Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals

    2.7 (85 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals

    Recommended Reviews - Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    BIG patch on pool liner
    Christopher S.

    We rented #300 - Duck A L'Orange from August 1st through 8th of this year ('21). DO NOT RENT THIS PROPERTY! Here is our experience: Mold in one bathroom (looks dark brown - they came and cleaned), VERY cheap and broken towel bars (honestly, couldn't have been more than a Dollar Store item), broken and missing drapes and curtain rods (Carolina Design came and removed all curtain rods), pool lining ripped in multiple areas (very poor paste job), cheap fix PVC tubing around pool coming apart and a hazard, ant hills on pool deck, broken pool equipment and broken pool furniture, unkept yard (bushes growing out of control in back yard and sides of house, volleyball court and horseshoe pit are both unusable, basketball hoop was bent and unusable, bedspread had chocolate stain on it (either not washed OR stained during cleaning, vacuum STINKS and kitchen isn't very well stocked. This was BY FAR the worst house I've rented personally or stayed in when rented by another. Pitiful ownership pride and I truly feel cheated. For what we paid, this house should have been half the cost. It didn't totally ruin the vacation and Carolina Designs reacted as best they could (I'm being VERY gracious due to Covid) - but this house should be taken OFF their listing. It makes them look very poor. I have pictures of all (or most) of the items - hoping I can post somewhere ... this is my first review in this site. Carolina Designs did what they could, probably as quickly as they could (next day and following day) ... but, I never received a lounge chair that was promised, and we had to have multiple visits by staff to correct a couple of the issues. They cleaned the mold (not professionally tested for black mold) and removed the curtain rods and spackled the holes, and fixed the cheap towel bars. That's it. Ultimately, Carolina Designs name is on the lease and while the ownership pride is severely lacking, it is upon them to ensure the houses they rent are of the best quality. Carolina Designs failed with this house! They failed me, my family and their company by not ensuring a quality product.

    This is the back of the house. I didn't take a picture of the front.

    Just got home from spending a week in Dolphina (714). First time we'd ever done a whole family vacation and I wanted to 'pull out all the stops' and do something wonderful for my kids and grandchildren. First I will say this is a 2 million dollar home right on the ocean, not the kind of life I'm used to and just what I wanted in order to pamper my kids and grandkids. Not only was I disappointed but I heard that word from my kids too. Exactly what I DID NOT want. The property was tired. Rusting light fixtures in the great room ceiling; rusting, puddling main refrigerator. Downstairs refrigerator with broken hinge, theater room with blown speakers and missing remote; BUT THE LARGEST PROBLEM WAS SAFETY. I fell down the front steps when the rotted railing collapsed, and so many railing balusters were loose that we absolutely could not allow our three grandchildren to be on the decks.

    Casa Antonio # 609
    Julie G.

    If that.House was disgustingly dirty when we arrived. One of the dishwashers was broken, we know that because someone came to look at it the first 10 minutes we were there. He said he was called a couple of times the week prior "There were a bunch of little kids here". Also pool guy was called 3 times (week prior) to come out for the jacuzzis control panel not working, but when we mentioned it to Carolina Designs Realty they said they knew nothing about that which I find amusing because they are the ones who sends pool people out. Also Donna who works for Carolina Designs was so RUDE. She actually hung up on me, I had asked if she saw the pictures the new cleaning people sent she said yes.I then asked if the countertops were so dirty along with the rest of the house how do I know the beds are clean. She said they were. I went to ask her last name and that's when she hung up on me. Horrible way to start vacation, after a 15 hr car ride.

    Rented Sun Terra #291in August of 2023. We have been visiting OBX yearly since 1996 and this home was by far in the worst condition we've ever seen. Upon entering we noticed loose railings, a broken column, and stairs that are suffering from years of neglect. Once inside the smell of mold was over powering. I'm guessing due to the water leaks. Most sliders and doors were inoperable. Breakers tripped and were unable to be reset and outlets sparked when we plugged things in. If there had been an electrical fire we would have been trapped due to the inoperable doors. I would think having electrical panels behind a bed is a safety violation. The kitchen cabinets and flooring are in terrible shape and frankly disgusting. Furniture and bedding is blown out and stained. When it rained the sliders had a river going through them leaking into the bedrooms below them. The pool and hot tub tiles are crumbling and have sharp edges which isn't safe. The fix of putty came off in a matter of hours. The railing on the pool deck are also loose. I'm attaching some photos I took.

    Jackie S.

    Where do we even begin? First let me start by saying Carolina Designs Realty is: Hands Down the Best! They are extremely accommodating when it comes to searching, booking, and delivering the best vacation rentals in the OBX! We were fortunate to stay in the Seahawk | House #023 this past summer and it was a trip that will be forever remembered. The house is about a "beach block" away from the community access beach. Our main form of transportation for the week were...YASS! Beach Cruisers supplied by DVO (Duck Village Outfitters) and it was the best decision ever. The house was conveniently located not only near the beautiful beach, but just a brisk bike ride away from anything and everything one would need in town. This made it extremely easy for us to wake up early get some morning yoga sessions in at Village Yoga and then visit the local java/breakfast HOTSPOT (Tree House Coffee - the biscuits to die for!) The house was fully stocked with all the kitchen necessities one could ever ask for and then some. If you needed a break from the hot sun and sandy toes, you can cool off in the home's private pool and hot tub. Did I mention the outdoor shower!? If traveling with kiddos, there was a beach volleyball court where little ones could play while parents could catch up and VACAY away. There are a wide variety of rooms for everyone in the family--one of the best perks-- the rooms are very spacious. Plenty of closet space too. The multi levels helped with accommodating all parties and distributing sound from noisy to quiet and visa versa. There were also decks off of various rooms of the house--to steal away and have quiet conversations with friends-- as well as different areas to play epic card games and catch the salty breeze and sunset. If I could give this vacation rental company and beach house 10 stars-- I would. Excellent customer service. The house was extremely cleaned and organized upon our arrival. Our entire experience with CDRVR was above and beyond and we cannot wait to get back next summer! Thank you again and again! You guys ROCK! What we planned for was a vacation and what we left with was wishing we could have turned it into a STAY (forever)cation after staying in such a beautiful and spacious home. Only recommendation: get all your supplies, groceries, and hydration fluids before arriving at the house because you will want to spend as much time in and around this house/beach as you can! Using bikes as your only form of transportation the entire trip! :)

    BEDBUG INFESTATION! 10/11/21 Beware of "Stay Anchored" 10433 S Old Oregon Inlet RD, Nags Head, NC 27959 as it is infested with Bedbugs! Sorry for the long review below...but I want to break this all down so you can avoid getting Bedbugs! Lest you think I'm a crazy person or fake reviewer...read my Google review history...I rarely write reviews and when I do, they are always positive. Due to Carolina Designs Realty's BS handling of this situation and their willingness to treat this as something they can sweep under the rug...I have to let it be known that if you stay at this unit, be prepared for Bedbugs and the likely possibility of bringing them home with you. Our extended family stayed in this Carolina Designs Realty property on 10/2 - 10/9 only to find out on the third to last day that it wasn't sandfleas or mosquitos which were biting our waists, stomachs and lower bodies but BEDBUGS! A family member found them crawling on her as she lay in bed reading late one evening! She hastily took pictures of the bugs not knowing what they were and the next morning we put two and two together. See pictures below of found bug and bites. Obviously this was very upsetting to the entire family as Bedbugs are a serious issue and can easily be spread and taken home. We contacted Carolina Designs Realty and left a message stating we needed immediate assistance. To their credit they did respond and sent a pest company out the same day to investigate. The pest company (Outer Banks Pest Control) confirmed the presence of Bedbugs in the house. The entire inspection process took less then 2 hours for an 8 bedroom house. It seemed odd that the one room the Bedbugs were "confirmed" to be in was not the bedroom my wife and I shared, where a majority of the bites were occurring. Despite us having bites all over our bodies and finding blood smears and bedbug fecal matter on the mattresses (which I have learned is a common occurrence when bedbugs are present) it was conveyed to me through the pest control company that Carolina Realty Designs would only be paying to have one room treated. In speaking with multiple pest control companies and a former department of public health bedbug remediation inspector I have learned that one treatment is RARELY ever successful and this is especially true when using the fumigation method (which was the method the pest company explained they would be doing). Furthermore, when Bedbugs are confirmed to be present (even if the live bug isn't found to be in every room...but evidence of the bug is) the right thing to do would be to treat the entire house as infested and have it treated! Carolina Designs Realty representatives and owners of the property: I ask you if you and your families would be willing stay in a house confirmed to have Bedbugs as long as it was only in "one room" and that "one room" were treated? If the nightmare of dealing with Bedbugs (Google the process of ridding yourself of Bedbugs and you will understand what me and my extended family are now dealing with) weren't enough: when trying to seek just reimbursement for being put through this ordeal, Carolina Designs Realty failed to step up to the plate. They first offered $250 off the $5000 rental cost and only the promise of litigation spurred them to then up the reimbursement to 20% off the total cost. Carolina Designs Realty is negligent in their duty of care to provide a safe and clean environment to their renters. Please do your due diligence when renting from them, research Bedbug infestations and check their houses for signs of Bedbugs as soon as you arrive so you don't have to go through what we currently are. Sorry for the grainy photos of the bugs...they were taken at 1am when the bug was first discovered and moved to the bathroom for better light for the photo.

    View from balcony.

    See all

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan T.

    Ryan T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals

    Review Highlights - Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals

    We have been renting over 27 years in the OBX and this was one of the easiest and most efficient.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Steamers - Steamed Spiced Shrimp & Oysters on the Half Shell

    Steamers

    (719 reviews)

    $$$

    We had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Steamers with a group of 20, and we could not have been…read morehappier with the experience! They were incredibly accommodating and made us feel so welcomed and special. We had our dinner on the second floor, which offered an absolutely amazing view of the ocean. The overall atmosphere was exactly what we wanted for our rehearsal dinner--classy and elegant while still feeling warm, comfortable, and cozy. It was the perfect setting to celebrate with our family and wedding party before our big day. The food, drinks, and service were all outstanding. We highly recommend the salmon, yellowfin tuna, and oysters--everything was absolutely delicious! Despite having a large group, the staff did an amazing job getting everyone served quickly and efficiently while still providing wonderful, attentive service. Steamers was the perfect place to celebrate with our family and wedding party before our wedding. They made the evening feel so special, and we truly cannot recommend them enough!

    We were seated after just a 10 minute wait for a party of 5. We ate outside. Our waiter was very…read moreattentive and friendly. I'd like to add that the other waitresses and waiters running around were also helpful and great with their tables from what I overheard. The outside and inside decor is very fun and clean looking. The most important though is that our food was fantastic! We tried the mussels, crab legs, and the clams as far as steamed seafood goes. We also had the seafood salad (very very good) and the sweet potato fries. I'd 100% recommend this place and can't wait to go back. Steamers is run like a well oiled machine!

    Black Pelican - Wednesday Special - Fried Chicken lunch

    Black Pelican

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$

    For the first time ever, we had some disappointments at Black Pelican. We have lunch or dinner…read moreduring most of our twice-per-year visits to the area. It has always been good, and we definitely won't let this deter us from returning. Ms T had her usual Shrimp basket lunch. The issue was that the shrimp were not cooked through. They were still translucent. We totally understand not wanting to overcook shrimp, but these were not quite done. On the bright side she commented on how good the slaw was. I have been on a kick to try barbecue at restaurants that are not barbecue joints per se, to see if I can find some hidden gems. For example, both Sam & Omie's and Wanchese Marina serve a good barbecue sandwich. Black Pelican, at least on this day, does not. I must say, the serving was huge. This was more than enough for two meals for me. The barbecue was dry and not well flavored. The texture and flavor was more like dried out beef that has been over-roasted. This is not something I would order again here. All that being said, I am leaving the rating for Black Pelican as it is because we have always had good meals here. I accept that it can't be 100% perfect every time and sooner or later we will run into something that is less than stellar. We will continue to return. I just know this not where I will have barbecue and we are sure the shrimp thing was just a one timer.

    Originally the Kittyhawk life-saving station, at one point it was a Western Union station from…read morewhich the Wright Brothers sent their initial telegram of powered flight. This was one of the few places that when we called around, didn't have a crazy long wait time so we ended up going here for dinner. The risotto was really good! The flavors were excellent and the seafood tasty. The portions were decent and I can see why it's one of their best selling dishes. I would totally get this again. The woodfired pizza was good but nothing to rave about. I got the Aloha one with pineapples, chicken, scallions and a white sauce. We got the bruschetta as an appetizer and that was really good - it also came out pretty fast. The rest of the food took a while to come out. The service was also not very fast. I might recommend this place from an ambience and historical perspective and maybe the food, but definitely not the service.

    Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk - From the fishing pier (daytime)

    Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk

    (194 reviews)

    $$$

    We cannot say enough wonderful things about the Kitty Hawk Pier and the entire team who helped make…read moreour wedding absolutely perfect! First and foremost, the Kitty Hawk Pier made planning our wedding from a state away incredibly easy. Every single coordinator we worked with was friendly, accommodating, and genuinely invested in making our day special. Emma, especially, answered what was probably 2,839,028,392 emails from me and my million questions with patience, professionalism, and kindness every single time. From the very beginning, the entire team made us feel like our wedding was special and unique--not like they simply do this every weekend. The level of attention, care, and personal service they provided to make our wedding perfect was truly incredible and so appreciated. The food was AMAZING! We had several food allergies among our guests, including me--the bride--being allergic to gluten. The team went above and beyond to make sure everyone could eat safely while still enjoying an incredible meal. We had the mahi and beef, and our guests could not stop talking about how delicious everything was. We were also so impressed by how quickly and efficiently everyone was served. Every single employee we encountered was incredibly helpful, kind, and attentive. From the bartenders and servers to the managers, everyone went out of their way to make sure we and our guests had the best possible experience--and we truly did. Having the hotel right on site was an absolute dream. The hotel staff were incredibly accommodating, and our guests were very happy with their rooms, the restaurant, and the pool and beach access. The gym even had Peloton bikes! The entire setup made the weekend so convenient and enjoyable for everyone. I truly cannot stress enough what a dream venue this is for anyone who wants to get married at the beach. Being able to have all of our guests check in and be done traveling, have the most beautiful beach ceremony, and then immediately move inside to air conditioning while still enjoying the incredible views over the water was absolutely perfect. Having access to the pier for photos was also such a special bonus and gave us so many beautiful memories and pictures. The Kitty Hawk Pier truly gave us the beach wedding of our dreams. From the planning process to the food, staff, accommodations, location, and every little detail in between, everything was exceptional. We will be forever grateful to the entire team for helping us create the most perfect wedding weekend and would wholeheartedly recommend the Kitty Hawk Pier to anyone looking for a beautiful, stress-free, and truly unforgettable wedding venue!

    Overall, we had a good stay, but there were a few things that could be improved…read more The hotel looks a little outdated, but the highlight was definitely the view of the beach from the outdoor pool. It was beautiful and very relaxing. Both the indoor and outdoor pools were warm, which we really enjoyed. The only downside was that there were hardly any towels available at the outdoor pool. We booked the last available room for the day and were pleasantly surprised with complimentary breakfast vouchers. Unfortunately, after using the vouchers, I checked my account the next day and noticed I had still been charged for breakfast, which was disappointing. The room itself was comfortable. The pillows were soft, the blankets were warm, and we slept well. However, there was one large bug flying around the room, and I have no idea where it came from, which was definitely unpleasant. Overall, we enjoyed our stay because of the pools, beach view, and comfortable room, but a few issues--especially the breakfast charge and the bug in the room--kept it from being a perfect experience.

    Carolina Designs Realty & Vacation Rentals - vacation_rentals - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...