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Vacation Rental FAQ: Booking Your Stay
Finding a Vacation Rental
How do I find the right vacation home for me?
Finding a vacation rental with Emerald Isle Realty is easy; just Search, Choose and Book.
SEARCH
- Choose a week that you are available to stay
- Choose your length of stay (7, 14 or 21 nights)
- Select a check-in day (Sat or Sun)
- Select the number of bedrooms you need (1 to 10)
- Choose a location (oceanfront, soundfront, ect.)
- Choose type of property you’d like to stay in (condo, duplex or single family)
- Click on “Search”
CHOOSE
- Use the filters and maps to narrow and sort results
- Click on “View Details” to view rates, descriptions, photographs and reviews for each available home
- Once you’ve found the perfect vacation home, click on “Book Now”
BOOK
- Specify guests, guest address and payment method
- Enter any comments or special requests
- Review the terms and conditions
- Click on “Proceed to Secure Payment”
Helpful Tips
- Learn more about the different types and locations of vacation homes that are available.
- View the current vacation home rating for a property so that you can book the style of home that fits your tastes and budget.
- Save your favorite properties to your wishlist and compare them side-by-side.
- Click the share button on your favorite property page to share it with family and friends.
- Call one of our reservationists who can assist you with choosing the perfect vacation rental at (866) 586-6980.
Booking a Vacation Rental
How do I make a reservation with Emerald Isle Realty? Is it secure?
Emerald Isle Realty’s No Worries online booking makes booking a vacation rental convenient and secure.
Simply click “Book Now” on your property of choice and you will be taken to the Reservation Rental Agreement. It is essential that you provide all information requested, especially telephone numbers and email addresses, so that we can contact you. If you prefer, simply call one of our reservationists who can assist you with choosing the perfect vacation rental at (866) 586-6980.
Minimum Stay
Is there a required minimum stay in Emerald Isle Realty vacation rentals?
Emerald Isle Realty guests can choose from 7, 14 and 21 night stays when making reserving vacation rentals. If you’re looking to book a quick weekend getaway or last minute beach trip, view our nightly summer rentals or check out our nightly off-season rentals.
Pre-booking for Next Year
Can I pre-book a vacation home with Emerald Isle Realty for next year?
Emerald Isle Realty gladly accepts pre-bookings for next year. Booking your same time, same place for the following year should be done in our office Monday-Friday during your stay. Be on the lookout for an email from us halfway through your stay which contains helpful checkout reminders and a form to fill out for Same Time Same Place reservations.
Remember, this is only a tentative reservation as homeowners have first right of refusal for dates available. Your tentative reservation is confirmed upon receipt of your signed Vacation Rental Agreement and initial advance payment.
Rates for the following year are typically available by the end of September each year.
Making a Payment
How do I pay for a reservation?
When making reservations 30 days or more in advance, the preferred method of payment is a personal check and the advance rent payment must be received in our office within 3 days or the reservation will be cancelled. Remember that your final payment is due 30 days prior to arrival. We will gladly accept personal checks for final payment if we have at least 30 days to process the check. Accepted forms of payment are in US funds only.
For reservations made less than 30 days prior to arrival, immediate payment in full is required by American Express, Visa, MasterCard or Discover, or by certified funds within 7 days.
Payments should be mailed to:
Emerald Isle Realty
7501 Emerald Drive
Emerald Isle, NC 28594
Affirm Payment Plans
Does Emerald Isle Realty offer payment plans for booking vacation rentals?
Emerald Isle Realty has partnered with Affirm to make affording your dream vacation to the Crystal Coast as simple as possible.
Affirm is the smartest way to pay over time at your own pace – pick the payment plan that works for you and your budget. When you finance your Crystal Coast vacation home payment with Affirm, you always know exactly what you’ll owe and when you’ll be done paying. There are no hidden fees—not even late fees.
Learn more about financing for your vacation home payment with Affirm.
Questions about booking with Affirm? Call our reservation specialists at (888) 705-5261.
Modifying a Reservation
Can I modify my reservation?
A change of rental dates for the same property during the current calendar year is considered a cancellation. PLEASE consider purchasing a Red Sky Travel Insurance plan to avoid some of the risks associated with the necessity of cancellation. Guests will be refunded for any fees which are received through Emerald Isle Realty for goods, services, activity packages or rental items that have not already been paid out to third parties. Travel Insurance is nonrefundable.
Please note: Emerald Isle Realty reserves the right to cancel or transfer a reservation at any time prior to taking occupancy. Should this occur, your reservation will be transferred to a comparable property or all monies received from Tenant will be refunded.
Cancellation Policy
What is Emerald Isle Realty’s cancellation policy?
If you should have to cancel your reservation please notify us in writing immediately. If your reservation must be cancelled for any reason, all money paid will be forfeited unless the home or condo is re-rented for the entire cancelled period and for the original rental amount.
If re-rented for the original rental amount, all money paid will be refunded less the cancellation fee of $200 and travel insurance premium.
If re-rented at a lower rental amount, your refund will be decreased by the difference between the original rental amount and the lower rental amount, as well as the $125 cancellation fee and any travel insurance premium.
Travel Insurance
Does Emerald Isle Realty offer travel insurance?
Emerald Isle Realty offers Red Sky travel insurance to every guest. Red Sky is authorized by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Red Sky insurance is optional, but is strongly recommended. Please note that pre-existing health conditions may not be covered. If a tropical system has been upgraded to a Hurricane prior to your purchase of the insurance, it is not covered. No refunds will be made in the event of a mandatory evacuation if guest does not purchase Red Sky insurance.
For questions concerning the travel insurance, please call Red Sky directly at 866.889.7409. The insurance premium is non-refundable and non-transferable. Visit our website for more information on additional services offered by Red Sky.
Taxes & Fees
Sales Tax:
North Carolina sales tax is 6.75% and Carteret County occupancy tax is 6%, for a total tax of 12.75% (subject to change by state or local government) which is added to all rentals of 90 days or less. Guests are responsible for paying all applicable taxes in full prior to checking in. Taxes will be disbursed to the governing authority upon check-out.
Security Deposit:
We appreciate our rental guests, many of whom have been vacationing with us for three generations! Therefore, we do not require a security deposit or reservation fee, but instead, offer the complimentary No Worries Protection Program.
Other Charges and Fees:
Emerald Isle Realty has no reservation fee. Emerald Isle Realty may receive a commission or percentage from services provided through our office.
Sample Vacation Rental Agreement
When you receive your Advance Payment Request (APR) and Vacation Rental Agreement (VRA), please take special note of the due date. No reminder will be sent. You will need to sign and return one copy of the APR, along with your payment, and retain one copy for your records.
Please pay close attention to the VRA and addendum, pages 3-15. Should you need additional time or have financial considerations, special arrangements can be made by discussing this with the friendly folks in our reservations or accounting department. If no payment or word is received by the due date, the reservation will be cancelled.
For any reservation questions, please call (866) 586-6980.
