🏡 How to Be a Great Host When You Invite Guests to Martha’s Vineyard
A simple timeline for helping your guests feel prepared, excited, and less overwhelmed before they arrive
Hosting people on Martha’s Vineyard is one of the best parts of having a connection to the island, but it also comes with a LOT of tiny logistics.
I created a new guide for:
Brides and grooms helping wedding guests plan their trip
Bachelorette and girls’ trip planners
Family reunion hosts
Anyone hosting guests on Martha’s Vineyard who wants one polished, helpful resource instead of sending a dozen separate links
A great host does not need to plan every minute of the trip, but a little guidance before guests arrive can make the whole visit feel easier, smoother, and more fun. Today’s guide includes every text I send to help guests prepare before they visit.
Here’s a simple timeline I like:
🗓️ 4 months before: make sure the big pieces are booked
If guests are staying overnight, this is the time to talk about accommodations, ferry reservations, flights, rental cars, and any must-book experiences. Waiting too long can limit options quickly.
Text to send: “Hi! Since MV takes a little extra planning, I wanted to send a few notes early. Now is a good time to book accommodations, look at ferry options, and think about whether you’ll want a car. I’ll send over a guide with travel tips - just look at the travel + accommodations section for now, and let me know if you have questions for me!”
🚢 2 months before: help them understand the travel basics
Once the big pieces are in motion, help guests understand how they are actually getting here.
Text to send: “Do you know how you’re planning to travel yet — ferry or plane? Once you know, send me your details and I can help you make sure the timing makes sense. I’m sending over a few cute MV ideas so you can start getting excited!”
📝 3 weeks before: send ideas, not an itinerary
You do not need to plan every minute. But it helps to give guests a short list of options so they can tell you what sounds fun.
Text to send: “Here are a few ideas of things we could do while you’re here. No pressure to pick anything, but let me know what stands out and I can make reservations or plan around anything that needs booking!”
🧥 A few days before: help them pack realistically
MV weather can surprise people. It can be chilly at night, especially near the water. This is also the moment to ask what they want at the house.
Text to send: “Can’t wait to see you! Reminder that it gets chilly here at night, so bring a sweater! I have some bug spray if you need it. What do you want to eat when you get off the ferry? And is there anything I can have at the house for you — coffee, breakfast foods, snacks, drinks, or anything for the kids?”
📍The day before: confirm the exact arrival plan
This is where you make the logistics very clear. Confirm the town, ferry or flight time, pickup spot, and what to look for. If they are parking before the ferry, remind them to route to the correct parking lot, not just the ferry terminal.
Text to send: “Just confirming for tomorrow: you’re arriving in [Vineyard Haven/Oak Bluffs] at [time]. I’ll pick you up in [town] at [time] — look for [car/person/landmark]. Don’t forget to route to the parking lot, not the ferry terminal, if you’re leaving your car on the Cape.”
📲 The day of: make arrival feel easy
Guests are usually juggling bags, snacks, ferry timing, and the general confusion of arriving somewhere new. A quick day-of text makes everything calmer.
Text to send: “Safe travels! Text me when you’re parked/on the boat/landed. I’ll meet you in [town] at [time]. Look for [specific detail]. Can’t wait to see you!”
🍽️ Once they arrive: let them settle in
Offer food, water, a bathroom, a little downtime, and a simple overview of what’s nearby. Most people enjoy the trip more when they understand where they are and what their options are.
🧭 The real MVacay hosting trick
People enjoy Martha’s Vineyard more when they feel oriented before they arrive.
Some guests want to wing it. Others want to understand the ferry, parking, restaurants, towns, activities, and what to pack before they get here. Having one clear guide helps people get their bearings (without nagging the host!) so they can actually be present once they arrive.
That’s why I created MVacay’s Martha’s Vineyard Guest Travel Guide — an editable 40-page PDF template you can customize and share with your wedding guests, rental guests, family group, or friends before they come.
It includes travel logistics, town cheat sheets, food ideas, activities, beaches, rainy day options, public restroom notes, and 2026 save-the-date event ideas — all designed to help your guests feel prepared without sending them a dozen separate links. Once you buy the host and guest guide, it’s YOURS to customize and share privately with your guests as a PDF. You don’t need to worry about paywalls, and attribution to MVacay is baked in. So many guides are sold as physical copies or flat PDFs. I wanted this one to be editable so you can add YOUR personal recommendations too.
Substack subscribers can use the code MVACAY to get 10% off my Etsy Guides.
You’re already a great host. Let me help take one thing off your plate so you can enjoy their visit too!