Scarcely anyone could consider Nantucket a place to go to on the cheap. However, if coming from the eastern seaboard, it is possible to substantially lower the cost of getting to the otherwise expensive Massachusetts island for admittedly a very brief stay.
Going for such a short trip in the summer may not be what some people have in mind. Our preference would have been to spend more time though my wife and I were willing to settle for even a day's exposure to the New England ocean air at a time when it was difficult for us to travel very far or long.
Cheaper flight over longer drive
Coming from the Washington, D.C. area where the nearest beaches in Maryland and Virginia are unexceptional, we thought a short flight and drive was a better alternative to traveling eight or more hours by car.
At the same time, the air fare we found from Washington or Baltimore, involving at least a stopover in Boston (or elsewhere) and flight to Nantucket on Cape Air or JetBlue Airways, was between $990 and over $1,400.
My wife is from the Philippines and we certainly weren't going to spend more to go to Nantucket than a single roundtrip ticket from the United States to Manila. Going through the always reliable Baltimore-Washington International Airport, we found two tickets on Southwest to Providence's T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island for $565.
There we rented a car to drive to Hyannis on Cape Cod about an hour and a half away, making sure to go earlier in the day and avoid the late afternoon summer weekend traffic congestion headed to the cape. Again to reduce our accommodation costs, we booked two nights at the Angeline Crocker Hinckley Hostel in Hyannis--affiliated with Hostelling International--a converted historic house, at a total cost of $140.
We tried initially to stay at the hostel on Nantucket but it was full that weekend. That perhaps was fortuitous because the facility on the island was over 3 miles from the ferry dock and Nantucket Village. The Hyannis hostel was located across the street from the harbor and a close walk to the ferries for both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
The coed dormitory style room where we stayed had three bunk beds with clean sheets and towels included, shared bathrooms, and breakfast provided to everyone as part of the package. Parking for registered guests is free.
Learning the hostel guidelines to follow
The atmosphere in Hyannis was very friendly and welcoming with a spirit of cooperation as the hallmark of what should always prevail where different people who don't already know each other are staying together.
For someone without experience staying in a hostel, it's advisable to follow the guidelines of waiting until you leave to fold and deposit your bed sheets in a hamper. Doing so beforehand can lead to the mistaken impression you have already checked out, and may prompt another guest to take your bed--particularly if you also forget to leave at least one of your personal items on the bed while away.
The next day we embarked on foot to catch the nearby Hy-Line ferry to Nantucket. We took the hour long faster boat over, with a one-way fare of $39, and opted for the "traditional" slower ferry back, taking just under two hours, at $22.50.
Aside from the reduced cost, we wanted to approach the island by water instead of air.
Arriving at Straight Wharf full of shops and galleries, we were met by family friends who are transplanted Washingtonians and now live permanently on Nantucket, and had offered to give us a whirlwind tour of the island.
Experiencing island's preserved beauty
Their kindness was our alternative to taking one of the local tour buses. With them we drove through the small quaint village of Siasconset, which is known as Sconset, on the island's eastern edge. We also saw Surfside Beach and Madaket, among other places including a windmill and lighthouses.
Bikers have to cautiously compete with autos at points on the island with drivers sometimes expressing the wish that more cyclists would stick to the bike paths and not the roads always.
The result of strong preservation on Nantucket is quite evident. After our friends dropped us back in the main town, we walked along the cobblestone streets, by boutiques, and the harbor full of yachts and sailboats.
It was just as well to be without a car given the limited parking and narrow crowded streets. We had lunch at Cap'n Tobey's Chowder House by the harbor which features local seafood with fish grilled, baked, or blackened. The fried fish choices are the less expensive ones.
We experienced the seasonal shuttle service to get to Jetties Beach, a half mile from the center of town, which would be an easy walk were it not for the periodic rain that day. It is designed for families with children being on the Nantucket Sound side with calmer water.
It has boat and windsurfing rentals, tennis courts, volleyball nets, playground, showers, a skate park, take-out food, watersports equipment for rent, a restaurant, and fishing off of jetties.
Bar items to lower dining costs
The one place where we didn't fully skimp was at American Seasons, the restaurant where we went for dinner before taking the ferry back to Hyannis. It is ensconced away on a side street removed from the hustle and bustle of the center of town. The rain has stopped by then and it was a nice walk to and from.
Sitting in the covered patio we found the restaurant had welcome small portions, along with the summer squash soup we shared and foccacia and pretzel bread we were brought. One of the tasty dishes on the menu is Nantucket fluke fish served with creamed local corn.
It is a pricey establishment as befits most of Nantucket. But one of the ways around the more expensive choices is ordering from the small plate bar items which can be $20 less than the entrée selections.
Our venture may have been a hop, skip, and a jump to Nantucket. Though we did avoid depleting our wallet when we have better fish coming to fry, and got a taste for a possible future return.
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