean. Playing Hooky boasts all the amenities you can think of, for the relaxation and enjoyment of all ages. The game room, located on the entry level, has a pool table, kitchenette, flat screen tv with receiver, blu-ray player and Bose speaker surround sound, pub table and chairs, full bath and a large, comfortable seating area for entertaining. A duo bunk and twin bedroom on this level is perfect for the kids retreat, or a 4 person family. Outside is the huge heatable pool (fee) with picnic table and lounge chairs as well as a cabana bath and outside shower. The laundry room and three bedrooms are on the next floor: one is a king with a private bath, the other two are kings with a shared bath. All upper and mid level bedrooms are equipped with every comfort as well as wall mounted Dish network tvs. Step outside for the cool ocean breeze on the screened porch, which overlooks the pool and has a 6 person hot tub and dining table. Sip a frosty beverage while watching the spectacular evening sky, or watch the children swimming in the pool below. The hot tub's location in the screened porch means no annoyance from flying pests while you soak. Unwind as you top the stairs of the upper level. The lovely leather furniture, half bath and comfortable spaces are outdone only by the stunning ocean views. The fifth bedroom, a queen bedroom with private bath is also located on this level. Just past the island with seating for three is the well-equipped kitchen, with everything you will need to create a delicious meal. Nice quality flatware and place settings will create a beautiful table for 12. Through the dining area is the bright and inviting sun-room equipped with card table and upholstered chaise for your lounging pleasure. Step through the sun-room to the west onto a wonderful sun deck with views of the Currituck Sound. Step through the sun-room to the east for spectacular ocean views and decking with outdoor seating and access to another level of decking above, the crow’s nest deck located on the roof. Take your favorite cool beverages to the crow’s nest and let all your cares blow away as you enjoy the spectacular sunsets from the built in seating. Look to the south for a view of the Currituck Lighthouse beacon and the Fourth of July fireworks at Heritage Park. Come and Play Hooky for a thoroughly relaxing retreat, and let this wonderful home free you from all of your cares. Inventory for Playing Hooky: • Pool table • Game room w/ second frig, wet bar, blu-ray player, and Bose speakers stereo surround sound. Seating for 10. • Leather sofa and love seat • Cabana Bath • Hot Tub located inside the screened porch • Sun room right off kitchen for private moments • Fully stocked kitchen • Iron and ironing board • Heatable pool ( for a fee) • Wireless internet service • Central heat and air • Dishwasher, microwave • Washer/Dryer • Outdoor Furniture • Outdoor Shower • Gas Grill • Five beach chairs Saturday Check in - 4 wheel drive vehicle required - Sheets and towels available for a fee - approximately 3 miles up the 4x4 beach - Dogs allowed with some restrictions - Pool and hot tub typically open middle of May to the end of Sept dependent upon weather and rental schedules. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Guests will use the two season passes that belong to the house for parking on the beach No graduation or event groups of any kind are allowed in any of our homes. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website:
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/02/2025$244 /nt
05/03/2025 - 05/09/2025$325 /nt
05/10/2025 - 05/16/2025$402 /nt
05/17/2025 - 05/23/2025$514 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$571 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$585 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/13/2025$620 /nt
06/14/2025 - 06/20/2025$778 /nt
06/21/2025 - 06/27/2025$818 /nt
06/28/2025 - 08/01/2025$825 /nt
08/02/2025 - 08/08/2025$755 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$691 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/23/2025$618 /nt
08/24/2025 - 08/29/2025$565 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/05/2025$464 /nt
09/06/2025 - 09/13/2025$432 /nt
09/14/2025 - 09/20/2025$292 /nt
09/21/2025 - 04/03/2026$261 /nt
4.7568
(37 Review)

perfect location with great views

September 2024
, Shippensburg, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

we absolutely loved the location and the house. it worked great for the 8 of us. very clean and was what we expected, no surprises. Laura helped us very quickly with a small issue. She's awesome, along with the pool/hot tub guy. sorry but forgot his name. he was very professional while there. would definitely stay again.

Manager's Response

Yeah, so glad we got that hot tub up and running. Brad was ON IT! Things happen that are out of our control, so your patience was appreciated.

I hope you will consider repeating your stay! We'd love to have you!

August 2024

August 2024
, Annapolis, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Playing Hookey was a very nice place to stay on our vacation. We loved the pool was to the side of the house and in the sun the entire day.

Manager's Response

So glad you enjoyed your stay. The pool area at Playing Hooky is huge!! And the southern exposure makes it usable all day AND NIGHT! Hot tub on level two overlooking the pool means privacy for the hot tub and since it's in the screened porch, there are no bugs to bother you during a soak! PLUS you can still see the sunset from that hot tub since it is on the southwestern edge of the screened porch. All around, great planning for the pool and hot tub!!

Great house and location

July 2024
, Connelly Springs , NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

This was a great house in a good location to the beach .. lots of privacy.. has a nice pool and hot tub .. plenty of room inside to be together or go to different levels for alone time .. basement area great for kids and adults .. great ocean views for sunrise and sunsets .. we’ve rented this house for 3 years in a row ..

Great Family Time...

June 2024
, East Liverpool, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

We had a great week. Laura the property manager got us in a couple hours early and was attentive to any questions we had. The secluded nature of this house really gave us time to reconnect as a family.

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review. Playing Hooky is very nicely located for peace and quiet. We're glad you could take advantage of that and reconnect!

Whalen

August 2023
, Pottsville, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a fantastic time. The home is beautiful.

Manager's Response

We are so glad you liked Playing Hooky!! :-) That name brings up memories of stealing days from school to have a lazy day off from life and it's requirements. I hope you got a little of that during your week there. I bet it was easy to conjure with the ocean just over the dune, and the sunset just over the sound. Life is good!

Playing Hooky July 2023

July 2023
, Fishers, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Cottage was exactly as advertised. This is the second time we visited this cottage. The other time was a week in 2021. Visit was excellent each time. Laura, the property manager is great and if there is an issue, she responds and corrects the issue quickly.

Manager's Response

THANKS for your nice review. I hope you all will come and visit again. Hooky is the perfect fit!!!

Best house ever

July 2023
, Connelly Springs , NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Love this house .. very close to the beach.. amazing views from the deck to see the ocean.. lots of room .. the pool is a very good size plenty of room for everyone to play and float .. I will be renting this house for next years .. kids loved the game room

Manager's Response

Playing Hooky does check off all the boxes. The pool is a nice size for all the floaties people use these days. KING SIZE SWANS!! lol

So glad you enjoyed your stay and thanks for your nice review!

Family Vacation

July 2023
, Mooresville, NC US

Overall
3
Services from rental manager
3
Cleanliness
2
Location
5
Property condition
2

All in all we had a good vacation. Great area and location. Loved the wild horses. The rental house was not up to par. The downstairs air-conditioner did not work the internet was off and on and the outdoor bathroom next to the pool looked like it had never been cleaned. For $7,200 a week I would expect more.

Manager's Response

I wish you had let me know about these issues that concerned you. Now I understand why the house was left in such disarray. You didn't think we cared. We do.

We had the AC repaired the day you notified us.

We can't control how the internet works. We warn everyone that the internet here is not the most dependable.

The outside bathroom is hosed down every week but the sand blows back in in a matter of hours.

So sorry you were disappointed with your stay.

Playing Hooky was fantastic peaceful and clean

June 2023
, Mosheim, TN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had an amazing time at OBX. Laura and their rental team was wonderful to deal with. We had a couple minor issues but they were on the scene with assistance within minutes of my call. We look forward to going back and using their rental services again next year. The home was very clean one of the cleanest I've stayed in.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much Diana. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. And we have you all signed up for next year.

Hope you can hold on for 51 weeks!! lol

Perfect Vacation!

September 2022
, Ringoes, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

What a wonderful house and a wonderful week away! House had everything we could possibly want, was a great location and could hear the waves at all times and watching the sunrise and sunset from the nest up top was worth it! Already regretting coming home, wish we could have stayed longer! Next year! Always a wonderful trip and love renting from Carova Cottages, everything is taken care of!

Quiet Getaway

May 2022
, Star Tannery, VA US

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
4
Property condition
4

It was as expected, a spacious home for our small gathering, close to beach, nice view from crow's nest.

Playing Hooky--Great week of vacation

July 2021
, FISHERS, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Laura and David were easy people with which to work and kept us informed about the rental property and what to expect. The week was without incident and enjoyable for all.

Playing Hooky--Great week of vacation

July 2021
, Fishers, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Laura and David were easy people with which to work and kept us informed about the rental property and what to expect. The week was without incident and enjoyable for all.

Wonderful place

May 2021
, THE PLAINS, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

Easy rental through Carova Cottages as always. All costs provided upfront, no secrets.

The house was very nice. Only complaint I would say is that we could never figure how to get the ice maker to work. I guess we could have called, but we brought 2 huge bags of ice for coolers anyway.

Manager's Response

LOL. I wonder what was going on with that ice maker. It works! Sorry we didn't get to you before you bought the bags, but honestly, I think bagged ice is JUST EASIER! LOL.

Hope to see you next year! THANKS

Great place to Relax!

May 2021
, Mooresville, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a great vacation at Playing Hooky. It was everything we wanted from our vacation: a place to get away, sit around, watch the horses, and walk the beach. Even though there are houses up and down the “street” it still felt secluded enough for our needs. I would definitely book with any Carova Cottages property again based on the experience we had with Laura: quick responses, professional, and very informative. Awesome all around!

Manager's Response

What a nice review. THANK YOU! Playing Hooky really is a great place to relax. Pool tournaments and puzzles are the most important tasks for the day!! Well I guess that is MY idea of a fun day, but the possibilities are endless. The huge pool and secluded hot tub are another diversion. Not to mention morning coffee watching the sunrise OR favorite beverage watching the sunset from way up top in the crow's nest. Please come and stay again! There are still things to do!! ;-)

Amazing property with even better service

September 2020
, Chesterfield, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Everything from initial contact was great. Super friendly management. The house is beautifully decorated and super clean. Kitchen is fully stocked with every kind of tool, cookware, etc. Fridge on bottom and top level which is very convenient. 3 minute walk to the beach. Highly recommended.

Perfect Family Getaway

July 2020
, West Milford, NJ United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Playing Hooky was just the right place for our large family to enjoy a fun week at the beach. Only two roads back from the beach, it's an easy walk, but we loaded up the SUV and truck each day and set up camp on the beach. The horses joined us for half the week, adding a beautiful dimension to the natural beauty of the area. This house has a well-stocked kitchen with several coffee makers to make mornings easier for such a large crew. The bedrooms and living areas were exactly as photographed as well as clean and nicely appointed. The pool was such a great place to end the day at the beach, too! The view of the ocean from the top deck was nice, but the view from the crow's nest was spectacular! There we saw spectacular sunrises and sunsets. We also brought along our two dogs, who enjoyed the beach and swimming in the ocean. This house is perfect!

Manager's Response

Wow. we are so glad you enjoyed Playing Hooky! It is a great home with lots of space, comfortable furniture and YES LOTS OF COFFEE MAKERS! LOL. We know how important that liquid is! ;-) For whatever reason, there seem to be three of them there this year! The crow's nest is a favorite spot for taking a different liquid (think corks) to watch the sunsets. But coffee works as well for the sunrise over the ocean!! Wonderful review and thanks so much for your job upon departure. We appreciate it when folks take the time to get things back in order. :-) Please come again!.

Playing Hookey

June 2020
, Mantua, OH Unknown

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Had a wonderful time...weather at the beginning was stormy but enjoyed family time then the last of the vaca was on to the beach. Plenty of horses, sun and sand. House was great with lots of activities and amenities.

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your nice review. We were worried for those first two days... it was looking like it was going to rain FOREVER!! Thankfully, the clouds broke and the sun peeked out. Smooth sailing from then on!

Thanks for your attention to the house upon checkout. We really appreciate it when folks take the time to lessen their impact! It was obvious that you cared for the house as if it were your own. :-)

Last minute getaway

June 2020
, Ellicott City, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The total experience was great. The house had all the amenities we needed. Having a pool was a big plus for our grandchildren.

Manager's Response

THANKS! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. It's so nice that your family could re-unite here! :-)

One of my best vacations.

May 2020
, Dublin, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

What a wonderful experience. I will definitely be back. The house was perfect. Loved the horses. And the property management professional was so helpful. I didn't want to leave. Highly recommend. The locals that live there were helpful when I had questions about area.

Manager's Response

THANK you for your nice review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay.

Great Expectation

August 2019
, Lancaster, SC US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had the best time at Playing Hooky. The house was perfect and we couldn’t have found a better house. Easy access to the beach and grocery store and other activities. The pool was a bonus. Thanks so much Carova Cottages.

Manager's Response

You are so welcome. We LOVE Playing Hooky too. Great house with lots of room for everyone! Hope you will come back and visit again. Hope your husband is doing well.

Summer Vacation

July 2019
, Hudson, OH US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

It was the best week ever! The horses came almost every day, the house was awesome, had everything! The management company went above and beyond our expectations, we will definitely be back!

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your nice review!! So glad you had a great time and we look forward to having you return!

Spring break 2019 at Playing Hooky

April 2019
, Skillman, NJ United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
3

Nice house, not too far up the beach, so easy trip into Corolla. Sun room, pool table, and roof deck got lots of use. Comfortable furniture, beds, and nice big kitchen with a good RO filter at the sink for good water! Clean and tidy inside, but in need of a fair bit of maintenance, many screens missing or damaged, outdoor lights not working, problems with some doors, hot tub controls, nothing serious, but for a high-end property a bit surprising. Pool was not open, which we understood, when we were there (too early) but it was not covered and was ugly - algae-green with things floating in it. Right next to the grill also, so not a great place to cook out. Attention to maintenance and repairs would bring it up to 5-stars. A few other suggestions for the property owner - some sharp knives would be nice, along with a bench to sit to take off shoes at the door along with a few coat hooks for hats, coats, and dog leashes. Management contact was very responsive and helpful in getting a few issues quickly resolved - thanks Laura!

Manager's Response

THANKS Dave for the honest appraisal of the house. We were ready INSIDE but not ready OUTSIDE! Quite honestly, we were working against the clock for the exterior spring work. Sorry you had to deal with the torn screens and the door knob to the level 2 deck. I guess the pool will always look dirty until it is opened, typically by mid MAY. But the floater stuff you mentioned was paper that had rolled out of the cabana bath all winter. We just ran out of time on the outside work... :-/ I'll suggest the coat hook/peg board and a bench for the outside. That would be a nice addition. Thanks for your review and please come and stay again.

Great location, comfortable home, horses everywhere

August 2018
, Wexford, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our stay was wonderful. The home is few miles up the 4wd beach and 2 lines back so make sure you have a good suv or truck. We were there with 3 kids and besides going for groceries we didn’t find the need to buy anything else. We had to bring a pack and play but there was already a high chair which was a nice surprise. The internet is fast and reliable. The TV has decent channels.. The pool gets sun all day. The ac can be controlled for each floor. There are quite a few board games, a pool table and few other things that can keep you entertained if the weather is bad. There is a small Weber grill that we used every day.
The service is great - the pool pump needed cleanup and after we called the service guy showed up within 2 hours
I highly recommend getting the sheets. It is totally worth it

Manager's Response

We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. Playing Hooky is a VERY comfortable house will good spaces for many types of activities. OR HOW ABOUT NO ACTIVITIES! :-)

Please come again. We would love to have you.

A great time Playing Hooky

August 2018
, severna park, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We really enjoyed our stay at Playing Hooky, wonderful vacation house with a ton of space and play areas, very easy walk to the beach as well.

Manager's Response

You are right, Playing Hooky really has quite a few nice spaces.

The game room is a nice gathering spot, and large enough for MANY people to relax or play pool, or watch a movie, or play a game.

Outside in the screened porch (with hot tub) is a big table for games or poker night. Pong anyone?

I like the sun-room table for puzzles!

The outside rockers spread throughout the decks are so comfy, you can sit and watch the ocean for hours.

The roof deck/crow's nest at sunset offers a spectacular sight over the sound.

We would love to have you come back to enjoy all those spaces again! :-)

THANKS for the nice review!

Playing Hooky

July 2018
, Williamstown, NJ United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
3
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
1

The house was beautiful, except the back yard had trash all around. A broken wooden chair, half buried yellow aluminum sliding in back of the fence, 2 old semi rusted propane tanks, old wood panels and glass
window on the side of the house and a glass door that was out side in the dunes.I notified the rental manger concerning this matter and was first told that it would be picked up after our stay. When I ask if the owners would give some money back,I received another email that stated the owner would not and that they didn't have any storage space. When you look at the picture you don't see any of the trash that is around the house. When you pay over $5000.00 for the week you don't except trash in your yard. Hopefully ,I won't be the only one that will complain about that.The pool man that came during the week and saw the trash, did take the glass door on the dune so the wild horses wouldn't step on it.which I totally appreciated.

Manager's Response

I think "The house was beautiful" is the wording to pay attention to. Yes, there are some building materials outside around the back. They are not even visible from the ground level unless you walk behind the house and behind the pool fence. If you look straight down from the third level deck you will see what is being called trash... extra siding and the storm doors. The siding should be moved since the wind always seems to toss it around. We will be addressing that. The only "trash" is empty propane tanks that were part of a gas fireplace. It was removed during the extensive interior updates that took place this past winter. We will get those out as well. This home just needs an outside storage area for the storm doors. They are not strewn about but stacked neatly, so why it was a big deal is still a mystery.

Salmon Vacation 18

July 2018
, Gloucester, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had an excellent experience. Playing Hooky was awesome as usual. Everyone in the family had a great time this summer.

Manager's Response

Salmon family... we love you guys. REPEAT guests make our day! Don't you just love all the improvements at Playing Hooky? See you next year!

We Loved it!

June 2018
, Catonsville, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
4
Property condition
5

We had a group of 8 and there was plenty of space for all of us. I really like the fact that it has 3 king sized beds. The crow's nest deck is also fantastic. I spent a lot of time up there enjoying the view and watching the wild horses. A couple mornings there were a bunch of horses hanging around the front door!
Overall it was a wonderful place to stay at a beautiful location.

Manager's Response

THANKS Sarah, So glad you enjoyed the crow's nest. The sunrises and sunsets and your favorite beverage make that spot pretty inviting. I hope you and your family will PLAY HOOKY again! ;-)

Our stay at playing hooky October 2017

September 2017
, GASTONIA, NC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our stay at playing hooky was wonderful traveling on the beach was fantastic going over the dunes to our house was quite the challenge glad we had a four-wheel drive without it you'd be stuck in the sand for sure don't leave home without it.
The sun rises and the sun sets were incredible from the top of the house in the widow's peak or the crows nest. Harvest Moon coming up over the ocean was a beautiful sight.
Laura and David James the management team took great care of us and would recommend playing hooky to anyone wanting to go to the Outer Banks for great memories. thanks Doug in Charlotte

Manager's Response

Doug, We are so happy you enjoyed your stay at Playing Hooky. The full moon over the ocean.. what a beautiful sight. THANKS for the pictures! See you next year!

Nice house in 4x4 area

August 2017
, Centreville, MD United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
3
Location
5
Property condition
4

We had a nice visit to Playing Hooky. Overall we had a good impression. The house is designed well and is in a great location up the beach. It does need some attention to get it in top shape as most rentals do. The property management company was very responsive to our requests and we appreciated their efforts to rectify any issues that came up during our stay.

Manager's Response

Thank you for your review. We sure did have a minute of panic there when the sheets weren't on the beds. But finding them untouched in the linen bucket at least made it easy to rectify. THANKS for your patience with that. I hope you will come again.

Amazing Trip

July 2017
, Sykesville, MD United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Our vacation at Playing Hooky was amazing!! We will stay here again. Owners were very responsive when the wifi wasn't working. We saw the wild horses every day along with deer and a few foxes! Oh and lots of frogs that my 5 year old loved!!! House has everything you need. Beds were super comfy (which isn't usually the case). Amazing ocean views and sunset views at night!! Nothing but fabulous things to say!

Manager's Response

THANK you for the wonderful review. We like those beds so much we got the same brand for our house! PLEASE come and visit again. The frogs want to play some more!

Playing Hooky

October 2016
, Melrose Park, pa United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
2
Property condition
4

Management by far was the best, constant communication, friendly and helpful!

Perfect relaxing vaca

September 2016
, Coatesville, Pennsylvania United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was clean. Amenities are nice. Hosts were friendly and communicated well. Loved remote location.

Amazing!!!!!

September 2016
, Mooresville, North Carolina United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was my first trip to the 4wd beaches and I couldn't be happier with the treatment I received from David and Laura. The house was clean and exactly where and how it was described. Even with a couple of days of hard rain and wind Playing Hooky had everything in the home to make this an enjoyable trip despite the weather. The kitchen was great for someone who loves to cook and the view from the top deck was amazing. Horses, deer, and foxes in the yard almost daily.

First time OBX Visit

August 2016
, Greenlawn, NY United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
3
Property condition
4

We had a great time in OBX. The house was nice but not as big as the pictures showed. Definitely would not have more than 10 people in the home. The pool and hot tub were perfect. The only minor negative was how far away we were from food store, shopping,restaurants etc. It took about 20 minutes to drive on beach to get to the paved road and then 10 mins from there so if you needed a quick trip to food store took a long time. But if you are looking for a house on the beach with beautiful views and seclusion this is your place. Overall we had a great time!!

Nice house, but you definitely need a 4X4!

August 2016
, Hockessin, Delaware United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
2
Cleanliness
3
Location
5
Property condition
3

The house was clean, except for the hot tub, which was full full of mildew.
Our stay was good. But the owner told us we could park our non 4x4 car in a public lot. When we arrived, we saw signs saying no overnight parking. I spoke to the police who told us cars get vandalized there. So, we paid (not very much) to park in a lot, and when I told the owner we would appreciate being reimbursed, rather than just saying "no", she responded with hostility.

Excellent Vacation

July 2016
, Gloucester, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had another fantastic experience at Playing Hooky, the house was in perfect condition. We saw horses, dolphins, and foxes. We had a wonderful time on the beach and in the pool.

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5 Bed
5.5 Baths
Sleeps 10

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Harper House

High lot with excellent ocean views!

Location

1976 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 29' 40.236" N, 75° 51' 29.448" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Harper House

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Great Views

Reviewed by Jennifer E. on 2024-10-20
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
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Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Place is just as described, clean, modern with great views. It’s down on the island so be prepared for a nice beach ride to get there, it’s about 7 miles down the beach. Must have 4X4 to get around, no joke there. It’s such a unique beach experience, and there are horses! We had a few that came around the property while we were there. Quiet, if looking for a low key, quiet get away this is the place to visit.
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Harper House is quiet and secluded, with great views. The wild horses are just icing on the cake. Hope you will come again ... return guests enjoy a little discount!

Beautiful home with great views

Reviewed by Unknown on 2023-10-30
Overall satisfaction
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Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
This is a fairly new home and the photos online don’t do it justice. The house is absolutely beautiful and the views are amazing; beach view and sunset views. Beautiful hardwood floors. We love that the house decor is minimal because it’s less dust to accumulate on decor sitting around. The kitchen was well stocked. The carpets were vacuumed but the floors (especially the bathroom floors and kitchen) were not cleaned. Hair, sand, dirt were clearly visible.

I would suggest blinds for the upstairs windows in the kitchen and dining room only because when the sun is setting, it’s very blinding and you cannot even sit in the room or prepare a meal because it’s so blinding. We love all the open window concept but blinds in those windows would cut down on the intense glare. I would also suggest bigger wine glasses. Other than that, the house was perfect for us and we enjoyed it.
Manager response on 2023-11-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
So glad you enjoyed the Harper House. It is a nice spot with meticulous owners. I'll make sure to give them your feedback on the blinds for the living room. I wish you had called us on the lack of clean floors. That is NOT something that should've been missed and this cleaner is very thorough. So obviously it was missed. Next time give us a call so we can call them back. Thanks!!

Great stay

Reviewed by Frank H. on 2023-06-05
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We all loved the house and the beach and wildlife. For the cost of the rental I did expect the owners to provide more basic necessities such as salt and paper, olive oil, laundry detergent, and more toilet paper, etc.
Manager response on 2023-06-13 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review. I understand your thought about each home having some basics. Unfortunately, we can only leave items if they are new and unopened. We do not provide the other items you mentioned, mostly because the replenishment would be difficult to accomplish on a weekly basis. I hope you enjoyed your stay. Thanks!

Beautiful Getaway

Reviewed by Laura W. on 2023-06-13
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Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Great and easy rental experience. Rental company communicated well.
Manager response on 2023-06-13 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Such a nice house too! We are glad you enjoyed this "beautiful getaway"! :-)

Great stay!

Reviewed by Elisa C. on 2023-08-09
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Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
My family had a great vacation at this property! This house was perfect for my family of 5: my husband and I and our 9, 6, and 4 year old. When we arrived, we were all very happy with the accommodations. Everything was clean and ready for us to unpack and relax.
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so glad you found Harper House a good fit for your family. This home has quite a little following already, as it is just the right size for a small family or even one couple. The views from the decks, the covered porches, the fantastic kitchen.. all add up to a nice spot for a vacation. Watching a storm roll in from the living room is an experience that is hard to beat. Nothing but WINDOWS, but covered by the porch roof. You can actually sit outside during a storm and be one with the nature, listening to the rain, the waves and the wind. What a cool place. So glad you all enjoyed your stay.

Harper House

Reviewed by Andrei K. on 2023-10-16
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Harper house was great and easy to get to once you've figured out the tide cycles. The entire family loved the house and open layout. Horses were very abundant and often came right up to the house. We would recommend this house to any family or small get together, you'll have a great time.
Manager response on 2023-11-18 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
The way in can be uncomfortable the first time, unless you are familiar with sand driving. But after that first trip, it becomes old hat!!! We love Harper house for it's fantastic views as well as the easy living available there. We hope you will consider a repeat stay. Thanks for your nice review!

Amazing beach house in Carova!

Reviewed by Amy P. on 2021-08-11
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Wonderful house fitted with all the amenities you need to have an incredible vacation. The keyless entry was very convenient, we had horses in the yard and on the beach daily. Truly a magical place, surrounded by pristine beaches. You most definitely need a 4WD vehicle to access the house, but the drive on the beach is well worth it! Hoping we can return soon to this house. It isn’t beachfront, but you have amazing views of the ocean, and you drive your vehicle right onto the beach, so there’s no lugging gear every time you want to go to the beach. And if you want to walk to the beach, access is just one house away. Highly recommend the Harper House!!

September Vacation

Reviewed by Unknown on 2021-09-22
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Recommend to Others
My husband and I travelled to the Outer Banks in early September 2021. We had the best vacation. The Harper house was brand new, clean and beautiful. The views of the ocean and other homes on the dunes were stunning. Every morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and wild horses in our yard. We would recommend this home/vacation spot.

Awesome Harper house

Reviewed by Louise F. on 2021-10-11
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
The house was absolutely beautiful. The location to the ocean was very close. It rained one day, but you can just look out the massive windows and doors and see the ocean. The porches had plenty of sitting space. The kitchen had very nice dishes and cookware. The floors are beautiful. Loved this house and it’s location. We definitely will be back. The house was very clean. I highly recommend this house, Laura from the management team was very helpful and friendly.
Manager response on 2021-10-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
THANKS so much for your nice words. Harper House is such a nice home with great views of that ocean. And the porches beckon!!! I hope you will come back and sit a spell!

Best vacation ever.

Reviewed by Matthew L. on 2022-07-25
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
Cleanliness
Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Thank you Laura for letting us stay in your beautiful house. The view of the the ocean at sunrise and sun set was incredible. The wild horses were so beautiful to see come right up to our house. The adventure of driving down the beach in order to get to the house is so much fun. We loved every minute and did not eat to leave. I will 100% recommend this house to friends and family. We will also be back for a second vacation. Peaceful and relaxing vacation.

Unbelievable Getaway

Reviewed by Jordan G. on 2022-07-18
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Recommend to Others
The house is gorgeous, with exceptional views of the ocean from two decks. Walk to the quiet beach is easy.

Harper House June 2022

Reviewed by Unknown on 2022-07-05
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Recommend to Others
Great, new home with an amazing view. Almost Oceanfront without the price tag. Wish we couldn’t stayed another week, ours flew by. Management company good to work with.

Great week on Carova Beach OBX

Reviewed by Unknown on 2022-08-01
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Recommend to Others
Wonderful cottage close to beach with nice view. Cottage feels brand new with beautiful kitchen, comfy beds, and 2 wrap around decks. Kitchen has everything you need, and we saw horses near the cottage every morning, as well as on the beach on a few occasions.

Awesome week at the OBX

Reviewed by Clayton C. on 2022-06-18
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Recommend to Others
Great little house in the Outer Banks 4x4 area! Nicer newer house with great views and a great location! Everything was awesome for our stay and the house was the perfect compliment for an awesome week at the OBX!

New home by premier builder. Fantastic Views! 4x4 Required

Unit Code: HH

Harper House

High lot with excellent ocean views!
Welcome to Harper House, a lovely 3BR home with fantastic ocean views on the 4x4 beach. The wide beach and close beach access make this North Swan home an easy choice! Located on the second row with no oceanfront home directly in front, Harper House views and sounds of the surf come right into the living room! The heavenly breezes will whoosh all of your cares away and relax your soul. The owners of this home love the minimalist approach and it shows in the outfitting of every room. The Ocean is the main focal point from both levels. There IS a tv for the diehard.... but there are no other screens to divert your attention from the focus of the Atlantic Ocean and your family. Level one has a keyless entry which makes life so much easier! No keys to find or lose! On level two there is a queen master bedroom with a gorgeous master bath and huge private deck. The other two bedrooms on level two share a hallway bath and are a queen in one, and two twins in the other. Linens and towels are provided. On level three you will find a wide open kitchen with very comfortable and inviting island seating, leather sofas, the lone smart TV connected to satellite and a huge dining room table. Expansive wrap around decks invite you to partake in a sun drenched south exposure or the more relaxed ocean side covered porch. The teak outside dining table will invite you to picnic while listening to the pounding surf. The fact that there are no homes between you and the ocean makes Harper House a delightful way to reconnect with nature. The ocean views will delight you with dolphins, pelicans, shore birds and surf, while the occasional fox or wild horse will top off the back to basics feeling that Harper House provides. The ocean is calling.. come experience it in full at Harper House. Saturday Check in - 4 Wheel Drive Required - Linens and Towels provided - located approximately 7 miles up the 4x4 beach - NO pets. Parking passes for parking two cars on the beach are included with this home. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. There is No Pool or Hot Tub at this home. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website:
May 2025
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DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/02/2025$239 /nt
05/03/2025 - 05/09/2025$254 /nt
05/10/2025 - 05/16/2025$268 /nt
05/17/2025 - 05/23/2025$312 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$370 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$442 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/13/2025$507 /nt
06/14/2025 - 06/20/2025$521 /nt
06/21/2025 - 08/01/2025$537 /nt
08/02/2025 - 08/08/2025$514 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$485 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/22/2025$412 /nt
08/23/2025 - 08/29/2025$395 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/05/2025$335 /nt
09/06/2025 - 09/12/2025$268 /nt
09/13/2025 - 04/03/2026$236 /nt
5.0000
(15 Review)

Great Views

October 2024
, Bryn Mawr, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Place is just as described, clean, modern with great views. It’s down on the island so be prepared for a nice beach ride to get there, it’s about 7 miles down the beach. Must have 4X4 to get around, no joke there. It’s such a unique beach experience, and there are horses! We had a few that came around the property while we were there. Quiet, if looking for a low key, quiet get away this is the place to visit.

Manager's Response

Harper House is quiet and secluded, with great views. The wild horses are just icing on the cake. Hope you will come again ... return guests enjoy a little discount!

Beautiful home with great views

October 2023
, Virginia Beach, VA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
2
Location
5
Property condition
5

This is a fairly new home and the photos online don’t do it justice. The house is absolutely beautiful and the views are amazing; beach view and sunset views. Beautiful hardwood floors. We love that the house decor is minimal because it’s less dust to accumulate on decor sitting around. The kitchen was well stocked. The carpets were vacuumed but the floors (especially the bathroom floors and kitchen) were not cleaned. Hair, sand, dirt were clearly visible.

I would suggest blinds for the upstairs windows in the kitchen and dining room only because when the sun is setting, it’s very blinding and you cannot even sit in the room or prepare a meal because it’s so blinding. We love all the open window concept but blinds in those windows would cut down on the intense glare. I would also suggest bigger wine glasses. Other than that, the house was perfect for us and we enjoyed it.

Manager's Response

So glad you enjoyed the Harper House. It is a nice spot with meticulous owners. I'll make sure to give them your feedback on the blinds for the living room.

I wish you had called us on the lack of clean floors. That is NOT something that should've been missed and this cleaner is very thorough. So obviously it was missed. Next time give us a call so we can call them back.

Thanks!!

Harper House

September 2023
, Olathe , KS United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Harper house was great and easy to get to once you've figured out the tide cycles. The entire family loved the house and open layout. Horses were very abundant and often came right up to the house. We would recommend this house to any family or small get together, you'll have a great time.

Manager's Response

The way in can be uncomfortable the first time, unless you are familiar with sand driving. But after that first trip, it becomes old hat!!!

We love Harper house for it's fantastic views as well as the easy living available there.

We hope you will consider a repeat stay. Thanks for your nice review!

Great stay!

July 2023
, Collegeville, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My family had a great vacation at this property! This house was perfect for my family of 5: my husband and I and our 9, 6, and 4 year old. When we arrived, we were all very happy with the accommodations. Everything was clean and ready for us to unpack and relax.

Manager's Response

We're so glad you found Harper House a good fit for your family. This home has quite a little following already, as it is just the right size for a small family or even one couple. The views from the decks, the covered porches, the fantastic kitchen.. all add up to a nice spot for a vacation. Watching a storm roll in from the living room is an experience that is hard to beat. Nothing but WINDOWS, but covered by the porch roof. You can actually sit outside during a storm and be one with the nature, listening to the rain, the waves and the wind. What a cool place.

So glad you all enjoyed your stay.

Great stay

May 2023
, Brentwood, TN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We all loved the house and the beach and wildlife. For the cost of the rental I did expect the owners to provide more basic necessities such as salt and paper, olive oil, laundry detergent, and more toilet paper, etc.

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review. I understand your thought about each home having some basics. Unfortunately, we can only leave items if they are new and unopened. We do not provide the other items you mentioned, mostly because the replenishment would be difficult to accomplish on a weekly basis.


I hope you enjoyed your stay.

Thanks!

Beautiful Getaway

May 2023
, SIX MILE, SC United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Great and easy rental experience. Rental company communicated well.

Manager's Response

Such a nice house too! We are glad you enjoyed this "beautiful getaway"! :-)

Great week on Carova Beach OBX

July 2022
, South Elgin, IL US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wonderful cottage close to beach with nice view. Cottage feels brand new with beautiful kitchen, comfy beds, and 2 wrap around decks. Kitchen has everything you need, and we saw horses near the cottage every morning, as well as on the beach on a few occasions.

Best vacation ever.

July 2022
, Baldwinsville, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Thank you Laura for letting us stay in your beautiful house. The view of the the ocean at sunrise and sun set was incredible. The wild horses were so beautiful to see come right up to our house. The adventure of driving down the beach in order to get to the house is so much fun. We loved every minute and did not eat to leave. I will 100% recommend this house to friends and family. We will also be back for a second vacation. Peaceful and relaxing vacation.

Unbelievable Getaway

July 2022
, New York, NY US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house is gorgeous, with exceptional views of the ocean from two decks. Walk to the quiet beach is easy.

Harper House June 2022

June 2022
, Middletown, DE US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Great, new home with an amazing view. Almost Oceanfront without the price tag. Wish we couldn’t stayed another week, ours flew by. Management company good to work with.

Harper House June 2022

June 2022
, Middletown, DE United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Great, new home with an amazing view. Almost Oceanfront without the price tag. Wish we couldn’t stayed another week, ours flew by. Management company good to work with.

Awesome week at the OBX

June 2022
, TERRE HAUTE, IN United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Great little house in the Outer Banks 4x4 area! Nicer newer house with great views and a great location! Everything was awesome for our stay and the house was the perfect compliment for an awesome week at the OBX!

Awesome Harper house

September 2021
, Hyndman, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

The house was absolutely beautiful. The location to the ocean was very close. It rained one day, but you can just look out the massive windows and doors and see the ocean. The porches had plenty of sitting space. The kitchen had very nice dishes and cookware. The floors are beautiful. Loved this house and it’s location. We definitely will be back. The house was very clean. I highly recommend this house, Laura from the management team was very helpful and friendly.

Manager's Response

THANKS so much for your nice words. Harper House is such a nice home with great views of that ocean. And the porches beckon!!! I hope you will come back and sit a spell!

September Vacation

September 2021
, Harrison township, MI US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

My husband and I travelled to the Outer Banks in early September 2021. We had the best vacation. The Harper house was brand new, clean and beautiful. The views of the ocean and other homes on the dunes were stunning. Every morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise and wild horses in our yard. We would recommend this home/vacation spot.

Amazing beach house in Carova!

July 2021
, Pittsburgh, PA US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Wonderful house fitted with all the amenities you need to have an incredible vacation. The keyless entry was very convenient, we had horses in the yard and on the beach daily. Truly a magical place, surrounded by pristine beaches. You most definitely need a 4WD vehicle to access the house, but the drive on the beach is well worth it! Hoping we can return soon to this house. It isn’t beachfront, but you have amazing views of the ocean, and you drive your vehicle right onto the beach, so there’s no lugging gear every time you want to go to the beach. And if you want to walk to the beach, access is just one house away. Highly recommend the Harper House!!

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3 Bed
3 Baths
Sleeps 6

Search Availability

Ten Down

Dune top screened in gazebo. Beachfront location

Location

2385 Sandfiddler Rd
27927 Carova , NC
United States
36° 32' 49.704" N, 75° 52' 4.044" W
See map: Google Maps
North Carolina US

Ten Down

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terrific getaway

Reviewed by Rodney B. on 2024-10-07
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Recommend to Others
nice to get away from the usual routines and relax
Manager response on 2024-11-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Isn't this your 8th or 10th year at Ten Down? We are so glad you love it as much as we do! See you next year!! :-)

Awesome, as always!

Reviewed by Melissa A. on 2024-09-01
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Services from rental manager
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Recommend to Others
Year 7 was wonderful! We love the house and amenities! A little sad we will have neighbors next door next year, but that was to be expected eventually. We cannot wait until year 8! (Still subtly hinting for an ice machine ;) )
Manager response on 2024-11-15 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
LOL... I will forward this subtle hint to the owners!! lol But just in case, I hope you can live without one!! ;-) The ice machine at the fire hall is about 2 miles south!!

Ten Down

Reviewed by Donald B. on 2023-09-11
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Recommend to Others
This was my fourth year renting Ten Down. Despite being a rental it always has a homey feel to it. Love the house and the location. Plan on returning next year.
Manager response on 2023-09-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Ten Down has a true and loyal following. There are MANY repeat guests for that house. You may have put your finger on it with "homey". The kitchen is comfortable for quite a few cooks, with lots of stations and room to work. The living room is cozy but completely assessable from the rest of the open third floor. And the VIEWS!!! I always gasp a little when I go in that house. Thanks so much for sticking with us!

terrific getaway

Reviewed by Rodney B. on 2023-09-26
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Recommend to Others
the house was exactly as stated and very clean and well supplied with everything needed for a very pleasing vacation
Manager response on 2023-09-26 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks Rodney. It is a pleasure to have you and your wife stay for two weeks every year! Ten Down provides the perfect vacation. See you next year!!

Another great vacation despite some flaws

Reviewed by Megan K. on 2024-07-28
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Recommend to Others
This was our 7th year going to this house. We enjoyed ourselves as usual but had some issues during our stay. The AC had issues most of the week but Laura was quick to bring us window units so we could sleep comfortably. The house was very clean when we arrived except for the gazebo on the dune. There was piles of sand everywhere and the chairs were also dirty and covered in sand. We hosed out the entire thing so we could enjoy it all week. The house could definitely use some TLC. The decks on all floors and around the pool need updating as does the master bath. Toilet wouldn’t flush right and the shower drain was massively clogged, not to mention the shower itself could be replaced. The stepping stones from the pool area to the bottom door could definitely be bigger and more sturdy, it’s hard to walk on them especially at night. The upstairs AC vents were all leaking water onto the floors and tables but this may have been due to the AC issues we were having. All in all it was still a great vacation but comparing year 1 to year 7 it’s definitely time this house got some TLC. We’d love to return if it was pet friendly but we will look elsewhere now since bringing our dog is easier than finding a dog sitter at home.
Manager response on 2024-08-02 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks for your review. I understand your frustration when things aren't exactly like you would have them if the house belonged to you. As you know, homes here are always being updated and maintained as the elements and usage by guests is very hard on them. I think these owners do a good job of keeping things up. If I remember correctly, we had the level three AC repaired the same day you called. And then the level 2 AC unit had an issue at the end of the week, so we brought the portable units until that unit could be repaired. Thankfully there was never a hot night. :-) We do our best to respond to issues that come up, as they will..... they come up everywhere and all we can do is put in our best effort to have them resolved. "All in all, it was still a great vacation" Those are the words we like to hear.

Perfect House / perfect spot on Carova 4X4 beacg

Reviewed by Unknown on 2024-07-14
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Services from rental manager
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Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
Everything about this rental from the early stages was A+. The rental agent was by far one of the best I have ever dealt with. Very quick to respond to any questions / issues we had. This location could not of been better and was the best stocked kitchen we have ever had in all our years of renting. Only negative and was the condition of the deck around the pool. It definately needs replaced soon but even with that I would rent this property again. Hence the 4 stars on the general condition.

Amazing as Always

Reviewed by Megan K. on 2022-08-01
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Recommend to Others
Had another wonderful week at Ten Down! This was our 6th summer trip to Ten Down and we just love this home. This year we were greeted with new carpet, bedding, and better bathrooms towels (ones that you’d have at home instead of hotel like towels). It was a breath of fresh air. The home is also under a new management company and I can’t say enough about them! They drove a full propane tank down to us in a tropical like rain storm just so we could grill our dinner! The house was immaculate when we got there as was the pool and hot tub! It was a great week we love the gazebo by the beach and just the views from the house they are amazing!! We can’t wait to stay here again and are counting the days til next summer!

Wonderful as always!

Reviewed by Melissa A. on 2022-10-11
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Recommend to Others
We have been staying at Ten Down for the past five years. There were several wonderful updates to the house for 2022! Laura was amazing to work with and answered all of my questions and concerns. We are all looking forward to year six at this beautiful house!

10 Down

Reviewed by John Z. on 2022-08-14
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Recommend to Others
Always a joy staying at this lovely home.Master bathroom a little dated. But a lot more pluses than minuses.

Another great vacation

Reviewed by Megan K. on 2023-07-17
Overall satisfaction
Services from rental manager
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Location
Property condition
Recommend to Others
We stayed at Ten Down this year again and it did not disappoint. Love the upgrades; Keurig, arcade game and the new table and chairs in the screened porch. We had a great time, great weather. Some suggestions we had were the master bathroom shower could use an upgrade and bigger stepping stones on the ground floor from the pool. We enjoyed our stay as always.
Manager response on 2023-07-17 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
We're so happy you stay at Ten Down every year. And SO glad you enjoyed your stay. The arcade game was a surprise!! Plans for next year include deck work on all the levels, and hopefully a NEW level one deck from the house out to the pool. The owners have been trying for three years to get that deck built. Know any contractors that need a job at the beach for a couple of weeks? LOL. I'll put the bug in the ear for the master shower, it is large enough and it is clean, but it's old and tired. I am old and tired as well, I wish someone would retire me!!!! ;-) Hope you guys will come again.

Great House - Amazing Location

Reviewed by Denise B. on 2023-07-11
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Recommend to Others
We have been coming to this house for many years and it continues to get better and better. Location is perfect..only steps from the beach and close to the VA line. The house is fully stocked and clean. Overall amazing experience with both the rental company and the house itself.
Manager response on 2023-07-14 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Thanks so much! Ten Down is a fantastic home! We're so glad you love it. We love our returning guests!! See you next year!

Ten Down

Reviewed by John Z. on 2023-08-07
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Recommend to Others
Had a wonderful time. Weather was great. Some small annoying issues. Had to plunge bath tub. One bathroom toilet will not stop running until you take the top off. Air vent missing from the bed room with two single beds. Had to pound nails around the pool area.
Manager response on 2023-08-07 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
John, I wish you would have let us know you were having some issue. That's what we are here for.

Fabulous as always!

Reviewed by Melissa A. on 2023-09-07
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Recommend to Others
Six years in a row, and still loving this house like year one! Laura was a pleasure to work with, as always. Although this house needs nothing (an ice machine would be amazing, though ��), we are excited to read that there will be future updates to the decks. We cannot wait to visit and create more memories next year for year seven!
Manager response on 2023-09-07 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
Year SEVEN!! Tried and true is always the way to go! I love the view from that house. It strikes me every time I top the stairs!! HAHA, slipped the ice machine wish in kinda sneakily!! So funny, I will pass it on to the owners.

Amazing stay!

Reviewed by megan c. on 2023-08-15
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Recommend to Others
We loved TEN DOWN! Great get away from the heat and busy-ness of the summer. I loved the time to disconnect and enjoy family dinners, cards, pool and beachtime. Truly incredible seeing the wild horses in the morning, while drinking my coffee and watching the ocean too. Everything we needed was in the house and provided. It was very clean and easy to just enjoy yourselves!
Manager response on 2023-09-06 - Response from Carova Cottages LLC
How many years is it now? Five or six? I think the week has your name on it. Ten Down is a keeper!!

Beautiful Oceanfront House in Carova

Reviewed by Denise B. on 2022-07-11
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Recommend to Others
We had a wonderful week in Carova at the beautiful Ten Down property. The house is in a great location and came well-stocked with anything you could possibly need. The rental agency was fantastic. Great communication, house was clean and the house contained many appreciated updates this year. We will definitely return next year!

Did NOT disappoint!

Reviewed by John B. on 2022-07-05
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Recommend to Others
Location was awesome! House was great, could not have been happier. We loved the remote location, away from the crowds, seeing the horses every day. On-line description was accurate! Be prepared to eat in, as the drive back to town is long, and the restaurants are crowded. We planed to stay at the house most nights so it was great for us.

SURF VIEWS from this BEAUTIFULLY maintained OCEANFRONT 4x4 REQUIRED no pets

Unit Code: TD

Ten Down

Dune top screened in gazebo. Beachfront location
Welcome to Ten Down, a beautiful Oceanfront home in the 4x4 area known as Carova. Bring the family to enjoy this well appointed home, and feel the relaxation as soon as you set foot in the door. The peace and quiet of Carova are particularly evident at Ten Down as it is only a few tenths of a mile from the Virginia Line and the fence that keeps the wild horses in NC! Enjoy some quality together time in the lovely living room/dining/kitchen great room. Comfortable seating abounds, inside and out. The south facing screened porch invites you to dine outside or just sit a spell. Head down one level for the bedrooms, KING master with tv, Queen master with tv, and two rooms that share a hallway bath, one with two twins and one with two duobunks. (double bottom bed and twin upper bunk). ALL bedrooms have a deck access and the level two deck has the hot tub. Level one has a comfortable sitting room with daybed, tv and full bath. Outside find the cabana bath, outside shower, gas/charcoal grill and huge pool area. There is also a walkway out to the beach with a unique dunetop screened gazebo. You would never have to touch sand if you didn't want to!!! But you will want to dip a toe or two in the ocean on this little traveled section of beach. Enjoy the wild horses and all that Carova has to offer at TEN DOWN. Saturday Check In - 4 wheel drive Required - Linens and Towels provided. - Approximately11 miles up the 4x4 beach Parking passes for parking two cars on the beach are included with this home. Parking at the house is free and unlimited. Pool and hot tub typically open late May to end of Sept No pets. Please visit Carova Cottages website for direct booking and save! No graduation groups or events of any kind are allowed in this home. Save money by booking directly on the Carova Cottages website:
May 2025
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Age 18 and under.
DatesPrice
05/01/2025 - 05/09/2025$400 /nt
05/10/2025 - 05/16/2025$485 /nt
05/17/2025 - 05/23/2025$560 /nt
05/24/2025 - 05/30/2025$654 /nt
05/31/2025 - 06/06/2025$753 /nt
06/07/2025 - 06/13/2025$927 /nt
06/14/2025 - 06/20/2025$981 /nt
06/21/2025 - 06/27/2025$1,041 /nt
06/28/2025 - 07/04/2025$1,058 /nt
07/05/2025 - 08/08/2025$1,041 /nt
08/09/2025 - 08/15/2025$925 /nt
08/16/2025 - 08/22/2025$785 /nt
08/23/2025 - 08/29/2025$702 /nt
08/30/2025 - 09/05/2025$610 /nt
09/06/2025 - 09/12/2025$520 /nt
09/13/2025 - 04/03/2026$385 /nt
4.9000
(20 Review)

terrific getaway

September 2024
, Amherst, NH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

nice to get away from the usual routines and relax

Manager's Response

Isn't this your 8th or 10th year at Ten Down? We are so glad you love it as much as we do!

See you next year!! :-)

Awesome, as always!

August 2024
, New Castle, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Year 7 was wonderful! We love the house and amenities! A little sad we will have neighbors next door next year, but that was to be expected eventually. We cannot wait until year 8! (Still subtly hinting for an ice machine ;) )

Manager's Response

LOL... I will forward this subtle hint to the owners!! lol

But just in case, I hope you can live without one!! ;-) The ice machine at the fire hall is about 2 miles south!!

Another great vacation despite some flaws

July 2024
, Breinigsville, PA United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
4
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
3

This was our 7th year going to this house. We enjoyed ourselves as usual but had some issues during our stay. The AC had issues most of the week but Laura was quick to bring us window units so we could sleep comfortably. The house was very clean when we arrived except for the gazebo on the dune. There was piles of sand everywhere and the chairs were also dirty and covered in sand. We hosed out the entire thing so we could enjoy it all week. The house could definitely use some TLC. The decks on all floors and around the pool need updating as does the master bath. Toilet wouldn’t flush right and the shower drain was massively clogged, not to mention the shower itself could be replaced. The stepping stones from the pool area to the bottom door could definitely be bigger and more sturdy, it’s hard to walk on them especially at night. The upstairs AC vents were all leaking water onto the floors and tables but this may have been due to the AC issues we were having. All in all it was still a great vacation but comparing year 1 to year 7 it’s definitely time this house got some TLC. We’d love to return if it was pet friendly but we will look elsewhere now since bringing our dog is easier than finding a dog sitter at home.

Manager's Response

Thanks for your review. I understand your frustration when things aren't exactly like you would have them if the house belonged to you. As you know, homes here are always being updated and maintained as the elements and usage by guests is very hard on them. I think these owners do a good job of keeping things up. If I remember correctly, we had the level three AC repaired the same day you called. And then the level 2 AC unit had an issue at the end of the week, so we brought the portable units until that unit could be repaired. Thankfully there was never a hot night. :-) We do our best to respond to issues that come up, as they will..... they come up everywhere and all we can do is put in our best effort to have them resolved. "All in all, it was still a great vacation" Those are the words we like to hear.

Perfect House / perfect spot on Carova 4X4 beacg

July 2024
, Oil City, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Everything about this rental from the early stages was A+. The rental agent was by far one of the best I have ever dealt with. Very quick to respond to any questions / issues we had. This location could not of been better and was the best stocked kitchen we have ever had in all our years of renting. Only negative and was the condition of the deck around the pool. It definately needs replaced soon but even with that I would rent this property again. Hence the 4 stars on the general condition.

terrific getaway

September 2023
, Amherst, NH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

the house was exactly as stated and very clean and well supplied with everything needed for a very pleasing vacation

Manager's Response

Thanks Rodney.

It is a pleasure to have you and your wife stay for two weeks every year! Ten Down provides the perfect vacation.

See you next year!!

terrific getaway

September 2023
, Amherst, NH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

the house was exactly as stated and very clean and well supplied with everything needed for a very pleasing vacation

Manager's Response

Thanks Rodney.

It is a pleasure to have you and your wife stay for two weeks every year! Ten Down provides the perfect vacation.

See you next year!!

Ten Down

September 2023
, Chenango Forks, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was my fourth year renting Ten Down. Despite being a rental it always has a homey feel to it. Love the house and the location. Plan on returning next year.

Manager's Response

Ten Down has a true and loyal following. There are MANY repeat guests for that house. You may have put your finger on it with "homey". The kitchen is comfortable for quite a few cooks, with lots of stations and room to work. The living room is cozy but completely assessable from the rest of the open third floor. And the VIEWS!!! I always gasp a little when I go in that house. Thanks so much for sticking with us!

Ten Down

September 2023
, Chenango Forks, NY United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

This was my fourth year renting Ten Down. Despite being a rental it always has a homey feel to it. Love the house and the location. Plan on returning next year.

Manager's Response

Ten Down has a true and loyal following. There are MANY repeat guests for that house. You may have put your finger on it with "homey". The kitchen is comfortable for quite a few cooks, with lots of stations and room to work. The living room is cozy but completely assessable from the rest of the open third floor. And the VIEWS!!! I always gasp a little when I go in that house. Thanks so much for sticking with us!

Fabulous as always!

August 2023
, New Castle, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Six years in a row, and still loving this house like year one! Laura was a pleasure to work with, as always. Although this house needs nothing (an ice machine would be amazing, though ), we are excited to read that there will be future updates to the decks. We cannot wait to visit and create more memories next year for year seven!

Manager's Response

Year SEVEN!! Tried and true is always the way to go! I love the view from that house. It strikes me every time I top the stairs!!

HAHA, slipped the ice machine wish in kinda sneakily!! So funny, I will pass it on to the owners.

Ten Down

July 2023
, Saint Clairsville, OH United States

Overall
4
Services from rental manager
4
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

Had a wonderful time. Weather was great. Some small annoying issues. Had to plunge bath tub. One bathroom toilet will not stop running until you take the top off. Air vent missing from the bed room with two single beds. Had to pound nails around the pool area.

Manager's Response

John,

I wish you would have let us know you were having some issue. That's what we are here for.

Amazing stay!

July 2023
, Des Moines, IA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We loved TEN DOWN! Great get away from the heat and busy-ness of the summer. I loved the time to disconnect and enjoy family dinners, cards, pool and beachtime. Truly incredible seeing the wild horses in the morning, while drinking my coffee and watching the ocean too. Everything we needed was in the house and provided. It was very clean and easy to just enjoy yourselves!

Manager's Response

How many years is it now? Five or six? I think the week has your name on it. Ten Down is a keeper!!

Another great vacation

July 2023
, Breinigsville, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

We stayed at Ten Down this year again and it did not disappoint. Love the upgrades; Keurig, arcade game and the new table and chairs in the screened porch. We had a great time, great weather. Some suggestions we had were the master bathroom shower could use an upgrade and bigger stepping stones on the ground floor from the pool. We enjoyed our stay as always.

Manager's Response

We're so happy you stay at Ten Down every year. And SO glad you enjoyed your stay. The arcade game was a surprise!! Plans for next year include deck work on all the levels, and hopefully a NEW level one deck from the house out to the pool. The owners have been trying for three years to get that deck built. Know any contractors that need a job at the beach for a couple of weeks? LOL. I'll put the bug in the ear for the master shower, it is large enough and it is clean, but it's old and tired. I am old and tired as well, I wish someone would retire me!!!! ;-) Hope you guys will come again.

Another great vacation

July 2023
, Breinigsville, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
4

We stayed at Ten Down this year again and it did not disappoint. Love the upgrades; Keurig, arcade game and the new table and chairs in the screened porch. We had a great time, great weather. Some suggestions we had were the master bathroom shower could use an upgrade and bigger stepping stones on the ground floor from the pool. We enjoyed our stay as always.

Manager's Response

We're so happy you stay at Ten Down every year. And SO glad you enjoyed your stay. The arcade game was a surprise!! Plans for next year include deck work on all the levels, and hopefully a NEW level one deck from the house out to the pool. The owners have been trying for three years to get that deck built. Know any contractors that need a job at the beach for a couple of weeks? LOL. I'll put the bug in the ear for the master shower, it is large enough and it is clean, but it's old and tired. I am old and tired as well, I wish someone would retire me!!!! ;-) Hope you guys will come again.

Great House - Amazing Location

July 2023
, Aliquippa, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We have been coming to this house for many years and it continues to get better and better. Location is perfect..only steps from the beach and close to the VA line. The house is fully stocked and clean. Overall amazing experience with both the rental company and the house itself.

Manager's Response

Thanks so much! Ten Down is a fantastic home! We're so glad you love it. We love our returning guests!!

See you next year!

Wonderful as always!

August 2022
, New Castle, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We have been staying at Ten Down for the past five years. There were several wonderful updates to the house for 2022! Laura was amazing to work with and answered all of my questions and concerns. We are all looking forward to year six at this beautiful house!

10 Down

July 2022
, Saint Clairsville, OH United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
4

Always a joy staying at this lovely home.Master bathroom a little dated. But a lot more pluses than minuses.

Amazing as Always

July 2022
, Breinigsville, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Had another wonderful week at Ten Down! This was our 6th summer trip to Ten Down and we just love this home. This year we were greeted with new carpet, bedding, and better bathrooms towels (ones that you’d have at home instead of hotel like towels). It was a breath of fresh air. The home is also under a new management company and I can’t say enough about them! They drove a full propane tank down to us in a tropical like rain storm just so we could grill our dinner! The house was immaculate when we got there as was the pool and hot tub! It was a great week we love the gazebo by the beach and just the views from the house they are amazing!! We can’t wait to stay here again and are counting the days til next summer!

Amazing as Always

July 2022
, Breinigsville, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

Had another wonderful week at Ten Down! This was our 6th summer trip to Ten Down and we just love this home. This year we were greeted with new carpet, bedding, and better bathrooms towels (ones that you’d have at home instead of hotel like towels). It was a breath of fresh air. The home is also under a new management company and I can’t say enough about them! They drove a full propane tank down to us in a tropical like rain storm just so we could grill our dinner! The house was immaculate when we got there as was the pool and hot tub! It was a great week we love the gazebo by the beach and just the views from the house they are amazing!! We can’t wait to stay here again and are counting the days til next summer!

Beautiful Oceanfront House in Carova

July 2022
, Aliquippa, PA United States

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
5
Location
5
Property condition
5

We had a wonderful week in Carova at the beautiful Ten Down property. The house is in a great location and came well-stocked with anything you could possibly need. The rental agency was fantastic. Great communication, house was clean and the house contained many appreciated updates this year. We will definitely return next year!

Did NOT disappoint!

June 2022
, Knoxville, TN US

Overall
5
Services from rental manager
5
Cleanliness
4
Location
5
Property condition
5

Location was awesome! House was great, could not have been happier. We loved the remote location, away from the crowds, seeing the horses every day. On-line description was accurate! Be prepared to eat in, as the drive back to town is long, and the restaurants are crowded. We planed to stay at the house most nights so it was great for us.

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4 Bed
5.5 Baths
Sleeps 12

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