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Location |
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Is there off street
parking? |
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Are there any potential
sources of disruptive noise? Bars etc.? |
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If you are a beachgoer, you
want to see exactly how far you have to walk to the beach. Parking at the
beach is difficult to find |
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Are there restaurants
nearby? Parking is difficult in Cape May during the season. |
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What activities are within
walking distance? |
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The Inn |
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Is the ambience what you
want for your vacation? |
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Do you know anyone who has
stayed there? Most innkeepers are excellent hosts because they are doing
what they love to do. However, you occasionally find an innkeeper that
should be in some other line of work. Scour the web for reviews. We have a
discussion section that might help you make a decision. |
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Does the Inn allow children
and if so, what age? If you have children, this is important. If you don't
have children and are planning a romantic getaway, you probably want to know
if children are welcome at the inn. |
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Does the Inn allow any
pets? See the note about children above. |
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What is the smoking policy?
That beautiful porch may be useless to you if someone is sitting there
smoking a stogie and you have an aversion to cigar smoke. |
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Is there heat? The shore
can be cold and raw in the spring and fall. |
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Rooms |
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Is there a private bath?
There are still a number of establishments with shared baths. |
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If there is a private bath
for your room, is it in the room or down the hall? |
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Is the room air
conditioned? Be aware that there are some bed and breakfasts that do not
provide air conditioning |
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How private is the room?
Garden rooms often open to a garden where there are other guests. In many
cases rooms with a shared porch or balcony will have other people walking by
your window? |
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What view do you get from
your room? For us, it is worth paying extra to have a view of the ocean when
we awake. |
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Is there heat in the room?
The shore can be cold and raw in the spring and fall. |
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Amenities |
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Is breakfast provided? If
so, is it a full breakfast or continental? |
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Do you have access to a
refrigerator? |
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High speed internet. Most
of us want to get away. However there are times when we need internet
access. Some of the B&Bs are beginning to provide broadband and wireless
access. Most often, you won't have a phone available in your room. If you
are near the Carpenter's Square Mall you can check out the
Magic Brain
Cyber Cafe in season. |
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Phone service - Cellular
service can be spotty depending on your provider. Is there an in house phone
that you can use? Can your friends and relatives contact you in case of a
family emergency? |
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Do they provide beach
towels? We have noticed that many of the B&Bs do not |
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Is there an outside shower
for those returning from the beach? Many bed and breakfasts ask that you
shower outside when returning from the beach. Sand can ruin floors and
carpets not to mention the plumbing. Some people aren't comfortable in an
outside shower. We prefer to use an outside shower whenever possible.
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Policies |
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Do they accept credit
cards? |
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What is the cancellation
policy? This can be very important in the late summer and early fall during
hurricane season |
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What is the policy with
outside guests visiting the Inn or your room? We often arrange to meet
friends in Cape May. We have heard stories about innkeepers who will
not allow non guests into the room. This can be irritating if you are trying
to get people together prior to going to dinner. |
