The beds are like concret blocks . The rooms are clean breakfast is not in a room but in the office and an instant coffee machine is in the office and coffee is available most of the time . Coffee pots are not in the room . If you have diabetes or other simular problems you cant eat breakfast here . However they have rooms available for a larger cost with kitchenettes . The property is run down but my husband likes it here there is more privacy here than most motels . You have to make the decision wether to stay here or not .

What not to expect: A fancy, gorgeous high caliber hotel

What to expect: Fantastically friendly staff, RIGHT on the beach, clean upgraded rooms

I've stayed at the Colonial Inn for the past two years. They saved our butts last year when a hurricane ripped up 12 (we had a house booked for a week in hatteras) and we went right back to them this year without hesitation.

This year the rooms have been upgraded - new tv's, new beds, new carpet, etc.

Location is great. Right near the pier and literally on the beach. No walking across parking lots/roads/down the block. You've got direct beach access. Clean pool, charming "motel" atmosphere and the staff are probably the friendliest people ever.

This year when we arrived at the end of June, our sink had some draining problems (IE it wasn't...) They upgraded us to an apartment immediately for the trouble. The hotel is dog friendly, but we didn't bring ours. Kid friendly, but not loud or obnoxious.

If I had to dig up a complaint, it would be that the bathrooms don't have exhaust fans (at least the two I've been in didn't) and the bathrooms can get pretty hot and steamy in the middle of the summer without that. Pretty sure I can deal with it, though!

Don't book this motel and expect five star, but it's clean, neat, well kept, friendly, on the beach, awesome and reasonably priced. The Colonial Inn has earned my business and we will continue to book with them.

Other reviews mention the motel's obvious age, and cramped parking. Both are accurate observations but not enough to give this place a bad review. When I noticed the sink in our bathroom was clogged, I asked the friendly woman at the front desk to send someone to fix it. A few hours later, when we returned from dinner, it drained just fine. I'm sure the sand is a chronic problem in beachfront motels. Although the parking is cramped, I never found myself boxed in or unable to find a parking spot. The fact that a wooden stairway just outside our room led directly to the beach below tended to cancel out any of this motel's minor defects. Sitting in the Adirondack chairs outside our room and listening to the surf was one of the most serene experiences of our trip to the Outer Banks. The Nags Head Pier right next door to the motel was interesting to visit, especially at night, when dozens of fishermen arrive to try their luck. The front desk personnel were always helpful and ready to answer any questions or give directions.

We spent 2 nights here in route to another destination. We had a small dog traveling with us which makes it hard to find a decent spot on the shore....especially last minute. We found this motel by review and I called and got a great room last minute in height of the season. It is probably the best room they have...unit #30 a studio room with kitchen, frig, coffee maker, sink, dining table, 2 couches (one pull out with extra sheets and pillows) and a queen bed. 175.00 a night high season. The shower was very tiny but clean. Nothing in this room is fancy, everything is worn, but everything is functional. And let's face it, when you are at the beach, you spend most of your time outside not in your room. What you get here is a great view, (sand dune/glimpse of ocean), end unit privacy, seconds to the beach, large porch with chairs, right next door to fishing pier with everything you need for fishing. It has a great restaurant (The Pierhouse), a large clean swimming pool, and a very quiet wonderful beach.
Perhaps the best part about this motel was the staff....SUPER NICE AND VERY HELPFUL! The beach and grounds are heaven for dogs. There is parking for guests and ice machines. The set up is perfect for a great beach stay. There is a great brew pub a few miles down the road.
All and all this is a great shore motel with wonderful people and a great location....I can see why it has been here so long!