Sixty-one homes across Boston’s North Shore, looked after by the family that has welcomed guests here since 1985. Book direct and skip the platform fees.
Hosted by Atlantic Vacation Homes4.74· 199 reviewsSince 1985Book direct, no service fees
Atlantic Vacation Homes4.7199 reviews · 157 Google + 35 direct + 4 Airbnb + 3 Booking.comSince 1985
Atlantic Vacation Homes is a family-owned, full-service vacation rental and real estate company rooted in the four coastal towns of Cape Ann, a little more than half an hour north of Boston.
Hear first when this host opens direct rates or adds a new place.
Waterfront antiques, beach houses a short walk from the sand, cottages in Rockport’s lanes. Three are open to book on this site today; the full collection is on atlanticvacationhomes.com.
The booking sites add a traveler fee of up to 15% to the same home you can book here. Book with us and that fee stays in your pocket, you get our Best Price Guarantee, and the person who answers the phone knows how many steps it is from the driveway to the front door.
I was born and raised in Gloucester and grew up in this business; my mother Carole built it from the ground up. I came home after college and a career in sports management to carry what she built into its next chapter, and I have worked every role here, from reservations to maintenance.
What has not changed is the promise: a home that is clean, fully equipped and exactly as described, a local team you can reach, and the best price when you book with us directly. Call us at (978) 290-4331 or write to info@atlanticvacationhomes.com with any question at all. We would love to show you our Cape Ann.
Jonathan Fonvielle
President, Atlantic Vacation Homes
Pack Lighter
A company that belongs to the place
Through our Pack Lighter program, guests leave unopened food behind and we deliver it to The Open Door food pantry in Gloucester. Our staff volunteer with the Rotary Club of Gloucester, Action, Inc., the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Discover Gloucester; retired linens go to Cape Ann Animal Aid and the Beverly High School culinary program; and we partner with Triangle, Inc. to employ young people and adults with disabilities.
Affiliations
Partners and memberships
In motion
A few seconds on Cape Ann
The river at River Watch, the beach from Over By Good Harbor, Rockport harbour.
Cape Ann is a little under an hour from Boston and Logan Airport by car, up Route 128 to the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge. The MBTA commuter rail runs from North Station to Manchester, Gloucester and Rockport, and the CATA buses and the Rockport shuttle cover the towns in summer. Head north along the coast for Newburyport and Plum Island; south for Beverly and Salem.
Notes from the North Shore
Seasons, festivals, day trips and the homes to book for them, from the Atlantic Vacation Homes team.
Book Direct, Book Local, and Save Money on your Vacation Rental
By Atlantic Vacation Homes · February 2, 2026
They say local is always better, right? So why not book direct?
From the foods you eat to the items you buy, contemporary wisdom suggests that the closer you are to the source of something, the better. This logic can also be extended to travel.
The opportunity to be immersed in a destination and “live like a local” is one of the most oft-touted reasons for renting a vacation home instead of a hotel.
If your goal is to enjoy a true local experience on Cape Ann, doesn’t it make sense to book your stay with actual local experts?
When you book your stay directly with a local rental agency like Atlantic Vacation Homes, you are partnering with real, live people who have intimate knowledge of Cape Ann and the surrounding region. We know these communities inside and out. Our Guest Experience team works with you to find the vacation rental property that is the best match for your preferred location, amenities, and price point. Not sure whether a Good Harbor Beach or Wingaersheek Beach vacation rental home will be a better fit for your family? Have questions about where to shop for organic foods, or which restaurants have outdoor dining? Want to time your visit with a fun local festival? You will find yourself better prepared for your vacation (and your getaway will be smoother and more fun!) if a local expert on our staff can help you plan your trip. We’re always happy to share our neighborhood insights and beach parking tips.
Shop local, book local, stay local.
Our local expertise is also why you’ll want to avoid booking through a third-party online travel agent (OTA). OTAs like HomeAway, VRBO, AirBnB, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com are popular websites for booking vacation rentals, but when you try to book with those websites you might be speaking with a call center representative who has no idea about Atlantic Vacation Homes properties or about Cape Ann. Pro tip: if the sales person you are speaking with can’t pronounce “Gloucester” correctly, you’re not speaking with Atlantic Vacation Homes.
Our locally-owned company has been in business for over 40 years–longer than any travel website. When you call Atlantic Vacation Homes, you’ll be able to speak with Guest Experience Specialists who are equipped to answer your specific and unique questions. We love chatting with our guests and we get to know them as friends. We want our friends to have a great time when they visit! An online travel site does not know or care if you come back to Cape Ann every year, or have a preference for a particular home
or beach location. Atlantic Vacation Homes, however, is invested in you and your vacation experience.
Our Local Team is Here for You
The friendly voice on the phone you remember from when you booked just might be the one to show up at your door should you need anything during your stay, whether that be an extra set of towels or a double kayak. And if things go “bump” in the night, we’re the ones you can call. Does VRBO deliver extra propane for your grill? (Hint: No, they don’t). Having a team that is local means that we are able to respond quickly to questions, issues, and requests.
Don’t Waste Money on Middleman Fees
In case you needed another great reason to book directly with Atlantic Vacation Homes, know that your booking will be less expensive than if you booked through an OTA. Most of the above-mentioned listing sites charge a “traveler fee” (often referred to as a “service fee”) of up to 15% of the total rental amount. This extra fee has nothing to do with the actual services you receive from Atlantic Vacation Homes. The money goes directly to the OTA’s coffers (often toward their marketing budgets) and does nothing to enhance your guest experience with Atlantic Vacation Homes. The only tangible result is that the cost of booking through an OTA becomes up to 15% higher than the cost of booking the same vacation property directly through Atlantic Vacation Homes. Also, our special offers don’t appear on OTA sites. When you book direct, you have the opportunity to benefit from even more savings when special deals are available.
Book Direct For Our Best Price Guarantee
When you decide to book your next vacation on Cape Ann, we urge you to reserve your vacation with us directly at atlanticvacationhomes.com or by calling us at (978) 290-4331. Guests who book on our branded website or over the phone with one of our knowledgeable Guest Experience Specialists always benefit from our Best Price Guarantee. They book with the peace of mind knowing that they will not find the same property for less anywhere else.
Contacting Atlantic Vacation Homes directly is the best way to make sure you are getting the best possible price and value for your Cape Ann vacation rental. Our local, knowledgeable, and friendly staff is dedicated to supporting you at every step in the process, from your initial inquiry, throughout your stay, and beyond.
