The Half Shell, Oceanside Beach Cottage, 6 min walk to beach - Vacation rental home in Corolla, NC

About this Property

• Sleeps 6
• 3 Bedrooms
• 2 Bathrooms
• Cottage

Welcome to The Half Shell! We look forward to having you stay with us! This classic Corolla beach bungalow offers 3 bedrooms/2bathrooms. The home is located in Ocean Sands (Section L) on a peaceful cul-de-sac and is an painless 6-7 min. walk to the wide, flat, beaches of Corolla. The beach has lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Avoid the traffic with flexible check-in/check-out days and a 4-nighttime minimum stay during peak season!

Appreciate all that Corolla has to offer during your stay! The Half Shell is located 1 mile south of Monterey Plaza (Food Lion, Lighthouse Bagels, Philly Steak Subs, Agave Roja, Big Buck's Ice Cream, Whalehead Brewery) and Tim Buck II (Oceanside Farm Market, La Dolce Vita, Doppio). Harris Teeter and Duck Donuts are located 2 miles south. Historic Corolla and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse are located 4 miles to the north. Corolla's 4x4 beaches are 5 miles to the north. Corolla Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path is located at the entrance of the neighborhood.

The utility room (including washing machine and dryer) is underneath the home on the ground level. This space is not connected to the main living area of the home and is only accessible from the outside. There is a keypad on the door to the utility room; the code will be supplied on check-in.

An outdoor shower is located on the ground level adjacent to the utility room. Savor the convenience of the dispenser of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the outdoor shower! There are hooks in the outdoor shower for hanging up towels and clothes. There is a hose behind the outdoor shower for rinsing off your feet and beach gear when you return from the beach! There is also a clothes line for hanging your wet items.

From the ground level/carport area, there are stairs on both the front and back of the home. The front steps lead to a deck overlooking the cul-de-sac and front door which opens to the family room. The rear steps lead to a covered deck with seating (off of the great room) and a screened porch with picnic table (off of the kitchen). Cafe lights are available to plug in on both the covered deck and screened porch.

The first floor features a family room, dining area, breakfast bar, kitchen, bedroom with queen bed, and bathroom with a shower (with doors to the bedroom and family room).

The TV in the family room is equipped with a Chromecast and GoogleTV. GoogleTV will allow you to view live channels. Guests are able to login to their own account(s) for streaming services (i.e. YouTubeTV, Netflix, etc.) or stream directly from their phone, tablet, or computer.

The kitchen is equipped with standard appliances including a refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. It is entirely-supplied for preparing and eating meals at the home. We have a Bonavita coffee maker and electric burr grinder. We also have a single cup Keurig. Other appliances include a toaster and air fryer. There is a pantry cabinet for storing your groceries.

The second floor is open to the first floor with a family room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. There is a TV in the second floor family room that is only connected to a DVD player. This TV does not have live TV or a streaming device. The second floor family room is the ideal place for calming and opens to the rear deck.

The queen bedroom (on the west side of the home) opens to a private deck off the front of the home and a jack and jill bathroom. The twin bedroom (on the east side of the home) opens to a deck which spans the entire back of the home.

All of the bedrooms have memory foam beds. Bed linens will be supplied and beds will be made upon your arrival. Please note, bath and beach towels are NOT included and guests will need to bring their own. Please note, if you choose to use the upstairs family room sleeper couch, you must bring your own linens for that bed.

Dogs are welcome with a pet fee!

Similar to most beach accesses in Corolla, please note that there are multiple steps to cross over the high dunes to the beach.

Check-in time: 4:00PM
Check-out time: 10:00AM

Minimum age to rent: 25

min. number of guests: 6

No smoking or illegal drug use.

No events, events, or enormous gatherings.

RVs, campers, trailers, and golf carts are not allowed at this property.

Guests will be required to complete a separate owner's short term rental agreement.
We will send the rental agreement via e-mail. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to review the agreement prior to making your reservation.

We strongly encourage guests to purchase travel insurance.

There is always potential for hurricanes, strong storms, and flooding in a coastal area. A full refund will only be issued in the event of a mandatory state or local evacuation.

We partner with a local property manager in Corolla to handle any immediate concerns that might arise during your stay. However, we will be available by text, phone, or e-mail during your stay! Please reach out to us if you any questions about the property prior to booking! We look forward to having you stay!

We are continually updating the property (both inside and outside) and will update our photos accordingly.

**Please note that the old reviews (prior to 2024) for this property are for another property that we previously owned.**

About the Area

Located near the beach, this cottage is in Ocean Sands, a neighborhood in Corolla. Corolla Adventure Golf and Bumper Cars and The Sanderling Spa are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Corolla Raceway and Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Nor'Banks Sailing and Digger's Dungeon - Home of Grave Digger are also worth visiting.

Special Instructions

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Pet Policy

1 total pets

Tips to get the perfect Corolla vacation home experience:

Getting the most from your spending budget:

• In the Currituck area, The earlier you can reserve a vacation home, the better your selection will be. The most desirable properties are booked early. Reserving your rental up to 12 months before your travel dates is recommended. Winter holidays are excellent times to plan and book your rental property.
• To find the largest rental home for your budget, we highly recommend booking in Fall or Spring. You'll enjoy lower rates, better selection, warm weather and the absence of giant crowds at your favorite restaurants and activities. Speaking of the off-season, don't overlook Winter holidays for a Currituck vacation! Who wouldn't love a holiday vacation on the coast? Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years Eve are great times to gather with family and friends at the beach.
• Veterans and Active Duty Military members may be qualified for special discounts. Be sure to ask your prospective property manager or host if your vacationing group qualifies for a reduced rate.
• Booking websites typically offer renters an option to add trip insurance. Trip insurance, which costs between 1% - 5% of the reservation price, offers visitors reimbursement of their vacation costs for missed time as a result of medical-related catastrophes or weather disasters, as well as ensuing additional hurricane evacuation costs, such as an unexpected hotel overnight or additional gas expenses. Trip insurance can be a a welcome relief if the unforeseen happens. Ask the property owner for more information.
• Many rental management companies and vacation rental houses supply Currituck area travel guide magazines which will include coupons, either offered independently by local businesses, or by way of a partnership between the property management company and the business itself. You can also find Currituck visitors guide magazine and coupon books at local grocery stores, shopping centers, and visitor centers.

Use filters to search efficiently:

• To start, have your family choose the best dates and a max budget.
• Decide how many beds and what type of bedroom configuration your family requires. The Half Shell, Oceanside Beach Cottage, 6 min walk to beach has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
• Precise information about bedrooms and bed counts is generally accessible on booking websites. Otherwise, call the property manager before reserving the home. Note that most listings specify the maximum guest capacity, which oftentimes includes pull out couches in living rooms. You'll need to work out what configuration is right for your group.
• Some rental properties allow pets, and others don't. Acceptable types of pet, weight and breeds may be restricted, and added fees may apply. Ask the owner about your furry family members before booking.
• Is your family looking for special amenities? Most rental websites include amenity lists and search filters.
• Appropriate accessibility can make or break a vacation for the less-mobile. Confirm all necessary amenities are available before reserving a rental

Know before you go:

• Review arrival and departure procedures before leaving home. Take a printed copy, and save the instructions to your phone.
• Ask questions. You may need instructions for a hot tub, stereo or appliance. Contact your property manager. They are there to help! A brief phone call can prevent a lot of difficulties.
• Lock your vacation home while you're out. Protect the owner's property and your stuff!
• Make a record of any damages to the property at check in, and immediately e-mail them to the owner. We especially recommend texts and e-mails, as they usually contain time stamps that are valuable if damages are assessed.
• Be a good neighbor! You wouldn't like disrespectful vacationers disrupting your peace and quiet. Use the golden rule for best judgement. If they like you, locals might even recommend great local food and attractions you would've never otherwise known!
• Speaking of neighbors... Ask a local! Local residents can usually help. Who better to ask where to spend a rainy day, have a great night on the town, or the best spots for fishing?
• Don't leave anything behind! Just before departing, take a walk through the rental property to make sure you've collected everything. Re-check dressers, closets, and bathrooms for hidden items. Clean the refrigerator and take or dispose of leftovers.
• Inspect the property a final time and keep an eye out for damage. We advise inspecting the property with the property manager whenever you can (often this isn't possible). If the host isn't available, remember to take photos and video of the property to record its condition at check-out.
• After your trip, leave a review! Property managers rely on excellent feedback to inspire new bookings. They'll be thankful for your feedback. Alternatively, if something went awry, other vacationers will will be grateful for your review and help them have the best future vacation. Be fair with your review. If something fell short of expectations, consider whether the owner could control the issue, and if so, whether they responded quickly to remedy it.