COMMITMENT:  When you sign the lease, you are committing yourself to paying the total amount of the rent.  This means that, should you cancel, you are still responsible for the balance due unless the cottage is re-rented.  Some, but not all, owners will make exceptions for the death or catastrophic illness of a member of the renting party.  We strongly suggest that you consider trip insurance when making your summer reservations.

DEPOSITS:  Our cancellation policy is derived from the way a cottage is rented.  Unlike motel rooms or cottage colonies that are units in a commercial property, each summer rental is privately owned and your deposit is sent to the property owner in return for his guarantee that the property will be held for you.  Therefore, should you cancel, we are only able to refund your deposit if we are able to re-rent the time you have reserved.  All refunds are less 10% of the total rent.

(See FAQ:  Planning Ahead:  How can I obtain trip insurance?)