How do I get to visit Tommy's Place?

What is Tommy’s Place?

Tommy’s Place is a non-profit organization that owns and operates two 10+ bedroom year-round magical vacation homes for kids fighting cancer.  The homes are located in Falmouth and Centerville on Cape Cod. One family at a time, along with their extended family and friends, visits for a one-week, free-of-charge, dream vacation to relax, make memories and most importantly - have FUN!

Is our one-week vacation at Tommy's Place really FREE!?

YES! Your one-week magical vacation at Tommy's Place is FREE! 

This sounds like so much fun! How do I get to stay at Tommy’s Place?!

Step number one is your referral. All you need to do is simply ask your Child Life Specialist/Social Worker for a referral to Tommy's Place. Each hospital has a very simple Tommy's Place referral form that is sent to us by email, and then you’ll be brought into our database reservation system - it's that easy!

IMPORTANT: We only accept pre-qualified guests from our referral partners.

What is there to do at Tommy’s Place?

Tommy's Place homes are filled with fun amenities for the whole family, including; in-ground, seasonal swimming pools, game rooms, movie theatres, home taverns, arts + crafts rooms, music rooms, chef's kitchens, and much, much more.  A magical experience for the entire family! 

Where is Tommy’s Place located?

Tommy’s Place Falmouth - 26 Elm Arch Way, Falmouth, MA

11 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, lots of magic to explore inside and out!

Tommy’s Place Centerville - 481 Main Street, Centerville, MA

10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, lots of magic to explore inside and out!

Who can visit Tommy’s Place?

Tommy’s Place is reserved exclusively for kids who are fighting cancer, ages 3-17, actively in treatment at one of our referral partners, living permanently and full-time in New England (MA, CT, NH, RI, ME or VT)

Who are the Tommy’s Place Referral Partners?

Tommy’s Place referral partners work exclusively with us to refer all of our future guests for a stay at Tommy’s Place. 

Here is a list of our current referral partners:

MA General Hospital, Bay State Health, Dana Farber/Jimmy Fund, Boston Children's Hospital, UMass Memorial, Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, Connecticut Children's, Hasbro Children's Hospital, University of Vermont Children's Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, Dartmouth Health Children's, Maine Health Pediatric Cancer Care, Pedi Pals at Notre Dame Health, Northern Light Health

(If you don’t see your hospital here, please have your hospital reach out to us!)

What if I know a family who is fighting cancer? How can I help them stay at Tommy's Place?

The easiest way to help them is to let them know about Tommy’s Place and our process of asking their Child Life Specialist/Social Worker for a referral to Tommy’s Place. 

When will you get to stay?

Tommy's Place provides up to 104 free one-week vacations per year between its 2 magical vacation homes on Cape Cod. 

Our calendar opens on an annual basis and all weeks are given on a first-come, first-served basis depending on availability when you first enter our database reservation system.

Is there a committee that chooses who gets to stay at Tommy’s Place and when they get to stay?

No, there is not a committee that chooses who gets to stay at Tommy’s Place and when they get to stay, or which of our two magical homes on Cape Cod you will get to stay in. Typically, there are more than 150 names on our waiting list. Our calendar opens on an annual basis and all weeks are given on a first-come, first-served basis depending on availability when you first enter our database reservation system.

Can I reserve a particular week, house or request a visit during a certain time of the year?

No. To keep things fair, all weeks and locations are given on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability on our annual calendar when you first enter our automated reservation system. 

At Tommy’s Place, we offer up to 104 free vacations per year across our 2 homes. Typically, there are more than 150 names on our waiting list.

Will other families be at Tommy’s Place when my family visits?

NO. Your family and friends will be the only guests at Tommy’s Place when you visit. The entire property is yours for the entire week!

Is the house really just for us during the visit? 

Yes! The entire property is EXCLUSIVELY for your family and friends for the whole week! Our goal is to offer a truly free week of relaxation and fun for your family and loved ones, with no strings attached! You have 100% privacy during your stay at Tommy’s Place except for the occasional maintenance of our outside grounds and pool areas. There is no on-site staff or office at Tommy’s Place: the house is yours to enjoy and come and go as you please like a true vacation home!

Are there beaches nearby for us to visit, and do we have to pay to visit these beaches?

Yes, there are many beaches nearby each of our homes! 

Our Centerville guests have free access to beaches using our provided landlord beach pass.

The Falmouth Beach Department does not have a landlord beach pass program, so our Falmouth guests have several options to visit beaches, both paid and free. A visitor beach pass may be required to visit some beaches in Falmouth. For more details on visiting beaches in Falmouth, you can visit: https://www.falmouthma.gov/151/Beach  

Tommy’s Place is open year-round. What can you do at Tommy’s Place in the Spring, Fall and Winter?

Tommy’s Place homes are designed in a way that you never have to leave the home; there’s so much to do inside during your visit. Tommy's Place homes are filled with fun amenities for the whole family, including; game rooms, movie theatres, home taverns, arts + crafts rooms, music rooms, chef's kitchens, and much, much more.  A magical experience for the entire family!

For those looking to swim: Tommy’s Place even has relationships with nearby hotels that have pools for our guests to use during the off-season when our pools are closed! 

And for those who want to venture beyond Tommy’s Place during the week: Cape Cod is a year-round destination. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for all things Cape Cod: https://www.capecodchamber.org/ 

Is there staff on site during my visit?

NO, there is no on-site staff or office at Tommy’s Place. You have 100% privacy during your stay at Tommy’s Place except for the occasional maintenance of our outside grounds and pool areas.

Are pets allowed at Tommy’s Place?

Sorry, we love your furry friends, but unfortunately they are not allowed on the grounds, or inside of Tommy’s Place at any time during your stay. Please make arrangements for your pets well in advance of your stay at Tommy's Place.

What do I need to bring for my visit to Tommy’s Place?

First and foremost, bring your family and friends! We sleep up to 18 per night! Other than that, you’ll need to bring your clothes and groceries. Sheets and towels are provided. A full list of house amenities will be provided once your visit is confirmed.

When does our week at Tommy’s Place begin?

Tommy’s Place weekly visits are from Sunday to Sunday all year round.

I love Tommy’s Place so much - can I visit again!?

We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay! Sorry, as much as we would love to host you and your family again, we are unable to do so because of the long waiting list that we have at Tommy’s Place.

Is Tommy’s Place handicap accessible?

Each Tommy’s Place home is in a former historic inn. While neither home is fully handicap accessible, we have done our best during renovations to widen doorways and hallways, etc wherever possible, but our options were very limited due to the age of the homes. There are handicap ramps at each home. There is no elevator at either home.

Are there baby carriages and cribs at Tommy’s Place?

Yes, for your convenience, Tommy’s Place is equipped with baby carriages, cribs, and high chairs.

Who is welcome at Tommy’s Place?

Everyone is welcome here. Tommy’s Place is a safe, magical, and inclusive haven for kids fighting cancer.

Our dream vacation homes are a place for relaxation, memories, and fun! We hold a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination or harassment of any kind. No matter your race, income level, background, or identity, you have a place in our family. Specifically, we ensure equitable access and do not discriminate based on:

• Race, color, or ethnicity

• Income, socioeconomic status, or financial background

• Gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation

• Religion, age, or nationality

• Physical or mental disability

We thrive on mutual respect. If you ever experience or witness behavior that violates these values, please reach out to us at info@tommysplace.org

About Tommy's Place:

Tommy's Place owns and operates two 10+ bedroom year-round magical vacation homes for kids fighting cancer.  The homes are located in Falmouth and Centerville on Cape Cod. One family at a time, along with their extended family and friends, visits for a one-week, dream vacation to relax, make memories, and most importantly - have FUN!

Tommy's Place homes are equipped with in-ground swimming pools, game rooms, movie theatres, home taverns, arts + crafts rooms, music rooms, chef's kitchens, and much, much more.  A magical experience for the entire family!  
Since opening in July of 2021, over 400 families have vacationed at one of the Tommy's Place homes. In 2024, Tommy's Place began offering magical vacations to 104 families per year at its two magical vacation homes. Tommy's Place receives guest referrals from 12 New England children's hospitals and all families are placed through a lottery system. Guests are aged 3-17, actively being treated for pediatric cancer and living permanently and full-time in New England. 

Tommy's Place chooses our guests very carefully through a strict referral process.  All of our guests are referred to us by long-time, highly regarded Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire-based hospitals (see list below).   If you do not see your hospital on this list, please have them reach out to us so we can add them as referral partners!

We only accept pre-qualified guests from our referral partners.  

We hope to see you soon at Tommy's Place!