Cottage Life

You’ve decided to rent a cottage for a summer vacation. Where do you look for one that is going to give you the idyllic time you and your family need? How do you know that the description you read on a web site or in an advertisement is accurate or indeed really gives the information you need to part with your money? Here are just a few tips to help you read between the lines and understand what the owner or agency is really telling you about the cottage.

Cottages come in all shapes and sizes. Some are downright rustic, perhaps no more than a cabin to change in and sleep in at night, whilst others have more of the facilities and comforts of home. Never forget though, that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, and the cottage that the owner has loved since childhood, and may hold a wealth of memories for him, might not match your dream of a lakefront vacation. Bear in mind that although you would like to spend the majority of your vacation on the dock and in the water, sometimes the weather can be very unkind and you may need to move indoors to escape the elements.

A few years ago I was helping a friend to rent a cottage on a large lake in the Kawarthas area. The waterfront was alright, set into a small bay so there would be little watercraft disturbance during the day. The decking area was lovely with a south-westerly aspect. So far, so good, until I walked inside.

Damp smelling, dark and dismal are some of the more complimentary adjectives to describe this place. The furniture would probably not even sell at a yard sale. While some might call it “lived-in,” I’d prefer to call this place downright dirty. “Used” was probably the most kind way to describe the bathroom. Ultimately, the minus points were just too many to describe and I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked away. What did worry me was that it rented for just under $900 per week in the summer with a cottage rental agency and it was described as “rustic, with a true cottage-y feel.”

Descriptions that seem unnecessarily vague let the owner or agency off from any accusation of misrepresentation. So what should you look out for in an advertisement, or on a cottage rentals website:

“Smoking permitted” generally means the owners smoke and the place will probably have the all-pervading odor of stale tobacco, particularly on the beds..

“Pets welcome” means the owners probably have dogs, as will every other renter in the summer. If you have allergies you’ll be spending your vacation buried in a kleenex box. If not, to feel at home you’ll at least need a Shitzu, if not a whole brace of Golden Retrievers.

Use of expressions such as:
“Traditional cottage furnishings” usually means green and yellow furniture previously enjoyed by a decade of domestic pets and the occasional rodent, orange threadbare carpet sporting a range of unidentifiable stains, and beds that would not have been out of place in a Victorian workhouse.

“Rustic” might mean the same as above, but with little or no inside plumbing.

“Short walk to the beach” probably indicates you will need to take your hiking boots, and a bell to ward off bears along the way.

“The waterfront is a bit weedy” means there is no waterfront, at least there may be some in the far distance after you navigate the marsh in your canoe.

Admittedly, I am being a bit sarcastic here and this is probably a bit unfair. I too would tell my guests if there was a little weed at the waterfront, or if the beach was not right off the deck. However, be aware that cottages may not be all they seem from a web advertisement, or from a description given to you over the phone. If you can, ask to visit the cottage before you make a decision. Most importantly, the simplest and cheapest way to ensure you find the right cottage rental is to ask LOTS of questions!

cottage life, tips and tricks, cottage rental