Off-peak rates as low as $25-30 per night!

Insider Tip - Make the OBX into a Winter Home

While everyone loves being at the Outer Banks during the summer, there is a growing demand for hotel rooms even in the winter months. Welcome to a different kind of OBX traveler who arrives long after everyone has left. Simon from Charlotte, NC, a freelance writer, says "I love living by the ocean and nothing can be more relaxing than living in a beach town like Nags Head. And in the off-season, I feel like I have the entire Nags Head to myself. The roads are empty and I get smiles and handshakes from the locals. It's just a friendly vibe here when everything slows down and there is no rush. My kind of work needs inspiration and a calm and peaceful place while writing. I get all this and more here at the OBX. The best part about living here in the winter is that I get rooms for dirt cheap".

He continues "I have paid rates as low as $600 per month for an awesome ocean view room. This same room sells for $250 per day during peak season and I would have never been able to afford the $7500 monthly rate. But during off-peak season, this place is a buyers market. The trick to getting cheap rooms is to call the property directly and not try booking online. Rates can be very misleading and high on hotel reservation sites I can get great deals during the off-season and this keeps me coming here each year. Like, last year, I stayed in Kill Devil Hills at a smaller mom & pop motel the Driftin Sands Motel in a 2 bedroom apartment-style accommodation and got a really cheap deal. The owners were very friendly and helpful and it felt like living with a family. This year, I am planning to get an ocean view room at the Seahorse Inn. I am actually able to save a lot here because my Charlotte apartment costs me $1200 a month. So, for me, this is a work-vacation place for cheap. I have been coming to the OBX for the past 3 years, staying here each year from Nov-April. It gets really beautiful in April. Nothing can beat this experience".

Simone Caldwell, an IT professional from Richmond, VA arrives here every November. "I love spending Christmas here. It's a Christmas on the beach and it's fun! I love living in Buxton on the Hatteras Island. Nags Head is nice too. What draws me to this place in winter is the cold crisp ocean air. It can get really cold in Jan, but for most part it is more chilly than cold. I really hate the winters in Richmond and for me, this is a pleasant change. And given the fact that I work remotely for my clients, it really does not matter where I live. Over the years, I've lived in Duck, Corolla, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, but my favorite is still the Hatteras Island. While there is not much outdoor activity to do here in winter, I still enjoy taking long walks on the beach. It's a beautiful experience. Living here off-season is affordable and quiet. I get to work, meditate, take long walks and enjoy the ocean. I may tire of this one day and may stop coming here, but for now, this still captivates me"

In fact, new travel trends show a surprising increase in long-stay visitors to the Outer Banks. These visitors are mostly IT professionals working remotely and people from creative occupations such as writers, video editors and graphic designers.

Tip Summary

• Living in the Outer Banks during winter can be very affordable
• Monthly rates can be even cheaper
• Calling the property directly often leads to lower rates
• Negotiate with hotel staff - they need you during the off-season