Days Inn by Wyndham Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront – Wilbur

Days Inn Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront - Wilbur is housed in a two-floor building right on the beach. The lobby has a healthy dose of rustic charm, especially for a budget hotel, with hardwood floors, wood trim and furnishings, attractive art, plants, nautical paintings, a Persian rug, and tufted leather furniture. Unlike many hotels in the area, the lobby has a fireplace. It's a warm and inviting spot in the colder months, when the hotel hosts a daily afternoon reception with hot apple cider, popcorn, and cookies in the afternoon. There are plenty of places to relax throughout, from the seasonal pool deck with lounge chairs to the long front porch with green Adirondack chairs, and the laid-back vibe is enhanced by the beach volleyball court and brick barbecue pit. A path leads over the grassy dunes to the beach and ocean. In the warmer months guests can frolic in the surf, fish, and do water sports. The hotel tends to attract budget-oriented travelers and small families who appreciate the wallet-friendly rates, beach, and location near sights.

The beachfront Days Inn Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront - Wilbur is on the main drag through Kill Devil Hills. Surrounding the Days Inn are other hotels, and just west is the Kill Devil Hills tourist area with its surf shops, ice cream stands, fast-food outlets, seafood restaurants, and kid-friendly outposts. Honoring the inventors of the first airplane, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is a five-minute drive from the hotel, while scenic Jockey's Ridge State Park features hang gliding, sand-boarding, hiking, a spectacular sunset, and the tallest natural sand dune system in the United States. Roanoke Island Festival Park and the North Carolina Aquarium are a 20-minute drive from the hotel, while Corolla -- home to famous wild horses -- is about an hour up the road. Norfolk International Airport takes just over 90 minutes to reach by car.

The 54 all non-smoking rooms at Days Inn Kill Devil Hills Oceanfront - Wilbur are arrayed in a two-floor building with both exterior and interior corridors. Rooms come in Guest Room, Oceanview, Dunefront, and Suite categories in a variety of bedding configurations. Rooms have a simple, slightly dated feel, with light-wood furnishings and beachy decor that includes a white, sand, and blue color scheme. Still, they are fresher than many nearby properties, a feat helped in part by modern lamps and attractive paint jobs. Rooms all come with love seats, coffeemakers, microwaves, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and 32-inch or 37-inch flat-screen TVs with basic cable channels. Safes are available, but use incurs a fee. Suites feature living rooms with sofas plus full kitchens. Oceanview Rooms look directly on the water and, like Dunefront Rooms, have shared balconies with Adirondack chairs. Bathrooms are clean and well lighted, with modern fixtures and shower/tub combos, but some are a little small and have limited counter space.

There are plenty of small gestures at this Days Inn does that set it above other budget properties in the area. In the afternoon the hotel hosts a free reception with popcorn and cookies, plus hot apple cider in the cold months and lemonade in the summer. The hotel serves a free breakfast including eggs, sausages, make-your-own waffles, toast, pastries, fruit, yogurt, coffee, tea, milk, and juice, though lunch and dinner aren't available on site. Restaurants are within a short walk for lunch and dinner. The seasonal outdoor swimming pool is fairly sizable and big enough for a short lap. Guests can also play volleyball on an outdoor sand court. The hotel does not have a fitness center, but guests get free passes (first come, first served) to the nearby Outer Banks YMCA with its fitness center, sport courts, indoor pool, seasonal outdoor pool and water park. During the warmer months, guests can hit the beach outside the hotel. Beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, fishing gear, surf boards, and stand-up paddle boards are available for rent locally. The hotel also has a picnic table, barbecue pit, coin-op laundry, free parking, 24-hour front desk, and lobby computer and printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.