How do I love getting to thee Martha’s Vineyard? Let me count the ways…

While photographing two of our houses in Vineyard Haven today I saw a huge Schooner passing by East Chop lighthouse and a little plane overhead and as usual, the Island Home plowing along. On such a pretty day it reminded me that we are on an island and though it’s never easy to get here it can be fun.

Value
I grew up on the lower cape, my family lives in Brewster, so my most desirable summer route “home” is aboard the Hyline Fast Ferry http://www.hylinecruises.com/ from Oak Bluffs to Hyannis in 55 minutes. I live about two blocks from where the fast ferry takes off in OB Harbor which allows for a 1 ½ hour commute door to door, as opposed to what the Steamship Authority http://www.steamshipauthority.com/ offers - 10 min drive to VH, 45 min boat ride, 1 ½ hour drive to Brewster, which with traffic usually takes 3 hours door to door. The $240 commuter book for Hyline is key – the face value of these precious passes is $71/round trip, or $48 with the book of ten one-way tickets. Somehow they found out my birthday is in April and they send me a $10 coupon every year, which helps bring this valuable purchase down even more.

Value + Fun
Cape Air https://www.capeair.com/ has announced that their MVY – Providence service will begin June 15th! Ah, if only it could start a little sooner, I could fly to PVD to catch my New Orleans flight for Jazz Fest http://www.nojazzfest.com/ next week. Check Cape Air every Tuesday for flight deals on commuter books. These are always good to have in a pinch, especially when you’re trapped at Logan, exhausted and not psyched about schlepping your stuff to South Station to catch the Peter Pan bus http://www.peterpanbus.com/ back to Woods Hole. I’ve visited the Cape Air counter in Terminal C many times in this situation and usually the last minute rate for the next flight to MVY rivals that of a transatlantic flight! If you’ve got your commuter book, it’ll cost you $149.99. Or buy a book to Hyannis for $41.90 each way. The flight is about 15 minutes and allows for spectacular views of Nantucket Sound. A couple of times I’ve been the only passenger on board and got to sit up front and play co-pilot.

Value + Fun = Escape
When MVY is too much for me to handle around August, I escape to my cousin’s house in Newport, Rhode Island which is equally crazy but it’s not my crazy so I enjoy it, especially for Folk Fest http://www.newportfolkfest.net/. For this trip I take the Sea Streak from OB/VH to downtown New Bedford http://www.seastreak.com/. This ferry definitely features the best crew of all the services to and from the vineyard. I’ve had the captain hold the boat for me several times just from a phone call, while stuck in New Beige traffic. And, make sure you flash an island addressed driver’s license for a discount – the $34 one-way will cost you a mere $28 bucks. With a full bar, A/C and a beautiful yet exhilarating ride through Woods Hole Passage (they’re known for not slowing down), this is the best way to get away when Oak Bluffs turns into Wally World.

Sometimes I forget how lucky we are to reside on this lovely island and I need reminders. When they come, via sailboat, plane or ferry sighting, I am filled with gratitude! For those travelling here, we have some great houses that still have summer availability for weekly rentals.

Contact Rose Ryley

to confirm availability for these Martha’s Vineyard vacation homes

rose@sandpiperrental.com

Sandpiper Rentals, Inc.

901 – Vineyard Haven – In Town Lovely Porch – Blocks from Ferry

954 – Vineyard Haven – West Chop Beautiful peaceful views and garden

7775 – Edgartown – Outer Huge yard – Great for Entertaining

*ferry reservations available with rental*

2070 – Chilmark – Middle Road Total Escape – Convenient way to enjoy UpIsland

MELISSA PETERS, RENTAL AGENT

SANDPIPER RENTALS, INC.

Melissa has worked at Sandpiper since 1997.  She has been a very successful agent over the years and takes great pride in providing superior services to her tenants and landlords alike.  Having grown up on Martha’s Vineyard and raised her daughter here, she has a wealth of knowledge that she enjoys sharing with her customers and clients.

Martha’s Vineyard is a wonderful destination vacation location with much to offer no matter what type of vacation you enjoy.  Melissa is the person to talk to ensure a ideal, hassle free Vineyard vacation.

Melissa@sandpiperrental.com

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Island of Opportunity

Some year-round residents my age call this place “the land of no-opportunity.” It’s a joke of course – with a kernel of truth. It is truly a challenge to find a niche for yourself on Martha’s Vineyard that brings you satisfaction. I have friends with many hats who flourish, and some who leave, for cities usually. I’ve spent time on both sides and while I appreciate the broad access the mainland offers, I find taking total ownership for my own happiness and success in the island community very empowering.

I appreciate why our visitors keep coming back year after year – they see the island full of opportunities to connect and engage with their families and loved ones, to rest, to relax, to discover, to find peace. In March sometimes its tough for us to see it this way too.

What to do?!

When planning the when and where of your vacation – the “what” can get lost in the details. It’s important to know what it is exactly that you want access to on your vacation.

When you interchange “vacation” and “getaway” with the same ease as turning off your blackberry and listening to a game on the radio then your style is escapism. Disconnect from the mainland and technology to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking ancient trails, finding new routes to your favorite beach by kayak, or tap into the energy that many famous writers have over the years and read a book, or compose a verse. On this island location has been known to upstage amenities. To preserve the peace and quiet of your vacation style, choose a home that’s off the beaten path, and allows you to create one of your own.

For some, your home is your temple, no matter where you are! You can enjoy the nightlife, dining and shopping, that our “down island” towns offer, with all the amenities required for holding down the fort, and keeping your guests entertained.  The home-away-from-home style is for those who want to share their vacation glory with those they love. A rental with lots of living space, state of the art kitchen – multiple dining areas and the perfect backyard and deck area are key for keeping everyone comfortable. A fully connected suit of digital cable, high definition TVs and wireless internet will keep them occupied.

Whether you want to get away or set up fort, opportunities abound here on Martha’s Vineyard!

(click rose to contact Rose Ryley)

Your Social Energy

Consider the social network. It documents our lives, blasts us with updates and lets us know who our friends are; why not bring your social life into the vacation discussion. Your real social life, the one the dictionary calls the “interaction between the individual and the group”. In Thursday’s Vinyasa Yoga @MansionHouseMV the instructor offered us some guidance. She asked us to consider how we would like to expend our energy in class, to energize and build strength, or to relax and repair our bodies. It is always a personal decision as to how you would like to expend your energy and once you know – you can really maximize and enhance your experience, this goes for vacation planning as well!

The Obamas come in August – are you up for it?

Some visitor’s have a whole separate social network out here that they tap into once a year, others prefer the anonymity that the island provides to “check out” and unwind. Simply put, most people either like to be in the thick of “it” or nowhere near “it”. You probably already know which you prefer but if there’s any doubt, consider defining “it” as the Martha’s Vineyard MegaWeek and go from there.

The week of August 11th-18th is desirable for good reason, it’s a super-fun quintessentially “summer” experience. Featuring Illumination Night, Fireworks and 4 days of the Almighty Ag Fair – your Facebook feed will have to keep up with your “check-ins” and new friend requests you make along the way.

If this sounds like your waking nightmare maybe you’d prefer to duck the crowds during our “shoulder season.” To experience the Island as an Islander, prepare for peace and quiet, if you can handle the slower pace and cooler weather you will be rewarded with generous weekly rental rates too.

How to make it Happen

So, you decide you want to come for all the fun August has to offer but the ferries are booked! What do you do? Don’t panic – this is a good reason to use an agent to make your vacation plans. We know which houses might offer transferable ferry reservations for guests to purchase. You can check the specials listed on www.sandpiperrental.com for new listings with ferry tickets available for desirable August weeks.

Martha’s Vineyard is a wonderful little place that can satisfy a myriad of vacation possibilities. Have a conversation with your rental agent about the pace you desire for your vacation to determine the when and where of your vacation.

To contact Rose Ryley just click the flower

Need a Katama rental?  This home just had a price reduction and offers all you could want for a memorable Vineyard vacation!  Enjoy breezy summer days and evenings in a home that offer great amenities and living space along with close proximity to downtown Edgartown and surf side South Beach.

The property offers all of the modern amenities with this fabulous up to date kitchen on the second floor of this reverse level designed home.  Lovely open floor plan with living room and dining on second floor as well.

Did I mention great amenities?  Enjoy this upper level screened porch taking advantage of the Katama field views with its reverse level design and…third level roof top deck.  Perfect for the lazy summer afternoon or the post beach gathering.

Enjoy a short drive or bike to South Beach, spend the day or just go for a dip!

Ready to book your Martha’s Vineyard Vacation? Contact Sandpiper Rentals now!

Want to search for other great Vineyard Rental Homes? Rental Property Search

DARLENE O’NEILL, RENTAL AGENT

SANDPIPER RENTALS, INC

Darlene O’Neill started working with Sandpiper Rentals as a rental agent in 2010.  Darlene came to us with a great deal of business experience and a wonderful working knowledge of Martha’s Vineyard.  She previously owned and operated the Crocker House Inn located in Vineyard Haven from 1990-1999 and is glad to be back on island after ten years away.  Darlene talents are multi-facetted with an education background in Health Education and Promotion.  She stepped away from her hospitality career on the island to work in the health care field in the Boston area for ten years.  Martha’s Vineyard is an island that is difficult to get out of your system and Darlene found herself yearning to come back to live and work here.

Whether you are interested in visiting Martha’s Vineyard for a summer vacation or listing your property for vacation rentals, you will find Darlene to be extremely diligent and knowledgeable with the island and the process.  She finds great satisfaction in matching each tenant to just the right rental home ensuring a memorable and smooth rental experience.

Darlene can be reached at:

508-627-6070 x28

darlene@sandpiperrental.com

www.sandpiperrental.com

Search Vacation Homes: Sandpiper Rentals Vacation Homes

Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Style: Second Post in Series

Your vacation style may mimic your daily routine or be a departure from it depending on whether or not you want to stay Connected. Staying connected today is easier than ever – With your Smartphone, Tablet, or Laptop you can tap into the internet and live media whenever and where ever you want to. That is, if you want to. Of course, 2012 is an election year and that’s just one reason that we might want to have the option of checking in with reality when we’re trying so hard to check out.

Merriam-Webster defines “vacation” as a scheduled period during which activity is suspended. It is up to you to decide what that activity is that you plan to suspend. Is it the activity of watching TV or is it the activity of constantly trying to limit watching TV?

Lately, people have been asking me “so, where are all the TVs located in this rental?” When scoping out the perfect rental home for a vacation, some details matter more than others to people. In the case of the TV, it seems to matter to everyone.
We’ve all heard for years that having a TV in the bedroom deters intimacy in your relationship, and interrupts your body’s natural desire to “wind down” before sleep.

The danger of children watching TV in their rooms or elsewhere in the house has been shown to include: lower test scores, behavioral problems, obesity and risk of smoking!
TV certainly has its place in our modern lives. It helps us stay connected to our world through local news, sports and weather reports. Relaxing is subjective, and maybe a little TV is what you need at the end of the day. It’s certainly an easy and affordable activity that family members of all ages can do together.

So, the real question is: What’s your Martha’s Vineyard vacation style? Do you recreate your home environment in another place or do you try to escape your home environment completely?

If checking-in when you’re checking out is important to you – find a Martha’s Vineyard rental home with a full digital media suite – don’t get stuck in a Chappaquiddick “Old-Vineyard” style beach house that’s farther off the beaten path than you’re comfortable with, unless that IS what you’re comfortable with. In which case, you will most likely still be able to check a score or a poll update with some kind of internet connection, just don’t expect to plop the kids down in front of a 55″ flatscreen for the afternoon.

As a vacation destination Martha’s Vineyard satisfies endless possibilities for relaxation however you define it. Make sure you communicate your preference with your rental agent so you don’t end up unplugged or over-connected.

Search our inventory here – Sandpiper Rentals – or contact Rose Ryley with your details to find the perfect fit.

Rose Ryley, Rental Agent

ROSE RYLEY, RENTAL AGENT

SANDPIPER RENTALS, INC

Sandpiper Rentals, Inc. is pleased to introduce Rose Ryley, our newest rental agent.  Rose moved to Martha’s Vinyard in 2009 from New Orleans, Louisiana where she was an accomplished Catering Sales Director and Event Planner for four years after graduating from Tulane University.  Rose grew up on Cape Cod and is happy to be back in the area.

Rose looks forward to sharing her local expertise and finding your perfect Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental home.  She brings quality customer service skills from her restaurant and catering background both on Martha’s Vineyard and in New Orleans.  We look forward to seeing her grow in the rental real estate field and feel she is a great addition to our team at Sandpiper Rentals.  Rose will be contributing to our blog on a regular basis, so keep an eye out for her posts as she shares her insight on renting and living on Martha’s Vineyard.

Rose can be reached at:

508-627-6070 x33

rose@sandpiperrental.com

www.sandpiperrental.com

Search Vacation Homes: Sandpiper Rentals Vacation Homes

What’s your style?

Your personal style is at the heart of the social media frenzy. Your decision to “like” something, someone, somewhere carries more weight now than ever before. Why not think about your vacation style the same way. How you define your vacation depends heavily on 3 factors: If you stay Connected, how Social you want to be and what you want to Access.

You can disconnect from technology and explore the island, with days of beach going, walking nature trails, kayaking and boating. Maybe tapping into that old vineyard charm out on Chappy or Up Island. Some of these homes have been providing safe harbor for visitors for decades and continue to please those who want to just get-away.

or…

Revel in the hustle and bustle of summertime fun, enjoying the nightlife, dining, shopping and keeping your guests entertained. You can be right in the thick of it if you pick a Down Island In-town home. Picture fireworks from the widow’s walk, the kids spinning around at the flying horse’s, cocktails in the harbor at sunset.

Is your home your temple, or is it what you’re trying to get-away from! And what is it that you want to do? Martha’s Vineyard is a wonderful little place that can satisfy myriad vacation possibilities. The pace you desire for your vacation and how social you want to be can determine the when, where and what of your vacation.

If home is where the heart is, wouldn’t your vacation home be where the fun is? Some of us want nothing more than to leave the daily grind behind and land in another world, ripe for the picking. Others love what they’ve got and want to share these splendors with their nearest and dearest. When it comes to vacation style it’s personal. This blog series will explore how you get to the heart and soul of your vacation. Whichever way you have fun Martha’s Vineyard does not disappoint.

Chilmark Waterfront Rental

Just this past week I received calls from two families that had thought they had their Martha’s Vineyard vacation home rentals secured with the first payment into the owner and a signed lease back from him via HomeAway.

They were able to work a particularly nice rate, in a great location and in a great house, last fall.  Come to find out, this house was already booked through our agency for their time frame and the owner’s account on HomeAway had been hacked.  The tenant had email communications with what they thought was the owner and paid the first payment via wire transfer to the “owner’s accountant” in Texas and received a bogus lease.  The real owner of the house was not aware of the security breach and there is no telling how many other families this may have happened to.  HomeAway, to date, is taking no responsibility for the breach and claims that it was the property owner’s email that was hacked into.  I feel an obligation to share this situation and hope that anyone utilizing these venues will have an awareness of the risk involved.

There has been a recent trend towards rentals by owners on a number of websites such as HomeAway, Flipkey and Cyberrentals, etc.  Many of these options have merged and grown as well.  This provides a tremendous ability to market and dominate the search engine optimization.   The vacation rental business has been around for many years here on Martha’s Vineyard.  We tend to think of ourselves as a small community and I’m sure there have been word of mouth rentals taking place since the beginning.

I’ve often wondered why a tenant would choose to do this work themselves, especially if they are not familiar with the island.  One may think they will save money by going direct or maybe feel they can work a deal.  I’m not sure that there is adequate risk awareness concerning many of these online transactions.

As a rental agent on the island, I take great pride in trying to match each of my tenant inquiries with the best rental possible.  Sandpiper Rentals provides professional service to our tenants and owners in an ethical manner.  We are members of the Board of REALTORS and have taken an oath to abide by the Code of Ethics.

I think I will add this situation to the list of why you should use a qualified agency for your vacation rental needs!

www.SandpiperRental.com

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