Outer Banks Hotels FAQ's
Yes, many hotels in the Outer Banks offer EV charging stations. These
stations are often located in the hotel's parking lot and are available for guests to use.
Some hotels may have shared charging stations, which could require waiting or have limited
availability.
The Outer Banks offers a variety of EV charging stations, including Tesla
Superchargers and universal charging stations. These stations are located at various points
across the islands, ensuring that EV travelers have easy access to power.
The time it takes to charge an electric car varies depending on the type
of charger. Slow/AC chargers, commonly found at hotels and resorts, can take a few hours to
fully charge a vehicle. Level 2 chargers can take 4-10 hours, while DC fast chargers (Level
3) can provide up to an 80% charge in approximately 20 minutes.
Yes, there are several apps that can help you locate EV charging stations
in the Outer Banks. Apps like PlugShare provide up-to-date information on charging locations
and availability.
Some hotels may allow you to charge your EV using a standard outlet, but
this will be much slower than using a dedicated charging station. It's best to check with
the hotel before your stay to confirm their policy on EV charging.
If you're having trouble finding an available EV charging station,
consider using apps like PlugShare to locate alternative charging points. You can also plan
your charging stops in advance to ensure availability, especially during peak travel times.
Yes, many hotels in the Outer Banks offer public parking options. These
can include on-site parking lots or nearby public parking areas. Some hotels may also
provide valet parking services for added convenience.
Many hotels in the Outer Banks offer free parking for their guests. This
can include both on-site parking lots and covered parking options. It's best to check with
the specific hotel for details on their parking policies.
The Outer Banks offers limited public transportation options. However,
many hotels provide shuttle services to nearby attractions and beaches. Additionally, there
are taxi services and ride-sharing options available in the area.
Yes, there are several car rental agencies available in the Outer Banks.
You can rent a car from various locations, including airports and hotel lobbies. It's
recommended to book your rental car in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
Yes, many hotels and local businesses offer bike rental services. Biking
is a popular way to explore the Outer Banks, and there are numerous bike paths and trails
throughout the islands.
If you prefer not to drive, you can use a combination of shuttle services,
taxis, ride-sharing, and bike rentals to get around the Outer Banks. Many hotels offer
shuttle services to popular destinations, making it easy to explore the area without a car.
Planning a road trip with an EV to the Outer Banks involves considering
specific factors such as charging station availability and the type of charger best suited
for your car. Using apps like PlugShare can help you locate charging stations along your
route and ensure a smooth trip.
If your EV runs out of charge, use an app like PlugShare to find the
nearest available charging station. Some hotels and local businesses may also offer charging
services. It's a good idea to have a backup plan, such as knowing the location of the
nearest towing service that can assist with EVs.
• Some hotels and businesses in the Outer Banks may offer incentives for
using their EV charging stations, such as discounted rates or complimentary charging for
guests. It's worth checking with your hotel or using apps like PlugShare to find any
available incentives.
OBX hotels start getting visitors from around May 10th and reach peak
occupancy levels around July 15th every year. Generally, Mid-May through late-August is the
time when the Outer Banks receives its maximum visitors. Historic 5 year visitor data
suggests that August is the busiest month for
OBX Hotel
occupancy. August 2019 saw hotel/motel occupancy numbers reach 14,094,249 (almost 1.5
million).
Based on Dare County statistics for gross occupancy taxes in Jan 2019, we
see that Avon is the most popular destination in the Hatteras Island district. The Avon
fishing pier is the most visited place in Avon. Besides the great catch at the pier, Avon
also offers great experiences such as surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, the OBX Jetovator,
Studio 12, the Comedy Club and more. The other most visited places on Hatteras Island are
Waves, Hatteras, Rodanthe, Buxton, Salvo & Frisco.
Data from Dare County statistics for gross occupancy taxes in Jan 2019
suggests that Kill Devil Hills is the most popular destination on the Northern Beaches. The
most visited place in Kill Devil Hills is the Avalon Fishing Pier, famous for its great
catch and clear waters. The other top destinations on the Northern shore are Nags Head,
Kitty Hawk, Duck, Southern Shores and Colington.
Yes, almost all hotels accept cash as a mode of payment. But, keep in mind
that some hotels, may charge you a deposit if paying in cash. Why? Because, hotels always
prefer a credit card payment, so just in case there is any room damage, they have an option
to charge the card on file. However, with cash payments, there is no surety of any kind. For
example, a customer or a pet could cause substantial damage to the room furniture, carpets,
appliances or the bedding linen. A cash customer may leave before the room is inspected and
the hotel has very little means to recover the damage restoration costs. This is the primary
reason why most hotels charge a deposit for customers paying in cash.
This shouldn't be a problem at most hotels. We have seen many customers
who wish to pay the room cost, some part in cash, and the rest on a card. Although this
transaction is a bit complicated to accomplish on a hotel reservation system, it can still
be done in a few minutes. However, a note of caution: some hotels may charge the customer a
small deposit, because this kind of transaction might make the hotel staff wary of low to no
funds on the card. When this happens, they may follow the usual practice of asking for a
deposit to have some surety for any unforeseen property damage.
Based on historic data, we have seen a trend showing that hotels in the
Outer Banks are usually cheaper on Sundays. The next least busiest day with lower rates is
Monday. As a rule of thumb, most hotels worldwide have lower occupancy on Sunday nights. So,
here's a sweet tip. If you have a weekend booking (Friday-Sunday)., an extra night for a
Monday check-out can get really cheap. Make sure to "not" book the Sunday night stay online,
as rates will always be higher online. It is always better to get a deal right at the hotel
front desk when you check-in. Just inform the hotel staff that you might consider staying a
day longer if they could give you the Sunday night stay for cheap. Most hotels are going to
offer you a great deal for the Sunday stay. So, get a 3 night stay for lesser.
It is natural that most pet owners dislike the idea that they have to pay
moderate to high pet fees for a hotel stay. After all, a pet is considered a family member
by a pet-owner. But, considering the high competition (thanks to Airbnb & VRBO), shouldn't
hotels be more bothered about getting customers than keep them away with high pet fees?
So, what exactly is happening here? Well, the fact is that hotel management has to
incur higher costs to maintain pet-friendly rooms. There are very few 100% pet-friendly
hotels (where every room is pet-friendly). The ones that are pet-friendly have only a
certain number of rooms allocated for guests with pets. And these rooms are, in general,
given out only to customers with pets. This means that if a hotel has 10 pet friendly rooms,
then on many days, these rooms lie vacant because they can only be occupied by guests with
pets.
So why can't a pet-friendly room be given to a person without a pet?
Well, many people have pet dander allergies and some are just not used to even the slightest
pet odor. So, hotels in general, do not assign these rooms to other guests. No hotel wants
it's guests to get an allergy due to mold or pet dander, caused by living in the room.
So, hotels have to bear the cost of maintaining these low occupancy rooms. The second
cost factor is cleaning the room after check-out. You might be surprised to learn that
pet-friendly rooms take longer to clean (on average 30-35 minutes). In fact, long-stay rooms
need up to an hour or more of cleaning and de-sanitizing. After check-out, all bed sheets,
covers, bath towels and linens have to be sanitized. Carpets and sofas need deep-cleaning or
(in some cases) steam cleaning to remove all pet hairs and other animal residue. Remember,
housekeeping staff is paid by the hour. Your pet fees cover all these charges. Finally,
hotels also insure themselves for furniture and linen damage caused by pets. Considering
these factors, we can now see how a hotel pet fee is more than justified.
Many of us, at some point, have requested an early hotel check-in, and have been turned
down. So why do most hotels have this strict no early check-in policies? Well., hotel
policies differ based on room availability inventories. But, as a general rule of thumb,
most hotels do not encourage early arrivals. This is because, guests usually check-out
by 11 a.m. after which the housekeeping staff gets to work cleaning all the rooms.
Remember, the housekeeping staff not only cleans checked-out rooms, but also has to do
basic cleaning or "service" of "occupied rooms" which in hotel lingo is called a
"stay-over".
So, for a fully occupied 100 room hotel with 50 check-outs, the housekeeping team has an
extremely back-wrenching job on hand (ask a hotel housekeeper and they will
wholeheartedly agree). The housekeeping staff has a time-window from 11 a.m. till 2.30
p.m. to complete all the rooms, This is a daunting task considering the fact that not
every guest leaves at 11 a.m. Many guests request a late check-out or may just leave
later than 11 a.m. Add to this the fact that the stay-over rooms may request a full
cleaning rather than just a linen and towel change.
So now, we begin to understand why a hotel does not encourage early check-ins. Rooms have
to get cleaned and inspected by the housekeeping supervisor before the next guest can
move-in. All this takes time and most rooms are usually ready by 2.45 p.m. However, if a
hotel has many vacant clean rooms, then hotels are more than glad to allow guests an
early check-in
Hotels may, at their discretion, honor your request for a late check-out. But,
this is usually based on their next day booking schedule. If the hotel is "sold-out"
(all rooms booked) for the next day, you stand a slim chance of a late check-out because
the hotel needs to get all its rooms cleaned for the new 3 p.m. guest arrivals. Hotels
sometimes bend these rules for loyal regular customers or for diamond/platinum/gold
level customers. But, in general, as a best practice, if you plan to check-out later, it
is best to let the hotel know in advance or at least while you are checking-in. This
way, the hotel staff can plan their housekeeping report and you have a good chance of
them letting you check-out later. If they don't agree, try offering them a late
check-out fee. Most hotels will oblige a 1-3 hour late departure if you can pay them
extra fees. And, finally, it always helps to be respectful and courteous while asking
the hotel staff for a late check-out. Remember, a late check-out is not a right, but a
granted privilege.
The average price of hotel rooms in the Outer Banks varies by season.
Expect higher prices during the peak season (mid-June to late-August), when prices average
$151. Hotel rates go down during off-peak season (from October through March), when
customers can get prices as low as $69 per night. (prices based on a 2 year average across
our OBX hotels)
Here's the deal, the Outer Banks can be the most affordable place to stay
during the off-season. Winters can get chilly, but not frigid. The ocean water is pleasantly
warm till mid-October. For the most part of winter, the air is crisp and cool. And the good
news is that OBX hotels get dirt cheap from November through March. In fact, many hotels
literally close their shutters from December through March due to low occupancy. No point in
keeping a 40 room hotel open for 5 guests, right?
At the same time, during the off-season, hotels aim to have a minimum 40% occupancy
rate. So, if you're looking for a winter home, the Outer Banks can be a lucrative and
cheap place to snuggle in. Our Outer Banks Hotels
offer super-low weekly and monthly rates during the off-peak season. In fact, cheap hotel room rates, as low
as $750/month, bring in lots of people to the OBX. This winter, give it a thought....why
not stay right near the ocean and enjoy the comforts of a hotel room?
Driftin Sands Motel offers highly affordable room
rates with a smoke-free environment. Driftin Sands is conveniently located right in the
heart of Kill Devil Hills between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. Select rooms feature a
kitchenette for the home-away experience. This quaint, Kill Devil Hills Motel is a traveler favorite.
The Hatteras Island Inn has been consistently ranked
in the top 3 traveler favorites for years. Located in Buxton, NC, this unpretentious Outer Banks Hotel offers an observation tower, a
beautiful outdoor pool & a gazebo. Rates are comparatively low and guests appreciate the
high standards of service, location and room amenities. Other highly rated hotels on
Hatteras Island are the Inn on Pamlico Sound, Cape Hatteras Motel & Lighthouse View
Oceanfront Lodging.
The Seahorse Inn & Cottages is located right
across Jennette's pier. This modest hotel is very affordable compared to other hotels in
the area. Enjoy beautiful ocean views from select rooms. Similarly, the Colonial Inn Motel is a beachfront property right
next to Nags Head fishing pier. Colonial Inn has been newly renovated and offers
beautiful apartment-style rooms and individual rooms. This motel at Nags Head also offers a seasonal pool and is
conveniently located near to popular attractions and restaurants.The Colonial Inn motel
has year-long low rates.
Not all hotels offer cribs. Some smaller motels & hotels may not have cribs available. It
is always advisable to call the hotel directly and ask for availability. Even hotels
which do offer cribs, very often, have very limited cribs. So, to be safe and prepared,
it is always a good idea to request a crib in advance to avoid any last minute
frustration and disappointment. The good news is that most most bigger hotels and hotels
under a brand franchise, almost always have cribs available on-demand.