Guests can reach out to us anytime by email at [email protected] or through the “Book Now” link on our website.   Once availability and pricing is confirmed, a deposit of $1,000 is requested for each week to secure the dates. This amount is non-refundable.

• We will send the guest an application to fill out.  Drivers licence is required for each booking.  Once approved, the dates are confirmed and calendar is blocked off
• Balance of the rental fee is paid 60 days prior to arrival, along with a $1000 refundable security deposit
• We will send terms and conditions to guests for review and signature

We do not charge our guests any additional fees for administration, booking fees or service fees.  Cleaning fee of $175 is due upon arrival.  All bookings are charged an additional 13% for HST.

We accept e-transfer, or guests can pay on their credit card via Paypal which charges an additional 1.9% for guests in Ontario and 2.9% for overseas guests.  Sorry, we do not accept cash. 

Guests provide a security deposit of $1000 for each booking which is fully refundable at the end of their stay.  Once the cottage is inspected after the guest departure, a cheque or e-transfer is sent to each guest within 7 days of departure.  We have had over 100 guests stay with us in the past 9 years, and we have never run into any issues.

During our high season in the summer, all arrivals are on Friday at 6:00pm and departures are on Fridays at 11:00 am.  The gap between guests gives us time to clean the cottage carefully, review the condition left by past guests, and to restock any missing items.  Guests often request early arrival.  This can not be guaranteed, especially in the summer, but we try our best to bring guests in around 4:00 pm, if they can be on standby the afternoon of arrival.  During off season, guests can arrive on any day of the week.

Our cottage is located a 10 minute drive from the town of Orillia, and within walking distance of Bass Lake Provincial Park, which can be found on Google Maps.  We provide the address and directions to the cottage shortly before arrival to protect the security of our existing guests. This policy has been in place for 10 years and we consistently receive appreciation for this. 

We send all information about arrival details the evening before the booking.  We have an electronic lock on site and each guest receives a personalized code.  This allows our guests flexibility so that they can arrive at a convenient time.

No.  Sorry, we can not accommodate pets on site, even as visitors for the day. 

The cottage is on a double sized lot with over half and acre of land.  There are trees separating the cottage from both sides of the neighbours and extensive privacy throughout the property.  Many of our repeat guests have stayed at Bass Lake Cottage year after year and have never seen the neighbours.  

The cottage is winterized on electric furnace and available year round.   Between October and April, the main cottage sleeps 6 people.  From May to October, the guesthouse is open and we can accommodate 8 guests.  

We want to ensure that our guests enjoy the most exceptional and enjoyable experience at Bass Lake Cottage.  Therefore, we do not allow guests to sleep on the floor or on a couch.  Adults and children are included in the count of 8 guests.

Yes, many families with newborns and infants have enjoyed their stay over the years.  We provide a Pack and Play. The lake is very shallow, so a toddler is able to safely enter and exit the lake from the dock. 

We have a queen-sized bed in the master bedroom, four single beds in the other bedrooms, and a king-size bed in the guesthouse.

The cottage does not have air conditioning.  There is plenty of shade on the property, and our guests have assured us that the cottage stays cool, even on warm days.  There are ceiling fans in each of the bedrooms and a large fan in the main room, and another fan in the guesthouse.

The cottage is close to town.  There are grocery stores LCBO, Walmart, banks, etc. within a 5 to 10 minute drive from the cottage.

Yes, within a 10 minute drive there are many of the chain restaurants.  Local specialties can be found on Mississauga Street in town with many varieties.  The famous Mariposa Bakery is a must!

There are no steps from the inside of the cottage onto the large deck.  There are 5-10 stairs from the deck onto the lawn.  There is a stone path with gradual decline to the water’s edge. 

We typically stock the basic necessities like paper towels, septic friendly toilet paper, tin foil and Ziplocs, salt and pepper and some spices, coffee and tea.  There is a coffee maker that uses ground coffee and a kettle.  Most of our guests choose to bring their own condiments such as ketchup and mustard, soft drinks, specialized coffee beans, etc.

The cottage has a specialized filtering system which cleans the water through an ultra violet filter.  Water is safe to cook with and to drink.  Some guests choose to bring their own bottled water.

Yes, the canoe and kayaks have paddles, and there are lifejackets on site.  We do not have exact sizing for children of every age, so we request that guests bring their own custom fitting ones for children.

We provide all guests with a propane tank, and a spare tank on site for our next guests.  If they run out, we ask guests to swap them at the nearby Home Depot or a few minutes away in town.  Please leave the receipt on the dining room table upon departure, or send us a picture, and we will reimburse you.

We try to include large pieces of wood at the firepit, if available.  Guests can also buy firewood in town.

We have a custom built sandpit at the water’s edge for young children.  A quiet public beach is within walking distance from the cottage inside Bass Lake Provincial Park.  It includes a designated swimming area, playground, and large areas to play football and Frisbee.    

Bass Lake is shallow.  Depending on the size of the boat, the dock may be able to accommodate it.  Motorized boats can be rented at the marina in town.  Paddle boats can be rented through Bass Lake Provincial Park.  

The cottage is cleaned thoroughly in between guests.  Guests are provided with a basic cleaning checklist that is included with the terms and conditions, provided the day before arrival, and a third copy is sent the night before departure.   This allows our guests to have an understanding of the cleaning expectations, and no surprises!

The township of Simcoe collects garbage and recycle on alternate Wednesdays.  Some items that are considered recycle in larger cities (such as milk cartons) are placed in the garbage and recycle in our cottage country.  During summer months, accumulated garbage between Wednesday and Friday’s departure is removed off-site by our guests or can be delivered to the local landfill.  New guests arrive at the cottage to an empty garbage bin.

The best way to get in touch with us is through email at [email protected]  Upon arrival, we also provide guests with an emergency phone number .  We are very responsive!

Over 80% of our guests return to our cottage year after year.  A guest who books certain week(s) in a particular summer has the first chance to secure that week again for the next year.  If that week becomes available, we will then reach out to our waitlist.