I will attempt to be fair and objective without injecting opinion here, based on categories that most people look at.... VALUE: Excellent - pricing is more than appropriate, based on the location/convenience factor alone. Whalehead Beach (north end) is literally a 2 minute walk away since this property borders the Perch boardwalk. Pool and hot tub are added bonuses. 4 beds and 3 baths is more than sufficient for a decent sized group (party of 9). CAROLINA SHORES: Dealing with the rental agency was great. They are very proactive and actually do a lot of reaching out to you at each step of the process before you reach out to them, which, if you're busy, this is very helpful. Check-in was easy, we got to the office in Duck between 4 and 5pm and had no issues. HOUSE: I hesitate to assess the house, but feel it should be done, since the photos don't tell the entire story. House is one of the oldest (original to the neighborhood) as you can probably tell from the photos. Nothing special to look at, but we don't care. It has clearly not been updated perhaps even since it was built which appears to have been in the 80s. We don't care about style/decor so much (it definitely has more of a cottage/camp kind of a feel), but the design of some parts of the house is poor in terms of functionality. Bedrooms have very few ceiling light fixtures, the switches pretty much just turn on weak lamps in the rooms (except one BR which has a ceiling fan). Annoying, but not the end of the world. Bathrooms have awful/very dated lighting so if you're a man wanting to shave, it's pretty tough seeing your skin well enough to do a good job. If you're a lady wanting to do makeup that would probably be a challenge as well, but I wouldn't know. Shower liners had mold on them, not covered in it, but certainly enough to make it very obvious. I'll never understand why it is NOT building code in some areas to require bathroom fans for ventilation of the humidity caused by showers, which ultimately causes mold. This is one such place - no bathroom fans to vent the humidity. Other than this, there were several other minor things, including the basketball hoop not being functional, which was a drawback for my basketball playing kids - it looked as if someone backed into it so it was leaning back too far to use. Kitchen floor is way out of level, cabinetry is hurting pretty bad...etc, etc. Overall though, excellent good value and I do recommend if this is very important to you.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We have stayed here 4 times before this year and love the location. The house is on the older side but it’s perfect for our needs. My only complaint is that it needs a deep cleaning. Carpets, dusting of spider webs, outdoors, etc. I’m sure it’s hard to keep up on this as it was the end of the rental season and it sounds like it was a VERY busy year in Corolla. The rental company is responsive to any issues and is part of the reason we come back year after year. Can’t wait to come down next year!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We have stayed here 4 times before this year and love the location. The house is on the older side but it’s perfect for our needs. My only complaint is that it needs a deep cleaning. Carpets, dusting of spider webs, outdoors, etc. I’m sure it’s hard to keep up on this as it was the end of the rental season and it sounds like it was a VERY busy year in Corolla. The rental company is responsive to any issues and is part of the reason we come back year after year. Can’t wait to come down next year!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: My husband, adult daughter, golden retriever, and I had a wonderful week at Whale Watch West! The location was just awesome— when you walk out the driveway onto the pedestrian walkway, you’re just steps to the beach access. The house is roomy and comfortable, although a bit dated, but that didn’t bother us. It had nice outdoor spaces, including several decks and the pool and hot tub area. We’ve rented many different houses in Whalehead over the years, and this is one of the best locations we’ve stayed. I definitely recommend it—it’s a lot of value for the money!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: My husband, adult daughter, golden retriever, and I had a wonderful week at Whale Watch West! The location was just awesome— when you walk out the driveway onto the pedestrian walkway, you’re just steps to the beach access. The house is roomy and comfortable, although a bit dated, but that didn’t bother us. It had nice outdoor spaces, including several decks and the pool and hot tub area.
We’ve rented many different houses in Whalehead over the years, and this is one of the best locations we’ve stayed. I definitely recommend it—it’s a lot of value for the money!

Ok, where to start? Umm… there are lots of things I like about this property, but I want to mention a few things that could be problematic to others. There are lots of stairs to this property and the beach, which isn’t a problem for me, but it was a little hard on the elderly family members. The week was really hot! You have to watch out for the upper deck, as the coating gets crazy hot! There were some things not in working order, but we’re resolved before we left. The photos and description on here are not updated. The pool was AMAZING!!!! After a hot day at the beach, I enjoyed relaxing in the cool pool. Made friends with a fox and got to see turtles hatch on the beach!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: After years renting Carolina Shores rentals for two weeks every summer, we seem to have spent them at Whale Watch West the most often, and we plan to continue doing the very same. The house is well appointed with plenty of space. Family members visited for most of our second week, enjoying the terrific weather with us. The beach is nearby and accessible; Whale Watch West has its own pool as well, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants and local history nearby to explore. See you next year!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We have been renting this property for many years. We are never disappointed. It is close to beach access and the pool is just the right size.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments:
We have been renting this property for many years. We are never disappointed. It is close to beach access and the pool is just the right size.

House was spacious and clean. Beds were comfy. We found beach chairs and toys, plus a pack-and-play for the baby. The beach was a three minute walk. Pool was clean with surrounding chairs. We loved the house!

From booking to checkout was simple and everyone I dealt with was helpful and pleasant. We truly had a relaxing vacation. The house was everything we could have asked for, and the location was perfect!

Lovely

Rating Details:The property manager was very helpful.The vacation rental was spotless.I was more than happy with the location.I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.Reviewer Comments:Second year renting this house. We had a great time.

Location to the beach and Corolla is super convenient (although, be aware that at high tide there is little to no beach in this area). The layout of the house is great for two couples or families. All the amenities are a great addition and make this a super place to stay.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This is our place to recharge our batteries, catch up on reading and other personal projects, enjoy the pool, walk the dog through the local scenery, enjoy the beach, of course, and deal with whatever Mother Nature brings - this year the weather was mostly very warm and beautiful; Tropical Storm Isaias arrived a couple of days after we were back home. Definitely looking forward to next summer's visit!

The house was convenient to the beach. It had all the amenities you could ask for. We did not want to leave.

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Our 14th stay at WWW! Gorgeous weather this year!

Rating Details: The property manager was somewhat unhelpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: the location was great, we would've booked again for next year however the smell of mold in the basement and the first floor - the floor with the bedrooms - was so awful i honestly think i was ill from it the second day. also, it must be the structure of the house, but you can feel the house moving. especially when you are in the bedrooms and someone is walking upstairs, the house kind of sways. the house was not super clean, both bathrooms had hair in the shower upon arrival.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This is the second time we have stayed at whale watch! We love corolla and the location of this house is perfect. Can’t wait to come back next year.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Excellent

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Our 13th stay at WWW for relaxing and renewal! This summer's stay was memorable for the rain and flooding, but the pretty days were gorgeous, and the view remained interesting as always, whatever the weather. We enjoyed the wildlife, too, as well as the pool, weather permitting.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We had a wonderful experience at Whale Watch West. The location is fantastic - steps to the beach. The pool and hot tub are great amenities. We had a great time here and enjoyed our stay.

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: As in other years we enjoyed every second of the two weeks we stayed.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We had an awesome time! We've stayed at Whale Watch West many times and it never disappoints. The view of the ocean from the dining table or the deck ensured a relaxing meal or beverage. The pool was a perfect break from the beach. We were a very easy distance to all our favorite restaurants and activities at the Currituck Lighthouse, Corolla Light, and Timbuck II.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: My wife and I stayed at Whale Watch West from Sept 9th to the 17th. first off it is in a perfect location, steps from the boardwalk that leads to the beach! The property has a wonderful set up and an excellent pool and hot tub. Corolla at this time of year is wonderful. We were close to everything we wanted to do and see and didn't have to fight the tourist lines. When we arrived at the property we were able to tell that the owners are making improvements and updates to the property, they have replaced all the windows and are painting and siding the exterior and the A/C units looked new. I only have two critiques, first is that the property needed a solid day of landscaping, dead trees trimmed, bushes pruned, etc. Second is, and I know this could be very hard with all the in and out of renters, but the outside activity equipment could be organized better in the first floor closets. Other than these two minor issues my wife and I loved This property and can't wait to book again in the future! Thank you for an awesome vacation!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Wonderful house located close to the beach with ocean views. Comfortable, clean and no other houses on top of you. Pet friendly. 3 couples shared it and it was perfect. HIghly recommend.

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Beautiful views steps away from the Ocean. The pool and hot tub are wonderful to come back to. The house is Nicely formatted with 2 living rooms. I would suggest another tv for the second living area.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Our 11th summer spending 2 weeks visiting the Whale. We love the house, the layout, the views, the pool, and the proximity to the beach. See you next year.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Our 11th year at Whale Watch West; we'll be back again next year!

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We have rented for 50 years on the Outer Banks. This experience was average in comparison to past rentals. Some minor and major improvements are needed. There are urine stains on the top floor and steps. The furniture is extremely dated. The overall cleanliness inside was almost below average. Coffee pot small and broken. Plumbing leaking under carport and house from bathrooms. Pool gate was dragging on hinges.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was more than happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Second year renting this house. We had a great time.

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Goofing off, scenery, room for visiting friends and family, good food, aaahhhh!