Sea Ranch Resort

First, the good news: This place is inexpensive and the complimentary breakfast is really good. The beach access and view are also excellent.
BUT, our room smelled really damp and dirty, even though it didn’t look dirty, I have to say. The smell hit you right away and it was awful.
Next, the «heated indoor pool» was non– existent. We were told there was a heated indoor pool when we made the reservation, and the pool was advertised; the pool is one of the main reasons we chose this «resort». Perhaps the lack of a pool would not be a problem in the summer, but for a winter visit, you really need a heated indoor pool! In any case, the Searanch shouldn’t mislead people on this issue.
Finally, the wifi was also non-​existent most of the time. And even when it did work, it was insecure (had no password or restricted access) which is simply irresponsible and dangerous.
So, the one star is for the problems we encountered, but mostly because this hotel lures visitors in with false promises. We moved to the Ramada, cleaner and less expensive, with a heated indoor pool!

I’m pretty happy with the time my wife and I spent at the Sea Ranch. We weren’t looking for something too touristy, and the Sea Ranch Resort delivered with a no-​thrills hotel with great views, a good beach, and comfy rooms.
The hotel itself is obviously from a previous age, with large concrete walls and slow elevators, but once you get into the living spaces it feels just like any other hotel in the country. The beds were comfy with good pillows and the seating in the room was nice. The oceanview balconies were outstanding! I loved sitting on the balcony in the morning with my cup of coffee and a book, just watching the sun rise over the ocean and listening to the waves crash 100 feet below us. Amazing time.
Generally a good location. Pretty easy access to all of the hot spots in the Outer Banks, so I really had no complaints whatsoever. I loved my stay.

We stayed at this hotel, it’s not really a resort, last summer. The rooms were dumpy and stank. The door was almost impossible to close because it has clearly swollen over the many, many years. There was also clearly a bug problem. The night we checked in the front desk person was very unpleasant; the woman in the morning was a breath of fresh air, in comparison. The keys to the room were weird. We booked though orbitz and it didn’t specify rooms as oceanfront or other option, which we inevitably got parking lot view. It may have been better/​tolerable if we had oceanfront, or at least in the main building.

We will come here again. The pool was nice (though a little on the cool side for a ‘heated’ pool) and the coffee and all-​natural hippie toiletries are first rate!
The lobby smells like low tide, but maybe that helps with ambience, haha. Thier beach area is a little on the narrow side but that meant that in the afternoon the hotel provided shade for the dry sand sitting area on the beach! We did not get sunburns!
Their balconies look like they are fully enclosed in glass, with a sliding window for air. The ocean was super rough and great to boogie boarding and it was warm in mid-​August on our first day and a little cooler on the second. Always depends on how close the gulf stream is. The beach sand was smooth and barefoot-​friendly.
We missed it because we checked in at 4:30, but from 3 to 4 pm they had free snowcones for everyone everyday of the week. There was a magic show on Monday, too, but we were only there on a Saturday night.
Kid and family-​friendly. Had two HBO channels, one was for family. TV was small, though. Had a fridge and microwave and single serve coffee maker. Beds and pillows were comfy. Room was remarkably well-​designed and in good enough repair and nice and clean.
All and all wonderful stay and loved the location and the price was not bad at all for the season!

I’m very torn in leaving this review. I really appreciated the quick service when I TV gave out the first night and they immediately changed our room. As well as when the 3^rd night when our next door neighbors started blasting their radio at 2am and I called and asked them to assist us in helping that stop and they did. However we got there and the pool was under construction and we had no idea prior to our arrival. And by under construction I mean that every morning of our stay (starting at 7am) they would use a jackhammer to break up the concrete surrounding the pool and man was it loud! So there was no sleeping in on that vacation or swimming (and sadly I had purchased multiple swimsuits for this trip!) but they tried their best beyond those issues so my suggestion would be to visit in the on season and not during the off season.

My first time staying here and teaching here in their conference room. The room was nice and the lunch seem good. My room for ocean facing and I love the little porch as well as the easy access to the beach. I added a few of my photos to this review that I took just standing on the walk to the beach.

This is my wife and I second visit. Our last visit was about 3 years ago. This is a great place. The rooms were very clean. The staff was great. We stayed in the Oceanfront rooms both times and the view was great.

I would highly recommend staying here. The balcony overlooking the ocean and the beach access were amazing. The room felt clean and well taken care of. I read some reviews that me a little skeptical but it was worth every cent for the view, location and friendly staff. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because the bed was a little hard and the towels weren’t the fluffiest I’ve ever had.

My family stayed here for my wedding– this place is DISGUSTING! Both rooms were on the first floor, and smelled sour. There were A LOT of ants everywhere– including on the beds. Sand in the chairs and furniture. The bathrooms had mildew, and the shower tile was painted, yes painted, and peeling. HORRIBLE experience.

We stayed here for 3 nights — first let me say, after reading earlier reviews about «mildew, ants & hairy bathtubs» I was a bit uneasy before getting there, but I left cheerful and pleased.
So the hotel upon immediate entrance had a… what I’ll call a beachy odor. This hotel is in fact directly on the beach. It is one of the closest hotels or houses to the water. So yes, it smelled like the ocean. Once you’re there for awhile you get use to it. I packed a air purifier & plug in for good measure because I’m an over preparer. ;) Even without those things I was perfectly okay with the beachy smell.
I didn’t have a run in with any bugs AND I was looking for them.
It’s not your typical swanky resort so get that out of your mind. It does have an indoor pool and they’re own restaurant, but I wouldn’t consider it a resort.
Staff was friendly & pleasant.
There are open balcony rooms that overlook the water (amazing) because like I said, the hotel is super close to the ocean. There are also screened in porches. Those were a bit bizarre. I’m not sure if there is a price difference, but keep in mind when you request ocean view you might get one of those. They’re not horrible, but didn’t look as pleasant as the open balcony.
Nearly every room has a door/​balcony to the outside (beach views & parking lot views) EXCEPT the rooms we stayed in. haha Our room had 1 window that overlooked the dumpsters. Lovely. We were fine with it because we actually got a deal on the room. So no hard feelings. I understand we can’t all have the fancy open balcony overlooking the water, especially when we’re paying a fraction of the cost.
The bedding seemed inexpensive & older. The bed was firm, but still comfortable. There was a mini fridge, microwave, flat screen tv with cable. We had internet that worked great during hours when people were asleep or out. We had two wifi options (Sea Ranch 3 & Sea Ranch 4) They DO NOT password the internet. So Sea Ranch, if you read this — I think it’s time you password your internet. That would probably speed things up a bit. With the Mariner motel directly next door who knows who is on their internet connection.
All & all it was pleasant. I enjoyed the short walk out to the beach and it was never too crowded. It’s a short walk or bike ride to the Avalon Pier & Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar. It’s also located really close to the Wright Brothers Monument.
I would recommend staying here judging off my experience & room. It’s a decent price for a room on the beach. They run excellent specials. It was a good experience for our first time in the Outer Banks.

I read all of the reviews before booking a trip to this «RESORT» with a Groupon deal. The reviews all spoke highly of this place. Let me tell you, it was GROSS! We had a 3 night stay and ended up leaving after the second night and forfeiting our money to go to a clean hotel. Our room was old, dirty, had a bathtub that didn’t drain, had a thermostat that kept jumping to 88 degrees and had ants! The «wifi» was a joke. When I asked the front desk clerk about it (repeatedly), I was told that I should try sitting on the balcony! The pool is enclosed and has dirty, musty carpeting around it… beyond disgusting. DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!

I have no idea how this place gets so many stars. We are in what is supposedly the best room in the house. Top floor. Corner. Oceanfront. Two bedroom. It is ATROCIOUS. I won’t let my children touch the floor. Who carpets a beach hotel? And they laid this stuff in 1968 it seems. It is «classic» I guess. But FILTHY, stained, ewwwww. Kitchen-​I keep expecting to bump into Alice, Greg, Marsha, Peter, Jan… you get the point. Ewww. But at least it’s oceanfront, right? Well the deck with the great view has windows in front of the screens. In order to get a breeze or sounds of ocean you have to slide them up. But they won’t stay. So I have two kitchen knives propping them up as I type this. Oh and been up since 0600 because the drapes in the MBR close only 90% of the way so the sun is beaming in. Broken? Nope. That’s how they’re installed. Blackout drapes with a 10 inch gap. Huh??? Find someplace else. Thank God we are only here one night.

Made a reservation through groupon and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We were a little worried when we saw that their restaurant was closed, the groupon promised us a free hot breakfast, but were more than satisfied when they gave us vouchers for free breakfast and the Jolly Roger restaraunt just down the road.
The groupon said oceanside rooms and it was not kidding. We were so close to the beach that from the second story looking out the window all you could see was waves, unless you walked right up to the window and looked down at the beach. The room was clean and organized and the front desk lady was very friendly. Overall it was a great place to stay.
It gets four stars because the rooms are a little old (the air vents had what appeared to be some mold or discoloration around them) and the TV while good was not great. Overall it was an awesome deal and we will probably go back again.

Monica and I were on the Outer Banks and stopped at a few places that were priced way too high (for off season). Sea Ranch gave us a good price and we have been here before and enjoyed it.
We were glad to see the place has been remodeled and is clean and organized and had a good courteous staff. They have a restaurant and bar and had live Music (sat night) and it was an awesome stay.
Right on the ocean too. They also have a cool pool — but told me no skinny dipping — so I didn’t go in.
Good place and cool people. I’d go here again (and I hope soon).
I’ve posted pics.
Beachside Bistro is the hotel restaurant & has good food & live music/​it is listed on Unilocal

The one thing to understand is if you are not in an ocean front room your are going into a tiny, dated hotel room (see photo for bathroom) in an annex perpendicular to the beach with no view and no direct beach access. You will pay about half for this room vs. beach view. Beach access was great (through hotel), nice gym, breakfast with included voucher was fine, staff was fine. As for the room, tiny with strange bathroom layout.

My boyfriend and I stayed here while visiting OBX for a week. The room was very clean and spacious! The staff was very friendly. There was a nice bistro on the lower level of the resort. And it was jist steps from the beach! Will be back for another visit!

Clean, nicely renovated rooms directly on the beach. Awesome!

So my girlfriend wanted to spend the weekend at the beach and it was my task to plan the whole thing. I picked OBX because I’ve heard good things and didn’t want to do one of those «party beaches.» After doing some research on the different regions of OBX I chose Kill Devil Hills because it offered many attractions and wasn’t terribly far south (we live in MD). I did further research on hotels and settled on the Sea Ranch Resort. I’m very happy with my choice. The price was right and the location is right on the beach.
We arrived at the hotel around noon on Friday and unfortunately our room wasn’t ready. That was no fault of the hotel, they clearly state check in is at 3pm. They were very accommodating however and gave us a temporary parking pass and said we could use the indoor pool or hit the beach while we waited for our room to be cleaned.
When our room was ready we were pleasantly surprised. We opted for the Oceanfront room and I can’t recommend it enough. The ocean is literally right in front of your balcony. It’s a phenomenal view. We went to sleep every night to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. We loved it. The room itself was very clean and fresh.
The only minor negative I could state was the wifi being a bit spotty. We were on the 5^th floor though so that may have affected it. Honestly I didn’t really need the wifi anyway. I don’t know what else I could say about the hotel. I highly recommend it especially the Oceanfront rooms. You can’t beat that view. We plan on staying here again!

Great Resorts with outstanding oceanfront views!

Stayed here for a Saturday — Monday in August. The reviews on tripadvisor were helpful.
The place is typical beach hotel/​motel style. Oceanfront rooms ended up being $ 113 more for two nights than non-​oceanfront but the view and glass-​enclosed porch made it worth the extra cost.
Our room was standard size — two queen beds, wet bar with fridge, two small tables, three chairs plus two more chairs on the porch.
We didn’t hear any neighbors but the AC fan was loud (typical for hotels). Bathroom was laid out strange and décor was typical cheapish hotel (gaudy colored comforters etc).
There is an enclosed pool that we didn’t check out. The beach is right below the porches.
Breakfast was included at the Jolly Roger a block away. Eggs, bacon, grits/​homefries, toast –or– pancakes/​waffles and bacon –or– biscuits an sausage –or– oatmeal and fruit. Coffee included, we only had to pay a tip.
Wifi only worked occasionally on the fifth floor.
I’d stay here again if I wanted an oceanfront hotel. $ 195 for Saturday and $ 175 for Sunday night using a summer special on their website.