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May 24, 2023 Bookings for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket continue to be strong, especially compared to pre-pandemic years. But with inventory rebounding from pandemic declines and less demand compared to 2022, vacationers still have a lot of options for their summer vacation. Vacationer demand currently shows a 31% increase so far in 2023 over 2019, but a -19% decrease over 2022. This is not surprising, given the historic two-fold increase in demand during the heart of the pandemic. We have seen a growing trend of vacationers booking their home for next summer as early as the previous fall. Prior to 2017, we saw a strong surge in inquiries and bookings beginning in January. In recent years, the bookings are more evenly spread out beginning in September of the prior year. Current Inventory of Available Homes In looking at the inventory of homes currently available for 10 weeks of the summer season, we see that, on average, there is 6-11% more availability compared to the same time last year. Now that the pandemic is over, families are travelling abroad again and taking more vacations during the year. Generally, the most popular weeks of the summer are the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August. As is often the case, the last week of August shows 49% availability, as demand is always lower for that week due to schools resuming. Vacation rentals on the Cape and Islands saw a tremendous surge in popularity during the pandemic as families discovered the benefits of renting an entire house, where they could enjoy privacy and many amenities, as well as cook their own meals if they choose to. So, despite the downturn from the last two years, the Cape and Islands continues to be an appealing destination. ### About WeNeedaVacation: Locally owned and operated, WeNeedaVacation has been providing an efficient and inexpensive way of matching vacationers and vacation rental owners since 1997. The website lists nearly 4,000 properties on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket and offers extensive information to the 1.3M vacationers who use the site yearly, including about beaches, events, dining, activities, and shopping. We do not charge vacationers a fee, and they can book directly with the owner or manager. Our amazing staff provides unparalleled guidance to our Cape & Islands vacation rental homeowners. Many of our staff are vacation rental owners themselves, and all work hard to promote this special place. We proudly belong to all 20 local Chambers of Commerce. Helping Vacationers Get Back to the Cape and Islands since 1997 Contact us