Book Direct IN CAPE MAY and save

#BookDirect.  Have you heard the term but never knew what it meant?

Book Direct means booking from the source. In Cape May, it means booking your Cape May Vacation home directly from a real estate agency rather than booking from 3rd party websites.

You know those 3rd party websites. You know their names. You see their ads on TV. Their rental listings in Cape May and the Jersey Shore are near the top of your search results. 

We call those companies Online Travel Agencies, or OTAs for short. 

These listing sites invest heavily in advertising, both on TV and online. Their goal is that when you think of booking a Cape May or Jersey Shore vacation, you think of them first.

OTAs make it seem so easy to book. OTAs make it quite a bit harder for you to know exactly what you are paying for.

There are the normal fees you would pay for any Cape May Vacation Rental. Rent, cleaning fees, processing fees, travel insurance, and security deposits or damage insurance - these are fees that apply to all rentals whether you book direct or book through an OTA or not.

However, did you know that there are two charges that you will only pay when booking through an OTA? 

Did you know that these charges add up to an additional 20-30% out of pocket cost for your Cape May vacation rental?

Let's talk about Service Fees and Taxes.

OTAs charge a service fee of 6-15% when booking any Cape May or Jersey Shore area vacation home through them. That fee goes directly to the OTA. That is a separate fee above the cost for the Cape May rental.  It is a fee that goes directly to the OTA, not the owner of the property.

There's more. All OTA bookings in the Cape May and greater Jersey Shore area are subject to 10-15% in additional taxes. These taxes include sales taxes, occupancy taxes, and/or short-term rental taxes. This adds to the total cost of your Cape May vacation rental.

There is a secret the OTAs don't want you to know. Real Estate Agencies like Long & Foster list many of the same Cape May vacation homes, even the ones you find on the OTA. 

When you book that same property through an agent like me, there is no booking fee or taxes applied to the booking.

If you book that exact same Cape May Vacation Rental through me, you save an additional 20-30% more than if you booked through the OTA.

In some cases, that adds up to thousands of dollars saved. That means a lot more to spend dining in Cape May restaurants, shopping on Washington Street, or saving in your pockets!

 Have you ever noticed that an OTA never gives the exact address of the property? Did the location or address of the Cape May vacation home disappoint you after booking through an OTA? 

Tired of emails and 1-800 numbers? Want someone local to call when you run into an issue? 

The fix to these issues is to #BookDirect.

If you want transparency and local expertise when booking a Cape May vacation home, book direct.

When you book your Cape May Vacation directly through me, you have a local expert ready to help. I live right here in town, and I sure do love where I live. From restaurants to activities, to planning that perfect surprise, I can help you with all aspects of your stay.

I also know our entire inventory of homes, and I will help you find the perfect rental with all the amenities that your family needs. Beachfront to the bayfront, Washington Street to Cape May Point, West Cape May to Cape May Beach, I cover it all, I will never hide the address, and I'll even let you see it (if I can) before you book!

Love your pets and can't imagine traveling without them? I do too - and I will help you find the perfect Cape May pet-friendly vacation rental. 

I am more than just a real estate agent. I am a local, year-round Cape May resident who wants to share everything she loves about Cape May with you!

Visiting Cape May for the first time? Want to know more about our national historic landmark and its World War II history? Need help choosing the perfect Cape May restaurant? Need to find all the information on Cape May area events? 

I cover the entire Cape May area, from the Delaware Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. Whether you want a romantic getaway, a beach vacation, or a family reunion, I can help.

You can book the same Victorian houses, beach vacation homes, or bayfront cottages through me that you would find on the OTAs.

From bird-watching to surfing, from Victorian homes to the Washington Street Mall, this is my home and I want to welcome you here. 

The truth is that no OTA can provide the level of service that a local Cape May agent can. Most importantly, when you book through me at Long & Foster, you will save significantly over using an OTA.