Seagull Motel, Hatteras, NC - Outer Banks, NC

My husband and I were scheduled to attend our son's wedding in the Outer Banks May 21-24, 2010. Upon researching accommodations, we came across a motel site that stated "pets welcomed" on the Places to stay in the Outer Banks website. Apparently, the owner, "Odens" work from home on occasion, and converse with interested future guests via email from home. In February 2010, I contacted them to inquire about availability, price and if they could accommodate us and our Shih Tzu May 21-24, 2010.

I received a very nice email, quoting a rate of $115. + tax/night and that they had a room available for us. When we arrived, we were 50 yards from the beach and the room was an efficiency with a queen bed. Since we were on the lower floor of the two floor motel, our room was tiled--not carpeted. During the second day of our 4-day accommodations, the owner approached my husband to let him know that they did not accommodate pets after the 15th of May due to fleas, but she would let us stay because we were on the tiled floor. She also told my husband that they were going to charge us an additional $10/day for our pet, which was not noted on the reservation that we made.

I don't have to tell you that this was a very uncomfortable feeling that our dog was not welcomed. He's such a cute little guy! I received a phone call from the owner the next day telling me that she can't believe that I mentioned our dog in the email reservation request. I asked her to come down to my room where I had the emails we spoke through, on my computer. She asked me to print it. After telling her that I did not bring a printer with me, but that I could hook up to her internet in her office to show her my computer emails, she said she didn't feel like unhooking her computer for that. I asked her to check her emails, and she said that she communicated via email from her home and didn't feel like going home to look them up.

I can't even tell you how lazy this owner was, but I also had to argue with her that I mentioned our dog in the email and to have to fight against an additional $40.00 charge was rediculous. I've worked in the hospitality industry for 7 years, and I have never argued with a guest. This woman made us feel horrible that she thought we were trying to pull one over her eyes. We didn't even enjoy the vacation until we left on the 24th for Virgina Beach. That was fabulous and they lived up to the reservation to accommodate out pet.

DON'T STAY AT THE SEAGULL MOTEL IN HATTERAS, NC. You'll be sorry.

The Toomey's