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“The Fishbowl” - The Perfect Surf City Intimate Beach Cottage!

your current months are January, 2025 and February, 2025.
January 2025
February 2025

Photo gallery for “The Fishbowl” - The Perfect Surf City Intimate Beach Cottage!

Interior
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
TV, video games
2 bedrooms, WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Surf City, NC
  • Surf City Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Back in Touch Massage, Yoga, & Lomilomi
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Inis Spa
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪44 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Surf City

When you a stay at this cottage in Holly Ridge, you'll be near the beach, within a 5-minute walk of Surf City Beach and Back in Touch Massage, Yoga, & Lomilomi. .This cottage is 0.5 mi (0.7 km) from Inis Spa and 0.5 mi (0.9 km) from Escape Spa.
View more Cottages in Surf CityOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Inis Spa - 9 min walk
  • Surf City Pier - 15 min walk
  • Southside Park - 18 min walk
  • Ohana Paddle Sports - 19 min walk
  • The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center - 6 min drive

Getting around

  • Wilmington Intl. Airport (ILM) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Buddy's Crab House & Oyster Bar - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Salty Turtle Beer Company - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Sears Landing Grill & Boat Docks - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Shaka Taco - ‬13 min walk

About this property

Entire place

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

“The Fishbowl” - The Perfect Surf City Intimate Beach Cottage!

A lovely, 2nd row, beach cottage, perfect for your stay at Surf City! Within walking distance of local restaurants, shops, and public beach access. Open plan with spacious screened in back patio.
TV, cable, and WiFi also provided. Full kitchen to allow your family to enjoy home cooked meals too!

The Fishbowl has a spacious, screened in back porch, a perfect place to chill and enjoy a quiet morning cup of coffee. A gas grill is also available for use by guests.

The Fishbowl sits on the 2nd row road, oceanside, about 100 yards from a convenient beach access point. From the front porch, local restaurants, bars, and shops are just across the street within walking distance.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned cottage, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private patio. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Crystal Medlin

Property amenities

Beach

  • Near the beach
  • Beach sunloungers

Internet

  • WiFi available

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Toaster
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bath or shower
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Towels provided
  • Hairdryer
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV
  • Video games

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Things to do

  • Power boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: There is an additional $100 pet fee

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
The Fishbowl The Perfect Surf City Intimate Beach Cottage!
“The Fishbowl” The Perfect Surf City Intimate Beach Cottage!

“The Fishbowl” - The Perfect Surf City Intimate Beach Cottage! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 34 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Vivian M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Property management needed
We checked in at 5:30p.m. for a week long stay and after going out to dinner, we returned to find that one of bedrooms had no working lights, bulb out? Idk. But that would pale to the cleanliness issues. The couches are some old dorm room rejects that my dog and child wouldn’t sit on. The owner responded quickly. However, after I sent pics of the problem areas, i.e. sticky and dirty interior door to name one, scheduling the cleaners became an issue of when it suited the owner. I declined cleaning as I didn’t want to spend more than a day on this issue and I would just diy it(no vacancies elsewhere ). In short, I returned to the rental after a quick errand and the cleaners were inside without my permission. Per the owner, there is no one nearby to help remedy issues like replacing the bulb and there were no step stools or safe way to change the lightbulb myself. Toilet has issues. Location is great the floor plan of this house is also great. Sadly this could have been a great rental but I didn't get a vacation from cleaning or plumbing. PDF for occupant guidelines were incorrect and dated,( wrong day for trash pickup so the smell from the outdoor [full] trash bin for pick up would hit us in the face every time when entered the front door. Had to ask the neighbor for trash day info. We left a day early.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Norberto (Bert) R., Cary, North Carolina

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome with closeness to beach
Stayed with wife and 2 of the 4 grandkids. Arrived and found the house was not cleaned. contacted the host and she got in touch with cleaning personnel that arrived shortly. They did a great job and oh BTW it's not the host's fault. she had it scheduled. one of the rooms had a repair on the wall by the Circuit Breaker box that needs painting. The AC unit worked flawlessly and there was plenty Hot Water. The rear porch is filled with all kinds of items to use on the beach. The kids tried a Boogie Board and loved it. Walk to the beach access (#12) is less than 50 yds. from the house. They left paper plates and utensils , however, we preferred the real stuff. I made some suggestions for an even greater experience that I shared with the host and she agreed to look into them and incorporate them. We are going back to Topsail Beach but the dates were already booked at this house. We will definitely stay in another year. Price is super as compared to other fancy places.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bradford S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Baby Girls Beach Trip
Had a great time house is small but very nice fit perfect for myself wife and three little ones along with one dog. Nice yard area. Lots of beach items for the kids to use and we added to them. Do to reasons we had to leave two days early to return home. Very close and easy access to the beach nice area. Would defiantly stay again
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful vacation
This is a great location. Quiet neighborhood. Perfect size for a small family. I would definitely book again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danielle D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice winter getaway
My daughter and I were in town visiting my three sons who live on the island. This was a perfect location for us. Close to EVERYTHING! The owner was very prompt with communication. Nice touch to have a basket of holiday goodies upon arrival. One big plus is to have linens, towels, kitchen supplies etc all there. Thank you for a nice stay!!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angel E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Thanksgiving trip
We wanted a nice little getaway for Thanksgiving and our dog had recently been diagnosed with heart failure and had never seen the beach so we wanted to include her. We were glad we found a pet friendly house so close to the beach! A nice lil basket awaited us at the house with dog treats and snacks for the kids. Whole town was very pet friendly. House was a super close walk to the beach and in a quiet area but close enough to some good restaurants. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin R., jonesville nc

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect get away!!
We couldn't have picked a better pet friendly place at the beach! Crystal was a great host and the fishbowl had everything anyone would need for the beach and I mean everything from toys to fishing rods to a surfboard. A great place for pets complete with a tie-out and a big yard plus a nice treat basket for us and our pets!! A very short walk to the beach! The house was stocked with everything as well from linens to a completely stocked kitchen..a screened in back porch with a gas grill and big table to enjoy dinner outside...Can't wait until next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

James B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved The fishbowl!
Thanks for the amazing place to stay! My girlfriend and I and our german shepherd had an amazing time! We loved the house! Everything we needed plus more was furnished. Easy unloading/ loading the vehicle. The back deck was nice to place for our chairs, etc because of the sand. And the water hose on the side of the house was nice to spray off before we went inside! Short walk to the beach! 10/10 would recommend to anyone! Thanks for the opportunity!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joseph V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Labor Day stay
Property was in good shape and very close to beach access. Very cute bungalow. We would definitely stay again. Communication with host was very helpful and timely.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chrishana W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
We enjoyed our time. Sweet house, close to beach access.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steve B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Surf City
Cozy, close to beach and walking distance to everything.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amanda C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Such a cute place!
We really enjoyed our trip to “The Fishbowl “! It’s a great location close to the beach and to lots of good food and shopping. Plenty of room and we loved the porch.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tricia S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Beach Cottage for Family of 4
This little beach cottage was perfect for our family of 4. Beach access was so close! We had everything we needed to have a great week. We enjoyed having the kitchen and 1 bedroom for the adults and 1 for the kids. Crystal was good at communicating with us. She provided a cute basket of treats for the kids. We would rent from her again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Oren H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Don’t Expect Tajmahal
Easy beach access 1/2 block; 3/4 mile walk to “old town” Surf City; 2 blocks to High Waters Sports Bar and Grill and to Herring’s Outdoor Sports. Furnishing style is “single surfer dude second hand store”. Kitchen is functional and propane grill works. Internet is serviceable and each tv has Roku streaming with the Roku channel - you’ll have to use your own login for Netflix,etc. The bathroom is about what you would expect in an old double wide unit. Good place for the dog and served our needs for a week.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

James J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Home away from home
Truly enjoyed my stay at this cottage convienantly located to the beach and restaraunts. Will stay again. I recommend this cottage for your getaway.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kayla H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful
We loved our stay. Very clean and dog friendly! Short walk to the beach 10/10 would definitely stay again!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

6/10 Okay

Darryl W.

Disliked: Cleanliness
The fishbowl
The only positive about this property is thats its a short walk to the beach. A bed pillow had blood stains on it. The faucet in the shower had black and green mold. There was thick soap scum on the shower walls. We found a dead cockroach in one of the bedrooms. The ceiling fan/light in the living area didn't work. Several light bulbs were burnt out. Thick, black dust around vents and light fixtures. We have emailed the host and have heard nothing from her.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cale F., Winston Salem, NC

Liked: Cleanliness
Great beach stay
Perfect for a family beach trip. Its got enough space, great outdoor area, and is very close to the beach access point. I hope to return again soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Jason B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice place
Place was good. Had some issues getting checked in but it was worked out and our stay was nice.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful house!!
While not “on” the beach, this house is a perfect beach house!! The public access to the beach is a short 2-minute walk. There’s a surfboard, boogie boards, and lots of shovels, buckets, etc. for the beach, and an outside hose to rinse off when you get back!! The kitchen is fully stocked with every gadget you might need. Both bedrooms have TVs as well as the living room!! My only negative is the burners on the stove are uneven, which was a tad frustrating when cooking, but not so bad that we won’t be back again next year!! This house is PERFECT for a family!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica B., Pineville, NC

Hidden gem
Crystal was great with communication, and very helpful. Home was cozy and a short walk to beach access. Already booked another trip! Thank you to the owners for sharing their home and providing a place to make memories with family!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mindi W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved the Fishbowl!
We loved the Fishbowl. It was so close to the beach making it easy for us to roll out of bed and hit the sand. It was also nice being able to leave the beach and come grab something to eat/drink. We had a great time walking to get dinner some nights. The fishbowl was great for what we were looking for and came equipped with anything we could have needed. Beds were comfy, house was cozy, all made for the perfect trip.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

MYRANDA C.

Wonderful Stay.
So first I’d love to say, you can’t beat the value of this property and it’s proximity to entertainment ie the beach, ice cream and places to eat. Our biggest complaints were the cleanliness and the shower head. The place was “clean” but it was all the small stuff that was annoying: left over shrimp in the freezer, the grill was horrendous, the back porch could use some “love”, window sills were dust. Don’t get me wrong it didn’t spoil our vacation but maybe the owner can have a talk with their cleaning company? And the water pressure in the shower was HORRIBLE! Despite those “discrepancies” we loved it and plan to come back.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nathan C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful place to stay. We will be going back. We give the Fishbowl 5 stars.
Very easy to rent and jump right on any problems you may have.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

corwin g.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location
Wonderfully close to the beach with a fresh seafood market that will steam our selections with in minutes walk. Great house, clean. Good stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021