The 5 best things about a winter stay at the cottage.

Winter can be an amazing time of year to stay at the cottage!   Here are 5 of the best things about a winter stay at the cottage!

1. Reading a book by the fireplace.   There is nothing better than sitting by a warm fire while avoiding the cold outside.  Imagine holding your hot chocolate while your socked feet are held close to the wood burning fire.   You can smell the wood burning while you quietly read your favorite book.   The quiet and peacefulness that comes with winter stays at the cottage are just what the sole needs after a stressful work schedule.
2. Winter fun activities!   Try your hand at building a snowman with the kids or go tobogganing at a nearby hill.  Rent snowmobiles for the day and hit the trails with good friends.   Rent ski’s or snowshoes and try some of the local trails.  Or if the ice is thick enough, how about some lake ice hockey or ice fishing!
3. Trying new recipes.   Now is your chance to try that soup recipe or perhaps you’ve been
   
   excited to make a new stew or chili.  Winter time at the cottage is perfect for home cooking with family and friends, and your chance to try some winter favourites.
4. Watching a movie with a warm blanket.   Whether your pick is a late night horror movie, or a daytime seasonal Christmas special that brings a joyful tear to your eye, with the dark nights getting longer, it is the perfect chance to catch up on your favourite movies or tv shows after a day of winter activities with your family.
5. Connecting with friends – What better way to beat the winter blues than to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and reconnect with friends or family at the cottage.   Getting tired of the same driveway shoveling, work, and winter traffic in the city?   Get out of the city and into the country for some rest and relaxation as well as the peace and quiet that comes with winter stays at the cottage.
   

Charge me a security deposit….PLEASE!!

If you have rented a cottage vacation rental in the past, you have probably been asked to pay a security deposit.   I have seen these deposits range anywhere between $150, to $2,000 depending on the value of the cottage, the length of your stay, the number of people in your group, pets, etc.  This deposit is kept by the owner until the end of your stay, at which time it is returned to you provided there are no damages to the property or contents, outside of normal wear and tear.

There has been a movement lately from the cottage owner community, to forego taking security deposits.   Only 2 percent of the time is there a need for a cottage owner to draw funds from a security deposit anyway.   For cottage owners, there is a lot of work involved in collecting and returning deposits, and there are very few times when a deposit is even used to cover any damages.   Of those few times, the amounts are fairly small and usually are for damages that the guests fully admit to causing and are willing to pay.   For the cottage owner, it is easier for the accounting on their end if they don’t have to worry about collecting and returning the deposit.  It is not that the owners are willing to give up that added protection.  There are two different ways that cottage owners can still ensure the same protection against damage, without having to directly charge the guests a refundable security deposit.

1. Guests are all charged a small additional fee hidden in the rental charge.  Instead of that cottage costing you $1,000 per stay, it is now going to cost you $1,025.   There is no additional security deposit to be paid up front and there is nothing that will be returned after your stay.   You are simply paying $1,025 to rent the cottage with no security deposit.   Nice right?....  The owner then takes these numerous extra $25 payments and funds a private damages fund.   This fund is then used to cover any damages up to a certain amount.   (There would still be wording in the contract that they could seek compensation for larger ticket items), but for smaller damages they would draw from this private fund.
   
   
2. The second model is to force guests to purchase a separate insurance.   This is basically the same as the point above, however it is a more formalized cottage guest insurance, usually managed and run by a third party.   Again, this is an additional cost to you the guest, which would have you paying more to rent the cottage overall.

So what does this mean to you the cottage rental guest?   If you are the type of guest who loves to come to the cottage and plan to take care of the cottage like it was your own, it means you are paying an extra fee for damages that someone else will cause in the future!   Instead of paying $1,000 for a rental charge plus $400 which is returned to you in full after your stay, you are now paying $1,025 or $1,050 for a loss of $50.  

In the first scenario above, let’s consider a cottage that rents 50 times in a year and charges a hidden $50 per rental to cover damages.    The damages fund now has a total of $2,500 for the year.    What happens if the owner doesn’t have that much in damages over the year?  You guessed it – the owner gets to pocket that money

So if I’m a guest for your rental cottage I say charge me the deposit!   I know I will take care of the place and I don’t want to pay more than I need to, paying for someone else’s damages!

What do you think?  Would you rather pay a slightly higher rental charge?   Or less in rental fee but with an additional security deposit which is refunded to you after your stay?   I’d love to hear comments and thoughts from those of you who have rented cottages!

Dean Curtis

Serenity Vacation Rentals

Save money on your next cottage vacation rental!

How would you like to save some money the next time you are looking for a cottage vacation rental?   Below I give some insight on what is costs the owners to list on those sites and how you can get the best price when shopping for your cottage vacation!

When guests are looking to get away for a vacation, they have a lot of options at their disposal.  Airbnb, VRBO, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com, are a few of the larger vacation rental platforms prospective guests can use to find their perfect vacation getaway.   There are many more sites available, and it seems that every week there are more platforms coming on board to take their slice of the vacation rental pie.   So how do you as a traveler, find the best deals for a cottage vacation rental?  First let me tell you how the sites work from the viewpoint of a vacation rental owner.

Airbnb and TripAdvisor - Both of these sites do not charge the owners to list their property.   If a guest books the property through the platform, the site simply takes a small percentage of the money as their compensation (usually around 3 percent).   So an owner who decides they want $200 for that one night at their property, will simply increase the price so that the portal gets their commission and the owner still gets her $200 to cover the bills, expenses, and hopefully have some left over as profit.


VRBO - Runs a bit different than the first two, in that it charges the owners a fee to list their property. The site does not take any commissions on bookings from the owners.   How does VRBO make its money?   VRBO charges the guest a "booking fee", which is essentially a commission on the transaction, but they charge the guest up front to book.  There is no need for the owner to increase their price as they still get their $200, but the guest still pays a higher price covering the VRBO booking fee.

Booking.com - This is a again free for the owners to list, but the owners receive a commission invoice at the end of each month to pay for bookings generated from the listing site.   So what do owners do to offset those costs?  You guessed it, the owner will increase their rates on this site as well so they take home that same $200 for a single night rental.


So what does this mean to you, the rental guest who wants to have the best vacation they can have at the lowest possible price?   It means that you should book directly from the owner or rental company.   At the very least find their website to compare prices.  Many times you can save hundreds of dollars by sourcing them directly.   By all means, look on one of the portals to find the cottage you are interested in!   But if you see "Oak Bay Hideaway" in Port Severn on Airbnb, or "Birch Grove" in Parry Sound on VRBO, take the time to do a google search for the same property and location.  Many times you will find the direct website where you can book at discounted prices!

Take your savings and put it towards your next vacation!  Have a fantastic summer!

Top 5 questions to ask before renting your next cottage!!

The demand for cottages has been increasing exponentially over the last few years.   We have received phone calls from people desperate to rent who ask very few questions if any at all!  How do they know if this cottage would suit their family?  If you are thinking of renting a cottage, here are a few questions you may want to ask before sending in your deposit!

1) Is your cottage pet friendly?   One of the benefits of vacationing at a cottage is that your four legged family member may be able to join you.  Will your pets be welcome at the cottage?  What are the rules regarding size, breed, and number of pets etc?   Are other cottages close by with pets who may not get along with you pets?  Are there walking trails close by?  Or is there space on the property for your pet to run and explore?   Maybe you don't have any pets or have allergies.  This still may be a good question to ask if searching for a cottage that has never had a pet in it.

2) Where can I see reviews on your cottage?   Cottage rentals are on the rise and unfortunately with that the occurrences cottage rental fraud are rising.  Picture yourself showing up for your vacation rental just as another family pulls in saying they rented the same week.  Or perhaps you knock on the door of your beautiful cottage and the owner opens the door.   She looks confused when you say you have rented their cottage?   These are real examples of what can happen.    To avoid this be sure to book with a reputable company that has several reviews on their cottages.   Avoid booking through a Kijiji ad without a link to their website or seeing several reviews from past happy guests.   Get a referral from a family member or friend who has actually stayed at one of their properties!

3) Is there internet and cell phone reception at the cottage?   Cottages can be fairly remote and cell phone reception is not always a given.  Internet can also be difficult depending on the location.   Most cottages will have a satellite internet connection if they have one at all.   This will be a slower connection that is perfectly fine for emails and website searches etc., but don't plan on downloading movies or streaming netflix!

4) How far is the nearest town?  Many people book their cottage after seeing amazing pictures and reading reviews, without first learning how far the cottage is from the closest town.   I understand that your family is looking to "get away" from it all, but at some point you will need food, alcohol, snacks, supplies, or restaurants, etc.   This can be a quick and easy trip of 5 minutes, or a long, time wasting excursion of 45 minutes or more, depending on the location!   Be sure you know how far you will need to travel for groceries.

5) Is the cottage accessible?   This seems like a silly question to ask, but there are cottages for rent with no road access!   You are expected to park your car and hike in to the property.  Is this something you are willing to take on with luggage and young kids in tow?  Does this cottage have road or water access?  Many cottages are located on their own private island or shared with several other cottages.  Is your family ok with having to climb on a boat every time you want to go into town or need supplies?   Is the boat supplied or will you be paying for a service to move you to and from the mainland.   What about winter access?   Are the roads municipally maintained or are they covered by a private plowing service?   Will the driveway and access to the doors be shoveled before your arrival?

With just a few questions you will be able to find the perfect cottage for your family.   If contacting a rental agency let them help you with the research!   Tell them what is important to you!   Do you want shallow water entry because you have little kids?  Do you want flat land and easy access because you have elderly family members coming?   The agency will have first hand knowledge of the cottages and will be happy to help you find the perfect fit!


Dean Curtis
Serenity Vacation Rentals

5 cottage country restaurants the locals don’t want you to know about!

These are all personal favourites of our family.  They may not be widely known (and the locals want to keep it that way…), but I definitely recommend you check them out if you are staying at one of our cottages.  Fantastic little spots that will warm your heart and fill your tummy!

1. Orrville Bakery and Barista  
   
   What a great little spot!  A variety of freshly baked bread available daily.  Be warned, they go fast!   Pies, cakes, and treats available too!  They have a fantastic little barista there perfect for lunches either dining in or to take on the go.  They have fantastic home made pizza available on Friday nights as well but you have to order in advance before 5pm.  They are so busy on pizza night they have a limited number of orders they will take!  Be sure to give this place a try – you won’t regret it! 
2. Kate's Kart
   
   I know this isn't technically a restaurant, but I can't have a top 5 list without including it.  Kate's Kart is a food cart which was named one of the "Top 9 Ontario cottage country chip trucks", by Cottage Life.   The food here is incredible!  If you're in Parry Sound and you are feeling a little hungry, be sure to stop by!  Need toppings for your burger or dog?  How about a selection table over 13' long with your choices!  Impossible to walk away from here saying a topping you wanted was unavailable.  They serve a variety of food but speaking from personal experience, If you are a fan of burgers you owe it to yourself to give this place a try.   You will be making up excuses to go into town just to visit Kate's Kart!
3. Bass Lake Roadhouse 
   
   What a great little family restaurant!  Right on beautiful Bass Lake!  The food and service here are fantastic.  TV screens are usually playing some kind of sporting event but not loud to the point where you can't carry on a conversation.  This restaurant can be busy at times especially during the summer evenings, but well worth your effort to enjoy a meal with your family.   Conveniently located closer to central Muskoka, and an excellent choice when heading out for a family meal.
4. Whatta Pizza 
   
   A small family run restaurant with fantastic views of Horseshoe lake from the dining room.  Great food and great people.  There is a variety of food available but of course the signature menu item is the pizza.  Be sure to try the "Garlabons" too....   incredible!
5. Trappers Choice Restaurant
   
   A casual dining restaurant for the whole family.  Lots of space inside the restaurant or enjoy the fresh air on the patio.  There is a great selection of food to choose from as well as a children's menu and desserts.   This is another one of our favourites in the area and one we try not to miss when staying at the Serenity Vacation Rentals cottages!

S   So there is our list of restaurants you much try when staying at our cottages!  The locals already know about these places and now so do you!  Now I'm off for lunch.....all this talk about food and I'm starving!!

To do in Muskoka Ontario - Johnston's Cranberry Farm and Muskoka Lakes Winery!!

We have heard so many good things about Johnston’s Cranberry Farm and we’ve had a number of guests comment on the good times they’ve had there, so we thought it was time we checked it out for ourselves!  

We arrived on a beautiful summer day in early July of 2015.  Four of us went there for the day.  My wife Jackie, my sister and brother-in-law, and myself.    I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it as I am not a drinker and have never been much of a fan of wine, but I was still curious about the cranberry harvesting.  After receiving feedback on how much our guests enjoyed it, I was looking forward to the day.   Our first stop was into their store and gift shop and my wife’s eyes opened wide!   Right away she was picking out fun gift items for friends and family.  We had a lot of fun just browsing the different items and the large variety of the original wines they had for sale.  

We spoke with the friendly staff and asked what was most popular for tourists when they came to the cranberry farm.  They suggested the guided tour, the wine tasting, and the cheese platter!  We were happy to sign up for all three!

We started with the wine tasting.  A wine server had a number of their wines set up and told everyone a brief summary of how it was made and the appeal that each wine had.  Again I’m not a fan of wine generally speaking but I soon became a fan of their blueberry wine!  To this day we always have a bottle of  Muskoka Lakes winery blueberry wine on hand.  It was a lot of fun trying all of the different bottles of wine!

Next we were off on the guided tour.  We learned the history of the farm and how the company has grown into what it is today.  We learned about their farming of the cranberries and how they are harvested and eventually turned into wine, jams, sauce, and many other products.  It was really interesting to see the large vats where the wine is made.

We finished the day with the cheese platter and a glass of our favorite wine from the wine tasting.  We relaxed in the sun on their patio and enjoyed the fresh air and talked and laughed. 

Over all I had a lot of fun on the day and wouldn’t hesitate to suggest that visitors to the Muskoka area take a tour of Johnston’s Cranberry Farm and Muskoka Lakes winery.  It’s just one of the many fun adventures in Muskoka, Ontario.    If you have been to Johnston’s Cranberry Farm I’d love to see your comments below on your favorite memories from the visit!  Which wine did you like best??

 

Island Queen cruise - Parry Sound, Ontario

Here is the next in our series of attractions and things to do when in Muskoka, Ontario.  There is so much to do a see it may take awhile to review everything but we are going to give it our best shot!! Click here for our youtube video of the review!

Ok so I have to be up front here in saying that I wasn’t expecting much when it comes to a sight seeing cruise of some islands.....  What I was most excited for was that it would force me to get away from the work I was doing at the cottage and I might be able to relax for a couple of hours out on the water.  I gotta say….it was way better than I expected!! 

They offer a two hour morning cruise or a three hour afternoon cruise.   I had teenagers in tow so I thought it best not to push my luck on a three hour tour and chose to do the two hour morning cruise.   Once we were underway I was regretting the fact that I didn’t choose the three hour tour!   We toured through the many islands – I should say that the tour is also known as the 30,000 island tour….  I really enjoyed looking at the cottages on the water, seeing all of the islands, and hearing facts about the area from the loudspeaker as we passed points of interest.  It was a smooth relaxing tour with an on board cafeteria and washrooms.

Would I do it again?  Absolutely!!  Next time I will do the three hour tour and I think I will give it a try in the Fall season to see some of the changing leaves!  The kids ended up having a fun time too!  

Next time you are at one of the Serenity Vacation Rentals cottages – be sure to check out the Island Queen cruise!!