Students Scramble to Find Housing Before Cape Week

BY MOLLY STONE

Cape Week, a tradition for seniors at Stonehill College, is considered a relaxing getaway before turning their tassels and stepping into the real world. But, many seniors say it can be stressful finding a place to stay.  

“I think the most stressful thing about finding a place to stay is the pressure of finding a house that’s available and who you’re staying with. I know most seniors use Airbnb to find houses. There are only so many houses in the area everyone wants which means prices are going up too. If you don’t get a group together quick, you risk spending a lot of money or not getting a house at all,” senior Crystal Chojnowski said. 

Booking and securing a house takes a bit of organizing from everyone.  

“Everyone always has so much going on. It’s hard to get a large group of college students on the same page at the same time, especially when it comes to price,” senior Braden Sunshine said.  

Right now, Cape houses on Airbnb that hold four to six guests range from around $200-$300 a night. Houses that hold six guests or more can get up to $700 a night. The off-season allows seniors to book a house that is reasonably priced. But the process of booking isn’t without obstacles. Most hosts require potential renters to submit a quick application before being approved to rent.  

“My roommates and I put in a request for a house in Hyannis. We had to specify that there would be eight of us, our ages, and our intentions with renting. Unfortunately, we were denied. A lot of hosts don’t want to rent to a big group of college kids,” senior Shane Paolozzi said. 

Hosts might ask for additional information to prevent mishaps that might come from renting to college students.   

“A few of the houses we were looking at had age restrictions. You weren’t allowed to book the house if you were under 25. Hosts asked for photo ID proof off the bat,” senior Tanner Longo said.  

There are also limited housing options since Stonehill seniors prefer to be in a certain location.  

Seniors tend to gravitate towards Mid Cape towns like Barnstable, Hyannis, Yarmouth, and Dennis. Staying on Mid Cape has its perks, certainly for college students. Easy beach access, several fun daytime activities like mini golf and go-carting, as well as many shops, restaurants, and bars. 

“Anywhere you stay on the Cape has a ton of things to do but during Cape Week you are kind of limited to looking at houses in one certain area which is where it can get difficult,” senior, Luke Massari, said.