After a long, tough winter on the island, we are happy to announce that our office in Oak Bluffs has finally opened back up!
Thankfully the sun is cooperating with us this weekend as well, as it is a gorgeous day on Oak Bluffs harbor.
So please head over to A-A Island Auto Rental, at 31 Circuit Avenue Extension in Oak Bluffs, or call us at 800-627-6333 or Book a reservation Online today!!!
Our brand new, 2013 Jeep Wranglers got here this week, call us @ 800-627-6333 or Book Online to book your summer reservation now while the rates are low!
Memorial Day is fast approaching. That means it's time to start planning your summer trip to Martha's Vineyard. Make A-A Island Auto Rental part of your perfect summer holiday or day-trip. We carry a wide variety of makes and models, from sedans to converitbles and Jeeps, and even SUVs and minivans.
It doesn't matter which ferry to Martha's Vineyard you take. The close proximity of our office locations to the ferry terminals mean you won't have to lug your bags half way across town. It doesn't matter if you come to Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven- it's just a short walk down the street. For those of you staying in Edgartown, please take advantage of our free pick-up service at your Edgartown hotel or inn.
Once you are on island, visit some of our favorite beaches and restaurants, or go exploring in your A-A Island rental car and find your own...
Don't forget that busy weekend and holiday reservations fill up fast- so call us at 508.696.5300 to make your reservation right away!
Thanks to all of those who made 2011 a great success!
Niko is working hard in Vineyard Haven repainting the office to give it a fresh look for 2012. The office will be open every day from 8AM to 5PM.
Check back soon to find out about A-A Island's new Fleet Management service. Rates are super low during the winter and we are offering Rios, Minis, and Caravans. For now, call us at 508.696.5300 to make a reservation or stop in to 4 Water Street to get your deal on a winter rental. Don't forget about free pick-up at your hotel or inn.
Thursday, October 19th will be the closing date for the Oak Bluffs office of A-A Island Auto Rental. If you still need a car for Columbus day, we will be open as usual through Wednesday at that office. There will be no change to the hours at the Vineyard Haven office.
Starting the week of October 23rd, the Vineyard Haven office will be open from 8AM to 1PM every day. This schedule will be in effect until the spring. Call 508.696.5300 to inquire about making reservations outside of these hours. The fall and winter rates are low, making it a fantastic time to rent.
At A-A Island Auto Rental, we are often asked which Martha's Vineyard beach is best. I have compiled a short list of quality beaches that don't require serious excursions to reach. Although we can't guarantee you'll have the beach to yourself, these beaches are all worth visiting...
1) South Beach/ Katama Beach- Edgartown
South Beach is hugely popular because of the wide expanses of sand and good wave action. It is located in southern Edgartown just beyond the Katama Airfield. Take a bike ride, catch the bus (#8), or better yet- a rental car to Katama and park in the dirt lot on the right of Herring Creek Rd or just along Atlantic Drive. There are changing rooms and life guards on duty during peak summer hours. The beach is wide enough for a game of football or volleyball, so bring your friends.
2) East Beach- Chappaquiddick
East Beach will require a bit more commitment but is well worth the trip. Take the 'On Time Ferry' from Edgartown harbor to Chappy, then drive straight out to the Dyke bridge. The beach is a Trustees of Reservation property, so there may be a small fee for non-members. Unfortunately, rental vehicles are not allowed on the beach, but if you have a privately registered 4x4 you can get a beach pass.
3) Long Point Beach- West Tisbury
Long Point beach is known for filling up quickly, so go during non-peak hours to avoid the crowds. Another Trustees of Reservation property, so play by the rules and enjoy the epic southern Martha's Vineyard sand.
4) Moshup Beach- Aquinnah
The famous Aquinnah Cliffs are best seen from Moshup Beach on the Southwestern tip of Martha's Vineyard. Park your car in the public lot by the lighthouse ($15 at most during peak summer) and take the 10 minute walk through the dunes down to the beach. There are a lot of rocks obscured in the water so be careful not to dive in too quickly. It's illegal to tread on the cliffs or remove the clay, so look but don't touch.
5) State Beach- Edgartown/Oak Bluffs
Since State Beach is located on the Northeastern part of the island, the waves are much mellower. If you have little ones, this place is ideal. Parking is available along the entire road and by the 'bend-in-the-road' on the Edgartown side. The water is shallow and warmer so you never have to get out. During the summer drive slow over the bridge, as lots of folks will likely be waiting their turn to jump...
Hopefully these bits of advice help you make the most of your vacation or day-trip. Drive safe.
Hopefully if you are planning a vacation to Martha's Vineyard, you are including one of our rental cars in your budget. If we are the first place you have visited on your internet search for things to do and places to go on the Vineyard, look no further! Check out some of the older blog posts to see all kinds of places to go, including some of A-A Island's favorite and now not-so-secret dinner options.
If you need a place to stay, cruise over to the Partnership Programs portion of the page to see some of the hotels and inns that we recommend to customers. We have a good relationship with many of Martha's Vineyard's hotels/inns so tell them we sent you their way. And of course, if you are staying at the Winnetu or Harborview, ask about complimentary car deliveries...
If its sight-seeing that you seek, you can always ask us when you pick up your car. We have free maps and knowledge of many island treasures and would be happy to share them with you. Also, cruise over to the MV Tour section of the website to see our custom 3-hour Vineyard tour, written by none other than A-A Island's own Jay Needleman.
September and October are a great time to see the Vineyard. The cool weather and lack of July/August crowds, coupled with lower car rental rates makes it prime time for relaxed vacationing. So whether you are taking a ferry to Martha's Vineyard or flying in, come rent a car and we'll take good care of you. Hope to see you soon!
Like most car rental companies, A-A Island offers a wide range of vehicles to choose from. If you don't know which one is right for you, you can browse our Website or just read the following descriptions...
Our most basic offering is the Kia Rio sedan:
It will seat 5 people and has a sizable trunk for a car of its size. It makes a great run-around vehicle, is easy to park, and won't kill you at the pump.
If you want a convertible car, we offer three different options. You can get a Mini Cooper
which is a 2-door, 4 seater. It has an automatic top and a small trunk for some day bags or a small carry-on case.
The Smart Fourtwo convertible seats only 2:
It also has an automatic top and a small trunk behind the back seats. It's a real novelty to drive and the only thing easier to park is a bicycle.
The Ford Mustang is more of a conventional convertible:
It also has an automatic top and seats 4 but it has a proper trunk and a big 4.0 liter V6 that offers more of a thrill.
One of the most popular choice for a Martha's Vineyard rental is a Jeep Wrangler. We offer both 2-door
and 4-door wranglers
The 2-door Wrangler seats four people and the 4-door version has a 5th seatbelt, plus a larger cargo area behind the rear seat. The tops are all manual but we are experts on instructing you on how to take it down.
A Jeep Liberty gives you the space of the 4-door wrangler but instead of having a manual convertible top, it has a full-lenth sunroof that is totally automated.
This is a great option if you want a larger car but don't need the full convertible option of the wrangler. All three of the Jeeps come with XM/Sirius satellite radio.
If you need an even larger car, we have a selection of minivans and SUVs. The Jeep Commander and Dodge Grand Caravan are both 7-seaters:
If you need room for an 8th person, we do offer the rental of a Chevrolet Suburban SUV
This thing is loaded with all sorts of toys and gizmos.
We also offer several Range Rovers for someone looking for a luxury vehicle:
The Range Rover comes with Sat-nav and a leather interior.
Hopefully this will help you to make a decision for the vehicle that best suits your needs and tastes. Don't forget to make your September Martha's Vineyard car rental reservation before August 31 for your chance to get 50% off that rental:
A couple of months ago, A-A Island teamed up with Martha's Vineyard Online to create some fun, informational videos about Martha's Vineyard. These videos lead the viewer on short tours around the island. A-A Island's own Robert Stalvey appears as the friendly car rental agent, renting out a Jeep Wrangler convertible and a Mini Cooper convertible from our Vineyard Haven office at 4 Water street.
If you didn't get a chance to see these videos or are just now stumbling upon them, I'm reposting the links now, so have a look...
On The Road- Mini Cooper
On The Road- Jeep Wrangler
As I have discussed before, when you take a ferry to Martha's Vineyard and rent a car with us, we like to know which ferry you will be coming on. We aren't far away from any of the ferry docks in Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven but if you don't know where to find us, you could easily walk by and not know it. So I'm laying out directions to our offices from all of the major ferries for both towns.
Let's start with Vineyard Haven. Our Vineyard Haven office is located at 4 Water Street.
from New Bedford, MA AND
from Woods Hole, MA:
- Simply walk off of your boat and out to the street. Water Street runs left/right from your perspective
- Cross the street and turn left
- Walk ~100 yards, passing Stop&Shop on your right and the Black Dog Bakery on your left
- When you hit '5 corners', our office is immediately on the right, at the intersection of Water Street and Beach Street
In Oak Bluffs, you have the option of taking any of these five ferries. Our office is at 31 Circuit Avenue Extension, directly across the street from the Harbormaster. Here are the directions:
from Hyannis, MA:
- Disembark your ferry and walk straight out to the street beyond Fishbones
- Turn left and walk ~200 yards, passing by Anderson's Bike Rentals
- Our office is located on the right side of the road, in a garage under the big house that has a sign reading 'The North Bluff.' Various A-A Island signs should be visible from the street.
from Quonset Point, RI AND 
from Falmouth, MA
-
Disembark your boat and you can see our office across the street to the right
-
Again, look for the 'North Bluff' sign on the house or the various A-A Island signs to point you in the right direction
from New Bedford, MA
from Woods Hole, MA AND
-
Walk off the dock to the street.
-
Seaview Avenue runs left/right from your perspective
-
Turn right onto Seaview, keeping the ocean on your right side
-
Walk ~200 yards, passing the Lookout Tavern on your left
-
At the end of the street, you will be in the Island Queen parking lot- turn left onto Circuit Avenue Extension. Our office is immediately on the left hand side, directly across from the Harbormaster
Congratulations- you have successfully found our office. Now pick up your car and get to the beach...