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Reviews of Wateroak shaded home with screened porch one direct block from beach

Wateroak shaded home with screened porch one direct block from beach
Oak Island, NC

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 44 out of 81 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 81 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 81 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 81 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 81 reviews" "

7.8/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Amenities

5.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ben K., RALEIGH

Liked: Cleanliness
Cute log cabin design. Walking distance to pier, beach, and brewery
Super cute spot, very close to beach. Less than 1 mile walk from oak islan fishing pier and solar brewing. Attentive hosts.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jun 2023
Thank you Benjamin. We are so glad you enjoyed it. Come back anytime!

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice, quiet little cabin
Nice cabin for a quiet getaway to the beach
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Raymond C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Would stay again
Great vacation spot. Short walk to the beach. Close to all the stuff on the island. Great back yard and porch.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just what we were looking for
Perfect for a father/son fishing tournament weekend
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place but loud
This place is so close to the beach! It’s great for a girls trip. Two things one which the owner cannot help is the guy that lives next to this place has a projector screen and watches movies or music until 3:30 a.m. that is blaring!! If you had small kids it would be very hard for them to sleep. Secondly, it’s dog friendly, but no pets are allowed on furniture in case you have dogs that are not crate trained or used to being on furniture. Also when we first got there it smelled like muggy dogs! But overall it is cute close to the beach and one we opened it up the smell improved! We would go back esp if the neighbor was not there!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maya E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Long weekend
We got hit with a tropical storm but enjoyed relaxing in the house & going to nearby restaurants. When the sun came out, it was a short walk to the beach & it was fantastic. The neighborhood is quiet, friendly, and great for running & walking the dog.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Casper T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great staycation
I needed to get out of my house for a couple of days to get a new roof and this little place was ideal. Enjoyed the shaded lot, the easy access to the beach and the beautiful sunsets. Great little house❤️
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joshua K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing and affordable beach stay
The property was perfect for our quick, Labor Day weekend beach stay. The house is a 5 minute walk to the beach. We were able to relax and enjoy a restful weekend away. We love Oak Island for the beach!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angelina S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beachy Vacation
Overall stay was great! Very clean and loved the yard for the dogs with outside hose to wash off from a day at the beach. The A/C had a little bit of a hard time cooling on the hot day, but overall experience was 5/5 stars.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just Beachy
Great location, clean home, and an overall wonderful vacation.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Week vaca
Prompt response from owner with questions about tv. Loved the cozy cabin and enclosed porch. Short walk to beach. Would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect!
Everything was was absolutely perfect! Great location and lovely home. Love the log cabin, it’s like a mountain home but at the beach! They refer to it as quaint but it was very roomy for the five of us! Would definitely stay again and recommend to others!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

june b. w.

Liked: Cleanliness
memorial day
house was clean except previous renters had left a load of dishes in the dishwasher neighbors were very noisy
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2023
Sorry that the cleaners did not remove these dishes for you.As of 6/17 we are no longer using Coastal Vacation Resorts as our property management company. We've just had too many complaints about cleaning and they do not let us know about any repairs needs and we hear it from our guests which is not the way it should be. We now have a new on island manager "Amy" that is helping us give a much better experience to our Beach Cabin Guests. We hope you return. As far as the Neighbors being loud, I'm very sorry. I'm guessing because of the Memorial Day weekend that property might have been a bit rowdy.

10/10 Excellent

J Diane C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good location
Property could use a few improvements (flooring was coming up in a couple places creating a tripping hazard), and the bathroom doors could use locks for privacy. On the plus side, the home was roomy, even with our group of 7, and was adequately stocked with cooking supplies, and games/reading materials. The fenced backyard was great for the children. Overall, it is a very nice vacation rental.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Jessica S., Willow Spring, NC

Liked: Cleanliness
Girls weekend
Check in process was a little crazy as I never received an email with the information from the property management company. I contacted the number for the owners listed and she responded almost immediately by text with information. The house is in a great location and is as listed on the listing. It could use some updating/repairs and a good cleaning but overall everything was good. I would stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2023
Hi Jessica, so as of 6/17 we are no longer using Coastal Vacation Resorts as our property management company. We've just had too many complaints about cleaning and they do not let us know about any repairs needs and we hear it from our guests - which is not the way it should be. We now have a new on island manager "Amy" that is helping us give a much better experience to our Beach Cabin Guests. We hope you return.

4/10 Poor

Christopher

Travelled with family
This property had the absolute worst furniture in the living room!!! No one could sit on it without feeling like their backs were breaking! The cabin itself was nice but that furniture truly ruined what would have been a decent experience. It was fairly close to the beach easy to walk to if you can figure out when to cross one of the busiest roads I’ve ever seen. Also when we arrived there was no toilet paper they said we had to buy our own! First time I’ve ever seen that. we won’t be back. Unless the seating in the living area is changed. Im not kidding it was truly awful. Also the two bathrooms had no privacy as they had no locking doors and the doors weren’t even doors at all. They were louvered closet doors. This property has a lot of issues that need to be addressed.

4/10 Poor

Mindi

Travelled with family, Travelled with pets
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This place needs a good spring cleaning! It’s was filthy. Needs updating on furniture, needs some repairs…
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan M., Raleigh, NC

Liked: Cleanliness
A cabin at the beach!
The property was exactly as described. The fenced on yard for dogs and sitting around the fire pit was just what we needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2023
Glad you enjoyed it Susan. We hope in the future with our new manager that things will be even better.

10/10 Excellent

Brigid V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for Us
We came to OakIsland fro a family wedding." Everything is Just Beachy" was prefect for our needs. It was comfortable and spacious. Myself and my adult children stayed there and we were able to entertain other family members who where also in town for the wedding.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2023
Thank you for staying with us previously. We have new management now and hope you will come stay with us again.

8/10 Good

Elizabeth G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Vacation
A nice house for a family vacation with 4 adults and no children. The house could use some "tender loving care " from the owners. Housekeeping could be better with washing bed spreads in each bedroom and cobwebs. Beautiful home,had a wonderful time. Neighborhood quiet and peaceful and relaxing. Easy to rent. Coastal Vacation Resorts provided me with all information I needed thru email and check- in packet. Thank you for a wonderful vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful!
The house and location were perfect for 2 families which included 4 small kids. The rooms were spacious and the bunk room was perfect for the toddlers. The screened in porch was ideal to play outside without the burden of mosquitos (there were lots!), it also stayed cool on the hot days because of the shade from the trees. We would definitely recommend if you have small kids, we would stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2023
Thank you for staying with us previously. We are under new management and we hope you come back and stay with us again. And we hope your kids enjoyed the full chalkboard wall!

8/10 Good

Jeffrey P., Harrisburg

Liked: Cleanliness
2022 Beach stay
Property is as advertised. We enjoyed our stay. Busy highway to cross to get to the beach if you have a pet or small kids.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

2/10 Terrible

Tanya F.

Disliked: Cleanliness
A little too late
The amount of neglect going on to this house is disgusting. The rental agency doesn't care, reached out to the owners to inform them and share pictures requested. No response. Black mold growing, roof leaking, broken furniture everywhere, no where to store food in the kitchen, fire ants everywhere in the backyard, terribly uncomfortable as far as mattresses go and couches. Just the bare minimum done here. The cleanliness is at the lowest standards. It's a shame they are still allowing people to book there. We left early after a week of rain and roof leaking in multiple places. Gave the owner/the rental company a list of repairs and gave the time to get it done before the next rental. Doubtful they will follow through on it. Such potential, cute house, decent location. I felt so bad for using our savings to book a place in this condition. The photos are so deceiving. They should not be allowing people to book with the current conditions. Get your money back before it's too late. It's not worth it, unless you can look past everything.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

2/10 Terrible

Karl S.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Shameful
The property was totally run down. The window seals broken so windows are opaque and rusted shut. The fridge was filthy inside, cockroaches all over the place. Broken furniture. The rinse of station was a garden hose. I called the company and they said they would send an exterminator and a maintenance man. My first vacation in 10 years. I left the next day. Of course they say no refund for any reason so I have to wonder about Coastal Rentals as well. When I booked in January there weren't bad reviews, but these last two months there is nothing but complaints. Shame on all of you.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shana W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything's Just Beachy!!!
This house was perfect for our family vacation! The only suggestions I would make is to get some better pots, pans & knives. Also, would have been nice to have a shower liner in the bathroom between the two rooms. Everything else was perfect! The distance to the beach was not far. Within walking distance! Sitting on the screened in porch every morning drinking coffee was so relaxing! Thank you so much for allowing us to stay in your home!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jimmie S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Jimmie's thoughts
Beautiful and nice
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dominique J.

Liked: Cleanliness
beach vacay
Enjoyed this home away from home. Located within walking distance to the beach, shaded from the sun under a canopy of beautiful oaks, with many zones for hanging out: back yard firepit, hammock in the shade, screened in side porch. Easy check in/check out. Would stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

4/10 Poor

Tammy K.

Disliked: Cleanliness
The property needs major attention
Thick cobwebs in every corner, light bulbs out, bathroom faucet handle broken, remote for tv didn't work, front of refrigerator full of rust (looked like something out of someone's garage) stove very outdated, lattice falling off under porch, garbage under there, floor rotted out under sink. Pots and pans were disgusting including the cabinet they were in, screens falling off screen porch. We were there for an 80th birthday party for our mom, otherwise we would have demanded our money back. Very disappointed.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 May 2022
Thanks Tammy for the review. We have spoken to cleaning agency and have addressed issues. And we brought in someone outside of the agency to clean around outside of house and check back on cleaning agencies cleaning. We have ordered new gas stove and have replaced grill with a gas grill. Floor has been replaced under sink and the lattice outside has been fixed. We got rid of all the old pots and pans and utensils and have new ones in the home. Sink to be replaced this week. We are not on the island and work hard to make our home comfortable for our guests. We will be redoing entire kitchen this fall.

2/10 Terrible

phyllis m.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Neglected inside and out.
I am not accustomed to writing bad reviews but this rental needs a lot of deep cleaning and maintenance. Pots and pans should be thrown out. The floor under the kitchen sink is rotten. The screen porch is filthy and the screen is ripped. There is no landscaping. Yard is covered with live oak leaves. The outside grill is unusable. The windows were so dirty we thought it was foggy out. Couldn’t open windows to listen to the ocean at night. Blinds are yellow with age and dirty. Cobwebs throughout the house. Beds are uncomfortable. Location was good. Easy for beach and restaurants. The fenced in backyard was great for the dog. I expected more for the price i paid here being I have rented thru vrbo, air b&b, hearts of Maine and home away from home.
Stayed 11 nights in Apr 2022

4/10 Poor

Stacy F., Raleigh, NC

Disliked: Cleanliness
Cobwebs and nails
We checked in on the Thursday before Good Friday, so I didn't expect much communication from the property management, and I was right. I had to pick the key up from their office, which is fine because it is only a few blocks from the house and they do email you a note of this when you book the rental. In my case, it was several months in advance, which is a bit of an inconvenience because I had to search for the checklist of things they do not provide. Which is most everything. They will give you towels and bed sheets, I emailed before my stay asking for more. When we walked in the house, there was trash in the wood burning fireplace. Every corner of the house had cobwebs, especially the bedrooms. The kitchen sink blinds had grime build up and webs on them. The listing noted a rinse off station outside when I booked, from the reviews before this I saw that just meant a garden hose. But, there was no way to turn that hose on. I sent a message to the person I had been in contact with from the property management Thursday night and never received a response, again it was the holiday so I kind of expected that. The next morning, while sitting on the porch swing the screen under the porch deck just fell off the house. There looked to be a bug bomb under the house, which explained the dead bugs I found in mixing bowls under the counter. I get vacation houses because I enjoy cooking, if you're into that I definitely recommend bringing your own pans, these were old and not well taken care of. The fridge and oven were rusty but still worked. The bathroom off of the living room had no shower liner, only the curtain, so luckily because I previously asked for extra towels, we had enough to lay on the floor because water ran everywhere and the other bathroom had dips in the ceiling. Overall, this house needs a lot of TLC and bug control. My dog ended up chasing a cockroach under the fridge on the last night we were there. I left very unsatisfied. For the good in this place, I can say this house was located one block from the beach and in a good location for walking, the pictures were mostly accurate for the appearance of the home and the backyard was fenced in. The front porch is a nice touch and there was a hammock out front that my kids loved. I reached out to the owner once via VRBO about wifi and got an immediate response.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tammy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family time
We enjoyed our weekend. The house met our needs and was very cozy. Fenced yard a life saver for the pup.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

4/10 Poor

Connie S.

Dog friendly, but…
This qualifies as a dog friendly environment. House to the right parked one third of car in our driveway. Driveway has lots of roots . Finally neighbor agreed to park elsewhere though incident was stressful. Access code was not immediately available. Had to drive to reality company. Positive note: heard owl while in backyard, dogs loved it.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shannon E., Harrisburg

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect beach escape!
Loved the fenced in yard. Perfect walk to the beach. Just what we needed. We will be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

6/10 Okay

Beth L.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Necessities not included
The beds were extremely uncomfortable, not an easy check in as we had to go to the property management group ourselves to get the key, key doesn’t work easily, the place had cobwebs all over, attention to detail was not good. One roll of toilet paper, no soap. The location is amazing, the house could just be so much better with a few simple touches and new beds.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kimberley C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect little getaway
My family and our two dogs very much enjoyed our little getaway at this charming cabin at the beach!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Jule G., Usa

Cozy log house
Older small house perfect for a weekend at the beach. Nothing fancy but very cozy. Short walk across a busy street to the beach. The dishwasher, coffeemaker, toaster and microwave are new. The fridge and stove are old and could updated but still work. The house could use a deep cleaning. We cleaned layers of dirt from the fans and lights. There was lots of dirt under furniture. Several light bulbs were out. The internet works well. We had a good week there.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Patricia B., Franklinville, North Carolina

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice getaway
I really loved this house. I’ve rented several places but this house is the best I’ve ever rented. It was so clean and roomy had all accessories one may need for a little vacation. Absolutely loved the fenced in back yard and grilling area and the screened porch was really nice also with plenty of seating. The fact it didn’t face the street was well ok with me I llike a little privacy. I will be renting this unit again in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Deby E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Log Cabin at the Beach
This is a nice place , could use a good driveway though. Had a few lights out , but no big deal .
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

4/10 Poor

Leisa P.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Disappointed
This property was not as described. The interior of the house is dark especially in the kitchen area. There were several lights burned out inside including in both of the bathrooms. The refrigerator and oven, while clean enough on the inside, looked very old and dirty on the outside. Both of the tops of the couches at the back cushions were covered in pet hair. And we had numerous encounters with roaches. In the description it is stated there is an "outdoor rinse off" which to us meant some kind of outdoor shower situation but this was just a garden hose. Finally, I attempted to contact the host of the property twice and never received a reply. Apparently, the property is managed by Coastal Vacation Rentals but I had booked through Vrbo and who managed the property was not made clear in the listing. Upon our arrival to pick up the keys at CVR, they were not ready and the office worker said the property had to be "flipped" which was the cause of the delay. Then on the morning before our check out date, I received a call from CVR saying we needed to vacate the premises immediately. After several phone calls to them, I was finally able to speak with Amy at CVR who told me she had other people checking in that afternoon even though I had proof that I had booked the place for 5 nights. To which she responded she would have to check with the owner and hung up on me. I did not receive a call back. Needless to say this was upsetting.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Jacqueline W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Oven not usable first few nights
Couldn't cook til Monday. No gas. We didn't know there was a pilot light.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Julie N., Racine, Wisconsin

Love the location
This is our 3rd summer visiting Oak Island and our 3rd different rental. I want to start by saying we LOVED the location. My husband and I were joined by adult daughter and boyfriend and this is a pet friendly property. Our only suggestions would be - this property really could use an updated refrigerator, stove & microwave. There's a new dishwasher, washer and dryer that are very nice. The only other suggestion and I had read it previously is this property really needs a deep cleaning. Other than that we loved the house, location and it was well stocked with kitchen utensils, pots & pans. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

4/10 Poor

Angela N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Not as nice as advertised
My intent is write a negative review, but more like one person’s honest opinion. The place was nice enough, clean, but nothing really nice. The fenced back yard was great for the dog, although the grass was in need of a cut upon arrival. We like to cook and the oven/stove is sub-standard. Does it work? Yes. Does it work well? No. In spite of these inconveniences, we still had a nice time. Getting to the beach was not as advertised. It is a short walk (.35 mile) but we had to cross a very busy highway to get there. It was dangerous. I had my elderly mother on this trip and were it not for the golf cart I rented, she would have had to drive and park to get to the beach. Even with the cart, it was not the easy access advertised. The beach is beautiful and wide so we made the best of it. To summarize, I would not stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ashley W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family time
Great pet friendly home. Nice fenced back yard. Great water pressure and hot water! Kitchen was stocked nicely. Linens come from outside service and were clean as well. I do wish the beds were made ahead and that we didn’t have to do that on check in. My kids loved the chalk wall. We were able to walk a few blocks down right to a public beach access.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome weekend! Really enjoyed the neighbors.
Would definitely do it again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephen S.

Liked: Cleanliness
A cabin near the ocean. Quaint.
Easy rental process. Cool little place to visit gives it an “old time” feel.

8/10 Good

Josh B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stay
Pleased
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Matthew H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just a block from the beach
This was perfect for us! We brought our dogs and 8 people, and it was great to have a fence for the pups. My kids were on Spring Break and I was working. So being a block from the beach was perfect for allowing my kids to play, and also for my daily walks during my breaks. Plenty of nearby grocery stores, too.
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Krystle T., Staley Nc

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family vacation home
Very convenient location with short walk to the beach. Our fur baby loved the fenced in back yard. Definitely rebooking this house in the future
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Campbell B., Lancaster, SC

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend Getaway
Enjoyed our stay in Oak Island! Lovely cottage, great location! Short walk to the beach. Thank you for being pet friendly also!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

JAMIE L.

Nice location
Plenty of room for my family. Few cobwebs in house that needed to be taken care of. Overall, nice place!