It’s time to plan your summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard and you are faced with the not undaunting task of deciding upon where to stay. Like most people your first step is to pick up your mobile or turn on the computer and fire up that fount of all knowledge, Google, and search for “Places To Stay On Martha’s Vineyard”.
This will immediately provide a seemingly infinite list of websites with links to all manner of accommodation as well as to ads and advertisers claiming to be offering exactly what you want. But caveat emptor! Not all lodging is created equal and the devil, as ever, is in the detail.
The search results will be a mix of booking site ads, links to properties claiming to be hotels, boutique hotels, inns or B&B’s, or to guest-houses, short-term rentals, AirBnB’s, random houses for rent and a further long list of booking sites who sit between you and the property that they will surreptitiously steer you towards. Remember that Bookingdotcom, Expedia, AirBnB are pay-to-play platforms. They will push you toward properties that they want to have you book in order to maximize their commission. Although they represent many official hotels and inns, they do also represent anybody who wishes to list a room for rent, there is no requirement for their listing properties to be certified lodging or to have ever been inspected.
So how do you weed through all this confusion and find the best, local and genuine accommodation option that meets your particular preferences? Cut through the noise and visit the official website for the Martha’s Vineyard Lodging Association.
The Martha’s Vineyard Lodging Association represents the island’s licensed hotels, boutique hotels, inns or B&B’s. So whatever your personal or family’s preference, be it a large hotel, a 5 star resort, a traditional B&B, a stylish boutique hotel, a simple guest house, a beachy inn, an in town location, a property with gardens, an Edgartown hotel, an Oak Bluffs B&B, a Vineyard Haven boutique inn or a hidden away escape “Up-Island”, there will be a member property that is an exact fit for your dream vacation.
All our Martha’s Vineyard properties are inspected annually by the town’s building inspectors, fire chiefs and health inspectors to ensure that they are operated professionally, adhere to all current building and safety codes, are safe guest environments and follow the State’s and CDC guidelines on food preparation and cleanliness standards.
If the “speed’ cleaning that takes place between same day, quick turnovers of short-term rentals, AirBnB’s and houses causes you concern as to the thoroughness of a one-off clean, you know you can rest assured that at a Martha’s Vineyard Lodging Association property that all common areas and rooms are being thoroughly sanitized on a daily basis. This has become especially critical during COVID times and the need for enhanced cleaning protocols.
We are proud that almost 100% of our properties are locally owned and operated, meaning that the income generated by your stay is being fed straight back into the local island economy to ensure its future vitality and that the owners or concierge staff are best placed to find the unique Martha’s Vineyard experience for you. Local hotel and inn business owners support local non-profits to help ensure education, the Arts, affordable housing, social support structures and the like are well funded; some examples include the Island Housing Trust, Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, MV Film Society, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, MV Skate Park, MV Sail, Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society and many more. Not all but many house rentals and AirBnB’s are now owned by off-island investors and the money from those stays is unfortunately flowing off-island.
The association provides educational programs, sharing of industry best practices, creation of local business partnerships and staff training opportunities, and this has supported Martha’s Vineyard Lodging Association properties in gaining recognition with travel industry awards from Conde Nast, Boston Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Telegraph Travel and Forbes.
Checking-in at one of our properties you can be assured of an authentic Martha’s Vineyard experience and be treated to service excellence.
Stay Local, Stay Small, Stay Safe
Simon Hunton
Nobnocket Boutique Inn