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Finding the Ideal Vacation Rental

Family vacations on cape cod
The excitement of arriving at your vacation rental

Since the pandemic, increasing numbers of Cape and Islands vacationers have come to realize the many benefits including the privacy, amenities, and reasonable rates, that vacation rentals provide. The Cape and Islands offer so many free or inexpensive activities for families, such as opportunities for wonderful biking, hiking and kayaking adventures. And, since 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 travel to.

WeNeedaVacation is here to offer the necessary tools you need to bring your dream vacation to life.

We help you cut costs by charging NO booking fees, and we enable you to communicate directly with the owner or manager prior to booking. Our top priority is to match you with your ideal rental.

Before You Book with WeNeedaVacation

Timing Is Everything

In the last few years, vacationers have been planning their trips earlier and earlier to be sure they get their ideal rental home. Is there really such a thing as booking your vacation too early? The team at WeNeedaVacation certainly doesn’t think so! We recommend that you book early especially 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.

Location, Location, Location

WeNeedaVacation offers a wealth of information on specific towns and beaches on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard. No matter what your preferred interests and activities, the Cape and Islands have something for everyone! Vast and crystal-clear lakes, roaring ocean waters with waves straight out of a surfer’s dream, rippling bay water from a boat’s wake...all these conditions can be found on the Cape and Islands. Additionally, if your family tires of the constant fun in the sun, many of the town centers offer an abundance of activities that will have you and your family entertained for hours.

Do Your Research

Let us help you plan your dream vacation! Our Vacation Planner enables you to plan activities and locate great restaurants, shops, art galleries, etc. You can also search for information specific to the town or area you're staying in. You might scroll through our Get Back Blog, which offers hundreds of posts about all things Cape and Islands including information on local events, Cape and Islands history, featured vacation rentals, and gorgeous beach pictures! Finally, we advise that you ALWAYS speak directly with the homeowner or rental manager by phone prior to booking. This is critical to building greater trust between you and the homeowner, and will also help determine if the property is a good fit for you.

Tips to Reduce the Costs

Join forces with friends or extended family - Ever hear the phrase “the more the merrier?” In joining forces with family and friends for your next Cape and Islands vacation, you can both double the fun and save money. Sounds like a win-win to us!

Consider a freshwater pond or lakeside home instead of a saltwater beachfront property. Freshwater properties offer great values while still providing some proximity to saltwater beaches. (No home on the Cape or Islands is more than a short drive from a saltwater beach.) 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. - Fall bookings particularly have increased dramatically and consistently over the past few years. Prices are lower, inventory is higher, 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. This time of year is also much less crowded, and allows you to get a jump on the season.

Book with WeNeedaVacation - In booking your vacation with WeNeedaVacation, you’re making the smartest money-saving decision by avoiding the hefty 5-20% booking fees that other companies charge!

Zero In on Your Ideal Rental

Take Advantage of Advanced Search

When you go to WeNeedaVacation.com to book your next vacation home, make sure to use the Advanced Search! This tool allows you to search by location, size and price, and desired dates, as well as specific amenities such as a/c, linens included, pool, and outdoor shower. You can also indicate that you want 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 see the nearest beach, with links to our Beaches page where you will find in-depth descriptions of the beaches.

Search for vacation rentals by specific location

Communicate with the Homeowner

One of the primary advantages of booking your next vacation with WeNeedaVacation is that we make it effortlessly easy for you to ensure that your vacation runs smoothly by putting you in direct communication with the homeowner! This way, you can ask all your questions ahead of time and figure out logistics so that you’ve got all the information you could possibly need upon arrival. WeNeedaVacation has been in business since 1997, we’re locally owned and operated, and many members of our team own vacation rentals on the Cape and Islands ourselves!

About Joan Talmadge

About Joan Talmadge: My husband Jeff and I created WeNeedaVacation.com in 1997, shortly after buying our Cape home. My background includes teaching fifth grade for 8 years and writing and editing educational publications for 15. I get great joy from helping fellow homeowners successfully rent their homes. Jeff and I are proud to have two of our three grown children working for WeNeedaVacation.com, truly a family-run business. For me, the Cape and Islands are magical all times of the year -- whether it's walking on Nauset Beach, playing golf, or enjoying family and friends.