Duck Hotels
Duck, NC, hotels are small in number but mighty in appeal. In this small seaside town, there are but three Duck hotels: a beautiful national chain—The Hilton Garden Inn—on the southern tip of Duck Road (technically located in Kitty Hawk, but who’s telling?!), a wonderful bed and breakfast and a world-class resort and spa. You see, as with its grand neighbor to the north, Corolla, Duck “hotels” are actually in the guise of Duck vacation rental houses. And there are hundreds upon hundreds of them.
But let’s give a moment of well-deserved editorial focus to the Duck hotels that are here because they shine. The Hilton was built only a few years ago, and it’s a welcome addition to the full-service Outer Banks hotel market. There aren’t that many Outer Banks hotels that offer room service, an on-site restaurant or large meeting facilities, but this one does. On top of that calling card, it’s just plain pretty and has an oceanfront location to further entice. Duck’s bed and breakfast has been pleasing guests for many years and can boast a very loyal following (hint, hint…call early if you want to join the loyal list). And the Sanderling Resort and Spa could just as easily be situated on the coast of some posh New York or California town and compete head to head with anything there. It’s calm, upscale and absolutely what those who expect the cultured best are looking for.
So, while the variety is not the feature of Duck hotels, high-end quality is, and no hotel-staying Outer Banks vacationer will be disappointed.
You should also check out our section on Vacation Rentals for Duck’s vacation rental companies.
Hilton Garden Inn
- 5353 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 1, Kitty Hawk
- (252) 261-1290, (877) 629-4586
- map
The newest oceanfront hotel on the Outer Banks, the Hilton Garden Inn offers 180 rooms, including suites. Every guestroom has a microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. The hotel has indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpool and fitness center. The on-site restaurant, Great American Grill, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Handicapped-accessible rooms are available. Throughout the hotel you can access wireless Internet and use remote printing services, and each room is equipped with a large desk and ergonomic chair. Enjoy complimentary HBO and on-demand movies and video games. Pets are not allowed. The hotel has guest laundry facilities and a game room. The Hilton Garden Inn is open year round.
Advice 5¢, a bed & breakfast
- 111 Scarborough Lane
- Duck
- (252) 255-1050, (800) 238-4235
In a residential neighborhood but within walking distance of the ocean and the shops of Duck, Advice 5¢ is a friendly, welcoming bed and breakfast with a beach house atmosphere. The inn has four guest rooms and one suite, all with private baths and private decks. The suite has a sitting area and Jacuzzi-style tub. Breakfast is a homemade affair, with tasty baked goods, smoothies and fresh fruit, coffee and tea. Common areas for guests include a den with a fireplace, decks and a “ship’s tower” with a great view. Children older than 16 are welcome. This is a non-smoking inn. Use of the neighborhood swimming pool and tennis courts is offered to guests, as is the inn’s outdoor shower, beach chairs and beach towels. Wireless internet service is available.
The Sanderling Resort and Spa
- N.C. Highway 12
- Duck
- (252) 261-4111, (800) 701-4111
The Sanderling Resort and Spa, celebrating 25 years in 2010, is a grand seaside resort of classic Outer Banks architecture. Its refined accommodations include three inns, five vacation homes, two restaurants, conference facilities, a luxurious spa and salon with an indoor pool and a tennis and fitness center. All the buildings in the resort are in close proximity to each other and to the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound, providing for an easily walkable, vacation village atmosphere. The three inn buildings are spectacular showcases of wood interiors and rare wildlife art and sculptures in the main areas. The 88 spacious rooms offer varying levels of comfort, but all have private baths, private decks, plush robes, fine personal-care products and a small refrigerator. The five vacation rental homes accommodate families or small groups from eight to 16 people with all the same amenities an inn guest receives. Personal Chef dinners, housekeeping services and nightly stays are available.
This exclusive resort has two restaurants, AAA Four Diamond The Left Bank and the more casual Lifesaving Station Restaurant (see Restaurants section). The Sanderling’s conference facilities can handle groups from 10 to 100, with flexible meeting and board rooms, high-tech equipment, sound systems, banquet facilities and catering. Weddings are popular at The Sanderling, and there are sites for ceremonies and receptions. The Sanderling’s world-class spa offers an amazing menu of massage, body, skin, hair and nail care as well as an indoor pool, whirlpool and steam rooms. A full schedule of yoga and Pilates is available throughout the year. You can also enjoy the resort’s tennis and fitness center at the Pine Island Racquet and Fitness Center, located a short 3-mile drive north of the resort. Indoor and Har-Tru outdoor courts are available along with private lessons and clinics for adults and kids. The restaurants, spa and Pine Island Racquet and Fitness Club are open to the public year round.
