Sanderling Resort
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Room & Suite (232)
Pool & Beach (149)
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Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
About
#1 of 1 resort in Duck
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.5
Value
4.0
At the Sanderling Resort, casually elegant first-class amenities blend seamlessly with the spectacular landscape to foster connection and renewal. Offering magnificent views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound, our guests have the same unique opportunity to admire both a sunrise and sunset - both over water. The Resort's guestrooms with their oversized bathrooms and generous decks, are a perfect complement to the quality of the natural setting, while our acclaimed spa and pools provide both unparalleled serenity at the tranquility pool, or a boisterous family environment at the Resort pool. The Resort's renowned restaurants offer the finest dining on the Outer Banks, with perfectly prepared and presented fresh coastal cuisine and a choice of venues to match the time of day, the season and your mood.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Bicycle rental
Children's television networks
Electric vehicle charging station
Parking
Wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Adult pool
Indoor pool
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Saltwater pool
Fence around pool
Yoga classes
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Restaurant
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Wine / champagne
Vending machine
Poolside bar
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Patio
Board games / puzzles
Kids pool
Highchairs available
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Body wrap
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot bath
Foot massage
Full body massage
Hand massage
Head massage
Makeup services
Manicure
Massage
Neck massage
Pedicure
Salon
Solarium
Steam room
Waxing services
Baggage storage
Concierge
Gift shop
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Dining area
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Coffee / tea maker
Cable / satellite TV
Walk-in shower
Private balcony
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Clothes rack
Iron
Laptop safe
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Radio
iPod docking station
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
1461 Duck Road, Duck, NC 27949-4635
Sanderling Resort
Getting there
Car recommended
Grade: 42 out of 100
42
Norfolk Intl Airport
52.2 mi•
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39 Restaurants
within 5 miles
1427Reviews38Q+A100Room tips
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It’s so-so. At this price point, I was expecting more. There shouldn’t be a single issue accessing rooms, I had multiple issues with my key, and the room next door needed engineering to pick the lock. Not even the hotel master key would work. Sounds minimal, but when you get repeatedly locked out of your room, it’s a big deal. Also no secondary door lock other than the integrated deadbolt, plastic cups in the bathroom like a motel would have, and the common areas in the secondary building were dirty (carpet). Location is great though, common areas in the main building were comfortable, and the service was mostly helpful. I would go back, but it would depend on price. Paid $300+ off season but I don’t think it’s worth more than $200/night, maybe $400 during the on season. Just needs minor updates.…
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded 2 weeks ago
William, thank you for sharing your feedback about your stay at Sanderling Resort. While we're glad to hear that you enjoyed our location and helpful service from our staff, we are disappointed to hear of the inconveniences you encountered that negatively impacted your stay. Your comments are valuable, and we take them seriously as we work to continually improve our guest experience. Guest satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us, and we appreciate your input. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We came to Sanderling for a girls’ getaway, and sadly, were disappointed. The first issue was that we had not been told that the main building has no elevator. That meant climbing a flight of stairs to the door to our ‘sound view junior suite’, and then having to climb another set of stairs to the suite itself. Since one of us has knee issues that would have been helpful to know in advance. Secondly, we did indeed have a ‘sound’ view of sorts, but the view from our deck was across the main Sanderling parking lot, across Duck Road, and over the rooftops of several of the resort’s buildings across the street to see it. Miscellaneous problems/omissions: • First time turning on the tub faucet - gush of VERY orange water that took quite a while to run clear and no, I did not take a bath. • Broken light switch in one of the lamps by the couch • No bottled water • No teabags in the room, only coffee packets • Robes but no slippers • We needed an extra blanket the first night; in the bag labelled ‘pillow and blanket’ there were two pillows, no blanket. • Breakfast - only Lipton tea offered. Seriously? At a resort of this supposed level? • First morning breakfast setup in the reception area a disaster: • no napkins, no trash receptacle • a plate of pastries with no napkins, plates, or tongs to pick them up • No pastries the second and third mornings, at least not at 8 a.m. when I got downstairs All in all, the suite itself was nice, the bathroom huge, the couch comfortable and it was nice to have a fireplace, but worth the cost? Would we return? Probably not. …
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Be aware that rooms above the first floor of the main building have no elevator access.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns regarding your recent stay. While we're glad to hear that you enjoyed the features of our junior suite like the spacious bathroom and fireplace, we are disappointed that other aspects of your visit prevented this from being the getaway you had anticipated. Providing our guests with a seamless, convenient experience is of the utmost importance to us and it's disheartening to read about the inconveniences you encountered. Your feedback is valuable to us and will be communicated with our leadership team to improve our services and offerings. Thank you for your insights, and we hope you consider giving us another opportunity to better meet your expectations in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
I had my 30 year Coast Guard retirement at Sanderling Resort/ Keeper's Loft - Lifesaving Station (coast guard history). Everything for cermony/ reception was arranged perfectly! Staff was kind and accommodating. Cassidy ,my event planner, was great and always ready for last minute changes. My family & friends had nothing but high praises og event and hotel. I definitely would recommend to anyone! Thank you for memorable experience, Mike Dupre (USCG Retired)
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded 4 weeks ago
Mike, congratulations on your 30-year Coast Guard retirement, Mike! We're thrilled to hear that you chose Sanderling Resort and Lifesaving Station for your special event, and we're delighted that everything was arranged perfectly for your ceremony and reception. It's wonderful to know that Cassidy and the staff were kind, accommodating, and ready to handle any last-minute changes. We're also glad to hear that your family and friends had high praises for the event and the hotel. Thank you for recommending us, and we're honored to have been a part of your memorable experience. We appreciate your service and wish you all the best in your retirement!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Waaay too expensive for a run down hotel. Staff pleasant and helpful. Restaurants out of a lot of things reportedly because "end of season". It was the Labor Day weekend! Save the money and go to Hampton Inn!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Sep 13, 2023
Nancy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent stay. We're glad to hear that our staff provided you with friendly and helpful service, but we're disheartened to learn that your experience fell short of your expectations. Your feedback will be taken into account as we continually work on improving our facilities and services. Thank you for your valuable input, and we hope you'll consider giving us another opportunity to provide you with a more satisfactory experience in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Terrible stay at a “luxury resort” that doesn’t come close to delivering. Too many problems to list here. Given that this was the most expensive hotel we’ve ever stayed at, it’s hard not to feel like we got scammed somewhere along the way. Three restaurants, one of which is actually good but wildly, overly expensive and hard to get into and not a realistic option for most of your trip. The others have excruciatingly slow and awkward service, and one only serves lunch. The dinner place was out of three things I tried to order, and charged $50 for four (4) overcooked scallops. No shop for snacks, no room service. Bottom line, expect to dine slowly and expensively on their schedule, and/or leave the resort constantly for food. Spa books up weeks in advance apparently, so by the time we checked in I couldn’t use it. Three pools: one adults only, one is indoors, leaving just one for the majority of summer guests. No kiddie pool for the littles. Meaning when our teenager wanted to swim, we had to get in a pool crowded with yelling toddlers. Staff sets up some chairs and umbrellas on the beach in the morning, once they’re all taken, you’ll need to carry your own out there. Towels were inconsistently available. Virtually no staff in the area to assist with anything. The activities booth is run by a guy from Kitty Hawk Kites who will sign you up for everything from parasailing to nature tours. He helped us tremendously. It’s telling that the only person who went out of his way to help us this week doesn’t even work for the Sanderling. Our room, a corner junior suite, was a fourth floor walkup with odd layout. Microwave/coffee pot on a console table, clear across the room from a minifridge that froze our food. Lots of maintenance issues: the rod to close the curtain was missing, the balcony door didn’t close and lock properly, they didn’t even set the time on the microwave. And a shower that was badly broken for our first two days. Front desk told us they would knock $150 off our stay. That would be insufficient to compensate for two days of stress and icy showers and time spent dealing with it, BUT when we got our bill we noticed they didn’t even actually give us the refund! Cleanliness was poor. We cleaned someone else’s spill out of our minifridge, there were scuffs and dirty spots on the walls, stained carpet, a squished bug streaked on the ceiling, and one of the bedside drawers had a bunch of chip crumbs. Housekeeping makes one attempt per day. If you happen to need privacy when they come, your room’s just not getting cleaned today. We found ourselves leaving the room when we didn’t want to, in hopes that housekeeping would come. Just like food, we had to plan around the Sanderling’s schedule. Also, bugs. I’ve never stayed in any hotel or rental home, anywhere, including OBX, with even a fraction of how many bugs were in this room. We ignored the ants, spiders, beetles. But I draw the line at the big, fast creepy crawly that skittered across the carpet one evening when we turned off the light. Management claims it’s a water bug, but we (and some of the staff) swear it was a cockroach. I spent the next two nights freaking out about that, couldn’t check out soon enough. Everything at the Sanderling is pretty on the surface, but slow, awkward, broken, and dirty directly underneath. Hospitality is all but nonexistent. Nearly all common area chairs, and many tables, have stains, crumbs, and/or tears. Cleanliness and maintenance are not priorities. Amenities are limited and service is slow and awkward if you can even get it. Promised a refund but didn’t deliver. If this were a cheap hotel I’d maybe give it two or three stars. For a luxury resort around $700/night plus resort fee, highway robbery, negative stars.…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Book dining and spa way in advance if they're important to you. Bring cleaning supplies. Or just...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Sep 5, 2023
Hello Laura, thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. We understand that your experience did not meet your expectations and we truly value your input. It's unfortunate to hear that various aspects of your stay fell short of the level of service that we aim to provide. It is disappointing to hear of the inconveniences you faced in regard to your dining experience, accommodations and general service. Please know that your feedback has been taken into consideration and will be shared with our team to improve the experience of our guests. Thank you for sharing your observations, as it helps us identify areas that need attention. We hope that you will consider giving us another chance in the future to provide you with a more positive stay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We just completed our 4 night stay. This was our second time at the Sanderling. Our first time in 2018, was wonderful which is why we returned. However, this recent stay was disappointing due to our accommodations. Our two queen bed room was in poor condition. The rug, walls, bathroom were all in dirty condition (stains, crumbs, etc). The toilet (I had to fix it as there no response from guest services)and sink were broken, the screen on our slider was hanging off of the frame, our towels were not replenished daily, humidifier not emptied, cobwebs covered our outdoor balcony, black mold on the bathroom wall, etc. For the amount of money we paid, these conditions are absolutely unacceptable. Very disappointed
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Aug 30, 2023
Hi Jennifer, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. It's disheartening to hear that the condition of your accommodations did not meet your expectations and that there were multiple issues that affected your comfort. Please know that this is not the standard of service and quality that we strive to provide to our guests. We take your feedback seriously and will use it to address the issues you've mentioned to ensure that they are resolved. We appreciate your loyalty as a returning guest, and we hope that we will have another opportunity in the future to provide you with the exceptional experience that you deserve.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Where do I begin? I originally booked a room with laminate floors, what I got checked in to was a room that was filthy with disgusting carpets and a dirty old humidifier in the room. Cobwebs and mold on ceiling with a gross smell in the room. When you are spending over $700 a night you don’t expect a holiday inn. Tried to switch rooms, front desk said sold out of 2 queen beds. Hallway carpets and stairs going up were absolutely filthy and full of dirt. Not once did they vacuum or try and wash the carpets. Disney washes and vacuums their carpets, especially in high traffic areas. I was so grossed out. The rooms and buildings need a major renovation. Pool chairs were ripped, one even had a hole in it. Some of the Towels were faded and gross. Pool needs an upgrade as well. We ate at lifesaving station and while our waiter was great, food was sub par with flies everywhere. Lobby area was nice. I couldn’t wait to leave and will not ever return. …
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Don’t bother coming. Period.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Aug 28, 2023
Lindsey, we're disheartened to learn that your recent experience at our property fell short of your expectations. We understand your concerns regarding the condition of your accommodations, cleanliness, and overall experience. Rest assured, your comments will be carefully reviewed and shared with our team to address the issues you've highlighted. It's regrettable that your stay did not meet the standard of quality that we strive to provide for our guests. We appreciate your candid feedback, as it helps us identify areas for improvement. Should you reconsider in the future, we would welcome the opportunity to provide you with a more positive and enjoyable stay.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We just came back from a visit from the Sanderling. Sadly, it is not the same Sanderling we have visited since the 90s. Upon check-in, the gal didn't greet us and acted annoyed that we were even there. Ok, no biggie; perhaps she is having a bad day. However, during our entire stay, every employee we encountered acted miserable. Hallways leading to the rooms are stained in multiple places, with pieces of trash littered along the way. During our entire stay, the stairs had the same pieces of debris that were not once vacuumed up. Bed linen was picked in different places, with furniture worn and dated. Volume on TV can't surpass "23" unless you know how to take hotel controls off. The building that we stayed in only has three floors. We were assigned a room on the 3rd floor, yet we could hear things above us all night and at random times during the day. Cobwebs are everywhere on the deck. On the day of our anniversary, we went to the bar around 4 pm in the lobby. Not one person at the bar, so I asked the bartender if I could have two wine glasses since I had brought our special bottle. You would have thought I asked for a drop of blood. He acted upset that I even asked. He said, technically, I'm supposed to call housekeeping. I told him I was just trying to have a glass of wine with my spouse. After much deliberation, he finally gave me two wine glasses. Geez, next time I will pack my own! Lastly, we tried to eat at the Lifesaving Station one day. We waited about 8 minutes before someone acknowledged us, even though multiple servers passed us. Once seated, we waited another 10 minutes without a server coming by to greet us or offer water or coffee. At this point, we gave up and left. We went and found food off the property. I'm unsure if it's under new management, but it is disappointing based on what you pay a night on top of the years of this being considered a luxurious resort. …
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Aug 22, 2023
Hi Nicole, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. While we are honored to have been chosen to host you and your spouse's anniversary, we are disheartened to that your experience fell short of your expectations. We strive to consistently provide each our guests with attentive and dedicated service and it's disappointing to read that your experience did not reflect that goal. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and has been shared with our leadership team to improve our offerings. We hope that in the future we will have the opportunity to welcome you back for an improved experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The resort is nice, but we are in a house and they advertise a view of the beautiful bay. True, but through thick trees and across a loud road of traffic. Obviously over selling. Staying here now. Buyer Beware.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Aug 10, 2023
Thomas, thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. While we are glad that you enjoyed your time with us, we are disappointed that your accommodations fell short of your expectations. We work hard to ensure every guest enjoys a relaxing environment and understand the frustrations unwanted noise can cause. Your other feedback is appreciated and will be shared with our team as we’re always looking for ways to elevate the overall experience. Thank you again and we hope we have the opportunity to welcome you back again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
As others have mentioned, the hotel could use a renovation but a thorough cleaning and general upkeep at the very least would help. Rooms, hallways and most common areas all look tired and dated. Simple things like clearing of cobwebs on balcony's, painting, power washing and a deep carpet clean would go a long way to help bring the hotel more in line more with the nightly rates charged. The property is very pretty, situated right on the beach. Although guests with families are relegated to the kids pool, which looks like it got the 15 year old left over furniture from the adults only pool. Old and worn loungers and no food/drink service are what you should expect if you have kids. In general, service seemed to be lacking. Most employees were nice and helpful but it seemed like the property was running on the bare bones amount of staff. A truly 4-star "resort" should also offer food/drink service not only at the adult pool, but also at the beach and family pool. This seems like a no brainer and a missed revenue opportunity for the hotel. At the end of the day, the hotel is really the only game in town so why would they be incentivized to do better or provide added value. I probably wouldn't return until the hotel went through a renovation given the rates charged. …
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Property Management, General Manager at Sanderling Resort
Responded Aug 7, 2023
Jon, thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent stay with us. We appreciate your honest input and take your comments seriously as they help us identify areas for improvement. Your feedback concerning updates and remodeling are well noted. We're committed to enhancing the overall quality of our property to ensure a more pleasant stay for all our guests. We will be sure to pass your comments along to our leadership team in order to improve the overall guest experience. We hope to have another opportunity to welcome you back for the incredible stay we are known for.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Duck area.
PRICE RANGE
$228 - $319 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sanderling hotel duck, sanderling resort duck, the sanderling
LOCATION
United StatesNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina CoastOuter BanksDuck
NUMBER OF ROOMS
128
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Claim Your ListingSANDERLING RESORT - Updated 2023 Prices & Reviews (Duck, NC - Outer Banks)
Frequently Asked Questions about Sanderling Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Sanderling Resort?
Nearby attractions include Duck Town Boardwalk (4.0 miles), Local Color - Painting Parties & Fine Art (4.2 miles), and Scarborough Lane Shoppes (4.4 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Sanderling Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free wifi, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Sanderling Resort?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Sanderling Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Sanderling Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Duck Donuts, Paper Canoe, and The Blue Point.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Sanderling Resort?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness center, and locker rooms available in the fitness center during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Sanderling Resort?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Sanderling Resort offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Does Sanderling Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is Sanderling Resort accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.