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| About the North Fork |
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Help FAQ(frequently asked questions) |
| North Fork vineyard farmhouse, vacation rental home with private beach on Southold Bay LOCATED IN SOUTHOLD, ON THE NORTH FORK of LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK |
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What's the best way to transfer from Manhattan or the airport?
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How do we proceed and when will our reservation be confirmed?
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What happens if there is a problem in the house that needs attention during our stay?
1. What is Southold like?
Southold is on East End of the North Fork of Long Island, New York, approximately a 55 minute drive from McArthur Islip Airport, 1-1/2 hours from JFK International Airport and 2 to 2-1/2hours from Manhattan, depending on traffic and time of year.
Long Island is shaped like a fish, with JFK airport near the eye of the fish and the North and South Forks making up the tail. Locally, the North Fork is known as the “Un-Hamptons”, being less developed than the better known Hamptons on the South Fork. We do not have the same crowds, traffic and price tags of the Hamptons, yet we can boast an increasing number of amenities whilst retaining the natural beauty that make it all the more attractive as a holiday venue.
At the heart of Long Island's Wine Country, the Township of Southold has many of the 40 vineyards that are now offering wine tasting, cultural and social events throughout most of the year. The area also retains many family owned and run fruit and vegetable farms offering fresh produce – the best white peaches, apples, beans, peppers, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower you will ever taste.
Southold is surrounded by many small villages, each with its own unique character, also beautiful beaches and parks, historic buildings, antique shops, arts and crafts galleries, designer stores, fun bars and fine dining. With it's two coastlines, one on the Sound, the other on the Bay, there is a variety of beaches to chose from, some facing Shelter Island and the Hamptons, with white sandy beaches, others with high bluffs and dramatic sunsets over the rocks that face the Connecticut shore.
The Old Bay Home is on the open bay facing Shelter Island, with white sandy beach and shallow water suitable for swimming, located in the desirable residential area about a mile outside the town of Southold, only a few minutes drive to Greenport Maritime Village.
2. What's the best way to transfer from Manhattan or the airport?
Many of our visitors arrive by air, from destinations including Europe and the US West Coast, and want to combine a relaxing week at the beach with time in the bright city lights of Manhattan. While we sometimes hear from departing guests that they would rather have skipped the city and spent more time with us, a combined holiday can work very well. One option is to base yourself at our beach house and take day trips to NYC, 2 hours each way, but if you plan to do this more than once or twice during a week's stay, you might want to split your holiday and spend a week with us followed by a week in the city, or visa versa. We appreciate that you have many choices, so the following information is simply intended as an introduction to some of the options available to you, and is not meant to steer you in any particular direction. We are not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned.
Transferring to and from Manhattan. The best way to transfer between Southold and Manhattan is by luxury coach, picking up a hire car locally. The trains are good, but run infrequently and involve one or two changes. With luggage, this is not a good option. Everyone, including locals, uses Hampton Jitney , which has a convenient schedule, movies and a lavatory on board, and takes 2 hours. Book in advance by phone. Cash only.
For local car hire, Enterprise Cars has an office only a few 100 yards from the Hampton Jitney stop in Riverhead, where they will pick you up with your luggage and take you back to their office to complete the paperwork for your car. To pre-book online, enter Zip Code 11901. It's important to note that on a Saturday, Enterprise closes at 12noon for the whole weekend, so you MUST take one of the earlier coaches to arrive around 11am if you are checking in on a Saturday. If your check-in is between Saturday noon and Monday morning, this is not an option. From Riverhead to the Southold Beach House, it's then a simple, but very scenic drive through all the villages of about 25 minutes, and there are many interesting places to stop along the way. We can recommend Jamesport Country Kitchen in Aquebogue for a bite to eat, where we have enjoyed some of our best meals on the North Fork, and it has a reasonably priced light lunch menu.
Transferring to and from the airport. The nearest international airport is JFK (John F Kennedy) in Queens. To transfer directly to Southold, we recommend that either you hire a car at the airport, or arrange to be picked up (see below), then hire a car locally in Riverhead (see above). Allow an hour and a half. The first hour is mainly LIE (Long Island Expressway), which is motorway, followed by a half hour drive through all the small villages on the North Fork. If you are not experienced with freeway driving in the US, or just want to kick back after your flight, then we recommend you take advantage of being picked up at the airport.
To be driven to and from the airport, we recommend Hampton Coach Car Service, who have given excellent service in the past with no complaints. Their driver will check your flight for delays and adjust as necessary at no extra cost. Considering the distance and possible waiting time involved, we think their rate of roughly $130 each way including tip is very reasonable. You will need to pre-pay over the phone by credit card and give them your flight details. Contact us for their phone number. They are not online.
A tip: Whoever you use for car service, you may need a Minivan to accommodate a family of 4 with luggage rather than a normal saloon car. If a saloon car is adequate, make sure you order a "Town Car", which is a good quality, private saloon car, the equivalent of a high end minicab service in the UK. Do not confuse this with a cab, taxi or stretch limo. It's not the same thing. Taxis are shared by working people who do not own a car and need to go food shopping, commute to work and take their sick pets to the vet etc.. If you order a "taxi", expect it to go on a circuitous route, picking up and dropping off others along the way, everyone squashed together with their shopping, pets etc. Do not expect it to arrive on time, or to head off in the direction you want to go. It's not uncommon for it to break down either, so whilst this makes for an interesting experience, as a general rule, do NOT order a "taxi"!!! A "cab" is the yellow cab you hail to get around Manhattan. Yellow cabs do not serve Long Island. Although yellow cabs are available at the airport to take you to the city, if you attempt to get into one and ask them to bring you to Southold, they will tell you to get out. If not, get out anyway. You do not want to pay the fare they will charge. Just to add to the confusion, a town car is sometimes also called a "limo", so make sure any "limo" you are offered is not a "stretch limo", or you can expect one of those very long white cars with smoked windows that take up to 24 people, with a uniformed chauffeur, TV and cocktail bar. This will cost about $100 an hour, so unless you want to be Prom King and Queen for the day, stick with a Minivan or Town Car from Hampton Coach, and you won't go far wrong.
3. Do we need a car?
Yes, or a bicycle at least, available to rent locally. There are no stores within walking distance of the house, so you will need a car or bicycle for a short ride into the village center and to access the food stores, restaurants, tasting rooms etc. There are many things to do, whatever the season, and in the summer, two visitor information booths offer maps and guides to suit all tastes. The nearest large town is Riverhead, where you will find a tax free designer outlet center, world class aquarium, a nearby Water park, dinosaur museum and restored Vaudeville theater, amongst other attractions. Moving east, Love Lane in Mattituck has a wonderful Cheese shop, Bakery and Candy and Chocolate Shop, a must for romantics on Valentines Weekend, or any time of year. And beyond Southold, Greenport is a bustling seaport with a historic village center, fine restaurants, sidewalk cafes, fishing charters, arts and craft galleries, antique stores, a movie theater, many historic buildings, a working Victorian Carousel and when the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, an outdoor ice rink. From there, you can take a 10 minute ferry ride over to exclusive Shelter Island, or continue on to magnificent Orient State Park, at the very tip of the North Fork. Whether your thing is ice sailing in the winter or taking a trip round a lighthouse in the summer, there's always something to do on the water. For local car hire, we recommend Enterprise in Riverhead. Please scroll up for information about transferring to and from the airport and Manhattan.
4. How close is the house to the beach?
If you walk out of the kitchen door and take a short 400ft stroll through the vines, you are on our private beach. The beach is shared with one other single family home.
5. Is the beach clean and suitable for swimming?
Yes, yes and yes. You will see people swimming on the North Fork from around the beginning of June through October. In the USA, a private beach means that you own the land to the point where it is covered by water at high tide. Other people may walk the beach at low tide so far as the high water mark, but not beyond that point. In reality, few take advantage of the beach as there are many very beautiful public beaches on the North Fork. The beach is on the open bay, which has good tidal flow, but is protected from strong tidal currents by Shelter Island and the land of the twin forks.
6. Can we bring our own boat or rent one?
Yes, please do bring your own boat, but the house does not have any overnight mooring, so it's fine for a kayak or small boat you can pull above the high water mark, but not suitable for a larger boat. There is a public launch for boats up to 20ft at the end of Pine Neck, which is a few minutes away. Kayaks are available to rent locally, they will deliver to the house and pick up, also Private Charters are available in Greenport .
7. What phone and internet service do you provide?
We provide one phone line, which offers FREE local outgoing calls. You may also receive incoming long-distance and international calls, but the line is blocked for all outgoing toll calls. This is because it would be impossible for us to know your phone charges for a period of up to 6 weeks after your departure, which we think is an unreasonable amount of time to withhold your security deposit.
Cell/ Mobile phone service is mixed, depending on your provider, but improving daily. We use Verizon Wireless and Nextel and have few problems anywhere on the North Fork with those, but for other providers and our international guests, we can provide an optional “pay as you go” cell/ mobile phone on request. Phone cards are available locally in units of $5 and up. There is an additional security deposit of $100 for use of the phone, which is our replacement cost if you leave it on the beach and the tide comes in. We do not refund unused minutes, which are passed on to the next person or expire.
WIFI Internet service is high speed cable Internet service at the house using Optimum Online (the best!). We do not provide a computer (too much liability), but feel free to bring your own laptop and connect anywhere in the house, it even works on the decks outside. Also, if you have "Skype" on your computer, you can now make international calls for FREE using the VOIP.
8. Why is the occupancy limited to a maximum of 8 guests?
Some vacation rentals will happily accommodate 10 or even 12 occupants in a house the size of the Old Bay Home with the same number of bedrooms. We set a lower limit for good reasons. If you are familiar with Southold, then you know that we do not have municipal sewerage and that each house has its own septic system. For this reason, the house cannot cope with larger groups. We want you to have a problem free vacation.
9. How is the house laid-out for sleeping arrangements?
The farmhouse accommodates 6 people comfortably, and a maximum of 8 people. Each of the four bedrooms accommodates 2 people in either a Queen, or two Twin beds. Each bedroom provides ample closet and dresser space for suitcases and belongings, and gives each of the guests a better sense of privacy for sleeping, reading, relaxing, etc. There is a small study sitting room upstairs, with a Graco Pack 'N Play travel cot available for our smallest guests, which may also be relocated in any of the other bedrooms if preferred, but there are no additional sleep couches or rollaway beds.
All bedrooms are upstairs on the second floor. Although the house benefits from 3 bathrooms and an outdoor shower, only 1 bathroom is a full bathroom with bathtub and shower over, and it's small. The second upstairs bathroom is a half bath, meaning basin and lavatory, no shower, located in the master bedroom suite. An additional half bathroom is located in the mud room off the kitchen. Check out the Floor Plans to see how this could work for you.
It is our desire to provide guests with a comfortable living environment, and we will not accept requests to reserve for more than 6-8 guests in total, including children and day visitors.
10. Is the water safe to drink?
Yes, the house is supplied with municipal water. For irrigation, there is well water. We do not recommend drinking from any outdoor fresh water outlets, as this may be unfiltered well water, although many locals do drink unfiltered well water in their own homes.
11. Do you allow pets?
No, sorry we don't. No exceptions.
12. Is this a non-smoking house?
Yes. Smoking inside the house will result in the forfeit of your deposit and immediate termination of your lease. You may smoke outside the house provided you dispose of butts properly in the ashtrays provided. If you smoke anywhere where there is no ashtray provided, including on the beach, please take one with you.
13. What are the rates and are they negotiable?
As a guideline, you should allow $1,250 to $4,500 per week, depending on the season and number of occupants. We can rarely offer a discount unless we receive a last minute cancellation. We keep the rates extremely competitive for a beachfront home with all the amenities that the house offers. In order to maintain high standards, certain “per use” costs are incurred for every rental, regardless of the time of year, the number of people, or duration of stay, but we will give you the owner's best rate at the time of your inquiry. Rates published on this website and any listing sites on which we advertise are changeable without notice.
14. Is there any Sales Tax?
No. The Old Bay Home is not a hotel. We do not rent rooms by the night, neither do we provide a daily maid service, meals, entertainment or any other type of hotel service. If we did, we would be charging you New York State sales tax. Please do not ask us to provide these services.
15. Are there any extra charges on top of the rent?
Not if you comply with the terms of the lease and leave the house as you find it. All utilities are included in your rent, also BBQ gas, local phone service, Satellite TV and trash removal. We include the cost of cleaning the house before your arrival and a normal house clean after you leave, and we provide all the linens and household towels. If you clean up the kitchen and leave the house tidy, there should be nothing else for you to pay. Extra cleaning is very rarely charged, but we reserve the right to do so if anyone leaves the house in a very messy state. The above applies to weekly rentals. Should you wish to rent the house on a monthly or seasonal basis, please inquire for net rates, which will be quoted to you exclusive of utilities.
16. What are the payment options?
We ask for 50% advance rent to confirm the booking, with the balance of rent and security deposit payable 45 days in advance of arrival. If you book 6-9 months in advance, you may spread the payments across three installments rather than two. If you book less than 45 days prior to your arrival, we will ask for payment in full at the time booking.
Our preferred method of payment is by personal check/ cheque in US$ or UK British Pounds. We also accept payment by bank transfer, and by Credit Card through Paypal. Our current bank charges are $35 per transaction to receive a wire transfer and 4% Paypal fees. Should you choose one of the options that attract bank fees, these are passed on to you.
17. What is your cancellation policy?
Should you wish to cancel at any time, advance rent paid is fully refundable, less a $200.00 processing charge, if the premises are re-rented for the same period at the same rate or higher rate, otherwise the difference is forfeit. We recommend all guests take out travel insurance. Click here to compare and purchase travel insurance.
18. How do I proceed and when will my reservation be confirmed?
Once the details have been agreed between us informally, we will forward a Lease Agreement to you by email, fax or snail mail, asking you to print this out, sign and return to us, together with your first payment. Your reservation is confirmed when you have received your copy of the rental agreement, signed and dated by the Landlord. We reserve on a first come, first served basis and allow 5 days for you to return the paperwork to us, and in the meantime, we wait list any other inquiries. The whole process can be expedited for last minute bookings.
19. What happens if there is a problem in the house that needs attention during our stay?
As full time managing agents for the property, we check the house thoroughly prior to your arrival and regular maintenance is done on all appliances and systems as a matter of routine. However, with only 4 hours to turn a whole house round between guests, it is possible that we could miss something that a departing guest may not have reported to us. If so, rest assured it will be fixed in a professional and timely manner. We live in the area and we are normally available at short notice, 24/7 if necessary.
20. How can I get answers to additional questions I have?
We are happy to answer additional questions. Please click here and send us an email,
or phone us on +1 631 734-8176 any day up to 9pm Eastern Standard time.