Some July weeks have just opened up at Emilie’s Zos on the Haliburton Highlands popular Kennisis Lake. With terrific waterfront on the lake, this great cottage is comfortably furnished and ideal for families, so get your week reserved now. The cottage sleeps up to 8 people and is offered at a reduced price of $1950 per week.

The last long weekend of the summer is on its way and the kids will be back to school next week. Where has the summer gone?! 

There seem to be a lot of people looking for a last minute long weekend hideaway, and we now have a few listed on our Special Offers page although they are limited to families only.  Most owners would prefer to rent to families because they feel there is less risk of groups using the weekend as an end of the summer party excuse.

Sadly, we’ve heard of a few groups abusing the trust cottage owners put in them this year. One couple, after signing a rental agreement limiting the occupation of the cottage they had rented to two people, proceeded to invite a dozen friends for an all night party. The owners received complaints from the neigbours about noise, and spent the following week cleaning up broken glass from their waterfront. It is little wonder that cottage owners refuse to rent their properties to anyone under 25, when they learn of this type of experience.  

I can’t believe that summer is so nearly over and the kids will be back at school in less than 2 weeks. Given the amount of people looking for last minute availability, there’s still many wanting to grasp those final days on the water. So, how do you find that elusive long weekend availability? 

For most cottage rental agencies, the high season doesn’t finish until September 8^th, and some will only accept weekly rentals up until then. Others may offer an extended week from 25^th or 26^th August through the long weekend. And a few may accept rentals from Friday to Monday, but will be charging a premium rate.  Check the Special Offers page on CLRM which will be changing frequently as more cottages are released for the long weekend. CottageLINK also has a Last Minute page where you may find some availability as well.

 When you are renting a cottage, remember that the maximum number of people a cottage will accommodate includes all children, and that many cottages will not accept pets. If you choose not to declare the actual numbers in your group, or take a pet to a cottage that does not allow them, it is likely you’ll be asked to leave, or at the very least, the owner will charge a hefty fee from the damage deposit.

Two of our last minute listings for next week have sandy beaches! These include Paradise Lane,  a 2 bedroom cottage on Georgian Bay, just 15 minutes from Parry Sound, and Sylvan Sunset on Belmont Lake – another 2 bed property with a fabulous westerly aspect.  Both of these will accommodate up to 6 people.

Sandy’s Island, near Honey Harbor, has just become available through a cancellation. A traditional Georgian Bay log cottage, this property is over 70 years old and retains the rustic feel with modern touches.

For larger families who have left it to the last minute, East Lake Cottage in Prince Edward County (south of Belleville) provides quality accommodation and is just minutes from Sandbanks Provincial Park. Couchiching Panorama on the lake of the same name, will sleep up to 10 people in roomy comfort.

For active folks who want a last minute getaway I recommend Squirrel’s Leap, a log cottage south of Mt Tremblant in the beautiful Laurentian region of Quebec. Almost at the gateway of Parc du Tremblant which has hundreds of lakes for fishing, swimming and canoeing; and miles of trails for hiking and biking, this is a real romantic choice. Portside in Westport, Ontario is a wonderful location for exploring the beautiful village of Westport and its surrounding countryside, or simply relaxing in outstanding comfort. And Nutmeg Cottage in Bobcaygeon is perfect for a getaway in the Kawartha Lakes region.

If you don’t want to be far from the city, then Clovelly Cottage has some days available next week, while Riverside Cottage has a full week open. Both of these are on the south shore of Lake Simcoe.

There’s plenty more available for the week – just check the August availability calendar for more last minute listings. They go fast though, so give us a call to confirm before you fill in a rental application.

Nutmeg Cottage is a delightful find and a cottage we know will be popular as it is located in Bobcaygeon, in the Kawartha Lakes. Although the cottage is not on the water, it is well situated only minutes from a public beach with lots of sand, a shallow walkout and picnic areas. If you bring your own boat, the marina is within walking distance, and of course if you prefer to rent a boat for a day, you can do that too. This log home is comfortably furnished and well equipped with everything you need for a great cottage vacation. It has wide open availability for August and will accommodate 6 people.

It is rare at this time of year to be able to offer a new listing with one of the ‘must haves’ that most families look for in a cottage rental. A shallow, hard sand, walkout into the lake. And the lake in this instance is Simcoe, so it’s only an hour and a half from Toronto, making it even more desirable. The cottage faces west so enjoys spectacular sunsets. Aptly named, Sunset Cove is located in Brechin, about 15 minutes south of Orillia, and only 20 minutes from Casino Rama. With two bedrooms and a queen futon, it will accommodate up to six people and is priced at $1250 per week. There is availability for 28 July -4 August and 4 August – 11 August. Book this one now!