The excitement of arriving at your vacation rental
Increasing numbers of vacationers are coming to realize how affordable it is to
take a vacation on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and even Nantucket. Unlike so many
other vacation destinations - where some of your greatest expenses don't even start
until after you arrive - the Cape and Islands offer so many free or inexpensive
activities, especially for families. Most of the beaches are free, and there are
numerous opportunities for wonderful biking, hiking and kayaking adventures. And,
as 40% of the US population is located within a day's drive, the Cape and Islands
are easy and economically feasible for so many to get to.
When is the ideal time to book a vacation home?
Timing for booking your vacation home depends on your needs as a renter. Be sure
to book early if it's imperative that you be on or near the water, in a specific
location, or require specific amenities. Larger homes, too, tend to fill up earlier
in the booking season, and there are fewer of them, so don't delay if your party
requires a large home. But there's no need to panic - lots of properties are coming
online every day and will continue to do so right through the booking season.
How to find the perfect vacation home for you:
- Use a trustworthy site like WeNeedaVacation.com - we've been in business
for since 1997, we're locally owned and operated, we communicate with our homeowners
extensively throughout the year, and most of us own vacation rentals on the Cape
& Islands ourselves.
- Identify the best location for you: our site offers a wealth of information
on specific towns and beaches on the Cape & Islands. If you have young kids, for
example, you might be happier in the Upper or Mid-Cape area where you have access
to the calmer, warmer waters of the Bay and Sound as well as many activities geared
to young families. If, however, you either have older kids or none, you may prefer
the open surf and the quiet and natural expanses of the Outer Cape. This is equally
true of the Islands where you may prefer to be closer to town with young kids, or
more suited to rural Up-Island on the Vineyard or outside of Nantucket Town.
- Save valuable time by targeting your search: use the Power Search for Cape Cod vacation
rentals to search by location, size and price, and desired dates, as well as
specific amenities such as Internet access, linens included, a/c, and outside shower.
You can also choose a home that is on the water, has a water view, or is within
walking distance of a beach. Best of all, you can view your search results as markers on a map. When you zoom in on an area, you'll see a property's proximity to places of interest, like main routes and the center of town. You can also enable Beaches on the map to see the location of your search results relative to the nearest beach.
Some general tips:
- Plan ahead: our Vacation Planner
enables you to plan activities, locate great restaurants and shops, etc. before
you even arrive at your vacation home. And you can search for information specific
to the town or area you're staying in.
- Inquire by email (you can make multiple inquiries at a time) to start, if you wish,
but ALWAYS speak directly with the homeowner or rental manager by phone prior
to booking. This is critical to providing greater trust between you and the homeowner,
and will also significantly help to ascertain that the property is a perfect fit
for you.
Money-saving tips. For greater values, try to think outside the box a bit.
Here are some suggestions:
- Join forces with friends or extended family – It's a terrific way to save
money and have a lot of fun, too!
- Consider a freshwater pond or lakeside home instead of a saltwater beachfront
property. Freshwater properties offer great values while still including proximity
to saltwater beaches. (No home on the Cape or Islands is more than a short drive
from a saltwater beach anyway.) Plus, ponds and lakes have no surf or undertow,
so they are safer for young kids, and they are less affected by high winds.
- Vacation in the off or "shoulder" seasons (i.e., May/June or Sept/Oct). Fall
bookings particularly have increased dramatically and consistently over the past
4 years. Prices are lower, inventory is high, the water is still warm, crowds are
diminished, and you can often book shorter stays. Although the water isn't quite
as warm in May and June as the fall, rates then, too, are considerably lower, it's
much less crowded, and allows you to get a jump on the season.
- Advantages of staying in a vacation rental. Homes accommodate more people
for less money, they keep costs down because you can eat in occasionally, there
usually aren't any extra fees, charges or taxes, and they provide greater privacy,
space, and quiet.