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garyburrow May 27th, 2015 04:48 AM

Martha's Vineyard area
 
My wife and i are planning a trip to the Marth's vineyard area. We want to see Provincetown, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.
Where should we stay? we initially booked a hotel in Edgartown for 5 nights then realized that is probably not a good idea. Would a few nights in Chatham be a better choice?
Help!

doug_stallings May 27th, 2015 04:54 AM

If you are planning a trip to Martha's Vineyard and want to do day-trips to other places, then I don't see the problem with staying on the island. If you are planning a trip to Cape Cod and want to see the islands and Provincetown as day-trip destinations, then staying on the Cape is probably best. It's hard to know until you clarify what kind of trip you want. Hyannis is not the most picturesque place to stay, even if it is convenient.

emalloy May 27th, 2015 05:23 AM

When are you going? If it is when the president takes some time on Martha's Vineyard, things will be very busy there. Does your hotel in Edgartown come with a ferry slot (difficult to get) for your car or are you planning on leaving it on the mainland and using shuttle busses on the island?

Given what you want to see, I would plan 2or 3 days on MV and 2 or 3 on the Cape, either before or after the MV stay. To make life easier, try not to be going on or off the cape on Friday - Sunday.

Ackislander May 27th, 2015 08:35 AM

I agree with emalloy on the division of your time and on staying away when the president is there if you can. The problem is, you never know exactly when he will arrive.

Saturday is change-over day for renting cottages and condos in the Cape and Islands.Everyone has to be out by 11 and no one can get in until 3 or 4. If it is a nice day everyone wants to leave at the last possible moment or arrive at the earliest possible moment, thus on Saturdays you have roughly twice as many people as on an ordinary day. If there is a Saturday in your schedule, it is a good day to lie on the beach or sit on the porch with a book.

garyburrow May 27th, 2015 01:54 PM

our dates are july 19-25. if wanting to see provincetown and martha's vineyard would you recommend renting a car? do cars go over to Martha's vineyard. This is all new to us. Where would you fly in and out of?
so right now i am thinging 2-3 days in Chatham and doing provincetown from there and then 2-3 days in Edgartown in MV. Seem reasonable?

Nikki May 27th, 2015 03:22 PM

If you want to take a car on the ferry to or from Martha's Vineyard, you need a reservation. Check now to see if they are still available for your dates.

capecod73 May 27th, 2015 04:14 PM

Your plan sounds reasonable. If staying in Chatham you could return the car at the Hyannis Airport and fly over to the Vineyard...the ferry ride is another option but flights aren't particularly expensive and obviously the fastest way to go, particularly from that section of the Cape.

We live on the Cape and do day trips only to MV but I would think between moped rentals and taxi service you'll be fine without a car over there. Sounds like emalloy actually lives there so I'd trust his/her advice.

Ackislander May 28th, 2015 03:56 AM

I think your plan is a good one.

You don't need a car on the Vineyard or Nantucket for a day trip. There is public transportation or you can take a local tour.

What to see on the Vineyard in one day:

Oak Bluffs -- Victorian cottage colony, carrousel
Edgartown -- whaling port turned upscale resort, Chappaquidick ferry because it is unique
Menemsha and Gay Head -- out at the far end of nowhere but tours will take you ere because they are Worth It
Vineyard Haven -- nothing much

I know you can do all these in one day because I did.

Flying from Hyannis is a good idea IF you don't mind flying in a 9 passenger plane, and don't mind the airport being way out of town. Taking a ferry from Hyannis also works if you might like a little sea voyage.

Nantucket is much more compact. There is a single historic town center with villages at Sconset and Madaket, both visited by minibus tours and public buses (The Wave).

The two ferry lines are the Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises. They serve both islands from Hyannis, and the Steamship serves the Vineyard from Woods Hole. You can be in Nantucket in an hour on the Steamship fast ferry, which is cheaper and faster than the Hy-Line.


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