Frequently asked Questions
Click on the buttons below to jump ahead to FAQs specific to each topic.
THe basics
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We are located at 1187 Main St, which is also historic Route 6A, in Brewster, MA. This is in the area known as Lower Cape, on the Bay side of Cape Cod, affectionately known as the “inner elbow”
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Check-in time is from 3 to 5pm. If you anticipate arriving outside of this window, we will always do our best to accommodate your needs.
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Early check-in depends on availability and can’t always be guaranteed. If it isn’t possible, we are happy to store your luggage and you are welcome to use the common areas including the sunroom, back yard, porch and outdoor shower while your room is being prepared.
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If you know that you won’t be arriving until late, we can arrange to have you do remote check-in. Just let us know when you expect to arrive, and we’ll send you instructions via email a day or two prior to arrival.
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We want your stay on the Cape to be as relaxing and stress-free as possible! Simply let us know you’re running late via phone, text or email, and we can easily coordinate with you for a later check-in time as needed.
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Checkout time is at 10:00am. Late checkout depends on availability and can’t always be guaranteed. If it isn’t possible, we are happy to store your luggage and you are welcome to use the common areas including the sunroom, back yard, porch and outdoor shower for a few hours until you are ready to depart.
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Yes, for the comfort of both our neighbors and other guests, quiet hours are from 10pm – 8am.
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We offer a variety of rates with different cancellation policies to accommodate every guest’s needs.
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At the moment, we are only open to individual guests seasonally from May-October. Outside of that season we are also able to accommodate larger groups for full-house rentals year-round as needed. With candles in the windows, 5 fireplaces, central heating and a backup generator, it is an ideal location for large families to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas, for example (imagine all the stockings!).
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All bedrooms have private bathrooms which are exclusive to the guests staying there. 3 of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, which are directly connected to the bedroom: Lydia, Sarah and Phoebe. The other bedrooms – Deborah, Hattie Mae, Lily and Jeremiah - have private bathrooms directly across the hall, like the setup of guest bathrooms in many private homes. Guests staying in these rooms are provided with plush bathrobes for extra comfort during their stay. The private bathrooms are larger than the en-suite bathrooms, and all bathrooms have full tub/shower combinations.
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No. Due to the layout and historic structure of the property, we are unable to accommodate guests requiring full accessibility features. We encourage guests with specific needs to contact us prior to booking so we can help determine whether the inn is a good fit. For example, we have several ground-floor rooms that are a good choice for guests with limited mobility.
FOOD
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Breakfast is served 7:30-9:30am on weekdays and 7:30-10:00am on weekends. Self-service coffee, tea, water and fruit are available 24/7 in the sunroom.
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Beverages and a small buffet of self-service items are available in the sunroom. Our staff will bring you a full, made-to-order breakfast to whatever table you select – either on the back porch overlooking the gardens or in the sunroom.
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As soon as breakfast service ends, we post the next day’s menus for your reference. Each day features a Sweet and a Savory option to choose from, both of which are cooked fresh on site from local, organic, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. Popular items include caramelized cinnamon sugar french toast with berries and whipped cream, homemade lemon blueberry scones, breakfast quesadillas and omelettes with fresh-baked bread.
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We want all our guests to enjoy a delicious, healthy and satisfying breakfast each morning, and go out of our way to accommodate any restrictions you may have. If you let us know in advance, we’ll incorporate those restrictions into our menus during your visit.
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Brewster has been selected multiple times in recent years as having both the “Best-testing Water in New England” and “Best-tasting Water in Massachusetts”, as well as 7th-best in the nation by the American Water Works Association. The town works very hard to maintain the delicious, high quality water and has banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles. You can absolutely drink our tap water (enjoy!) and use it to refill your personal bottles. Brewster has also installed several public hydration stations for easy refilling.
Guests and Events
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No, unfortunately we can’t accommodate your furry friends. Between ticks, the traffic on 6A, other guests’ allergies and other factors, our hotel isn’t set up for pets. We are happy to recommend local pet hotels if needed.
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Well-behaved children over the age of 12 are welcome to join their parents in the Hattie Mae. If you are visiting us with a large group that includes children under that age, please reach out to us to discuss options.
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Our hotel is ideal to host all kinds of intimate events for 10-40 guests. Weddings, family reunions, board meetings, golf outings, trail running races, writing retreats, corporate workshops and holiday celebrations are just a few examples…if you have something in mind, give us a call and we are happy to work with you.
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Yes! Groups over 7 people for at least 5 nights may be interested in renting the entire property, which includes full, exclusive access to all of the common areas including the kitchen, laundry, yard and gardens.
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Run Against the Tides (RATT) is a 50-mile ultra run designed by owner Alex to challenge runners to conquer the unique terrain of coastal Cape Cod. Starting in Provincetown and ending at the Sea Meadow Inn, the course allows accomplished marathoners, trail runners and triathletes put their time management, sand-running and endurance skills to the test, as certain sections of the route are accessible only at low tide. ratt50.com
Amenities
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Yes! We provide all of our guests with beach towels, beach chairs, umbrellas, flotation ‘noodles’ and coolers are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no extra charge for any of these accessories.
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Yes, we have ample on-site parking which is always free for our guests, including 2 short-term sites close to the main entrance to facilitate loading/unloading luggage and a full lot behind the barn.
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Not yet, but we are considering installing them soon. Please let us know if this is something that would be of interest to you.
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Yes, there is a bike rack in our carport that is available to guests at no extra cost (first-come, first serve).
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Yes! The Inn is located on almost 3 acres of land, and we welcome guests to enjoy our idyllic garden and back yard. In addition to sun loungers, a tree swing and a hammock under the giant maple tree, we have a variety of lawn games to enjoy: from Corn Hole to Croquet, Frisbee to Bocce. There is even a full Badminton court all the way at the back of the property! You’ll find everything you need in the carport, alongside the beach chairs.
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If you’ve never used an outdoor shower, you are in for a treat! It is the perfect place to rinse off sand after a trip to the beach, a run or ride on the Rail Trail. The shower is completely private, including a changing area, under the giant maple tree in the backyard and has its own hot water heater for maximum comfort. Alex swears it’s the best shower in the entire property!
Getting Around
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We are quite centrally located, with both the furthest tip of the Cape (Provincetown) and the bridges to mainland Massachusetts just 1 hour away by car on most days. Ocean’s Edge, a popular wedding venue, is 5 minutes down 6A from us, while Chatham and Hyannis are each about 25 minutes away. The Cape Cod National Seashore and Barnstable are about 30 minutes away, while Sandwich and Wellfleet are about 35-40 minutes’ drive. Note that traffic can change these timings depending on when you’re visiting.
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Hyannis is the closest ferry terminal to us, just a 25-minute drive. When you book your ferry, we recommend that you pre-book parking and double check both how far it is to your assigned parking lot and how far you’ll need to walk from the lot to the wharf to properly plan your visit.
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While ride share services and public transportation are both available – especially in high Summer season – we recommend renting a car for maximum flexibility when visiting the sites. It also allows you to enjoy the winding roads, stopping at whatever café, shop or beach strikes your fancy along the way.
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For most beaches on the Cape, yes, you will need to buy a parking permit. This is especially true for high season (generally between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September). Each town has slightly different systems, so you’ll need to review posted signs at each beach. Most permits are now available online using your car’s license plate number.
The good news is that the beach closest to us – Paines Creek Beach – is just a 15-minute walk from the hotel, so that you can leave your car in our lot and not have to worry about parking!
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The closest beach is Paines Creek Beach, which is just ¾ of a mile from us and an easy 15-minute walk. Located on the Bay side of the Cape, this tranquil beach is renowned for its dramatic tides, the lazy river that feeds into the beach and stunning sunsets. Whether you’re looking for an early-morning walk, a place to sunbathe all day or a special place to take photos at golden hour, Paines Creek doesn’t disappoint.
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There are several access points to the Rail Trail within a few miles of the Inn, whether you plan to ride directly from the Inn or park your car in a lot while you enjoy your ride. We are happy to help you plan your trip.
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Instead of a traditional downtown area, Brewster has several pockets of commercial areas. Our area includes restaurants such as Café Alfresco (sandwiches and salads) and The Cape House (fried seafood and ice cream), galleries such as Wisteria Antiques, Heart Pottery and Preu Photography, and the Lemon Tree Shops, which have a variety of clothing, toy, cooking, souvenir and décor boutiques, among others. All of these are just a few minutes’ walk from the Inn.
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After dinner at a local restaurant, you can head to the beach for sunset, try one of the dozens of famous ice cream places, enjoy a bottle of wine by the Inn’s firepit, read a book in the sunroom, stargaze from our Badminton court, watch a play at one of the Cape’s fabulous theaters, or listen to live music and get a drink at The Woodshed.
Sustainability
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As part of a community focused on natural conservation, we do everything we can to minimize the impact of the Inn.
We compost organic waste on-site, using it to fertilize our garden beds, which in turn are used to supply many of the fresh herbs, vegetables and flowers used in the kitchen; our kitchen is fully vegetarian, using as many locally-sourced, organic ingredients as possible; we reduce water use by only washing linens at checkout or upon request by guests; we minimize single-use packaging by transitioning most of our bathroom amenities to refillable products; we prioritize vendors whose values and commitment to sustainable practices align with ours, including Public Goods (toiletries), Thrive Market (pantry items) and Who Gives a Crap (toilet paper).
These are just a few of the ways we strive to contribute to the ongoing beauty of Cape Cod’s natural resources.
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Brewster has been selected multiple times in recent years as having both the “Best-testing Water in New England” and “Best-tasting Water in Massachusetts”, as well as 7th-best in the nation by the American Water Works Association. The town works very hard to maintain the high quality water, and has banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles. You can absolutely drink our tap water (enjoy!) and use it to refill your personal bottles. Brewster has also installed several public hydration stations for easy refilling.