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Late Summer Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Tips Posted: 12 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT by Scott Garrity Many folks visit Martha’s Vineyard during August and September and, each month offers different attractions and qualities. If you’re thinking of planning a visit to the Vineyard this month or next, here are some thoughts to help with your planning. August is a great month to visit the Vineyard because the weather and the water temperatures are generally at the warmest of the year. President Obama has scheduled two vacations on the Vineyard during August in past years and is expected once again during this month this year. The Top Gun Marlin & Tuna Shoot-Out Tournament and the 12-Metre Edgartown Regatta are two events held during August. If you are an offshore fisherman, you can register for the marlin and tuna tournament at the Wesley Hotel in Oak Bluffs. Viewing the regatta race can be quite thrilling and may be a unique experience to try to be a part of. Visiting the Vineyard in September comes with the benefit of reduced prices on lodging and fewer crowds and lines at the favored attractions. The majority of Martha's Vineyard hotels, inns and rentals reduce their rates after Labor Day because many people are in the “back to school” and “summer is over” mode. However, the weather can still be quite nice and sunny days in the 70′s are possible. Although you might not dare to swim at the beaches, the charm of the Vineyard scenery is still fun to enjoy in jeans and a sweatshirt. There will be less traffic and fewer waits at restaurants and shops during this time. The West Tisbury Farmer’s Market is a popular event during September. The Grange Hall in West Tisbury is the venue and showcase for fresh produce, unique flowers and great home cooking. This fits into the “quintessential New England Fall activities” category and is sure to please folks young and old. Of course, any time of year is a great time for taking in the sights in downtown Oak Bluffs. Stroll down Circuit Ave and browse through the charming shops. There are many options for coffee, snacks, lunch and dinner. Mad Martha's is a favorite spot for ice cream and Murdick's Fudge has fresh fudge made daily. The Flying Horses Carousel is a landmark attraction and is the nation’s oldest operating platform carousel. The rides are a huge bargain, about $2 per ride, and if a rider gets the special brass ring they get a free ride. August and September are great months to visit Martha's Vineyard and we hope these ideas help you plan your visit to the island. Scott Garrity runs marthas-vineyard-vacation-tips.com. Visit his site to see large photos and read about other tips for a Martha's Vineyard vacation.

5 Ways to Make the Most of Your FlipKey Listing Posted: 11 Aug 2011 08:56 AM PDT So far on Ask FlipKey, I’ve covered lots of topics pertinent to the maintenance and success of your FlipKey property listing – everything from Collecting Guest Reviews, to accurately Mapping your property, to entering Rates and Availability information to keep guests up-to-date and informed. These are the big players in determining how successful your listing will be with FlipKey, but often times people ask what else they can do to make their listing “pop.” Below, I’ll outline five quick and easy changes you can make today, so that your property performs to it’s absolute best tomorrow, the day after, and for years into the future. 1. Listing title When creating your listing, the first thing you need to think about is the title on your property listing page. With so many property listings on FlipKey, it is important to get creative when showcasing your property, so in a sea of listings a traveler has a reason to choose your property over all the others.  Something simple like “Boston Vacation Home” is boring and not informative, but something like “Chic Boston waterfront, accessible 2-bedroom near attractions” is a catchy title that highlights your property features in only 7 words! Pick and choose you words wisely, and if you’re stuck, look at other listings for inspiration. 2. Essential photos When adding photos – be sure to have a sufficient number (we recommend at least 8), including the “essential” views. The essentials include exterior photos of the home and any outdoor space (yards, picturesque views, etc.), as well as interior photos of the main living spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms, living/dining rooms, kitchen). These photographs combined with a shining property description will really help tell a story of your property to potential guests, and will help them determine whether they’d like to stay in your home or not. 3. Property description Another one of the most important components to include is a passionate property description. Before a traveler ever arrives at your home, all they have to go on is what you give them, so you have to make the words you use count! Don’t overwhelm guests with every single detail about your property – give them the highlights, pointing out anything unique or different, and offer to fill them in further should they inquire about a booking. 4. Amenities Make sure that you are comprehensive when checking the “Amenities” check boxes in your listing description – here you can tell guests everything from what types of scenery they can expect, to the types of “extra’s” your property offers (like a pool table or in-ground swimming pool). After they’ve gotten a feel for your property through your description and pictures, these additions are just the icing on the cake. 5. Other channels There are also a few things you can do that aren’t FlipKey-related that can increase the exposure that your property gets to potential renters. Things like advertising through your local visitors and tourism bureau, and creating your own website can drive a lot of interest to your property, and that’s interest that you couldn’t necessarily attract online. With a combination of a few simple online and offline marketing tactics, there is the potential to see a large growth in interest for your property, and increased interest can only mean one thing: increased bookings.

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