The internet is a great way to start to find a place to stay when in the Outer Banks.  When we got our first rental property, I was very leery of renting a place that cost almost $2,000 just from a picture and description.  When we got there, we were so incredibly surprised and pleased with everything.  It was everything we expected and more.  The house was clean, the view was incredible, the bookshelves were stocked, it had several large screen TV's, and there was even a bottle of champagne chilling for us in the fridge, courtesy of the rental company.  The first 2 years we used Carolina Designs Realty and got the same home on the sound side of the island.  Being such a narrow strip of land, this was still very close to the ocean side.  When we arrived, the beds were made, pillows and sheets were included, we were left with dish soap, paper towels, and some other basic essentials to get us started for our trip.  The only thing not included was the food we would eat for the week.

For our third and fourth year, we decided to rent a different house - each one closer to the beach.  We noticed that one rental company in particular had a very large inventory, so we got their catalogue.  That company was R&R Resort Realty.  To see the homes we got then, go to the Vacations page on this site.  This company really does have a tremendous selection of homes, so you should really check out their site or request a catalogue if this is your first trip.  Last Summer, they were bought by Resort Quest International, and I have no idea if or how this will impact their service.  They are a very large company with a great deal of inventory.

If you would like to stay in a full service establishment, you should try the Sanderling Inn, just north of Duck.  I don't think there are any other full service places, and this one is first class.

Usually several families rent a single home together because some of them are so big and just not practical to rent as a single family.  Below are some examples of these homes from Resort Quest.  Click on each image for a larger view.