Frequently Asked Questions

Well, there's a bunch. Depending on your relative location, there are several major routes leading to the Outer Banks. Highway 95, 64, and 158 are used most often. You can also check out our directions page for more information.

Life can be unpredictable. Every year, travelers have to change their plans because of things that go wrong beyond their control. These unexpected troubles happen more often than you might think. You can help protect yourself, your travel companions, and your wallet with travel insurance.

We do offer travel insurance through an outside company, CSA Travel Protection/Generali Global Assistance. 866-999-4018

Plan Details

From time to time, we may have an option for early check-in. It is best to call our office to see if the option might be available to you and what the cost may be.

Our pet fee is $165.00 + tax. Maximum number of dogs allowed is 2 unless otherwise stated in the property description.

As a general rule, two dogs are allowed in our Pet Friendly homes. If different, it will be listed in the property description.

If you are not bringing a dog to the pet home you are not required to pay the pet fee. It can be declined on your rental contract.

• Corolla year round w/leash.
• Duck year round.
• Southern Shores before 9 a.m and after 6 p.m. with leash.
• Kill Devil Hills & Kitty Hawk with leash.
• Nags Head year round w/leash

We will begin posting rates for the following year in June.

A priority reservation is an option for you to re-rent the same home for your same week the following year. There is no fee to do this, and you must notify us upon departure if you wish to re-rent.  If you've made a priority reservation, you will be notified of the new rates once they are received and have a set due date for the first payment in order to confirm the reservation.

No. While our oceanfront homes are the closest homes to the beach, not all have ocean views. In most areas, oceanfront homes on the Outer Banks are protected from the ocean by a dune line. The height and shape of the dunes change from year to year due to storms in the area and beach nourishment projects. We ask they guests stay off the dunes and use only marked beach accesses or the property's private walkway if provided.

If just "bikes" is listed, it is best to reach out to our rental department for more detailed information at rentals@southernshores.com or 252-261-2000.

The words "grill" and "BBQ" are interchangeable. We try to specify if the grill is gas or charcoal in the description. "Park style grills" are charcoal grills set into the ground. 

All homes do, unless otherwise stated in the amenities/description.

Yes all homes have A/C.  It is central A/C unless otherwise stated in the amenities/description.

Many beach homes on the Outer Banks are elevated by pilings, thus creating steps up to the living floors and down again to ground level. Many homes also have several levels of decks and stairs. We do offer many single level, no stairs homes to rent. If this is a specific concern and special need for your party, please call us at 252-261-2000 so we can find the perfect fit for you.

Southern Shores Realty manages over 40 properties that have elevators. Elevators in our rental properties are ideal for transporting family members who find stairs challenging, or for carrying luggage and groceries to all levels of the home. Because these elevators are built for residential use, they may not be sufficiently sized for all wheelchairs. If you are looking for a home that provides wheelchair access to all floors, please contact our reservations department at 252-261-2000 for further assistance.

Sheets, Towels and Bath Mats are provided in each property (check property description for details). Beach towels are not provided. See our list of Standard Amenities.

This is not a standard item in our homes. Please bring along if you are planning a meal that requires this item. 

Unless there is a specific amount listed, we cannot confirm the number of chairs at a home. It is recommended if you have them, bring them.

That depends on where your house is.  Please refer to this list of beach accesses and lifeguard stations.

Unless stated in the amenities, please bring your own.

Discounts that are specific to a home will be included in the home's written description, or in the Discounts section below the calendar on the property page. You can also refer to our discounts and specials page to see current offers on our rental homes.

Not unless it is explicitly advertised in the written amenities/description.

Southern Shores Realty is not responsible for internet connectivity or speed in any of the rental properties. If you experience a problem with the internet service, please contact our office at 252-261-2000 and we will contact the internet service provider.

Internet connectivity and speed will vary depending on location, age of equipment/lines provided by carrier, time of day and even weather. You will not have service comparable to what you experience at home or larger metropolitan areas. If internet service is critical during your stay (work, meetings, etc.) plan accordingly and bring your own Hot Spot to ensure you do not have interruptions in service.

Yes, Southern Shores has vacation homes that come with Electric Car Charging Stations on their property. Browse our inventory of Outer Banks Rentals with Charging Stations here

Yes. When traveling to the Outer Banks in the peak summer (usually late May through late August), plan ahead for traffic delays across the Wright Memorial Bridge and Highway 12 north through Duck during the early morning and afternoon on the weekends. This can be avoided by taking alternate routes (via highway 64 east over Roanoke Island), or arriving earlier/later in the day. The quickest route through Southern Shores will be Route 12/Ocean Blvd/Duck Road. The neighborhood roads of Southern Shores back up quickly and should not be used as "cut throughs". Please call our team of vacation experts at 252-261-2000 for the best tips specific to your trip.

Check in is 4:00 p.m., but may be later.  This time could be later due to weather, heavy island traffic, or other acts of Mother Nature.

Please check with the Outer Banks Tourist Bureau 877-629-4386 for rules and regulations in your specific area.

Good question!  Here's a beach vacation packing list to get you started off right.

To get your vacation started you will receive an Insulated Convenience Bag that includes the following starter items:

• 2 rolls Toilet Paper
• 1 roll Paper Towels
• 2 Dishwasher pods
• 1 Sponge
• 1 small Dish Soap
• 2 small bars of Bath Soap
• Dish towels and Dish Cloth
• 2 Pot Holders
• Note pad and Pen

Guests will need to purchase or bring additional Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Cleaning Supplies, Trash Bags, Bath Soap, Dishwasher pods, Laundry pods as needed.

Please do not go to the home unless its after 4:00 pm, and the home has been released to you by Southern Shores Realty. Cars parked at the home make the home appear occupied and may delay cleaning.

You will receive an email or text the night before your trash collection day with instructions. We recommend that you put trash cans out the night before the scheduled pick up date. There is no set time for trash pick up and they tend to pick up early in the morning.

Visit our Trash Pickup & Recycling page for more information: Trash & Recycling Page

Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, and Kill Devil Hills = No.

Nags Head, South Nags Head = Yes, with permit.

The majority of Outer Banks towns now have ordinances than ban leaving personal property (i.e. chairs, tents, canopies) on the beach overnight...including their right to remove it. Given this, Southern Shores Realty does not recommend leaving any personal property on the beach overnight. Wake up early and stake your claim each day!

Your WiFi password will be provided with your Check-in Instructions approximately a week prior to your arrival.

Duck Village Outfitters and Ocean Atlantic Rentals have multiple locations and offer online ordering for your convenience.

• Ocean Atlantic Rentals 800-635-9559
• ZoomAround 833-966-6276
• OBX Golf Carts 252-261-7368
• OBX Beach Buggies 252-489-6300

• Check out time is 10:00 am.
  
• Remove all items from refrigerator and freezer
• Place all trash in outside receptacles 
• Leave A/C set at 72 degrees or heat ar 55 degrees on automatic
• Return all furnishings to their original location
• Check all drawers and closets for personal belongings
• Close and lock all doors and windows
• Drop off any unused, unopened and non-perishable food items to our office and we will donate them to the local Food Pantry

Immediately after your vacation, you have "first dibs" to secure the same week in the same home.  We call this a priority reservation. Please let us know by your departure if you wish to return to the same home next year.

Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
757-857-3200

Newport News International Airport (PHF)
757-877-0221

Unless you are on a pier or chartered boat, fishing licenses are required and can be purchased at any bait/tackle shop or the sporting goods department at Walmart. On July 4th you can fish without a license.

Yes, there are public piers you may access. Follow the link for a complete list.

Here are some easily accessible public ramps:

• Kitty Hawk - Bob Perry Rd. off Kitty Hawk Rd.
• Kill Devil Hills - Dock Street
• Southern Shores - Off South Dogwood Trail. Must be staying in Southern Shores in a property with Marina Access, please call our office to verify access 252-261-2000.

Yes. Outer Banks Hospital Urgent Care and Beach Medical Care are located in Kitty Hawk. Surf Urgent Care is located in Kill Devil Hills.  Outer Banks Hospital is in Nags Head.

Private pools are generally open from early April to mid October. Dates of availability will be listed in the property description if they differ from the standard dates.

Many factors come into play that affect how pool heaters operate, such as

• ambient air temperature,
• pool sizes,
• shade,
• wind direction/speed.

Pool heaters are not designed to heat like hot tubs, and the change in pool temperature when heated is based on these factors.

• Typically, heat pumps will heat pools 10°F above ambient air temperature.
• Pool heaters vary from heat pumps, propane/natural gas heaters, and solar heaters; sometimes pool heaters can have a combination of heat pump and gas.
• Heat pump pool heaters require consistent air temperatures around 58°F +/- in order to heat the water in pools.
• If the outside air temperature is +/- 58 degrees, the pool heater may shut off and not run until outside ambient air temperature reaches an air temperature necessary for the system to run, this is a feature of the system that cannot be adjusted or changed.
• If a Heat Pump shuts down due to outside cold air temperatures such as may occur at night or in winter, the pool temperature will likely drop and when the Pool Heater turns on it may take hours for the system to reheat the pool.
• Heat pumps take anywhere from 24-72 hours to heat pools to the set temperature, barring any cold weather events.
• Over use of sun screens with heavy pool use can clog pool filters also causing pool heaters to turn off.

Normal depths of pools in our area is 4.5 to 6 feet.

The majority of community pools are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Call us at 252-261-2000 for more detailed information.