Beyond the charming Victorian homes and sandy beaches, Cape May is world-famous for its birdwatching, Monarch butterfly migration and natural history. Relax and be entertained in the birding capital of North America as you join Cape May Bird Observatory naturalists on a trolley tour to local “hotspots” (disembarking at several stops), learning about the diversity, abundance (millions of birds pass through each year), geography and extensive history of this amazing area. Co-sponsored by New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities.
Come aboard the Cape May Whale Watcher to view and photograph seven historic lighthouses of the late 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. Most of these lighthouses stand on pedestals out of sight of land and are still operational. Each 5-hour cruise includes narration on the history of each lighthouse and more. Includes continental breakfast buffet and Captain’s Lunch buffet.
Sponsored by the Cape May Whale Watcher and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC).
Saturday, October 19, 2019 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cost: Tickets $95 (adults) $75 (children ages 7-12)
Miss Chris Marina
2nd Avenue and Wilson Drive
Cape May, NJ 08204
The Tomato Festival in Wilbraham Park in West Cape May celebrates the New Jerseys Fresh Tomatoes and the end of the summer season! The fun begins at 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Proceeds from Tomato Festival event benefit the WCM Shade Tree Commission in their endeavor to protect and improve the tree canopy of West Cape May. Come on out and share in the fun.
Dear Cape May Vacation Rental Owners,
As many of you know there have been major changes in the vacation rental business in 2019.
Starting in January of 2019 the State of New Jersey began taxing vacation rentals. All owners of vacation rental properties in New Jersey were instructed to collect tax on their rental. This new tax law was supposed to “level” the playing field with VRBO/HomeAway, Flipkey and other national listing sites who were already collecting New Jerseys short term rental tax. The New Jersey real estate lobby was able to carve out an exception. If owners listed their rental with realtors they would not be taxed. However, they would be charged the standard 12% or less realtor fee if their rental was booked through the realtor.
Rental owners wrote countless emails and made tons of calls to local representatives and the Governor about how bad the tax was for the rental business and the local economy. It worked. The short-term rental tax was amended on August 9th to remove the tax on individual owners who market their rentals on their own and handle all payments.
This change in the New Jersey Short term rental tax did not include VRBO/HomeAway, and other national listing services. If an owner continues to list with VRBO/HomeAway, Flipkey or any national listing service guests will still be taxed and charged service fees if they book through them. VRBO/HomeAway, Flipkey or any national listing service collects payments and under New Jerseys Law that makes it a taxable transaction.
As of today, 8/21, VRBO and HomeAway announced that any listings with them will no longer be eligible for advanced payments. Owners will not receive rental payments until after your guests check- in. Your rental payments will be held until check-in. This “holding” of rental payments will make it very difficult for many owners to fund operation of their rental. A typical owner who does most of their renting in the summer would now have to wait until the guest checks in during their summer week to get paid.
VRBO, HomeAway, Flipkey and other national listing sites can also do chargebacks on your rental if a guest complains about the simplest of issues. Owners have no recourse.
All of these national listing services appear to be doing nothing but a money grab directed at owners and renters.
So why list with CapeMayVacationRentals.com?
We believe every owner has the right to know what we are doing to market your rental.
It’s all about traffic. We get website traffic. A lot of traffic. The more traffic the more travelers will see your listing. For the last quarter (90 days) we had well over 110000 visitors to our site. This is well defined, specific traffic to the Cape May area market and this number will continue to grow. The people clicking on our search engine links and social media ads are looking for a Cape May area rental. A typical renter can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by booking directly with the owner. That is why we are seeing large traffic numbers. Renters are looking to avoid service fees and taxes to save money.
We rank very high on Google Search for many of the keywords people type in when searching for a rental in the Cape May area. 90% of all searching is done through Google. We also dominate local listings on maps. We rank higher than many rental related websites in the Cape May area on both mobile devices and desktops
Our website is built for both the mobile (phone) user and desktop user. 70 % of all of our traffic comes from renters using their phones to search for a rental.
Our listings are non-taxable. Owners handle all payments making the transaction non-taxable.
We do not charge service fees
Owners get paid according to their rental agreement and payment schedule. They are not subjected to any withholding of payments
With CapeMayVacationRentals.com owners have complete control over how funds are collected and complete control of any refund process if needed.
We do not block communications. It’s your rental and you should be able to communicate openly with someone who wants to rent your property. This helps every owner screen renters to make sure they are the right fit for your rental. VRBO, HomeAway, Flipkey do not screen.
We offer calendar sync with VRBO, HomeAway and Airbnb. To automatically sync your calendars just follow the instructions in your admin area. We also offer a utility that imports your reviews from VRBO and HomeAway. This utility is also located in your admin area on our website. Renters want to see up to date availability calendars are read reviews. The more information you provide to someone looking at your property the more likely they will inquire.
Please note our best performing listings are the most complete listings. These listings offer very good photographs, detailed descriptions, reviews, rates and most importantly an updated calendar. Renters looking for a property are more likely to inquire about a rental if the listing has all of the information needed to make the decision to book.
So, like every rental transaction it all comes down to affordability for renters and fees for owners. We believe CapeMayVacationRentals.com provides the most affordable and best solution for both.
We look forward to continue to market your rental. If you should have any questions please call or email us at any time.
Thank you and Happy Renting!
Tom Froschle
We help fill availability calendars every day.
If you are planning on a vacation in Cape May there is a great alternative to staying at hotels and motels. Many travelers looking to vacation in Cape May now find a vacation rental better suited to their needs. So what are the advantages to staying at a vacation rental compared to a motel or hotel?
Your own place
Vacation rentals offer guests the privacy of their own home, cottage or condo to enjoy. Vacation rentals offer much more than a hotel. Instead of a bed , dresser and TV a vacation rental has all of the amenities of a typical home like kitchens, decks, large TVs, multiple bathrooms and more. Cape May rentals are wonderful for large groups, multiple families, couples with one or two children. Most rentals require a minimum three-night stay and in peak season, it can be as long as seven.
Save money
Cape May rentals offer a distinct advantage over hotels. Rentals have kitchens. Many families find it much more affordable to be able to cook a few meals at the rental then eat at restaurants. The savings can then be sued for activities in the area. Also many families will share the cost of the rental. Many large homes have 5 or more bedrooms that can be shared among families.
Save on taxes
Vacation rentals listed with CapeMayVacationRentals.com are not taxable. The individual owner of the rental collects the payment. This can offer guests a significant savings over hotels that are taxed at upwards of 12%.
Pet Friendly
Many Cape May rentals are pet friendly. Few hotels are. Many guests love to travel with their pets. Some Cape May Rentals have large fenced in yards to accommodate dogs. CapeMayVacationRentals.com offers many Cape May pet freindly rentals.
So if your looking for more bang for your buck a vacation rental may be the way to go. Save on taxes, rent and bring your pet. Cape May rentals are a fantastic option to traditional hosts like hotels and motels.
One of the most interesting tours to take while in Cape May is the Whale Watch tour.
The Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center offers visitors a sea adventure to explore the wonders of the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape May Whale Watch tours offer whale-watching trips on board the M/V American Star. Guests have the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, seals, and birds in their natural habitats.
The experts on the ship will share their knowledge about the animals’ feeding, migration, and breeding habits and how to spot the whales and dolphins. They also offer tips on how to capture these beautiful creatures on camera.
The 90-foot long boat can seat up to 150 passengers with comfortable seating and sighting areas, four restrooms, and a full snack bar. Cape May Whale Watch trips run seasonally and are extremely popular, so advance booking is advised.
Guests can take a sunset cruise to see beautiful dolphins and and the famous Cape May sunset. Seeing Cape May from the water makes it even more beautiful. The Whale Watch crew keeps guests interest with their incredible knowledge of the waterways and area.
1121 Rt. 109 (Utsch’s Marina) Cape May, NJ 082041, 888-531-0055
Some of the most scenic and beautiful vacation rentals in the Cape May area are located at Cape May Point. Many homes sit just off the dunes and have wonderful ocean views.
Cape May Point is home to Cape May Point State Park, which has the Cape May Lighthouse and the recently opened World War II Fire Control Tower. Cape May Point also has ocean and bay beaches, swimming, certified lifeguards, kayaking, world class birding. and more.
At the very tip of Cape May’s peninsula is Cape May Point, the southernmost point of New Jersey. The Point is where the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean meet. Cape May Lighthouse offers visitors spectacular views of the area.. “The Point” is a long stretch of sandy beaches that will make for a peaceful, relaxing day of sun and surf.
If your looking to get away from the crowds for your Cape May vacation visit CapeMayVacationRentals.com for Cape May Point Rentals.
TEDxCapeMay returns for its eighth season to explore “Imagination & Innovation” through several outstanding presenters from a wide variety of fields. The event takes place in a 1,000 seat performing arts theater and includes snacks, gifts, and an open bar lunch reception at the Congress Hall Hotel.
Doors open at 9:30 am. Please plan to arrive at The Paul Schmidtchen Theater by 10:00 am. Drinks and snacks will be served throughout the program. Around 1 pm we will proceed to our open bar lunch reception hosted by Congress Hall, concluding at 3:30 pm.
Sunday, October 20, 2019 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $60L
Located in Cape May Beach this secluded home is nestled in the highest dune in Cape May Beach, just a 15 minute drive to historic Cape May. This home features an expansive two level deck. approximately 1,200 square feet, with stunning bay views and private beach access. Enjoy dolphin watching, amazing sunsets, and kayaking right out your back yard.
A screened in sun-room gives you a pleasant sitting area for enjoying the views of the Delaware Bay. Entertain guests on the deck and grill outdoors, or use the indoor dining room and prepare a meal in the spacious kitchen. Whatever your desire, you’ll be treated to water views.
This home offers three bedrooms. One master bedroom suite on the second floor,along with a bedroom and powder room. The second master bedroom suite is on the first floor. My home is pet friendly and dogs are allowed on the beach 24/7.
3101 Shore Drive is part of history. This is the old Al Albert’s house. “On The Way To Cape May” “Three Coins In The Fountain.” COME AND ENJOY! I accept 8 guests max.
Cape May is considered the first seashore resort in the United States. The historic district of Cape May is a registered National Historic Landmark with hundreds of Victorian-era houses. These homes offer visitors a chance to see what life was like in the Victorian era. The architecture features beautiful fretwork and stunning colors.
A tour of the The Emlen Physick Estate offers 15 beautifully restored rooms gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of this Victorian-era Cape May family. Tours take approximately 45 minutes and end with a visit to the 1876 Carriage House where you can see the current exhibit in the Carroll Gallery. At the heart of the Historic District, the Washington Street Mall (between Ocean Street and Perry Street) includes three blocks of shopping and restaurants, boutiques, candy stores, ice-cream shops, and restaurants.
A great way to explore the Historic District is by foot or bike or trolley tour. Visitors can admire the gorgeous “painted ladies” homes. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities offers guided walking tours along Washington Street, where many of the town’s prettiest old houses are found. Other especially lovely Victorians grace Lafayette Street, Hughes Street, and Columbia Avenue. The “Stockton Row Cottages” on Gurney Street are also famous.
There are several landmark hotels that still operate on Beach Avenue overlooking the ocean: Congress Hall built in 1816, and the Victorian-era Inn of Cape May. In October, during Victorian Weekend, tourists enjoy special house tours and entertaining activities such as playing Victorian parlor games.