Getting to the Party
When planning for the trip to Martha's Vineyard you'll need to consider the following things:
- Where to fly in to
- Where to rent a car
- Driving directions to Edgartown
- Making a reservation for the ferry
The final step is regarding lodging, for help on this use the following link: Wedding Party | Places to Stay.
Airports. There are three options but for all International travelers and many domestic travelers the answer is Boston's Logan Airport. For domestic flights Providence is also a viable option (it takes almost exactly the same amount of time) and could potentially save money. The final option is not an answer in itself ... there is a small airport on Martha's Vineyard now (in Vineyard Haven to be precise). If you prefer to hop over to the island on a plane (aka, a puddle jumper) rather than renting a car and taking the ferry that is an option. With this option you can still rent a car (see links at right) but the island is small enough that taxi's, walking, and bicycling is often all that is needed. After some thought we've decided to take the flight to Martha's Vineyard, the fare from Logan was approximately $270 per person but we're now saving on the rental car and we've dropped the commute time from 5 1/2 hours to roughly 30 minutes.
Rentals. Renting a car at either Logan or Providence airports is easy. All the big rental cars exist in both locations, the biggest being Hertz and Avis. Other options include Budget, Dollar, etc. Again there are probably some cost savings to be had if you rent from Providence but otherwise the experience will be identical. The only exception is if you decide to take a plane directly to Martha's Vineyard; in this case you'll have far fewer choices in rental agencies and the agencies themselves will be much smaller so reserve your car well in advance.
Driving. Driving to Martha's Vineyard is a relatively easy route (particularly from Boston) but it does take time. Give yourself 5 1/2 hours for the drive and you should be fine. If you're not feeling rushed the drive can be quite nice especially once you're near the water. The step-by-step directions are included as links to the right.
Ferry. Taking the ferry is fun but it takes planning during the summer months to get a spot if you're bringing a car. Please don't underestimate this and book a spot on the ferry as soon as you can.