Tips for Booking your Summer Cottage Weekend in Canada

Planning a summer weekend away? We’re answering all of your questions about how, when, and where to book your summer cottage weekend away.

When is the best time to book your summer cottage?

Timing for booking often depends on the size of your group. For a larger group or multi-generational family travel, you’ll want to book a touch earlier because the inventory for larger cottages is less. According to a survey, the best time to book a summer vacation rental is in January as HomeAway reports that by April 1, the majority of their larger summer rentals have been booked up. But, luckily for you, there are a number of vacation rental websites now which allows more travellers to find and share their accommodations increasing the online inventory.

If you’re flexible on your summer travel dates and are willing to researching a bit, taking a peak on sites like Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and through online travel agents like booking.com, hotels.com and Expedia, you’re bound to find a vacation rental property that suits your group, travel style and in the a destination you want to explore.

What are some great cottage destinations in Canada that many of us may have never considered?

This summer, why not visit a new destination around Canada and explore outside of the city. Travel to Canada’s northern territories have been increasing in popularity and Yukon is stunning in the summer. While the summer isn’t the best time to see the Aurora Borealis in Northern Canada, enjoy a summer way under the midnight sun by travelling north to Yukon. Summer travellers to Yukon tend to plan road trips to the hot springs, Kluane National Park or north to the Gold Rush town of Dawson City.

The Best Cottage Rentals in Canada

Stay in an Oceanfront Float Home (Vancouver, British Columbia)

The River Den (Wakefield, Quebec)

A Contemporary Loft Chalet  (Saint-Adele, Quebec)

Serenity’ in the heart of Muskoka (Huntsville, Ontario)

What should you be looking for to find a kid-friendly cottage destination?

When you’re looking for a kid-friendly cottage destination, it’s important to think about the activities in and around the cottage in addition to the accommodations. As you’re planning your trip, develop a checklist based on your children’s interest to make sure not only the property but the destination meets those needs. For example, if you have smaller children you may want to opt for more of a farm style cottage instead of something that is waterfront for areas where they can play safely. Or, if you have older teenagers looking for adventures like the Laurentians are a great option because you can plan hiking, mountain biking and other excursions to get them off their devices and exploring the outdoors.

To get the rustic experience without the hassle, Parks Canada has a collection of oTENTik, micrOcubs, Oasis and yurts at various locations all across Canada that offers the comfort of a bed and a campsite already set up and ready to go in a beautiful wilderness destination.

Stay in a MicrOcube in Riding Mountain National Park (Manitoba), an oTENTik in Prince Albert National Park (Saskatchewan), a yurt in Fundy National Park (New Brunswick) r a Canopy Oasis at Terra Nova National Park (Newfoundland & Labrador)

Where should you go for a luxurious cottage experience?

Arguably the most popular cottage-style resort in Canada is the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper National Park. This luxurious retreat has been a popular spot for The Royals (rumour has it that Harry and Meghan were planning to go there for their honeymoon, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip stayed in the Outlook cabin), the accommodation for this resort ranges in cabin sizes spread throughout the property to give you an immersive wilderness experience with a bit of luxury.

Where should families go for their summer cottage getaway?

For family travellers, I love the serene escape in Prince Edward Island. From North Rustico to Cavendish you can explore the stunning coastal views along the Gulf Shores Parkway taking you all the way to the homestead of Anne of Green Gables. Throughout this region, you can find a number of cottages and campgrounds like Hidden Acres Cottages and White Sand Cottages and Campgrounds that offer private detached accommodations with access to central facilities like playground areas, heated pools and space for campfires.