Leaving the busy city for the laidback country is a wonderful ritual. If you don't have a cottage of your own, you may ask friends if you can visit, or even borrow their cabin for a time. Before heading out, know what you can do to be an excellent guest and make the trip enjoyable for all.
Dress appropriately
Rather than have your hosts rummage through their home for extra fleece jackets or make a 30-minute – or longer – trip to town for a particular brand of suntan lotion, be prepared for the weather, the bugs and the area you're visiting. "It's amazing how many people forget to bring hats," says Penny Caldwell, editor of Cottage Life magazine and a cottager on Georgian Bay, about two hours north of Toronto. If you require special sunscreen or insect repellent (like kids' versions) bring it with you, and if the temperature tends to plummet at night, pack extra clothing you can layer.
Sleep well
Some cottagers host guest after guest, leaving bedding and bath linens in short supply; so pack your own sheets, sleeping bags, pillows and towels. "There seems to be endless laundry at this time of year," says Betty Fridell, who owns a cottage in the Laurentians, an hour north of Montreal. "So what I really appreciate is during swim season, if people bring their own beach towels."
Serve it up
If you're planning on staying for a meal or more, bring a dish like lasagna or goodies for the grill. Mention it to your hosts beforehand so they can check for fridge or freezer space or suggest an alternative (like a dessert or appetizer). "There also might be something they're missing, like bottled water or fresh vegetables," adds Caldwell. "And it's nice if they [guests] can bring a cooler full of ice." If your kids are picky eaters, bring food for them.
Communicate
Some cottages, like Caldwell's, are accessible by water only, meaning guests have to be picked up at a marina. If you say you're going to appear at a certain time, be there; don't leave your hosts waiting while you go for dinner or tour the town.
Curb your complaints
If you're not crazy about cottages, don't say so. John Sawatzky and his wife, Irene, have a cabin in Lake of the Woods, Ont., about three hours east of Winnipeg. The couple invited good friends to join them there, but the conversation turned to how cottage life just wasn't for their guests. "For them to come to our cottage and to tell us why they didn't want a cottage... we didn't invite them again for years."
Page 1 of 2 – Cottage-owners dish on easy ways to help out when staying at a friend's cottage on page 2.
