Frequently Asked Questions and Updated Weather Cancellation Policy

Will you carry my bags up the stairs? Unfortunately, we do not have luggage concierge service! 

If you are coming to stay with us or planning to again.... please remember that unfortunately, we don't have a luggage service to carry your bags for you. You do have resources that are well known and reliable to help you with your bags up the stairs...many of our guests use the Bell Hop Service on the island. They are reliable and affordable. Just google or search on Facebook for "Topsail Island Bell Hop Service" and they will meet you at check in and check out to carry your bags for you. Please remember to think ahead for any luggage carrying needs when you book.

Are your rooms oceanfront? Yes, you cannot get more oceanfront than us...unless you are in it.!!

All rooms are oceanfront (except the two apartments) as in, if you jump off your balcony (not allowed), you will basically land on sand and roll into the ocean. Call for specific details. You have a 180-degree uncompromised view from your balcony. with the EXCEPTION ONLY of the North and South Apartments

What is your cancellation policy? 7 days prior to arrival

When your reservation is for a holiday week or weekend you will be responsible for ALL room charges unless you cancel. There is a 7-day cancellation period (before midnight) for all dates. If cancelled properly a full deposit refund is immediately issued (if you in fact paid one when making your reservation). Cancellations can be made via PHONE ONLY. Email cancellations will not be responded to. Your will lose your deposit ONLY if you cancel last minute.

What happens if I disagree with your cancellation policy and will threaten a chargeback if I try to cancel and you still charge me and I do no think it is fair?

Please do not book a reservation if you do not agree with our cancellation policy.

Do I have to agree to your terms and conditions to book a room with you?

Yes, this is a private business with rules in place for safety and common sense. Every rule has been made because a situation has occurred where it has impacted other guests or the business negatively. All of our rules are fair and "industry common". Everyone should be able to enjoy the beach in peace.

What are your check in/out times? 330pm/10am

Check in is after 3.30 PM and check out is 10:00 AM. Call 910.328.2171 to make arrangements for a late arrival (after 7pm) We DO NOT make allowances for early check-ins or late checkouts....ever (We just don't have the staffing and everything always depends on that)

Is there a minimum night stay? Not Always:

Designated holidays require a minimum 3-night stay. Fridays and Saturdays are always a 2 night minimum stay. Otherwise we happily accept overnight 1 night reservations: Call before booking if you have additional questions 910-328-2171.

Are you staffed 24/7? No! We do not have overnight concierge or front desk hours

Our office is staffed 830am-730pm. We have no overnight staffing for any need. Lost keys, TV remote concerns ALL have to wait until the following morning at 830am. We have an emergency number available after hours for emergencies ONLY however it is not a 24-hour number (as we sleep too). Otherwise, 911 should be called for personal emergencies.

Do you provide ice via an Ice Machine?

No, Communal Ice machines are a little like a public water fountain. Just an invention that should never have been made and generally are just nasty.

Bags of Ice are available from the office for $2.00 per bag.

Do you supply coffee? What kind of coffee machines do you have? Do you have a Keurig style?

We have REGULAR 5 cup drip coffee makers in ALL rooms that take basket filters (NOT CONES). We supply TWO coffee packs that will make either TWO half pots of coffee or ONE Full pot of coffee. Additional coffee is available for purchase at the office for .50 cents per pack, 5 for $2.50 or 10 for $5

If you want to be absolutely guaranteed that it is coffee you love then we suggest you bring a Ziploc bag of your own from home, the same way you would do if you were going to visit a friend that you are not really sure if they like you or you like them enough to risk your morning caffeine on.

Do you have Wi-Fi and Cable? And can I get a refund if there is an interruption to these free services?

Yes, we have them. And No, we do not give a refund for free things.

Do you allow pets?.......that is a huge yes..! for dogs!

DOGS ONLY. NO CATS! 32 of our 34 units are DOG FRIENDLY. Dogs must be over a year old and under 100 pounds. Up to two (2) dogs are allowed per room and there is a $50 fee per dog for the stay. Dogs must be leashed. Aggressive dogs will be asked to leave immediately (not the dog, but the owners :). Liability for Dog behavior falls on dog owners. Damage to rooms from pets will be a nonnegotiable $250.00 flat charge. We require all pet owners to pick up after their pets. Dog owners that do not pick up after their pet will be asked to leave immediately.

Do you provide Dog Poop bags?

Yes, after you  have filled them up with your dog poo, please remember to put them in a trash can, or better yet in the middle of July, right in the dumpster.

Do you offer any discounts? Active Military and Senior over 65 as well as an Extended stay for stays over 7 days.

We offer discounts for seniors over age 65 and active military members. We also offer an extended stay discount for seven (7) days or longer. Only ONE discount per room is applied to the ROOM Registrant only. No multi discounts.

Do you have any adjoining rooms? 

Adjoining rooms on the 2nd floor:

• 201/202
• 203/204
• 205/206
• 207/208
• 301/302
• 303/304
• 305/306
• 307/308

What if I smoke in a non-smoking room or damage a room? We are a NON-smoking in the building and balconies motel!

These are privately owned rooms. Smoking ANYTHING, Cigars, Ecigs, "Anything else" in NON smoking rooms (including opening windows and smoking out through them) and damage to rooms results in $250.00 flat fee which is automatic and non-negotiable. Guests who cause intentional damage will not be allowed back on property.

Is there a sheltered location on the property to be able to smoke under cover or in the shade.

No.

What if I lose my key? Please don't :-)

Please look after your key! There is NO-ONE available after 8pm to let you back into your room until the am. DO NOT lose your key. Lost keys are charged $30 per (we are on an island, a ways away from the nearest hardware store) We are just a small place with no overnight concierge service. 

Do you have plastic cups available in the rooms? We have glass cups and glasses to be eco friendly!

No we do not. A staple of four coffee mugs and four glasses is standard in the rooms, however additional items you may prefer at home, you should bring with you. Save a Turtle....use a mug! Save a Turtle and use a glass!

What if I leave belongings after my stay Lost and Found

Up until last year we have always just placed items in the mail and returned them at no charge. Unfortunately, in our changing temperament of a world, we now use the following procedure for Lost and Found and do not make exceptions. You will be charged for shipping items.

We will gladly mail your "Lost and Found" items that you have left behind, however postage, tracking, signature required, and insurance are required at your expense before we mail any items. Unfortunately, all of this is not an option. Otherwise, items can be picked up in person for 30 days. After that time, all Lost and Found Items will be disposed of.

We are not liable for items that you have left behind in any way. Please use common sense when bringing valuables.

If the weather is bad OR if my plans change, can I get a refund AFTER I have checked in.

No. If you decide to leave early for whatever the reason you will not receive a refund. We have reserved the room for you for your entire stay and often are unable to rent last minute one-night stays because of your change of plans. We also have no control of the weather and are fond of saying.... a "rainy day at the beach is always better than a dry day at home."

Do you provide beach towels?

NO. Our linens are intended for your room and get quickly ruined by the sand and suntan lotions used on the beach. These towels are unusable and most times even our commercial laundry services returns them to us stained and then they are discarded which is not good for anyone. Please plan ahead and bring your own beach towels.

Reservation holders are charged for linens that are used on the beach intentionally and as a result are ruined.

Does the Town or the Motel supplement the seashells on the beach daily for visitors?

Possible Answers to this real life question:

Possible Answer #1)

Yes, every day before sunrise myself and my dedicated team of Beach Artisans take buckets of handcrafted organic sea shells and throw them into the surf so you can collect them and take them home

Possible Answer #2)

No.

How many guests can I bring for free? What happens if we are bringing the whole family, my friends, my husband's friends and tennis partners and some chap that I met on the plane named Bernard? My dog, my neighbor's dog and a third random child (with a dog) we are really not sure about? Can they all stay for the same price just as in "Weekend at Bernie's"?

NO. Room rates are based on two guests over the age of 5 (we all use the same number of towels) so additional guests have a fee. Double Occupancy is how a lot of Motels around the world base room rates and it is really industry standard, it is due to linen cost and facility usage. It's the same principle as an all you can eat buffet. Saying you have two kids and they are 6'4 and both 19 means the reservation should be made for 4 adults.

# of Guests and Towels and Prices.....Do you provide Towels?

Yes of course we do, our pricing is based on two adults per room. YOUR ROOM is only set up for the amount of people you tell us are coming. HOWEVER, if you put down only 1 person on your reservation, and 825 people, 9 dogs and a Giraffe show up and you cram them all in the room.... that's going to cost more money. And we ask you are honest about how many people are coming, we are honest about how many beds are in the room after all. We understand everyone wants to get the cheapest rate, but this is becoming such an issue that it is time for us to add this question to our policies even though it is common sense. We have to send every piece of Linen to Wilmington to get laundered since our water supply on the island cannot handle commercial laundry. HOARDING towels is just not cool unless it is for a UN Aid station, and we are not quite sure why folks have started doing it. It wastes resources, kills turtles, causes famines and fires, mass hysteria and takes service away from others as well as unnecessarily increasing prices. Hoarding towels CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING, acid rain and solar flares! (it does) If there are more than two people in a room, the prices for the rooms are different and there is an added charge per night. (it really isn't very much at all, just enough to offset linen laundering which costs us about $1.25 per # of linen weight) ....it adds up. Almost every day, upon checkout we discover at least one room hoarded towels, the guests have never even used them but tossed them in a pile with dirty towels (we can tell because they are still folded up.... sigh). Please just hang your towel up and use it more than once. It saves Turtles and Hamsters. 

When I check in, what do I do if there is damage or something wrong in my room? Just call the office as soon as you check in and let us know

These things rarely but do happen. When you check in, please report any issue with your room immediately to the office. When you check out if there is damage to your room...and by damage we just mean damage that is clearly something that just happened...., there is $250 fee that is charged immediately. We do not call before we charge it (since in the past when we have, people have trashed a room and cancelled their card when we have called). This VERY RARELY happens, but it does probably once or twice a year. Please use common sense when you check in and just let us know if something is amiss. It is usually an easy fix.