Shutters On the Banks

Knotty wood floors and wood panel wainscoting add to the rustic charm of the hotel's lobby. Bird statues on driftwood and paintings of sand dunes decorate the walls. The free continental breakfast is served in a nearby room with chairs upholstered in starfish fabric and a wall-mounted TV. Weather permitting, guests can enjoy their breakfast outside on the stone patio under a white lattice roof. Just over some grassy dunes is a long, sandy beach area. Outdoor showers just off a wooden walkway give guests a spot to rinse the sand off their toes before heading back to their rooms. In case of rainy weather, there’s an indoor pool and hot tub in a building with tile floors and wraparound windows.

Shutters on the Banks is on the beach in Kill Devil Hills. There are several restaurants nearby, including spots to grab some seafood, pizza, or ice cream. Nags Head Wood Preserve, which has hiking trails, is within 10 minutes by car, and the hotel is a two-minute drive from the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Jockey’s Ridge State Park, with its impressive sand dunes, is less than a 10-minute drive away. Norfolk International Airport takes an hour and 45 minutes to reach by car.

Ocean paintings with window-style frames and white wood shutters create a beachy vibe in the rooms. Furnishings are in need of an update, and past guests have complained of dressers having a damp smell. All rooms have coffeemakers, mini-fridges, microwaves, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels, including HBO. Guests recommend staying on the third or fourth floor for the best ocean views. Efficiency Rooms are available for guests who want to cook their own meals; these have kitchens with stoves, sinks, cabinets stocked with dinnerware, and dining areas. Bathrooms in most rooms have shower/tub combos and some have separate basin areas. The Sunrise Suite, however, has a stall shower with massage jets and a separate deep soaking tub.

The hotel has direct access to a beautiful, sandy beach, which some rooms also look out on. A wooden gazebo at the edge of the hotel grounds offers a great spot to enjoy the views. There’s a heated outdoor pool as well as a heated indoor pool and hot tub for rainy days. A free continental breakfast is served daily, and the hotel has a small fitness center with three exercise machines. There's also an area for fish cleaning.