Vacation Refresher Course 2018

The summer season is officially upon us here at Cape Hatteras Motel, and all along the Outer Banks. This is probably a good time for a “vacation refresher course” to make sure you make the most of your time with us, and your experience is the best it can be. I have covered all of this in previous blog posts, but here it is again. There is no doubt about it, an informed guest is a happier guest.

About a week or so before your vacation give us a call if you have any questions about your room type, dates of stay, etc. We do send out e-mail confirmations but sometimes those get lost in your inbox, so it never hurts to refresh your memory. Also — if you feel you might want to extend your stay or make any other changes, we are more likely to be able to accommodate your requests if you contact us in advance. We can also give you recommendations on restaurants, shops, day trips, surf fishing reports, etc. so that you can plan your stay. That’s all part of the fun!

Be patient when driving to your destination. Nearly everyone else on the roads is on vacation too. For some visitors, this is their first time on the island and there are a lot of distractions. Watch out for last minute turns. DO NOT pull into the sand shoulders unless you have four-wheel drive and you know it is permissible to do so. You don’t want to get stuck and it happens. A lot.  Mind the speed limits. In the villages on Hatteras Island they are 35 and even 25 in Buxton and Hatteras. You will get pulled if you speed. Fair warning.

Early check-ins and late check-outs are something many people desire. We try to accommodate those requests, but when it is very busy it may be impossible to do so as we have other guests coming in who want the same. It is very difficult to give someone a late-checkout and then another guest an early check-in to the same room!  We consider cleanliness to be sacred and it takes a while to clean a room well. We know in the end you’d take cleanliness over getting into a room a few hours earlier. If you drive overnight, you can park in our lot, have breakfast, and enjoy the beach and pool. We will try to get you in as quickly as possible.  When you do checkout please leave the keys in the drop box outside the office door (if you leave before we open), or come in and return the keys to us during regular business hours. This helps with the cleaning situation immensely, and it also gives you time to give us a little feedback.

The ocean is to be respected. No matter how good of a swimmer you are, the ocean will beat you. If there are rip current warnings, please heed them. If you have children with you, make sure they have on life preservers. Always watch them if you aren’t in the water with them.  If it is extremely rough, don’t go in. Take a walk, watch the waves from the beach or porch, or use the pool.  There are fish and crabs and shells in the ocean.  The beach is sandy. That’s what this island is all about.

The sun is intense through the summer. Please wear sunscreen and cover-up as needed. Re-apply as necessary. A bad sunburn has ruined many a vacation and can be dangerous. Don’t let that happen to you.

We generally have wind on the island. Rare are the days when we have no breeze at all. The breeze helps cool you on the beach, but it can get sandy at times. The prevailing winds in summer are from the southwest but cooling fronts can shift the wind to the north. You can see variations in the colors of the sound and sea depending on the wind direction. That’s something fun to watch, along with all of the clouds and other weather systems that move by. With our views you can learn a lot about weather patterns and get some great photos. Remember, we have sunrises and sunsets to enjoy!

And speaking of the weather, please don’t let it ruin your stay. We know that everyone wants days and days of blue skies and sunshine and no wind or rain, but we have weather here just like you do at home. It changes quickly and can be unseasonably warm/wet/hot/cool. Seasonal averages are just that — averages. Also — do not rely on any forecast more than three days out. It is just not valid. No matter what the weather,you are still at the ocean and it’s still a wonderful place to be. We do have a fairly long “rainy day list” of activities if you do hit a wet spell. Of course, when we are monitoring tropical systems, we will keep you informed of what’s happening and advise you on when and if you need to change your plans.

And one last note on weather. Please do not use the air conditioner and leave the doors or windows of your unit open at the same time. It wastes energy, pushes our electric bill sky high (which could impact future rates), and it contributes to condensation inside the room which sometimes makes that “musty” smell for the next guest.

If you encounter an issue — any issue — bring it to our attention — don’t tell us at check-out or write it up in a review after the fact when we can’t assist you. We will bend over backwards to remedy any issues you have while you are on the property. We care.  Your satisfaction matters. We take it personally as this is our property. That’s one big advantage of working with a Mom and Pop shop — Mom and Pop are here.

And one final thought. This island is not exactly like your home. It’s a remote island, rustic, and it’s not big city living. People either love this place or they find it is not to their liking because there isn’t enough to do for their lifestyle. It’s your hard earned money. Do you research and make sure Hatteras Island, or any part of the Outer Banks, is a good fit for you and your family. When there’s a match of expectation to reality, it’s a win/win, and everyone is happy.

We look forward to seeing you in the summer of 2018!

Sincerely,

Jan, Dave, Suzy, Ramy, Andy, Karen and the CHM Team

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