Blue Heron Motel

I wish I could give this motel less than one star. We booked online and received confirmation. Once we arrived in town, I called ahead to see if we were able to get into the room early to drop our bags off. The person who answered informed me that they had cancelled our booking because they overbooked it. They hadn't called or emailed to let us know, just canceled it. We stopped by to see if we could figure out what to do and the man (owner) said he never got our reservation in the first place (in spite of the confirmation email and the first man telling us what really happened with being overbooked). The owner told us he could book us at a different hotel with two doubles (not near the water) for the same price but since we had already paid for a king size, waterfront room and no price adjustment was given, we declined. The owner was shockingly rude and indifferent and perfectly happy with leaving us with nowhere to stay. We obviously won't be returning.

We used to come here all the time for years in the past but the previous owners were not updating the motel and they didn't allow pets. This time we had been staying at another place for a few days and wanted to stay one more night in Nags Head. We happen to noticed a dog at motel and inquired if pets were allowed. To our joy, the new owners were very nice and accommodating. They had some rooms available for pets. We were extremely happy with the updated room and the cleanliness. This place is a great location on the beach and has indoor outdoor pools. We will be back!

All I can say is I SHOULD have checked Yelp. The reviews you see below about dirty towels, bugs, etc., are all true. To start, I am handicapable. I have to use a cane to steady myself at times and ALWAYS use handrails. I was put in a third-floor room. Not only is there no elevator, the handrails are not even satisfactory - they sure as heck don't meet any code, but were probably grandfathered in. I knew we were in the room assigned, as I called at 8 a.m. to confirm. I just didn't know it was on the third floor. When we got there, I asked for early check-in. On top of the $359.00 price tag, they wanted an extra $100.00 for the early check-in. I made a point of showing the desk clerk my cane, in reference to the third-floor room, and it made no difference. When we got upstairs, the first thing I noticed was the bathroom. Not only would the door not fully close (humidity requires shaving the door), there was no bathroom fan. There were two small towels and two washcloths. Neither inspired much faith. Then, while glancing around, I noticed the hair on the bathroom floor, in the sink, and in the tub. I'll add, hair of different varieties just so you can understand my disgust. The floor was already gritty and sandy when we checked in, so that was another thumbs down.Thankfully, it had a mini-fridge and microwave. Again, not pristine like one would expect when paying that price, but tolerable. The view was great, I'm not going to lie. But the hotel owners and staff didn't have to do anything to correct that.There was a king-size bed, which was pretty comfortable. Certainly not the quality of Hilton (which sometimes costs even less than this joint.) However, the fear of the bugs (which I'd already seen) put the fear of bed bugs in me. There are no backboards on the beds, which is usually where the tell can be found for bed bugs. So, my night was disrupted by little crawly feelings on my body. Fortunately, I did not find any bites and did all my clothes upon arriving home.When calling to check out the next morning, the hotel clerk did ask if we'd like to stay another night. However, I think it was because the hotel was not sold out, not as a means to compensate us for any of the discomforts.I had a great time despite all the above shenanigans, but that is not due to anything the motel did or said. It was due to the fantastic company - the man I love. If you're in a pinch and don't care about all these negative reviews, go for it. You can have a good time in a tent situated in a mud puddle, with the right company. But don't expect to get what you pay for; you certainly will not.

Once was a great family owned operation that offered a great stay at a reasonable price, family oriented, longtime employees caring folks with a long list of repeat regular clients that you'd see year after year. Now..... who know who owns it. Literally! They are not nice or friendly. They don't communicate well nor understand the request/complaint you are telling them. Whoever is the owner needs to put the right employee to work there. Of course I think they want to do away with paying anyone as you now check in Thru a kiosk in the office. With someone the screen which you can understand just a bit better. They has increased prices dramatically each year since taking over. I can understand increases and especially in this inflation. But in the few years they have owned it it has increased 100%. Yes that's. doubled! This is not a $300+ a night place period. Especially now. Let's list the amenities......outdoor pool, indoor pool with hot tub. Oh and a dumb waiter that only works sometimes. Yup that's it. No elevator, no breakfast, no workout equipment, NO TOWELS let alone towels service. Before I say anything about the bugs let me speak to our towel struggles. Get to the room and want to shower after a long motorcycle ride. The only towel in the room was dirty and stained so used beach towel. Ok no prob. Second day attempted to get a set of towels (4) in the morning afternoon and evening. No one was around. No one. Beach towel again and not happy. Notice 1st bug this night. Third day on second attempt went into their laundry room and got a set (4) from the very nice lady washing sheets. Finally! Go get ready to take the wife out for her birthday dinner and she goes to get a towels and there's a clump of hair. WWHHAATT!!! Second and third towel same thing. See pics. Im fuming. FUMING. Go down to the office with the towels to show this "manager" and all he wants to do is replace those towels. Showed the lady that was checking in the towels to let her know what she was getting into. It was 6:00 and I wanted so bad to leave. We had a birthday dinner at a nice restaurant. We left early the next day. I called someone within the company and they did compensate us a little. One night. Unless you consider bugs, dirty towels and hair on towels an amenity in addition to the pool this is what I call a flea bag hotel. After almost 20 years of going to this place, we will never set foot in this place again. It's such a shame that this place has gone from sugar to sh!+. Just look at the beach access now. All other walkways to the left and right of this place were clear but "manager" said they just had a storm and that is why it's all covered with sand. ‍

If you're looking for luxury or customer service; don't stay here. If you're looking for staff to leave you alone and just let you be unless you need something; then this is your place. The view from our room was fabulous as well as from the entryway. You are within walking distance to Jennette's Pier and a lot of the shops and restaurants. Location is excellent for everything we wanted to do.The bed was comfortable and the room overall was clean and sufficient for our stay. Nothing fancy at all. Bring your own hairdryer because there isn't one in the room. There is no room service or complimentary breakfast. The balcony is not private and we had some VERY loud girls directly beside us that we could see and hear everything and every conversation they had so it was difficult to enjoy the balcony. We also had some smokers who smoked on the balconies even though it clearly states there is no smoking on the balcony.There is also no elevator; which wasn't an issue for us but may be a deal breaker for some people.

Wow. I really wanted to like this place. When we booked the room, we were given the option of either a lower floor or higher floor. I requested one of the higher ones due to the beautiful views of the ocean (which is literally the only reason I chose this place). But we were placed on the bottom floor. Okay, kinda disappointing but whatever. The walls are paper thin, you can hear everyone around you like they're in the same room. Today, a few days into our stay, we discovered bedbugs. It made sense, I had been waking with bug bites every single day but I had assumed it was from sand fleas. Nope! I called the front office and told them what we found, and the man working asked me if I was sure, I said yes. He literally went on to say "I'm so sorry. We haven't had a complaint of that in six months." WHAT. So he offered to place us in a different room. I was willing to do that, so I sent my husband to switch out the room keys while I packed our stuff. He got to the office and they informed him that a room wouldn't be available until tonight. I called the office again and they offered a refund thankfully. But that isn't where the nightmare ends. As we were about to leave, a cleaning lady came by for towels. Not ALL the towels. Only the ones we'd used. She specifically said that wash cloths are fine, she didn't need those. So only the towels we used were getting washed, nothing else was. Furious, we went through the room to see if the bedbugs were lurking anywhere else. We decided to look under the bathroom sink in the cabinet, which we hadn't opened before. Oh my god. I wish we'd looked sooner. Lo and behold there was a giant dead cockroach. We will NEVER be returning to this place and I recommend no one else waste their money here. Absolutely disgusting. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't even wash the bedding. Steer clear!!!Edited to add: If they aren't washing towels and there's roaches and bedbugs, chances are they're doing nothing to prevent the spread of COVID.

This place is a dump!!! We don't mind an old facility but it was NASTY! THE rude manager did not honor our reservation for a first floor kitchenette, so my 70 year old husband and I had to climb stairs with our luggage!!!! The room was nasty....see pics, but the worst was the construction going on in the rooms right above us!!!! The manager lied saying they were not doing any work, butthere was hammering, drilling and loud voices, and doors banging! I can understand needing to do an update, but you shouldn't put guests under all that noise, and in a room that was NASTY! it was so bad we checked for bed bugs!!!! Do NOT STAY THERE!!!! do not believe the good reviews on their own site!!! The only good thing is that it is oceanfront!

After reading good reviews, we booked. As it was the final Sunday of the July 4 weekend, we paid a premium price, $ 320 for a room. $ 320 on peak season, I understand. We chose here because of the kitchen and location as weeks on the road eating at restaurants saw us missing good nutrition for the kids. 1. Kitchen stove had 4 burners, only 1 worked.2. Ok, it's a beach hotel and pretty old. The room floor was filthy. Our feet were black after a few minutes of walking on it.4. Toilet was wobbly, not fully repaired correctly.3. Our 2 kids needed a shower/bath. We had no water, the entire hotel had no water. No information from the staff on check in. Our kids had a 40 minute bath - only drops at a time from the faucet into a kitchen pot. No choice, at that point it was too late in the evening to get my little ones to another place but for $ 320 a night.... Management said sorry, Home Depot was closed and I'd have to wait, wtf. I'm sure there's a 24 hour plumber on OBX, easy to google. Water came back around 11 pm, bigger trickle and ice cold.In the morning, I complained about it all. The office staff said sorry and offered a 20% refund back by via Expedia. None arrived after 3 weeks. I emailed the hotel, asked for the refund. the "Manager" reply was again it would be done via Expedia. Expedia was informed of the stay, refund and emails from the hotel. Blue Heron refused even after in person assurance and email. We stayed in 36 hotels on our US holiday, some good but all with honest management. We don't complain much but in this case, Blue Heron might be a good place but our experience was less than the value of the room for sure.I was patient. I emailed politely. Expedia sympathized and apologized even offering me a $ 40 credit because the management was dishonest. Now time to post, not with bad intent but to inform.

I booked my trip on booking.com and paid in full before arriving to the motel for my weekend stay in July. Upon check in I supplied ID and credit card. After checking out and leaving I was charge $505 by this motel. I had already paid for my trip with booking.com so they should not have charged me anything. I have called them several times since then trying to get them to refund me. They originally refused then said they would and after a week of seeing it not taken off my card I called back and they are now refusing again. Do not stay here. They owe me $505 and do not return phone calls and refuse to refund me when I booked and paid for my trip prior to arriving.

The motel has really gone down hill. Our ceiling had a massive leak that spread. They wouldnt come fix it and told us to use our ice bucket for the night and hung up on us. We were offered a different room the next day right next to the leaking one. Our keys CONSTANTLY stopped working. We had to have 8 keys redone in TWO days! The room was dirty and out dated and the beds were so uncomfortable. The only pro to this hotel was being right on the beach. I have absolutely nothing else good to say about it. You could get something way better for the ridiculous price they charge! SAVE YOUR MONEY AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!