The beach rental business isn't booming this summer.

Tom Saab, who rents 100 units on Salisbury Beach, said it has been the worst season he's seen in the 30 years he's been in the business.

"There are vacancies everywhere," he said. "It is probably the worst rental season I've seen. It's never been this slow."

On Plum Island, property manager Linda McKeehan said houses renting for $800 to $1,200 per week on the barrier island don't seem to be fetching as much attention this year compared to others. It's not the island or even the houses - it's the pocketbooks of those who rent in that price range, she said.

"The houses are very nice and usually right across the street from the beach," she said. "That group of people just aren't around as much."

Both McKeehan and Saab said it has been a slow start but people are finally starting to rent.

"Fortunately, things have picked up," Saab said.

But both say they also have oceanfront rentals for prime weeks still available.

McKeehan, who manages more than 20 properties as owner of Plum Island Beach Rentals, said her high-end, oceanfront properties are almost completely full for the summer, especially during the most popular time in August. But, she said, the houses that usually attract middle-class vacationers still have plenty of weeks open for this summer.

"I think it is that for the lower-income people money is just tighter and tighter," she said. "The divisions between the haves and the have-nots is getting bigger and bigger."

Saab also said it is likely the economy that is holding people back. He said usually people rent for the summer well in advance - in January, February and March. And many of those times, people are looking to rent places for two weeks or more, he said.

"I think the gas prices, people are just not traveling period, even from Framingham or Lowell. I think people are just saving their money and are concerned about the economy," Saab said. "I've had more people this year only looking for one week, where most times I've had people look for two weeks."

In Salisbury, Saab said problems arose from the bad publicity about the storm that eroded the beachfront in April, and the lack of entertainment in the downtown area.

"People were questioning if they could get down to the beachfront and so on," Saab said. "You get some bad publicity, and people think there is not beachfront left."

The lack of entertainment is obvious, Saab said, because during the week of the inaugural Sand and Sea Festival at the end of June, he had eight to 10 last minute reservations for weeklong stays at the beach.

"People were renting last-minute because the festival was there, because there was entertainment and things for their children," he said.

McKeehan, who is also a real estate agent for Keller Williams, said her most expensive home goes for $3,500 a week and only has one week still available.

Dubbed the Arctic Cottage, it is a waterfront home near at the point of Plum Island. It features its own private beach, five bedrooms, a vintage exterior with a completely updated interior, can sleep up to 10 guests and has views of the harbor and downtown Newburyport.

"The higher-end ones are the ones that are booked," she said.

McKeehan said her biggest challenge is getting the word out to people that once they get to Plum Island, the cost of the vacation is less than other hot spots, like Cape Cod.

"They don't realize when they come here that they don't have to drive to the beach, they can walk," she said. "You can walk to the beach, you can walk to the stores, you can walk to Mad Martha's, you can bike around, you can kayak around. In the Cape, you have to drive to the beach."

Want to Rent

On Plum Island:

www.plumislandbeachrentals.com

At Salisbury beach:

www.tomsaabrealestate.com

Prices: Ranging from $800 to several thousand

Availability: Oceanfront and others

When: All times, including Yankee Homecoming