I’m often asked why check-in times for cottage rentals is so late in the afternoon. The norm is either 3pm or 4pm, with a few owners allowing check in earlier. The main complaint is that by the time the car is unpacked and everyone settled, it’s already Saturday evening and the day has gone.
The majority of cottage rentals end at 10am or 11am giving owners, or their caretakers, just a few short hours to do the changeover. This includes checking the cottage has been left in a clean condition by the previous guests, which sadly is not always the case; doing any routine maintenance and yard work; and preparing for the next guests. If the owner is using a property management company, they may have several properties to changeover within that time and estimating when the cottage will be ready for occupancy is difficult as their schedules can change at short notice. If owners are doing their own changeovers, they may have to travel several hours themselves, and given cottage country traffic at the weekends, may be delayed.
If you arrive earlier than the scheduled time, you should not expect to be granted entry to the cottage. You may be permitted to offload some of your luggage – usually in an outside storeroom or shed and then go off and do some shopping, but please do not embarrass the owners by wanting to take early occupancy. If you plan ahead and have a meal ready to go, and all the family assigned arrival tasks, you’ll still have several hours of the day to enjoy your vacation home.
At the end of your stay, please be considerate and depart at the latest by the time shown on your rental agreement. You will often find the owner or caretaker on the doorstep waiting for you to leave if you overstay, and in some cases you may even be charged an additional fee.
A little planning for the end of your vacation will ease the pain of leaving your waterfront paradise so read the cottage guide and departure checklist well in advance of your last day. That way, you’ll know what is expected of you, and can organize a stress free and relaxed end to your vacation.
