The Sand Dunes Motel — Hotel in Kure Beach

My wife and I stayed Friday and Saturday night of Labor Day weekend. As we were getting cleaned up to go out for dinner Saturday night, the room we were staying in (216) lost power to everything but the AC unit. We called the front desk and they told us there were working on a few other problems and someone would be up to reset it as soon as they could. It was almost 45 minutes before the power was restored, long enough for my wife's hair to no longer need the dryer. The only items plugged in at the time were a hair dryer, one laptop and my cell phone. The next morning we were getting ready to leave early as we had an event to get to that afternoon and weren't going to have time to go home first, the hair dryer (the only thing plugged in this time) apparently knocked it out again, leaving my wife no choice but to not be able to fix her hair and have it dry on the ride home. At check out, I expressed my concern about the power issue and how dissatisfied we were and was told that they were aware that that room had that problem and she would pass the information on. Since it was Labor day weekend, I didn't expect any response before Tuesday. No call. Wednesday, no call. I called back on Thursday and was told the manager would be in Friday and she would have her call me. Friday, no call. I called back Friday afternoon and was told she would be in on Saturday at 8:30 and she would have her call me. Again no returned call. Called again on Monday, was told she would be there at 3:30 and they would have her call me around 5:00. No callback still. On Wednesday, I had to call again and this time I asked them to please have the manager give me the courtesy of returning at least one of my 4 phone calls. She FINALLY called me back to tell me that their general manager didn't feel we had been inconvenienced enough to warrant any compensation. I explained to her that 2 of the people I had spoken with had both told me that room 216 had an electrical problem and I felt that someone at the motel should have made us aware of it at the time so that we could decide if we wanted to chance staying there or check into another place. Suppose the circuit breaker had failed to trip and the hair dryer had caused an electrical fire. Why would any decent entrepreneur even take a chance on an accident like that? Seriously, you should really check into staying somewhere else, especially if you like to bring your clothes with you on hangers. (Oh, did I forget to mention that there wasn't even a clothes rod or coat hanger anywhere in that room either?) Worth none of the $290 it cost us...

Worst hotel experience I have ever had! We traveled to Kure Beach with our 2 toddlers, age 4 and 1 year old. Our baby got a hold to the toilet paper roll and dragged toilet paper all over our room and scattered their toys all over the room. We unloaded our vehicle and left to venture out and enjoy the beach and activities. Once we got back, a male manager banged loudly on our door to tell us the cleaning staff informed him that we had dirty diapers on the floor and we would be charged to have his carpets cleaned. I tried to assure him there was no human waste exposed on his floors or anywhere else in the hotel room. He cut me off, saying his staff had pictures, yet he hadn't seen them yet. He just came to inform me. The next day, at 11:10 am, as we were stacking our luggage by the door, a female banged loudly on our door and told us check out time was at 11. We let her know we were packing up now, and she peered in our room, eyes widened and informed me and husband that we needed to stop by the office on our way out to leave a credit card number so that we could be charged to clean the floors in the room. Nothing was in the room that could not be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Angry and annoyed we went to the office and plainly asked what the problem was, again informed her that there was no damage to the room, and that we were not leaving credit card information for them to charge our card as they seen fit. We asked her to come check the room with us before we left. She then radio'd one of her employees to check our room. We eventually left. After getting ran out at 11:10, and then having to wait for her to get someone to check over our room was too much. When the cleaning staff came to refresh our towels, they did not make our beds, or leave extra cups. You have to pay $2 for ice at this hotel and there is no where for you to keep it cool if you do not bring your own cooler. They have huge cock-roaches at night that crawl on the stairway. The rooms have window air conditioner, which made our room freezing most of the time.There are no curtains in the room, which was a huge deal to me. If I am on vacation, I do not want to be woken up by the sun shining in our room, I would like to sleep in a bit. Plus once my kids see light, or the sun is out, they are up and ready to go. Staying at this location did not make our trip...

This is our 5th year staying at The Sand Dunes, and we stay multiple times each year from spring until fall, including the last two Easter’s as well, and we have even been squeezed in last minute during high flow tourist times! The entire experience is always above and beyond our expectations! The staff is amazing and helpful including their cleaning ladies who have been there since day one and I adore more every year! They will accommodate late checkouts without batting an eye as long as you let them know! We have had late check ins as well when we didn’t get there until 11:00 pm after a 3 and a half hour ride! We have 5 children under the age of 12 and we have NEVER had a complaint! They always offer information for local fun and discounts as well. Even after you check out you are welcome to stay parked in their lot and enjoy the beach and pool until you are ready to call it a day! The Sand Dunes is very FAMILY oriented as well as Christian and I just have a very hard time believing that they would behave in a manner that some reviews have mentioned. Sometimes when people are caught in messes they like to shine the light away from them. This place is amazingly clean and very well furnished! Extremely affordable and you get more than what you pay for in comfortability alone! I love that they display scriptures with their sweet beachy and nautical scenes throughout the rooms! Their balconies are very private with amazing views including the pier and they ask that you maintain low noise levels at night so everyone can relax and enjoy the view in peace with their loved ones! We’ve stayed in several of their rooms over the years and have never had an unclean or unacceptable room! Their decor is beautiful and refreshing! I waited too late to book our normal two room oceanfront for Memorial Day weekend this year and I can honestly say that I am genuinely saddened that we will have to stay somewhere else on that weekend! It will however serve to keep me on my toes for the next time! Lol I would recommend The Sand Dunes to anyone who is looking for a sweet oceanfront motel with affordable rates, amazing staff and extremely comfortable rooms! This is our tried and true home away from home! 😊👍 ...