Rental Guidelines & FAQ
There are several benefits to booking directly with Cottage Connection:
-You avoid high commissions charged by online travel agencies.
-You have direct access to our team of experienced vacation rental experts.
-You can get personalized recommendations based on your specific needs and interests.
-You can take advantage of exclusive promotions.
We offer a wide variety of vacation homes in Maine and Vermont, including lakefront cottages, oceanfront cottages, cabins, and more. Our homes range in size from small cottages to large estates, and they can accommodate groups of 1 to 16. If your group is larger, give us a call and we’ll help you find a series of homes to stay at.
Our cottages are assigned to specific check-in and out days during the summer season, with a set night minimum length of stay (this is listed in each home’s description.)
Here is our rental season:
The Summer Season is from June through Labor Day
The Fall Season is Labor Day through the second weekend in October (Columbus Day Weekend)
We constantly compare our services and our houses to others in the area and we feel our prices are competitive and that our service and our properties are an outstanding value for the money. The price of each cottage includes everything except for the Maine Lodging Tax and a Pet Fee (where applicable). We do offer some optional items where applicable such as trip insurance, mooring ball rentals, and mid-stay cleanings.
We take great pride in not “nickel-and-diming” our property owners or our guests. Here is a breakdown of our fees:
The 9% Maine State Lodging Tax is for anyone coming to visit, except for working or education purposes (there is a tax exemption form that must be filled out for these exemptions.)
Service fees (like additional cleaning and pet fees) may also be added. Some cottages include them, and some do not. When you reserve the cottage, the booking page (or quote if you book over the phone) will indicate if these fees are necessary. All guests who are bringing a pet to pet-friendly homes are required to pay a pet fee, but other options, such as trip insurance, mid-stay cleanings, mooring ball rentals, etc., are optional.
Property Damage Protection Waiver – Our Damage Waiver protection plan covers up to $500 of accidental reported damages to the property. This non-refundable fee is instead of a traditional security deposit. Guests are responsible for all damages incurred at the property during their stay.
All of our vacation homes include a full kitchen, cable and/or streaming tv, and Wi-Fi. Some homes also include additional amenities such as fireplaces, air conditioning, and laundry facilities. If there’s a particular amenity that’s important to you, please ask!
Many of our homes are dog-friendly! You’ll see a paw print at the top of the listing page for any dog-friendly home on our website. We have hosted over 300 dogs a year since 1993. We are pet owners ourselves. We want to remain a pet-friendly company and that requires your help. We only permit DOGS at our Pet-Friendly Properties for insurance reasons. There are just three small things that need to be done to bring your furry friend on vacation with you:
– Pay the mandatory nonrefundable Pet Fee (plus tax). This pet fee is not a “cleaning charge” and is not designed to cover the cost of extra cleaning.
– Fill out a 1-page attachment to the rental agreement.
– Send us your dog’s rabies vaccination record, and proof of flea and tick prevention.
It’s really that simple!
Please don’t be offended if we have to tell you your dog cannot accompany you. Insurance companies have rules about the breeds and types of dogs that can be at a rental property that we must follow. Dog breeds NOT permitted in our homes include, but are not limited to: Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Doberman, Akita, Chow, German Shepherds, and some other shepherd breeds, Bull Mastiff, Stafford Bull Terriers, (or any mix containing these breeds), or any type of wild breed (pure wolf or a wolf mix). Dogs under 2 years old may not be permitted.
No. For everyone’s health and safety, ALL of our cottages are smoke-free. Anyone smoking or vaping in a cottage will be assessed a fee for a professional cleaning company to come in and remove the smoke damage.
Fireworks, while permitted in the State of Maine, are not allowed in most cities and towns, including Boothbay Harbor. We at Cottage Connection and our Property Owners DO NOT allow fireworks at ANY of the cottages.
Outside fires, because of fire danger, are not permitted at any of our cottages unless there is an approved fire pit (this will be in the amenities list if applicable.)
You can easily book a vacation home with Cottage Connection online or by phone. Unsure of where to start? Just give us a call! Another way to get the ball rolling is to send us an email with your requirements and we’ll be happy to send you some suggestions. Our staff has been in each of our properties and knows them well enough to answer most of your questions. Mobility issues, pets, allergies, and activities should all be discussed.
Our homes are high in demand, particularly in July and August, so all reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. The first person to call and provide a deposit will get the cottage. The early bird gets the worm!
Guest recognizes that Guest is purchasing a specific period of time at the Property, that Guest has taken the Property off the market, and that the season is short. Guest understands and agrees that Guest is fully obligated to pay for this time. If Guest cancels the reservation, for any reason, all monies paid to CCM for the lodging shall be forfeited as follows:
1. If Guest cancels 60 days or less from arrival, all monies paid to CCM for the lodging shall be forfeited.
2. If Guest cancels 61 days or more from arrival, Guest will receive back 50% of the amount Guest has paid at the time of cancellation.
We do offer trip insurance! A dedicated FAQ Page for it can be found here.
We provide detailed driving directions for each reservation, 5 days prior to arrival via text and email. Generally, GPS works until you get through Portland, ME, and then things get dicey. That’s why we provide you with directions that our team has written and tested to help get you the rest of the way! If you are on the road and forget what to do, call us and we’ll gladly help!
The closest airport to Boothbay is Portland Jetport (PWM) which is approximately an hour and 30 minutes away. Car rentals are available at the airport, and you will need a vehicle to get around the area.
Mail and faxes can be sent to the Cottage Connection office. We will call you at the cottage when packages/faxes arrive to arrange pickup.
UPS and FedEx can use our physical address: 675 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay, ME 04537.
All USPS deliveries need to use our PO Box 655, Boothbay, ME 04537.
Just give us a call! Our team of experienced vacation rental experts is available 24/7 to help you with any questions or problems you may have during your stay! Please remember that all of our cottages are privately owned and cherished family homes, not hotel rooms. We want to be sure you can enjoy your vacation, so all of our homes are self-catering: we provide you with a starter supply of the basics like paper products and trash bags, and ask you to take care of the home as if it were your own. We’re here for you if you have questions or technical difficulties during your stay, but we want to balance that with your privacy so you can enjoy your time in Maine!
All of our current renters have the option of the right of first refusal for the same time at the same home next year. You will receive a text message asking you about this before your vacation ends! Simply reply to the text message to secure your right of first refusal for the same time next year – you’ll be all set until bookings open for the following season! If for some reason you select a cottage that will not be available, our Reservation Specialists will assist you with choosing another home.