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Happy Honu - Dog-Friendly Beach Retreat, Screened Porch, Walk to Beach

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A kitchen with white cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, and a dining table set with chairs and a vase of flowers.
A spacious living room with a large TV, two patterned armchairs, a dining area, and a kitchen in the background.
A sign with the text "HAPPY HONU" on a wooden structure.
A spacious kitchen with a large island, white cabinetry, and a view of the outdoors.
A kitchen with white cabinets, a granite countertop, and a wooden floor.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10164 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Kure Beach, NC
  • Place, Kure Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Kure Beach Pier
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Ocean Front Park
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Studio (3 Bedrooms) | Property amenity
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Wilmington Beach
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
5.0 out of 5, Exceptional, 1 review
Good Vibrations by Carolina Retreats

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Happy Honu - Dog-Friendly Beach Retreat, Screened Porch, Walk to Beach

Looking for a relaxing beach getaway where the whole family - including your dog - can feel right at home? Happy Honu offers the perfect combination of comfort, space, and easy coastal living.

With a fully fenced backyard, screened-in porch, bikes, wagon, and plenty of room for up to 10 guests, everything is set up for an easy and enjoyable Kure Beach vacation.

⭐ Why Guests Love Happy Honu
Fully fenced backyard - great for dogs and kids
Spacious screened-in porch for morning coffee and evening drinks
Unique shaded deck built around a beautiful live oak tree
Bikes, wagon, and beach gear included
4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms - sleeps up to 10
Open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area
Outdoor shower for rinsing off after the beach
Easy walk to the beach, Kure Beach Pier, restaurants, and local favorites
Quiet street with minimal traffic
Parking for up to 4 cars in the driveway.

⭐ Living, Kitchen & Dining
The open-concept layout makes it easy for everyone to spend time together, whether you're cooking dinner, watching a movie, or relaxing after a day at the beach.

Comfortable seating for the group
Fully stocked kitchen
Granite countertops and upgraded finishes
Kitchen island with additional seating
Dining table for family meals

⭐ Sleeping Arrangements
Primary Bedroom: King bed
Second Bedroom: Queen bed
Third Bedroom: Queen bed
Fourth Bedroom (downstairs): 2 bunk beds

The flexible layout works well for families, multiple couples, and mixed-age groups.

⭐ Outdoor Living
Some of the best moments at Happy Honu happen outside. Start your morning with coffee on the screened-in porch, unwind on the unique shaded deck built around a live oak tree, or enjoy the fenced backyard with the family.

After a day at the beach, the outdoor shower makes rinsing off the sand quick and easy.


⭐ Dog-Friendly Details 🐾
Your four-legged family members are welcome too! Happy Honu welcomes dogs with prior approval, and the fully fenced backyard makes traveling with your pup even easier.

- $250 non-refundable pet fee.
- Dogs must be leashed at all times outside the property
- April 1 – September 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM
- October 1 – March 31: Dogs are allowed on the beach anytime

⭐ Good to Know
- Check in is at 4:00PM or after and check out is at 10AM.
- Linens and towels are included.
- Must be 25 or older to rent.
- Smoking is proibited on the deck or screened-in porch
- A signed Booking Agreement is required before check-in.

Whether you're planning beach days, family dinners, relaxing evenings on the porch, or adventures around Kure Beach, Happy Honu is a comfortable home base for making great vacation memories.
During your stay at this holiday home, you're just a quick walk from Kure Beach Pier. Features include laundry facilities. Free WiFi and a kitchen are available in the holiday home.
  • Air-conditioned home with kitchen, washing machine and 3 bathrooms
  • Free WiFi
  • Amenities include laundry facilities
  • 7 minutes by foot from Kure Beach Pier and a 2-minute drive from Carolina Beach
As a guest of Happy Honu - Dog-Friendly Beach Retreat, Screened Porch, Walk to Beach, you'll find barbecue grills, a garden, and laundry facilities. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Charcoal grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Bicycles
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,760 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

2512-239556

Happy Honu - Dog-Friendly Beach Retreat, Screened Porch, Walk to Beach Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 40 out of 46 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 46 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 46 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 46 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is our 3rd year staying here and it is the best. Great location, the house is amazing and so relaxing. Always clean and host is easy to reach. Can't wait to book our trip for next year.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Chris P.

Great stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The house is spacious, had all of the amenities we would ever need, and very comfortable.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

La Toya P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely gorgeous property!!!

This house was perfect for our family's vacation and we will definitely consider booking again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Yearly Friends Vaca

We love staying at this property. It is in the perfect location for everything we do, it has the perfect amount of space and is just overall the best. We have turned this into a yearly trip and this is the only place we like to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Erin A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Family Getaway

We couldn't have asked for a better experience at Happy Honu! It was clean, beautiful, well-stocked, comfortable, spacious, and convenient. We will definitely look to stay here again in the future!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

matt t.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

March trip

We really enjoyed this place! Cute house, not far from the beach. Had everything we needed for a great getaway
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacation

We had a wonderful stay at Happy Honu.. the house was clean and the location was close to everything, could walk to seafood restaurant and pier if you wanted to.. also close to a park for kiddos.. would definitely recommend this home away from home!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kelly c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short walk to the beach!

We loved our stay at this cute little house. Short walk to beach, boardwalk and restaurants. Very clean and plenty of room for our family of 6. Pet friendly and even has a fenced in yard out back. Will definitely stay there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sarah N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacation

Perfect for a family vacation and walking distance to the beach. Fenced in backyard for fur baby was just a added bonus to this rental.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Angie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Place

This house is a gem! We enjoyed our stay over thanksgiving. The kitchen is fully stocked which was def a plus! Can’t wait to book in the near future.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sienna R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House For Your Family

What a perfect house for a beach vacation with your family. The balcony had a gate above the stairs making it perfect to keep the kids up while you lounged out in the sun. Everything you could want to do was easily walkable. My family had an amazing time staying here!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Linsey F.

Great House

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The beach house was great, very close to the beach and very comfortable. We all enjoyed our time.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

christina c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect stay!

Our group of 9 had a great time at the Happy Honu! This house was perfect for our 2 families. The location was fantastic, just a quick walk to the beach. The bikes and beach wagon were a great touch. The house was one of the cleanest we’ve stayed in in 10 years of coming to the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Home and Amazing Location

The description on the ad does not do this place justice. It was in a great location, lots of room and really made out vacation comfortable. Really enjoyed the area below the main deck for that extra relax time. Also met a few of the neighbors and all were friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Trip!

Short trip for 5k race, house was clean and great and the host was friendly and responsive. All good!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

claire h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our annual Memorial Weekend

Property was beautiful lots of room for everyone!! We especially liked the outdoor area with the picnic table. We rode the bikes and I realized the saying like riding a bicycle doesn’t apply to me!!!! Would definitely book again.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Donna Helms

Happy Hanu Rental

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The rental process was smooth and hassle free. House was ready at 4:00 and clean and well stocked. Recommendations for things to do at Kure Beach were appreciated and spot-on!!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

George T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Easy Breezy

Well appointed kitchen with everything you need- high quality. Nicely decorated; nice mattresses and decent linens. Ages are great; plenty of outdoor seating areas. It could use an outdoor table on upper deck; and outside cushions need cleaning. All else was great and we will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ruth G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing House and Location!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here with children/grandchildren and had a fantastic time! The house was spotless which is so nice to find upon arrival! We loved that the home was within walking distance to a dog park and the beach! Kure is a little quieter than Carolina which is just what we were looking for. Will definitely stay here again....it was wonderful!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Laura P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family spring break

We had an absolutely amazing time during our stay at Happy Honu. The house was exactly as listed if not better. It was clean, spacious and only a 5 minute walk to the beach & Kure Pier. The beach chairs/toys were an added bonus. We’d definitely stay again!! I would give it 6 stars if I could. The only item on our wishlist would be an air fryer.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hidden Gem

Wonderful place to escape w family. It’s clean and well appointed. Just note there are ALOT OF STEPS. My dad has Parkinson’s and it was tough going up and down the steps to the 1st level floor and to go outside from the deck. Other than that the Happy Honu was wonderful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Harpreet K.

Liked: Communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Hary

House needs a deep cleaning, it’s a pet friendly house but not cleaned at all, lots of dogs hair everywhere, house was full of mosquitoes and definitely had bed bugs. It’s a beautiful house with perfect floor plan and beautiful kitchen but needed a good deep cleaning
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Samuel A.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Birthday summer celebration

First impression was ok but the lack of cleaning was evident as we settled in. We really loved the location, outside shower and bikes. The house is very spacious and great for entertaining. The kitchen had everything needed for cooking. There was garbage left out on ground near cans and the yard needed mowing. The decks, outside tables and seating needed to be blown off. All of the blinds inside and out were very dirty, I had to check all windows as the ones in basement were unlocked. The laundry room drain needs to be cleaned because of the smell that was noticeable. The hammock needs to be move to another location. Overall it was enjoyable except for check in and check out times, not convenient.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Catherine A.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house with excellent location

The house was lovely and accommodated our two families well with the number of rooms and bathrooms for a two week stay. The kitchen was amazing and they provided some wonderful kitchen utensils and glassware which were perfect. On checking in, we did have a major problem with ants in the cabinets but luckily there were bait traps under the sink which took care of that problem. We then encountered a wasp nest just outside of the front door, but the property manager brought over some Raid. The house was not very clean when we arrived with dog kibble scattered throughout the house. One of the mattresses was completely shot so we weren't able to use one of the bedrooms. But the sofas were wonderful and the tvs provided were easily hooked up to our accounts. The biggest issue we had was that the front door lock stopped working after our first week and when we reached out to the property manager, they weren't able to fix it so we didn't have access to the main point of entry for the entire second week of our stay. This was super inconvenient and really made it cumbersome to get in and out of the house with three kids and three adults which is why I gave this stay only three stars.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2025
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

La Toya P.

Perfect Vacation Home!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: It has all the amenities you need for a large family with dogs. It is close enough to the beach to walk, and far enough away to avoid the busy traffic. Perfectly situated within a few blocks to a nice park and disc golf area. Very quiet neighborhood!! Would stay again and again.