Common Questions (top 10)
About Vacation Rentals, our Guest House, and Cape May NJ
1. Where in Cape May is The Longfellow House located?
We're on Hughes Street right in the heart of town, three blocks from the beach and two & a half blocks from the Washington Street mall with it’s coffee shops, restaurants and stores. We're walking distance from just about everywhere! Still need more info? Check out our Longfellow House google map that shows exactly where we are relevant to the rest of town.
2. What kind of Vacationers stay at the Longfellow Guest House?
Generally it's families who with their children, relatives and friends want to vacation in Cape May but also want the relaxing convenience of a big ol' comfortable house. Guests tell us that the Longfellow House feels like vacationing in a cozy, familiar home. They're right! We also attract families that really want to connect with the authentic "Cape May experience." That simply means enjoying the best of what this town has to offer (think close to the beach, close to town, living on an old street with lots of history).
3. Is a Guest House different from a Bed & Breakfast?
A Bed & Breakfast is typically a boarding house that rents rooms or suites to parties of 2 to 3 people. Usually they provide a simple breakfast as part of the stay. Because you share the common areas of the B&B with other vacationers, children are generally not permitted.
With a Guest House (or vacation house as some refer to it) you rent out the entire house and have access to everything in and around the house (i.e. a full kitchen to host family meals, a living room/family room to relax and watch DVDs, a yard where the children can play, a private driveway for parking, the back deck with grill etc.). Basically a Guest House gives you the feelings and comfort of being at home, while on vacation.
4. How many bedrooms do you have, how are they configured?
There are 7 Bedrooms that can accommodate up to 14 people. On the 2nd floor there are 3 Queen size beds (note: one of the beds on the 2nd floor, an old canopy style bed, is slightly smaller than a queen). On the 3rd floor there are 4 bedrooms with the following configurations -- two rooms with trundle sets, one room with a twin set and one room with bunk beds. So to sum up, there's the equivalent of 3 Queen size beds on the 2nd floor and 8 twin size beds on the third floor. If it helps, take a look at our Longfellow Guest House inside photos gallery for more bedroom information and photos.
Sofa Bed: * As a side note, we recently added a queen size pull-out sofa bed in the living room for family guests that require a first floor bed for an elderly family member (who might have difficulty walking up the stairs).
Bathrooms: There's a full bathroom on the first floor. On the second floor there's the en suite private bathroom for the Master Bedroom, and a main/ larger bathroom for the other rooms. On the second floor there's also a full Washer/Dryer laundry room that also has a toilet and sink. We also have a convenient outside après beach shower with hot & cold water.
5. What is the best Season to vacation in Cape May?
Cape May is a popular year 'round destination so it just depends on what you're looking for. Summer is the peak tourist time but the off-season presents a great opportunity to enjoy Cape May’s charm. The Spring Festival, Jazz Festival(s), Sherlock Holmes Weekend & Victorian Week are just a few of the events offered. Thanksgiving, Christmas & the New Year's Holiday are particularly special where many home owners go to town decorating their properties with holiday lights; an experience made even more amazing when viewed on a nighttime horse and buggy ride offered by the Carriage Co. Truly wonderful!
Most locals will tell you that the “shoulder” seasons are a great time to visit as you really get a sense of all Cape May has to offer. During these times you'll come to understand why so many people choose to live here year ‘round! For those shoulder seasons, the Longfellow Guest House changes from weekly to weekend rentals. There's also the great benefit of lower rates. So it's easy to pop into town for a quick getaway with family and friends. If you'd like to learn about our rental specials, why not sign up to our private mailing list (see over in the left hand navigation bar).
6. Do you have Air Conditioning?
We have five air conditioning units. Four on the third floor (one in each room) and one in the master bedroom. There are ceiling fans throughout the first and second floor. Our house was built during the era where ceilings were really high on the first floor. Those high ceilings provide a comfortable cooling effect throughout the house. And since we're a few blocks from the beach, cooling ocean breezes help keep things comfortable.
7. Do you offer any special weekend packages?
We do! We have a specials section on this website, plus we send out a simple email newsletter a few times a year announcing great deals. You can sign up at the bottom of this page.
8. Are you setup for wireless access?
Absolutely! One of our guests suggested this great idea so we installed high speed, wireless internet access. Our guests have really enjoyed being able to easily connect to their email or office while on vacation. And recently we upgraded the router so now there's a strong signal on just about the entire first floor - including the front porch so you can watch the horses clip clop by while you sip your coffee and catch up with the office! Just bring your wireless enabled laptop, and you're all set to surf the internet Cape May style.
9. How can we learn what to do in Cape May and surrounding areas?
We're starting to add more and more useful content to our "Lovin' Local" blog - a unique collection of articles, videos and recommendations for things to do around town. We not check it out, or even follow us via our RSS feed. Also, add your name to our private mailing list (see below), and receive fun tips and ideas for great things to do with your family that only a local would know.
10. Still more questions about our vacation home, or Cape May?
Just send us an email and we'll help you out any way we can.
11. Do you have a mailing list?
Ha! Trick question — people don't usually ask this, but yes we do have one. It's private, permission based, and we only send out a few times a year to hi-light special weekend packages and fun Cape May events. Sign up below, and if you ever want to unsubscribe, it's a simple one click process.
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