Confused about visiting Cape Cod...where, when, how? (Boston, Braintree: loan, hotel)

[rvaccha]

Hi friends,

Thanks for all your help with my queries.

As you know, my family (parents mid 50s) and sibling (mid 20s) are visiting me (early 30s) in Boston for a few weeks from now till early June.

I wanted to take my parents for a weekend trip Fri May 30 - June 01.

We would like a nice comfortable little nicer accomodation with services such as housekeeping.

We are not very physically adventerous, thus want to use the weekend to relax, browse the stores, enjoy the meals, do some sightseeing, e.g. visit Martha's Vineyard.

Can any please help us figure out the best way to get from Boston to Cape Cod (I dont own a car but can rent one if needed), where to stay in Cape Cod and any other must see/must do's.

I am confused as there are so many areas within Cape Cod and so many ways to get there from Boston.

Your suggestions are very welcome and much appreciated!

***We welcome any other weekend trip suggestions from Boston, not NYC please, already on the cards***

Thanks,
Andy

[tonrob]

Not that many ways to get to Cape Cod from Boston at all.

Drive, or you can get the ferry to Provincetown but then be stuck there. Many places have a minimum stay so you might struggle a bit with choices - you are in a bit of a last-minute situation. I also wouldn't be tempted to combine the Vineyard with a full-blown exploration of the Cape in such a short time. The roads can be quite slow and it can take quite a while to get around. If the Vineyard floats your boat why not focus on that and get yourself down to Hyannis for the ferry? The island is small and getting around is easy - there is an inexpensive bus service that will take you most places in a very short time. Oak Bluffs, where the ferry lands, is a nice town to hang out in and possibly stay for a couple of nights. Have a look on tripadvisor for ideas of accommodations.

[Time2Settle]

Andy,
Just a little reminder if you haven't thought about it yet....spring and summertime are fast upon us, so that means the traffic to the Cape is going to be getting worse, ecspecially on 495. Unfortunately, from Boston you don't have many choices for driving to the Cape other than renting a car, taking out a small loan for gas, and traveling about 2.5 hours on 495, or Rt 6, to the Cape on a higway (495) that really isn't in the best of shape...don't ask me what your tax money is going to in MA because I don't know either!
I would suggest getting a ferry schedule, and taking it to Woods Hole or P-town. P-town is going to be packed, as always in the summertime. Woods Hole might not be as busy and it might be more accessible to other attractions, being mid-Cape.
If you want to rent a car, get one on the Cape once you get there. Don't rent a car from Boston and drive it to the Cape, the economical value is not in your favor!
Peace...and Good Luck...enjoy!

[CaseyB]

Andy, if you don't want to rent a car, you can get a bus to Hyannis. Home

[in_newengland]

I'd say rent a car and go to some place like Chatham, which is a central location and has fancy accomodations. If none of you are that active, then at least you get shopping and strolling around and ocean scenes.

You can still drive down to Hyannis or Woods Hole for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

Another possibility would be Brewster or Falmouth to stay in. Falmouth is close to MV ferry. Just book a motel or a motor lodge, that's about the only thing you can do if you just want to stay a few nights. (I hope money is no object.)

[rvaccha]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. I made a few calls and so far these are the options:

As a reminder, we are a family of 4 adults, (mid 50s and late 20s) visiting Cape Cod from Boston between May 30 - June 01

Oceans Edge Resort - Brewster - Rooms available
Red Jacket Beach Resort & Spa - South Yarmouth - Rooms available
Radisson Hyannis - Rooms available
Courtyard Marriott Hyannis - Rooms available

We dont need anything over the top as this is our first visit and we would like to have a nice relaxing weekend with shopping and dining options nearby. A few of us are Vegetarian, so a choice in dining options is important.

If there are other suggestions please let me know.

Thanks,
Andy

[CalieCat]

We went to Sandwich the first part of June, and a lot of things were closed....We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Sandwich that was very nice, I would recommend them, if I can say the name, it was Isaiah Jones Homestead (dot com to get to their website). You would have to rent 2 rooms, but I believe the carriage house will fit more than 2. Have fun!

[rvaccha]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, they are much appreciated.

We are planning to drive from Boston to Hyannis either on Friday morning/afternoon/evening (depending on our schedules) or early Saturday morning and returning Sunday afternoon or late Sunday evening.

We are planning to go to Nantucket for most of the day on Saturday and were considering a Whale cruise or any other options....suggestions please! for Sunday.

Do you feel arriving into Hyannis on Sat around 10-11am and leaving on Sunday around 6pm is cutting it too close?

Thanks,
Andy

[maggiekate]

in May cape cod is cold, rainy and dreary! I would do a day trip and save the money!
Frankly, I do find more to do in Bean Town! The fall is a nice time to see cape cod-the sheraton in bratnree might give you a cheaper way to visit boston, and then the cape. take the t into boston, and you could do the bus to cape cod for a day trip! the cape cod mall is boring! and traffic ! the beach-the water is way cold-

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by rvaccha

Hi friends,

Thanks for all your help with my queries.

As you know, my family (parents mid 50s) and sibling (mid 20s) are visiting me (early 30s) in Boston for a few weeks from now till early June.

I wanted to take my parents for a weekend trip Fri May 30 - June 01.

We would like a nice comfortable little nicer accomodation with services such as housekeeping.

We are not very physically adventerous, thus want to use the weekend to relax, browse the stores, enjoy the meals, do some sightseeing, e.g. visit Martha's Vineyard.
I enjoy Natucket more than the Vineyard-there is more to see there, however,
to shop-is big money! I would not advise that! I also do not think I would pay the money in early June to visit Cape cod. you could just do a day trip
Can any please help us figure out the best way to get from Boston to Cape Cod (I dont own a car but can rent one if needed), where to stay in Cape Cod and any other must see/must do's.

I am confused as there are so many areas within Cape Cod and so many ways to get there from Boston.

Your suggestions are very welcome and much appreciated!

***We welcome any other weekend trip suggestions from Boston, not NYC please, already on the cards***

Thanks,
Andy

I would not do cape cod in may-june-Nantucket I do think as more to see than the Vineyard-The Tara in Braintree might be a break even point for a long week-end-it was once a flatley hotel-it is near the mall-boston-the t
and frankly i find boston has more to see-you also could rent a car-however, that would be lots of money. taking a boat to either island when it is rainy
and cold is not so much fun! the fall is a real cape cod time! Rockport-rhode island, salem-Boston! the sheraton gives or did a ride to the t! I also do think they had great week end packages! Many years ago, I lived in Boston, and went with a friend to M.V. the car did go over on the ferry, it was so cold and boring, the Cape Cod Mall was heaven to me. that was way back in the sixtys. You might check out the Daniel Webster Inn if they still do rooms or the Yarmouth inn on rte 6a in yarmouth- plymouth also might work for a cheaper hotel rate. blue water was in yarmouth on the beach? however you are paying money! as not prime beach time. Your best bet-braintree-then maybe rent a car to hyannis and the ferry- that trip is 1hr hyannis to braintree. then allow for the traffic might be 1 hr 30 min. check out the cape cod times, anyway I would opt out of a hotel on cape cod
and rent the car is lots of money for it to sit in parking! that would mean more shoping and money! do cape cod in the fall october! price is way cheaper. If you did have maybe 1500 to do this weekend? I still would advise no. it is not the best time. and if you could spend that-maybe the parker house-and just do the t in Boston! you all would be able to walk and enjoy Boston, and have a hotel, great food, cheap food and the T and even living there a vacation! Boston has a lot to see and do, and no car is needed.that would be way cheaper than cape cod now! you might do that for 700.00 and have fun! and the shopping money! Boston has some great sea food and
the great north end to enjoy food! you can visit the gardens, walk the freedom trail, visit the shops- even eat at fanuiel hall! not too shaby! and no need to pay gas or a car rental fee! you also may vist Charleston- etc., even living in Boston, what you make no time for! even check out a red sox game!