« Ridiculous Waste of Money | Main | Up to Four-Week Wait for IPod Shuffle »
January 18, 2005
More Than a Dozen Bed & Breakfasts in Cape May for Sale
Owners Cite Taxes, Cultural Shifts as Reasons for Selling
This is a troubling trend. At least 14 bed & breakfasts are for sale in Cape May and any number of those are expected to be converted into condos rather than continue as b&bs. Some of the owners cited factors such as the added taxes on hotels in New Jersey that guests don't want to pay, that Cape May isn't as tourist friendly as it used to be, and that increasingly many guests, particularly younger ones, don't like staying at B&Bs because they don't have as many amentities and don't appreciate the history of the old Victorian B&Bs.
Well, Jim and I love going to Cape May and staying in Bed and Breakfasts. I had noticed that there were any number of B&Bs on the market over the past year or so and I just figured it was just coincidence that so many were being sold. But apparently that isn't the case. I would hate to see the day when there aren't many B&Bs left in Cape May because that is exactly one reason why that town is so wonderful and charming.
That some guests don't want to pay the added expenses isn't something unique to staying at a B&B. Any hotel stay in New Jersey requires paying those added taxes. It's cited as an extra $35-40. Well, if $35-40 is a deal-breaker when it comes to going on vacation perhaps those folks shouldn't be going on vacation in the first place. Not that I want to spend extra money when I go away but I understand that there are taxes to be paid and expenses here and there that I can't get away from. I'm not going to skip going to Las Vegas because Jim and I will have to pay taxes on our hotel stay or plane ticket so why would people not come to Cape May because they have to pay taxes on their room?
As for the issue of Cape May not being as tourist friendly as it once was, I've never seen any hint of that and I've been going to Cape May since I was pretty young. There is the issue of the beach tags in that it used to be that all the motels and B&Bs could get buy a supply of beach tags to give to their guests which they (the B&Bs) could use all summer. Now Cape May requires guests to get their own individual beach tags which is an additional fee. I completely support this change. There is increased revenue to be made from guests having to purchase beach tags and that money is used to make improvements to the beaches and do work on other projects. Some also feel that there isn't enough touristy activities in Cape May but that is exactly why we like going to Cape May. There is no boardwalk and it's not the typical Jersey shore town. I would hate to see the beauty of Cape May spoiled by it becoming just like any other town on the shore.
Staying at a B&B isn't for everyone but we love it. From the beauty of the Victorian furnishings and the uniqueness of the rooms to the delicious breakfasts in the mornings. It's always such a wonderful experience. Not every B&B has TVs or full amentities like a Hilton but there are many that do have some of these things. It is those B&Bs that put in TVs or other amenities that will continue to survive and be successful. B&B owners need to be able to be flexible and adjust to the changing needs of their guests. What worked ten years ago might not work today. If most guests want cable TV or to not share a bathroom, then the B&B owners need to find a way to make those things happen, while still keeping with the philosophy of a B&B. Of course there will be some things that just won't be possible to do but sometimes it is necessary to make changes.
The one thing that B&B owners can't do much about are guests that don't appreciate the history of the places they are staying in and Cape May itself. I love the history of Cape May and I read everything I can on that subject. But a lot of people just don't care about things like that. Unfortunately that's something that's unlikely to change either. A lot of folks aren't interested in what came before, only what is happening in the here and now and only what effects them. Sad to say but that might be the ultimate downfall of Cape May, not any of these other issues. Because if you don't have people who appreciate the history of the town they will see no reason not to tear down some of the old Victorian houses and build huge hotels in their place. Which means that Cape May will lose what makes it so unique.
Posted by silverdsl at January 18, 2005 02:40 PM