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Old Sep 10th, 2012, 03:58 PM
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Family beach vacation where?

We would like to find a great place for a large family (12) beach vacation in North or South Carolina. Probably a home on the beach. Any suggestions. The plan is for Sept. 2013.
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Old Sep 10th, 2012, 04:30 PM
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www.sunrealtync.com

www.outerbeaches.com

www.carolinadesigns.com

the latter specializes in larger properties on the Outer Banks
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Old Sep 10th, 2012, 04:58 PM
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In South Carolina check out the following:

Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms
Fripp Island
Kiawah Island
Hilton Head Island


All have plenty of large beachfront homes available for rent.
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Old Sep 10th, 2012, 07:31 PM
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My family held a summer reunion (>30 people, 3 generations, 3 big houses) in Sunset Beach, NC. It worked out really well, keeping all of us happy: the swimmers, the birders, the golfers, the relaxers, the shoppers (I think they went to Myrtle Beach). Some of my family has gone there many times.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 06:25 AM
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Outer Banks VRBO.com
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 07:29 AM
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Isle of Palms in South Carolina. It is amazing! And you are close to Charleston, another amazing place to visit.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 07:40 AM
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Thanks everyone, I probably should have mentioned the 5 children's ages are under 4 years old.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 09:43 AM
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You're talking about hundreds of miles of coastline and beach towns that can be diverse.

I am partial to the beaches near Charleston, since you have proximty to the beautiful city, and the Outer Banks. They are 2 very different places.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 11:06 AM
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I agree - we need more info on what kind of beach vacation you're looking for and from where you're all coming.

But with kids that age, I prefer the flatter, wider beaches with calmer surf of the southern S.C. coast (Isle of Palms, Hilton Head). The N.C. beaches tend to be shelly-er, with rougher surf and often steeper drop offs into the water. But if everyone's driving from the north, I'd certainly give the Outer Banks a close look to save a lot of drive time.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 11:16 AM
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It'd also be helpful to know if you have budget constraints. Some beaches are more expensive than others.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 12:03 PM
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For the ages of your children, Kure Beach (NC) cannot be beat. Uncrowded, with wide flat beaches and calm surf. Lovely!! Our kids run themselves ragged up and down the coast. Best bet for lodging? VRBO.com.
Kure is a hidden gem (sshhhhhh!) ~
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 12:24 PM
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This year at Thanksgiving our family is meeting at Hilton Head.We have rented a house-we have ten family members-seven adults, three children(8, 4, 18 months)My husband and I have gone to Hilton Head for the past five or six years and just love it there and now want to share it with our sons and their families. We love riding bikes and walking on the beach. There are many restaurants to try and you can find other activities(golf, dolphin cruises, shopping, etc). There are many houses and condos(all sizes and locations)available.
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 01:09 PM
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I have EXACTLY the house you need at Ocean Isle Beach, but I can't find it in my favorites. Here is Cooke REalty. It is ocean front, has 3 stories--I think 5 bed rooms or maybe 6 BR and baths. It has a great gazebo out front. The living room/dining room kitchen area is open and able to handle the crowd. It was reasonable for the size and oceanfront.
I agree with brian that the beach has been renourished and is not very smooth at OIB, but this house is WONderful.
http://www.cookerealty.com/
I am sure they can tell you which it is. It is VERY popular
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Old Sep 11th, 2012, 01:17 PM
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I found it, and it is Sloane Realty, although Cooke also has some LARGE houses for rent.
http://www.sloanevacations.com/Ocean...trPropId=166E1
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Old Sep 14th, 2012, 03:56 AM
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More details - We are not wealthy!! So a moderate budget is what we have. We would like a fairly quiet beach but still be near to attractions, entertainment, etc. We would like a comfortable house that is little kid friendly. White wicker and glass top tables not so much!! Thanks for all the info so far!
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Old Sep 14th, 2012, 04:59 AM
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I just quickly went to vrbo.com and put in Rodanthe/Hatteras and pulled this up for an example for what you can get. Sept is the off season so prices are better. http://www.vrbo.com/15314
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Old Sep 14th, 2012, 06:16 AM
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Gerbax - it's always helpful if you can give us an actual dollar amount for your "rental" budget rather than use terms like "moderate budget" as we don't know what you actually mean. What is "moderate" for you may or may not be "moderate" for others. So give us a range of what you'd like to spend an the contributors here will try to steer you in the right direction.

Now, most beach community rentals are going to be fairly family friendly, after all a large percentage of the renters are families. As for costs, it's my experience you can find rentals in just about all budget ranges as long as your budget and expectations are realistic. Obviously, the larger the house the more people it will accommodate and the the more it will cost. New house cost more than older houses. So too is location - a beachfront house will rent for more than that same house would if it were non-beachfront. you can save money by looking at "beach access" houses (i.e. those that are one or two "lots" away from the beach) and even more money renting a house that is a few blocks or even a short drive from the beach. FYI - over the years we've rented beachfront, beach access and (for lack of a better term) "drive-to-beach" homes and I can tell you there wasn't a significant difference in the level of "vacation enjoyment" we had at either place - all were great experiences.

Last hint: Since you can usually find rentals in various price ranges no matter where you go I'd suggest you first pick the general area you want to visit (you've received a lot of great suggestions already) and then contact a rental broker in that area and/or do a google search using such topics as "Vacation Rentals, NAME OF AREA" and you'll find links to many rental properties in that area. You can then narrow down your choices to those rental homes in your budget range.

Good luck.
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Old Sep 14th, 2012, 06:22 AM
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As stated above, what IS your budget. For oceanfront you will pay more. For a large house, also more. What do you want to pay. AND when are you going. Summer is of course, high season. The last two weeks of August can sometimes be cheaper because of school starting many places.
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Old Sep 14th, 2012, 06:23 AM
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Sorry, see it is September. That will be more budget friendly.
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Old Sep 16th, 2012, 05:34 AM
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OH, but it is also hurricane season. Buy insurance.
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