Cape Cod is a peninsula of great diversity, and that distinction holds true when it comes to the accommodations it offers its visitors. From elegant waterfront resorts to no-frills economy motels to quaint inns and cottages, there is a place for every budget and lifestyle.
Cape Cod has several large, contemporary, four-star resorts where you’ll be awash in amenities, as well as hotels and motels that are moderately priced and offer fewer amenities but are perfectly acceptable. Many of the Cape’s resorts, hotels, and motels offer suites in addition to rooms with the standard two double beds or one king-size bed.
For the most part, you will get what you pay for on the Cape. Private beaches, spacious rooms, and water views do come with a price. Still, bargains exist, especially in the off-season. Years ago, the Cape would shut down after Labor Day, but more and more people are discovering the Cape in the late fall, winter, and early spring, so many hotels, motels, and resorts are stretching out their seasons, with many staying open year-round.
Most facilities offer in-room televisions, telephones, and air-conditioning, but most accommodations do not allow pets. We do, however, make references to the ones that do welcome pets.
Autumn has become a popular season on the Cape. Visitors can enjoy the Cape’s beauty at substantially lower prices, and there are plenty of packages available to make a stay even more attractive. Rates in the off-season can be as much as 50 percent less than summer rates.
In the first part of this chapter we present hotels, motels, resorts, and hostels for your consideration. In the second half of the chapter we provide information on other kinds of accommodations, including Bed-and-Breakfasts, Inns, and Cottages. See chapters on Vacation Rentals and Campgrounds and State Parks for still more options; we also provide a short section on kennels, should you need a place for your pet to stay. We’ve narrowed your search a bit, because there are thousands of rooms to choose from. Your best bet is to begin by deciding how you plan to spend your time while you’re here; then pick the area that offers the activities you want.
If you plan on bringing bicycles, there are a number of accommodations on or near bike trails, such as the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which stretches from the Mid- to Lower Cape, or the Shining Sea Bike Path on the Upper Cape (see our Hiking and Biking Trails chapter). If you plan on bringing a sailboard, there are hotels on the waterfront near Kalmus Beach in Hyannis, home to world-respected windsurfing and championship events weekly. If golf is your bag, many resorts and hotels offer golf packages. Of course cost is a consideration as well, so we’ve rated each entry for price (see the code at the beginning of this chapter for hotels and motels—inns and bed-and-breakfasts are priced slightly differently as is explained midway through the chapter).
It’s best to make reservations before arriving on Cape Cod, as the area’s accommodations fill up quickly, not only during the summer season, but also during weekends in spring and fall. This is especially true if you are planning to visit during special events, such as the Falmouth Road Race or our local sailors’ favorite, Figawi Weekend. That’s not to say you can’t arrive without reservations and find a great room—it just might take a few stops.
One hundred and fifty years ago, travelers to various destinations on Cape Cod sought out lodging at day’s end, seeking a hearty meal and a good night’s rest. Today, travelers still look forward to the comfort of an inn at day’s end, and many consider those inns to be destinations in themselves. Bed-and-breakfasts are usually private residences where the owners rent bedrooms (and sometimes suites) and offer a continental or full breakfast; inns are generally larger and often serve three-course gourmet meals for breakfast that could nourish you for the whole day. Because our bed-and-breakfasts and inns are often housed in older buildings, you get a firsthand taste of Cape history. It can be like stepping back in time but without giving up any modern comforts. In some cases, amenities and recent remodels include Jacuzzis, gas fireplaces, and wireless Internet access.
Another option on the Cape is to stay in a cottage. Cottage colonies are clusters of small, individual cottages or cabins that may share a common kitchen and gathering space or may be self-contained with private bathrooms and small kitchens. Families with young children may find that cottage colonies are a good choice because they aren’t adorned with antique furnishings, as the inns often are, and there’s plenty of space to run around in. Most are housekeeping cottages, meaning you clean up after yourself, and many require that you bring your own linens; be sure to ask exactly what the cottage supplies when you make your reservations.
Whatever type of accommodations you choose, you’re likely to encounter a little history along with the hospitality. With the Atlantic Ocean to our east, Nantucket Sound to the south, and Cape Cod Bay to the north and west, it’s no wonder that many of our historic homes were built by sea captains. In the 1700s and 1800s, young men often went to sea, and many traveled to the far corners of the world, returning with their wealth to build homes (estates in their day). Brewster, for instance, is referred to as the “Sea Captains’ Town,” where, it is said, 99 sea captains lived at one time. Towns like these also were dotted with large, rambling homesteads.
Today, many such homes are bed-and-breakfasts. Private bathrooms have been enlarged to include showers and tubs, and, in keeping with modern desires, Jacuzzis have been added to many homes. Furnishings range from antiques to period reproductions inside common rooms, and in the guest rooms, canopied and four-poster beds offer a romantic atmosphere. Wide-planked floors, narrow hallways, steep ship’s staircases, and fireplaces add to the charm of each accommodation.
Historic houses with antique furnishings and civilized amenities such as crystal wine glasses and hand-stitched quilts don’t mix well with boisterous children, so some bed-and-breakfasts don’t allow children; others have age restrictions. We indicate those inns that welcome children and let you know which ones have age restrictions for their younger guests.
A few more Insiders’ insights: Most inns and bed-and-breakfasts have cancellation penalties and restrictions. Calling to cancel less than two weeks before your arrival (especially in season) will almost guarantee that you won’t get your deposit back (or that it will be applied to a future stay). Some establishments will give refunds in the event of cancellations only if they are able to re-rent your room. Most inns and B&Bs require a two-night minimum stay during the peak season, three nights on holiday weekends. Some, however, have minimum stays as long as five nights in July and August. Cottages are generally rented by the week in season. Innkeepers are much more flexible in the off-season—before June and after September, or anytime besides July and August, depending on the establishment—and off-season rates are usually drastically reduced.
The Cape offers a variety of accommodations beyond the conventional. Rates also vary; the ones we give here include either a full or continental breakfast. Some establishments offer what they call “hearty” or “extended” continental breakfasts, which usually means fresh squeezed juice, homemade muffins and breads, granola, and a fruit course. Some innkeepers are accomplished gourmet cooks who offer luscious breakfasts. The more ambitious ones offer multicourse gourmet treats that change each day of your stay and may include a main plate of elegant crepes, quiche, French toast, or whatever the innkeeper has chosen for the day.
Most bed-and-breakfasts and inns offer private bathrooms; the days of the shared bathroom seem to be in the past. Innkeepers are highly concerned about the privacy of their guests, and for that reason, some have in-room phones and televisions, whereas others pride themselves on being places where guests can escape ringing phones and the otherwise ubiquitous tube. Often, inns and bed-and-breakfasts compromise by offering TV and phones only in common areas. Most establishments do not allow pets, but we’ll let you know if they do. Most innkeepers can make arrangements at a local kennel if you do need to bring your pet.
Remember that each establishment is as personal and unique as its innkeepers, most of whom are willing to share their expertise and knowledge with you. So ask them for recommendations about things to do in the area, places to visit, and the best restaurants. One good tactic: Ask your innkeepers where they go when they want to eat out and where they take friends who are visiting them from off-Cape. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself developing a friendship with your hosts; Many such relationships have lasted from year to year.
If you’d like help booking accommodations, check out the reservation services listed at the end of this chapter. Many of them specialize in inns and bed-and-breakfasts.
The Cape’s summer season is not only its busiest season but also its costliest. Many of the Cape’s hotels and motels are only open during a handful of months (typically Memorial Day to Columbus Day) and have to reap a year’s worth of income in less than a half-year’s time. The July Fourth and Labor Day weekends are the bookends of what is usually a pretty steady tourist season. Still, June can be a very busy month, too.
You can nearly always expect to pay your bill with a major credit card; we let you know if an accommodation does not accept credit cards.
The trend has been toward entirely nonsmoking facilities, but smokers can usually find someplace to light up. We mention in the listings below those hotels and motels that prohibit smoking on their grounds. However, if nothing is mentioned, assume smoking is permitted in certain areas. A number of places also have wheelchair-accessible facilities, and we indicate these in the entries below. Many old inns find it difficult to comply with wheelchair-accessibility codes because of the historic nature of their buildings, but if an inn has wheelchair-accessible features, we’ll mention that.
Until the downturn of 2008 and 2009, the Cape could best be described as an owner’s market. Rentals were snatched up quickly, often before the season started in June. Although scanning the newspapers can yield some good rental leads, your best bet is to contact local real estate agents. Even if you’re planning an off-season rental, prepare early. Many owners close their property around Columbus Day. Sometimes renters can negotiate a better deal by agreeing to rent for the month or the season because it’s much easier for the owners. One possibility is to join together with some friends and agree to an extended rental. Each group can then take a week or two weeks over the month or season.
The warm summer months provide a variety of rental properties, from cottages to houses to condominium units. A rental cottage is usually a three-season small house. Many cottage rentals, even long-term ones, do not supply linens (such as sheets or towels), paper goods, or toiletries. Some offer housekeeping and laundry services for an extra fee. Almost all weekly rental units of any kind rent from Saturday to Saturday.
When you think of condominiums and time-shares, think upscale apartments, almost always fully furnished, and often part of a waterfront or water-view complex. Time-share units are owned by a person or company who then rents out the unit for various periods of time. Time-shares should only concern you if you plan on buying into one. If you do, make sure you know what you are getting into as there have been issues with time-share owners feeling they were ripped off.
If you do want to rent a cottage for a week, especially during July, plan on calling well in advance. Many rental offices are busy in January and February booking rentals for the coming summer season. In-season rates are the priciest; those in shoulder seasons (right before or immediately following the busy summer season) can drop as much as 30 percent; off-season rates (if the accommodations are available) can be as much as 50 percent off seasonal prices.
It would be impossible to mention all the resorts and rental agencies on the Cape, but we’ve put together a list of those that offer the finest in vacation rentals. Keep in mind that many of these agencies are also full-service real estate companies (see our Relocation chapter) and will be more than happy to answer any questions—and perhaps sell you a property once you’ve acquired a taste for Cape Cod.
Usually rental properties contain a fully equipped kitchen, but it is important to remember that the Cape includes such a range of properties that “fully equipped” can mean different things depending on the situation. For instance where a dishwasher may be considered standard issue for a year-round house, it is not always available in a small cottage that may have been built 50 years ago, before dishwashers were an option. If a microwave oven, blenders, electric can openers, and the like are considered a must, ask in advance.
Televisions, VCRs or DVDs, telephones, whether the cottage has a tub or just a shower (families with small children who are used to taking baths will want to know) are all items to be questioned before you send in your deposit. By the way, the typical deposit on a vacation rental is 50 percent due upon making reservations, with the balance due before your arrival. Before you book, always ask about cancellation policies and whether pets, visiting guests, and/or smoking are allowed.
Finally, if you cannot find what you’re looking for in this chapter, call the chamber of commerce in the town in which you’re interested (chamber of commerce phone numbers are listed in the Area Overview chapter). The local chambers are more than happy to offer you more information.
Cape Cod is a paradise for those who enjoy water sports, fishing, hiking, biking, and any of the other outdoor activities for which it is so well known. The Cape has a number of campgrounds and state parks that allow visitors to enjoy an outdoor experience in near unspoiled surroundings. Whether it’s in a tent or an RV, camping Cape Cod style takes you out of the rhythm of everyday life—at least for a while. You’ll go home refreshed—and you’ll save scads of money because camping is the best deal going on the Cape. For less than $30 a night you can pitch a tent in a quiet, rustic environment on the edge of the dunes or deep in woodland.
In this chapter we’ve included information on both public and private campgrounds. Cape Cod has more than 4,500 campsites in 20 campgrounds and three state parks with over 800 campsites. As there is a diverse range of campgrounds, visitors will be sure to find accommodations to suit their style of camping. Reservations at most campgrounds are essential for camping during the Cape’s peak season from mid-June through Labor Day.