It has been more than a decade since we stayed her...

It has been more than a decade since we stayed here. The first two years we had such an enchanting experience I thought we would do it every October forever and ever. But the third year, the ownership was expanding the property and it seemed as if they would take a buck in any way they could. At the same time, they weren't nearly as friendly or accommodating as they had been. They also didn't spend a dime on repairs, at least not in our cottage. The leaky sink faucet and the spring-spike sofa were the same year after year. None of that mattered, given the solitude and the view. I would've slept on rocks to stay there.

What really killed it for us was the wedding weekend. Instead of the dark night sky and the ringing of the bell buoy in the distance, we were blasted by a Wedding DJ on a very loud speaker, glaring white lights, and drunken guests on the grounds. We did not intend to eat at the Beach Plum, and had a car (and a full provision of groceries) but not all guests were that lucky. One young couple had come to the island for one of the Menemsha Inn "getaway weekend specials". They had no car, and obviously not a lot of extra cash. They had been lured with the promise of a quiet, romantic weekend...and a world class dinner at the Beach Plum. What no one bothered to tell them was that because of this wedding, the restaurant was closed. I heard the hotel management tell the young man "you can take a taxi into Edgartown" (which would cost a fortune) or "you can get a lobster to-go from Larsen's and eat it in your room". It was cruel. I still think about that exchange and wish that I had been able to loan him our car or give him $100. I felt so bad for that couple...even worse than I felt for ourselves. Each of our visits was 8 or 9 nights so we still had a few good days and nights remaining to soak in the quiet after the wedding people left.

I don't know if it's the same ownership or management but I would caution all potential guests to inquire about other events and get in writing just exactly what services will be available during your stay. If you're lucky like we were most of the time, it has the potential to be one of your best memories of all time.