The Bird Houses

The Bird Houses

159 Edgartown -Vineyard Haven Rd
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
MARTHA'S VINEYARD ISLAND

http://www.thebirdhouses.net

Vineyard Nautical Style ---- 3 clean, well-maintained cottages furnished in crisp blue and white nautical style. A good choice if you like the privacy, convenience, and affordability your own small home. We have lots of visitors each year from all over the US, Canada, and abroad, many returning each year.

Come to the Vineyard for the glorious, clean, free beaches, fishing from shore or charter boats, sailing, wind-surfing, bicycling, hiking, kayaking, museums, restaurants, art galleries, shopping, and exploring the 3 lovely down-island towns, Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Martha's Vineyard still remains an old-fashioned, authentic place, much of it still rural, where active days spent on walking trails, at the beach, or on the water, end with dinner and strolling around town.

Cottages are available for rent nightly, weekly, monthly, in spring, summer, fall, beginning and ending any day of the week for flexibility making car/ferry reservations. Cars need reservations on the ferry from Woods Hole http://www.steamshipauthority.com. Passengers and bikes do not need reservations. There are also a variety of other ways to get to the island in-season by air or high-speed ferry.

We are located on popular island bike routes with cheerful regular public bus service in front. Member of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce since 1997. Smoking OK but only outdoors. Free WiFi - high speed internet access for wireless-enabled devices at Chickadee & Lark cottages in season.

The Chickadee, Lark (1. and 2. below) and Blue Bird cottages are all located at 159 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd, Vineyard Haven, just over 1/2 mile to Vineyard Haven harbor, the town beach next to the ferry terminal, Main St shopping, restaurants, supermarket, sightseeing tours, 'Bunch of Grapes' bookstore, 'Black Dog' general store & restaurant.

1. CHICKADEE - 1 bedroom
This guest house is the smallest and suits a single person or couple best. The bedroom has a queen-size bed and a child or another person could sleep on the twin bed that doubles as a daytime couch in the living room. Maximum 3 persons (children & babies count as persons).

Bedroom has queen bed, bureau, closet/shelves. The other larger room has a twin bed/sofa, chair, books, satellite TV, VCR, DVD, CD on one side. Kitchen on other side with white cabinets, refrigerator, stove, sink, dishes, coffee maker & grinder, fans, toaster, microwave, table & chairs, basic cookware. Bathroom with shower. WiFi internet.

Small deck with round table and 3 chairs outside door. Also adirondack chairs in shady part of yard. Charcoal or gas grill available. Bike storage in shed. Electric heat if needed.

Beds will be made, but bring your own towels (no maid service). Check out by 10:30 am, check in after 1 pm.

Reservations -- 1 night OK in August, 3 nights minimum in Sept, Oct. Yes, we will fill in the random 1 - 2 nights if left between other reservations in all months.

Currently (July 19) these nights are available: Aug 16 and 31; Sept 1, 2 and 7 and 11, 12, 13, 14 and 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30; Oct 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

2008 RATES- CHICKADEE COTTAGE

$ 120/night or 800/week in May and Oct
$ 155/nt or 1000/wk in June and Sept
$ 180/nt or 1200/wk in July and August

2. LARK - 2 bedrooms

This cottage is in the rear with its own yard, picket fence, and driveway for parking.

The larger bedroom has 2 pretty maple 4-post single beds, bureaux, and closet. The other bedroom has a double bed, oak bureau, shaker pegs along 1 wall, storage on shelves. Shower/ tub in bathroom.

Kitchen has table & chairs for 4, pine cabinets, ceiling fan, double stainless sink, range, fridge, microwave, coffee maker & grinder, basic cooking supplies, utensils, storage. Comfortable cottage-style living room has satellite TV, VCR, DVD, books, tape and CD player. WiFi internet.

Slider from kitchen to private deck. Round table, chairs, umbrella for outdoor eating, small private yard behind house. Outside H & C shower, charcoal or gas grill. Full basement, washer/dryer.

Maximum 4 persons (children & babies count as persons), no pets. Beds will be made, but bring your own towels (no maid service). Check out by 10:30 am, check in after 2 pm.

Reservations -- 1 night OK in August, 4 nights minimum in Sept and Oct. Yes, we will fill in the random 1 - 2 nights if left between other reservations in all months.

Currently (July 19) these nights are available: Aug 7 and 13; Sept 1 and 8, 9 and 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 26, 27, 28, 29, 30; Oct 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13

2008 RATES- LARK COTTAGE

$ 175/night or 1150/week in May and Oct
$ 220/nt or 1450/wk in June and Sept
$ 275/nt or 1650/wk in July and August

3. SPARROW - 1 bedroom

Located at 428 Main St, in a quiet neighborhood 1 mile north of Vineyard Haven center, 2 doors down from 'The Thorncroft Inn' and a few blocks (3/10 mile) to a public beach next to the Vineyard Haven yacht club on the way to West Chop, an older area of estates, stone walls, shady lanes, rhododendrons, Mink Meadows golf club and the West Chop lighthouse.

First floor has dining area with table & 4 chairs, a single bed tucked in an alcove, closet, bathroom with shower/tub, living room with painted wood floor, area rug, satellite TV, VCR, DVD, CD. Kitchen has electric range, sink, fridge, microwave, pantry, basic cookware, utensils, toaster, coffeemaker & grinder. Airy open bedroom on 2nd floor has painted wood floor, queen-size white spool bed, white Victorian bureau, closet. Rinnai propane heat. Outdoors- small yard with chairs, shed for bike storage, BBQ grill. Parking for 2 cars.

Located on a popular route for bicyclers, joggers, mopeds, walkers passing by and light car traffic. Good location for bikes. Best for adults or with child over 8 (yard is not completely fenced). On public bus route. Local service telephone.

Maximum 3 persons (children & babies count as persons). No pets. Beds will be made, but bring your own towels (no maid service). Check out by 10:30 am, check-in after 2:30 pm.

Reservations -- 1 night OK in July and August, 4 nights minimum in Sept and Oct. Yes, we will fill in the random 1 - 2 nights if left between other reservations in all months.

Currently (July 19) these nights are available: July 29; Aug 16 and 24; Sept 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30; Oct 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

2008 RATES- SPARROW COTTAGE

$ 175/night or 1150/week in May and Oct
$ 220/nt or 1450/wk in June and Sept
$ 275/nt or 1650/wk in July and August

The Bird Houses, Vineyard Haven -- Information (Summer)

WHAT TO BRING Bring your own towels, toiletries, paper supplies, children's items, soaps, shampoos, bikes, food, mobile phone. Everything you might need is probably available to buy on-island. Please let us know in advance if you are bringing a boat on a trailer so can be sure there's room for it. Dress is very casual all over the island. Supermarkets, hardware stores, banks are nearby but there are no discount stores or fast food restaurants. We can provide an iron and ironing board if you want them.

RESERVATIONS & DEPOSITS Call or e-mail to talk, ask questions, and check latest availability. When ready to reserve time, we can pencil you on to the calendar and hold the time while we await your deposit.

We mail out a map, information, directions, and short agreement which you return with a check for 1/2 the total expected rent plus security deposit. The balance is paid on arrival. The refundable security deposit is $50/nt for stays of 1- 2 nights or 1/5 (20%) of total rent for 3 nights or more. This deposit will be returned within 2 wks after departure, less the cost of itemized damage if any. Responsible persons must be over 21 to sign agreement. Reservation deposits are refundable with 2 weeks or more notice of cancellation. Less than that, we only refund the nights if we rent them to someone else. Please let us know as soon as possible if you may change your plans.

Pay by check or cash---- note that no credit cards accepted. If you want to charge it, register at the eBay-owned secure site, http://www.paypal.com and easily send payment via credit card to our e-mail address, mvbird@gis.net

TRANSPORTATION If you want to bring your car on island from Woods Hole, call the Steamship Authority for advance reservations. Only the Steamship Authority, the ferry from Woods Hole, Mass. takes cars. 1-508-477-8600 or 693-9130. Be sure to have your auto license plate number and credit card when calling to reserve or do it on-line at http://www.steamshipauthority.com

Regular fares 1-way Woods Hole-Vineyard Haven on the Steamship Authority for 2008: Adults $7.50, children (5-12) $4, bicycles $3. Regular size auto rates (under 17' length): April 1- Oct 31 $67.50, larger autos (over 17' length): $77.50. Parking at the Falmouth lot and Rhode Island ferry is $8- 10/day. Ferry rates may change due to increased fuel costs.

Passengers, bikes do not need reservations. You can leave your car in the parking lot at Falmouth, Hyannis, New Bedford, Mass. or Quonset Pt, R.I. and come over with bikes, walk, use taxis, public buses or rent a car. This could be less expensive than bringing your own car depending on the time of year and the number of days you stay. MV buses run all day to evening in summer between beaches and towns, some have bike racks too. Buses run regular routes past our houses every 1/2 hr or so and will stop to pick you up if you wave. Most ferries dock at the main terminal in Vineyard Haven, some go to Oak Bluffs 3- 4 miles away.

Don't drive all the way to Woods Hole unless you have a ferry reservation for your car. The parking lot there is now just for Vineyarders who keep cars on the mainland. If you drive to Woods Hole, they send you back to the Falmouth parking lot. On especially crowded weekends, even the Falmouth lot becomes full and then you'll be directed back another lot. There will be signs along the way to explain where to park, information on a special AM radio station, and there are always free SSA shuttles to transport you from whichever parking lot you are in down to the ferry terminal in Woods Hole.

Coming without a car, consider flying in to the MV Airport from Boston, NY, Baltimore, Providence, other cities. It may be easier to fly to Providence, R.I. and take the Peter Pan bus direct to the Woods Hole ferry, than flying to Logan Airport in Boston. See http://wwwpeterpanbus.com for bus schedules. Vineyard taxis are the van-type and usually have bike racks on back. There other ways to get here and new services are added each season.... ferries from New Bedford, Ma, Island Queen from Falmouth, new fast-ferry from Rhode Island http://www.vineyardfastferry.com and more. Hy-Line from Hyannis 1-508-778-2600; Island Queen from Falmouth 1-508-548-4800; Martha's Vineyard airport 1-508-693-7022 ; Cape Air 1-800-352-0714; USAir 1-800-428-4322; Peter Pan bus line 1-800-556-3815.