Winter’s bare trees, gray landscapes and icy temps tend to make people ache for summer at the Delaware beaches, and the vacation rental market is starting to show it.
Multiple area rental managers said the pandemic was great for business, with kids out of school and more people working remotely. The housing boom in Sussex County is working in their favor, too.
“I think we’re in an area that’s been found out about, and it’s good for us,” said Michael Klecko of Jack Lingo Realtor in Lewes.
Short-term rentals in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island are starting to fill up for summer 2023. Repeat visitors have already staked their claim, rental managers said. The sooner you book your spot, the better.
More:Rehoboth Beach staple closing its boardwalk area shop after 43 years. What’s next?
Here are five tips on how to plan the perfect vacation for you and your family.
1. Know the differences between beach towns
The Delaware beaches consist of a handful of towns, each with its own distinctive charm.
If you’ve vacationed in one town for years but happen to find a great deal in a different town this year, be prepared for a very different experience. And of course, if you decide to venture west of the beach towns, keep in mind the vibe will be totally different. (Which can be a good thing!)
In a recent “Good Neighbor” brochure, Lewes described itself as a town of “busy days and quiet nights.” Rehoboth Beach is known as “The Nation’s Summer Capital.” Dewey Beach has numerous legendary bars and is so tiny you can walk from one end of town to the other. The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce calls the area “The Quiet Resorts.”
It’s impossible to fully describe the character of each town in a sentence, so research is key.
More:As The Starboard eyes bigger bathrooms, the Dewey bar also buys Mama Celeste’s Pizzeria
2. Consider properties west of Coastal Highway
Coastal Highway is a mecca of commerce, with Tanger Outlets, many other shops and some of Delaware’s best restaurants. The Delaware beaches all lie to the east, with the highway being the juggernaut from which they can all be accessed.
Getting to the beach from the west, of course, involves the headache of navigating highway traffic. It can be worth it, according to Wilgus Associates rental manager Charissa Jachimowski.
“People are going have to drive, bike or take a shuttle, but they’re going get a property that costs less and may be bigger and have more amenities,” she said.
She pointed to the Bear Trap Dunes community in Ocean View, a four-mile drive from Bethany Beach.
“They have a shuttle, golf course, restaurant, playground, but it’s a third of what you’d pay for downtown Bethany,” Jachimowski said.
More:How Grotto Pizza could transform the Dolle’s corner of the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk
3. Get familiar with public transportation
Regardless of where your vacation rental is in proximity to Coastal Highway, there will be some local driving required. Public transportation eliminates much of the stress of traffic and parking, and it’s cheap and efficient at the Delaware beaches. Options include:
- The Delaware Department of Transportation’s DART operates a multitude of bus routes in the summer. Using the Park & Ride lots in Lewes and Rehoboth can save time, money and frustration. A day pass is $4.
- In the late afternoons and evenings, the Jolly Trolley runs a loop between Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach and Dickinson Street in Dewey Beach. Rides are $4.
- Take a scenic boat ride on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal to get back and forth between the two towns with Cape Water Tours and Taxi. Rides are $17 for adults.
- The Dewey Beach Rides pedicabs are great for bar-hopping.
- The Town of Bethany Beach operates its own trolleys for 25 cents a ride. They pick up and drop off as far west as Route 26 and Turtle Drive.
More:Leaning on beach nostalgia, Lewes Oyster House hopes to become a modern tavern by the sea
4. Plan for pets
Check to make sure the property you’re booking allows pets and how many. Unless on private property with permission or within an off-leash dog park, Delaware law requires dogs to be leashed at all times.
Whether or not your dog is allowed on the beach with you varies from town to town.
In Lewes, leashed dogs are allowed on the beach only before 8:30 a.m. and after 6 p.m. May 1 – Sept. 30. They are allowed on the beach at all times the rest of the year.
In Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island, dogs are only permitted on the beach between Oct. 1 and Apr. 30.
More:Coast Hotel to take over Sandcastle Motel in Rehoboth
Dewey Beach allows dogs on the beach year-round, but only between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. between May 15 and Sept. 15. Dogs must have a Dewey Beach dog license.
In Bethany Beach, dogs are allowed on the beach and boardwalk except between May 15 and Sept. 30.
5. Check out the scheduled summer events
There’s a free outdoor concert, movie night or festival nearly every day in the summertime at the Delaware beaches.
Most towns host weekly farmer’s markets. Dewey Beach hosts weekly beach bonfires. You probably won’t be able to help happening upon a show at the Rehoboth Beach or Bethany Beach bandstands. There are craft fairs, car shows, even a Sea Glass Festival.
The best way to find out what’s happening near you is through the comprehensive event calendars of Chamber of Commerce websites.
More:From packed hotels to parking meters: Just how busy were the Delaware beaches in 2022?
Check them out:
One more: Visit Southern Delaware.
More:Facing criticism, state sets Cape Henlopen State Park restaurant proposal adrift
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County, Delaware, and beyond. Reach her at 302-296-8848 or on Twitter at @MarvelMcNaught.
