Notes from the host
Arrowsmith Cottage
Please note - If you are considering bringing your pet, one small dog may be considered, but we ask that you send an initial “inquiry” first and tell us a little bit about him/her, as pets require homeowner's written approval and guest’s agreement to homeowners’ pet rules. An additional pet fee will apply if approved. Thanks!
Also note - Vrbo may indicate there are 2 bathrooms - there are not. We have 1 full bathroom and an additional “outdoor” shower in the 3-season enclosed back porch.
About our cottage: With Eastville Point Beach less than a mile away, this comfortable and charming single-family cottage is ideally situated for easy access to everything the magical island of Martha's Vineyard has to offer. The bike path and bus route are about 100 ft from the front door, and the cottage is conveniently located almost exactly midway between the bustling down-island town centers of Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. Bring your own bikes and kayaks or rent them from nearby outfitters in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs.
An interesting tidbit about our cottage is that it was owned by the author bell hooks for many years, and was where she stayed when visiting Martha’s Vineyard. Some of her furnishings remain as part of the cottage’s decor today.
The cottage's amenities, furnishings and decor are selected for comfort and easy vacation living any time of the year. Fully insulated, the cottage is equipped with window ACs in living areas and both bedrooms to keep the whole house cool in summer, and multi-zoned thermostat-controlled baseboard electric heat to keep you cozy warm in cooler months. The home offers one-floor living with 2 private bedrooms, each with its own closet, a full bath off the hallway with tub/shower combo, open concept kitchen, dining, and living spaces, a spacious front deck, and a fully enclosed 3-season back porch. With an additional "outdoor" shower, outdoor grill, well appointed kitchen, reliable WiFi, and washer/dryer, there is everything you need for a wonderful Vineyard getaway or working vacation. Kitchen, living, and dining areas may be closed off from bedrooms offering enhanced privacy for "early-to-bedders" or "late risers." Two bedrooms, one with a queen, the other with two twin beds, comfortably accommodate 4. The 3-season back porch has garden-style furnishings, a ceiling fan, and table seating, and is the perfect spot to enjoy a game of cards or a cup of tea and a good book with a view of the wooded rear yard.
Having a car will offer the most flexibility for getting around the island, and is recommended. The cottage is just a short drive to the town centers and ferry terminals of Oak Bluffs (1.6 miles) and Vineyard Haven (2.0 miles). Nearby Eastville Point Beach is 0.9 miles from the cottage. There is ample off-street parking on the property for 1-2 vehicles. Also, the bike path and VTA bus route are close by, and offer alternate transportation options if you choose not to bring a car. It should be noted that while the bike path enhances safety for cyclists and walkers where present, it is not continuous everywhere. Cyclists and walkers should be prepared to navigate the roadways at times. VTA buses have bike racks for bringing bikes to especially rideable spots on-island. Off-road motorized vehicles such as dirt bikes, quads or ATVs are not allowed on the property.
The nearest full-size grocery stores are located in Vineyard Haven (Stop & Shop on Water St.) and Oak Bluffs (Reliable Market on Circuit Ave.). Tony's Market in Oak Bluffs, Our Market in Oak Bluffs, and Cumberland Farms in Vineyard Haven offer essentials and a limited grocery selection. Vineyard Grocer and Cronigs Markets on State Rd. in Tisbury and West Tisbury offer upscale and specialty grocery options.
A note about fees and taxes: For their services, Vrbo charges us, as hosts, a fixed fee plus a percentage of our listed rates and fees for each booking, and they charge you, the guest, a percentage of these rates and fees too. Taxes are also collected from you by Vrbo. For our location, the total lodging tax you will pay is an additional 11.7% of your total charges. Regarding our cleaning fee: We charge a fixed cleaning fee per stay as every cleaning covers the same territory whether a guest stays for 2 days or 2 weeks. If you would like a breakdown of our cleaning fee and what it covers, please don’t hesitate to ask. To avoid undue wear and tear on the cottage and to be able to keep our check-in and check-out times as accommodating as possible, there are a few simple tasks we ask you to complete prior to departing our cottage at the end of your stay. We ask you to leave your dishes washed, personal food items removed from the fridge, and your trash bags tied and deposited into the outside trash barrel. If you use the washer and dryer for your own personal laundry needs, we ask that you clean out the lint trap in the dryer after each load as a standard safety practice. We do ask you to keep the house reasonably tidy during your stay, and for security and safety reasons, we ask you to close and latch/lock all windows and doors, and turn off the lights, tv, and appliances when departing. We are more than happy to make reasonable accommodations for guests who are unable to, or prefer not to, complete any of these requested tasks - please feel free to discuss this with us.
Please review the cancellation policy in place for this property before booking. We strongly recommend that our guests purchase separate travel insurance to protect themselves against the possibility that they may need to cancel after Vrbo's full-refund deadline has passed.
C
Hosted byCarol & Ted Arrowsmith
