Hi everyone!
I`m leaving Montreal via Greyhound September 27 and heading to Bosoton, where I will take a connecting bus towards the Cape for a 3 day stay. I`m undecided as to where to stay...I am on a tighter budget (thinking no more than 65$/day on lodging). I`d like to have some flexibility on transportation because I`m not yet sure where I want to go! There seems to be so many beautiful places on the Cape! I like to walk around, love the shorelines, with my camera in hand. ALso love good food and beer or wine. I`m a 30 year old gal, flying solo on this trip! Anyone with advice on where to stay??? Thanks!

Cape Cod is going to be a real challenge to visit without a car. Provincetown might be a possibility, but I don't know if the shuttle to the beach runs that time of year or if they have lodging that cheap.

I found this: http://www.smartguide.org/capecod/land-links.html

Yes thank you I have visited this site as well, and found it useful!
Right now, I think I may rent a car afterall...my challenge remains in finding affordable lodging that are scenic and comfortable....any suggestions?

You might try www.priceline, I think that is the only way you are going to come close to your budget.

Closest I can come is The Cove motel in Orleans. I stayed there a few years ago, and it was very basic but some (not all) of the rooms had water views. It is definitely above your price range, but the cheapest place I know of that actually has something of a view.

If you have a car, you might almost be within your budget at the Outer Reach Resort in North Truro. It's a basic motel in a spectacular location with great views. http://www.outerreachresort.com/index.html

There are many small inns and B&B's in Provincetown. You may get a good rate on weekdays. There are a lot of small and medium size motels on Rt. 6 in Wellfleet as well. Search for Wellfleet lodgings.

Wellfleet and Provincetown have good restaurants that will still be open in late September-early October.

Again, thanks you everyone!
All this pre-planning is starting to feel a little overwhelming for me, considering there seems to be so many beautiful places to visit... I wonder if I were to show up ùn-announced`...does anyone think I will be OK overall to find availability easily for that time of year? Apart from the budget - which is flexible - Im not very picky...

There is very little public transit on the Cape, and what there is goes end to end, nowhere near the beaches and shorelines you want to photograph. Only car-less option would be to take ferry Boston-Provincetown and limit your trip to there - although not even much of natural beauty within walking distance of Provincetown either. I am not even sure this ferry runs off-season. There are lots of nice restaurants in Provincetown.

But I still think renting a car would greatly increase the positives of this trip.

I think if you're looking for lodging on the Cape during the week--Sun.-Thurs.--it will be fairly easy to find a decent place to stay in a location that you like. Perfectly possible to play it by ear. Even on a weekend it will be possible but maybe a little more difficult.

Boston, of course, would be a different story.

Thanks CW, I`m feeling much more confident Cape Wise! A rental car it will be, and playing it by ear!
I guess I should get started for Boston reservations....

For Boston, I'd take the recommendation above and look at priceline. Ask questions here and look at www.biddingfortravel.com to learn about prices and areas. Waterfront and Back Bay are good central areas--be careful of some hotels that have "Boston" in their name but are located out of the city.

For Boston, you might try the Harborside Inn, which is close to public transit (blue line Aquarium stop is RIGHT outside). They have great rates for Boston and a great location, across the street from Quincy Market, and a short walk to Little Italy.

If the ferry from Boston to Provincetown is still running when you go, you might consider taking it and renting the car in P'town and avoiding the (usually) traffic to and from the Cape. Then explore from there. We usually wing it off season and have had no trouble finding not too expensive places to stay.

enjoy the trip

Thanks everyone! Things look in place now for my trip leaving Saturday! Cant wait!! Thanks again for everyones help!

For free things to do and see stop at the Salt Pond Visitor's Center in Eastham or the Provincelands visitor's Center in Provincetown (Cape Cod National Seashore). You might want to include the Fort Hill Area, with scenic marsh/ocean views and walking trails in your travels as well. The golden marshes are magnificent at this time of the year and the landscape, history and architecture in the area is worth a look.

There are plenty of motels along the highway but none have water views because the National Seashore has protected the ocean side from development. $65 with a water view seems a bit unreasonable to me but perhaps you will find something mid-week in Provincetown or Truro.