Bargain House Rentals – Look Before You Leap

Our in-laws who usually cruise or go to first class hotels, rented a rustic house in Lake Lure, NC for a change of pace. I joined them for the weekend. The approximately $600/week was a reasonable price, but perhaps not all they expected. Here is what went right and what went wrong, starting appropriately with the bad news first:

The Good News

If you like peace you had it.

Besides the complexes beach, Lake Lure also had a beach.

The Bad News

The house was about 2 miles uphill on winding gravel roads from the entrance to the gated complex. This took at least 10 minutes to navigate and made it inconvenient to the small lake and beach the complex had. Also none of us would venture to drive up and down after dark.

The house was supposed to sleep 8 but there was only 2 queen beds and a couch e.g. sleeps 5. We had expected 6 people for the weekend but fortunately one bowed out.

The house had only basic TV with poor reception.

Lake Lure was not convenient to major roads/expressways. The roads leading from Lake Lure to other attractions (mainly the Blue Ridge mountains) were winding.

Although the house was in good shape and clean, it was located entirely in woods. There were also several wasp nests around and I got bitten and my arm swelled up. I had to buy anti-histamine to help the swelling go down. The real estate people were prompt in cleaning up the nests but the damage had already been done.

Although my in-laws came to North Carolina to cool off it was quite hot and humid at Lake Lure when we were there. Only, when we drove up to higher elevations did it get truly mountain cool.

My Conclusions

What I learned on this trip is to make sure you check things out all the angles carefully. For example, don’t rely on “it sleeps …” but find out exactly what the sleeping arrangements are. Find out how far things are from where you are staying and what kinds of roads there are. Always take appropriate medical stuff with you including insect repellents and medications you think you may need.

Bargain Beaches

Summer is the peak time for beaches in the U.S. But in some locations the peak summer rates end earlier than one would imagine. Take Myrtle Beach S.C. a real fun place and also a good hopping off for Charleston S.C., Hilton Head Island and other destinations. Looking at Sunday July 16 2006 Charlotte Observer I the following ad:

Spring Beach Resort 5 night summer special $349 per person Sun-Fri includes daily hot breakfast buffet. This comes out to slightly less than $140 for the room per night. This rate is for 7/9 - 8/17/06.

However, the same package is available from 8/20 - 9/14/06 for only $279. This comes out to slightly less than $112 for the room per night.

In general, peak rates end for many  Myrtle Beach hotels/motels towards the end of August. A possible reason for this is that many public schools in the Southeast start their new school year towards the end of August - whereas my experience from New York is that schools there start in early September.

Nice Parks on Route 77 North of Charlotte

Two Nice Parks traveling North from Charlotte, North Carolina along Route 77.

 

Jetton Park, Cornelius NC

To get there: Exit 28 Route 77. Go west onto Catawba Ave. (left coming when going Northbound, Right when southbound) about 1.5 miles, right onto Jetton Rd about 1.5 miles see the park entrance on left.

Parking Fees Weekends in season $5 ($3 Mecklenburg County residents) otherwise free.

 

What’s there: It’s a peninsula jutting into Lake Norman with nice walking trails, a non-swimming beach, and tennis courts.

 

Lake Norman State Park, Troutman NC

 

To get there: When going Northbound, Exit 36 Route 77 left when exiting onto Route 150 River Highway go about 3-4 miles right onto Perth Road (it will say Poole road on the left and Perth on the right. Go about 5-6 miles and make a left onto State Park Road.

Follow the road until park entrance.

 

When going Southbound, Exit 42 Route 77 Northbound on Route 21 left onto Perth Road and right onto State Park Road. Follow the road until park entrance

 

There were no entrance/parking charges at the time I went in July 2006

 

What’s there: It’s abuts Lake Norman. The first parking lot has pedal boats and canoes at $5/hour and walking trails. Continue to the parking lot at the end of the main road and there is a sand beach with swimming and a bath house for showering/changing.