From grandkids to grandparents and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins in between, many families travel together and this often includes multiple generations.
Many memories made on trips like this, and group travel is often more economical. It does, however, require some extra planning, boundary setting, and communication.
If you’re looking to book a cottage rental for your next family getaway, the first thing you need to consider is the area that you want to visit. Once that’s decided, your next challenge is finding accommodation that can cover the varying needs and interests of your larger group.
Here are some suggestions to help you find the perfect rental for your next large, multi-generational family vacation.
Set a budget together
You need to get everyone on the same page when it comes to the budget. While some may be happy to have more rustic accommodations, others may prefer a more luxurious trip. Plus, not everyone wants to (or can) spend unlimited amounts of money for a vacation home. Before booking, try to determine a price range to look within when using a site to search properties. Be sure to set a maximum limit to avoid disappointment or surprises.
Remind everyone in your group that there may be fees for cleaning or supplies that are not included in the rental price (look carefully at your booking site). This is also a good time to consider opportunities to share the cost of food.
Location, location, location
When choosing a location, you not only need to consider your budget, but also that property’s distance from where your group lives. Can everyone get there easily, and how isolated or accessible is the property? Will it be easy to get diapers if someone runs out? If there are health concerns in your group, is there a nearby hospital?
Determine what activities are a priority
When you have grandparents and babies— plus every age in between—finding a place with activities or space that accommodates everyone may not be easy. You’ll want to figure out if there are activities that require you to leave the property to enjoy. For example, travelling to the nearest beach will mean packing everyone up for the day. Conversely, if there is plenty to do on-site, you just need to show up and unpack.
You may find locations with a communal sports area or a private playground for the kids. Additional things to look for your rental to include could be board games or gaming tables, such as air hockey or ping pong.
If you are renting a place with a pool, it is recommended that you have family rules not just for the kids to follow (such as no swimming if there aren’t adults around), but also for the adults. Rotate adults as lifeguards to be within arms reach and help ensure the kids are being watched. Review the property’s pool area for safety.
Maximize the space and sleeping arrangements
Many of us have stories about when we were kids, sleeping together on the floor or small cots with cousins or siblings when we were on vacation. However, you will need to not only abide by the maximum occupancy numbers in your rental agreement, but also figure out the comfort level for your group. Those with babies will need a quiet space for naps and bedtime, while teens may want to stay up later even when the younger (and older) relatives have gone to bed.
Larger outdoor and indoor areas offer adults (and older kids) more quiet spaces to read or take time away from the entire group.
Find a space that is comfortable for everyone. Sharing rooms for the kids may seem like no big deal, but adults will likely prefer to have their own rooms. The same may go for bathrooms. Is one bathroom enough for your family of 13? If not, maybe filter your search to include rental properties with two or more bathrooms.
Making memories with your extended family is precious, but it does take some extra planning to get it right so that everyone leaves with happy memories, not sour ones.
Not sure where to begin? Check out these properties:
Finding a family-friendly rental that meets all of your needs can be tough. You need a place that can keep the kids entertained, while also letting the adults get some much-needed R&R. These family-friendly cottage rentals offer an abundance of both.
From water toys to high chairs to swingsets, these cottage rentals tick all the boxes. The most taxing part of the trip will be deciding whether to book a mountain retreat, a place to lounge dockside, or somewhere offering outdoor adventures.
Either way, these rentals are sure to satisfy guests of all ages.
Nestled on Sproat Lake, this cottage rental offers a wade-in beach and a 1,200-sq.-ft. dock perfect for swimming. Take advantage of the pool table and foosball in the games room.
“Stunning home and property! In spite of a rainy, cool weekend we had an incredible family get-together! The house, entertainment area, and yard exceeded our expectations! So much to do for all ages!” wrote Warren and Donna P. in their review of the Stirling Arm Lakehouse.
With seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, this cottage rental feels like you’re staying in your own private lodge. Located on the shores of the Somass River on Vancouver Island, kids can fish and swim, or take a dip in the heated, in-ground pool.
“Lovely private getaway for a family retreat,” wrote Christina M. about the West Coast River Lodge.
Only one hour from Toronto, this cottage rental offers a slice of paradise on Lake Simcoe. Take advantage of the local restaurants, boat rentals, and 18-hole golf course, all within a 10-minute-walk.
“We had a great time at the lake house. We were there with our family of six, kids aged 3 to 10, and two dogs. It was relaxing and comfortable,” wrote Dina K. about Big Bay Point Cottage.
Surrounded by 2.6 acres of a secluded forest, this vacation rental is a great spot for kids to explore and adults to relax. Have a campfire under the stars, head to nearby Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course, or explore Arrowhead Provincial Park.
“It’s a very nice place to stay with family. It’s clean and has everything you need. There are lots of lovely trails around. The host is very considerate and lovely,” wrote Shena X. in her review of Forestview Cottage.
Retaining its historic charm with modern comforts, this cottage rental is perched on a two-acre lot that is big enough for yard games, bonfires, and even a round of baseball. Plus it’s a short trip to nearby Cavendish Beach.
“We had a wonderful stay. Four adults and three kids slept comfortably, and everything you could want to do is very easily accessible from the house,” wrote Janet B. about Tenmile House Cottage.
This luxurious Muskoka cottage is located on a private island in the middle of Gloucester Pool Lake and is accessible by bridge. It has cathedral ceilings, a games room for the kids, and 180 feet of pristine waterfront.
“Rick’s place was just amazing. It’s in a sublime location and the property was perfect for our group. There were plenty of opportunities to relax, have fun on the water, and enjoy the great outdoors,” wrote Christine J. about her stay at Gloucester Pool Cottage.
With a view of the iconic Whistler ski hills, this vacation rental is a secluded mountain retreat. Enjoy the vaulted ceilings, wraparound deck, and outdoor hot tub, or take the family into Whistler Village to check out the local shops and restaurants.
“The house was perfect for our group of nine. It was well equipped, roomy, and the views were even better than the description,” wrote Madeline W. about Nighthawk Lane Cottage.
Retreat to this mountain lodge for your next family gathering. The rental features 10 bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. There is a billiards room and hot tub for downtime with the family.
“It was a blast. Our family enjoyed our stay at this property. The staff were friendly and willing to help, and the place’s soundproofing made it a great place for the kids to sleep without having them wake up one another. Everything was well stocked and there were plenty of rooms to share,” wrote James C. in his review of Lorimer Ridge Lodge.
This open-concept cottage is perched on the shores of Lake Muskoka amongst 150-year-old pine trees. The cottage features a playscape for kids, a massive dock for swimming, and a horseshoe pit in case the family gets competitive.
“The cottage is beautiful with tons of space! Waking up early to see the sunrise was worth it. The lake was really nice. Barbecuing while the sun sets was also a joy. They have a little playground that my son enjoyed,” wrote Ray N. about Lake Muskoka Cottage.
Location: Gravenhurst, Ont.
Price: Averages $275 per night
Sleeps: 7
Bedrooms: 4
Notes:
Waterfront property
Internet included
Laundry on site
Playscape and swingset available for kids
Outdoor fire pit
Guest fee of $65 per night for each extra adult after the first two renters
This pet-friendly cottage rental comes with all the boats you need to explore Oxtongue Lake. Kids can play in the shallow shoreline or relax in the property’s hammock. And if you’re looking for a family adventure, Algonquin Provincial Park is only minutes away.
“My family and I enjoyed a great week at Freddie’s. Our grandchildren loved the beach and spent many hours playing in the water. The adults enjoyed using the paddle boards and kayaks to explore the lake. The cottage is stocked with everything you need and Will is a great host,” wrote Jim V. in his review of Oxtongue Lake Cottage.
In the premiere episode of the Cottage Life Podcast Season 3, we’ll listen to an essay about the summer secret that keeps David Macfarlane coming back to the cottage each year. (Hint: it involves buried treasure). Listen here or visit cottagelife.com for access to all of the episodes.
The invitation to Mr. Thomson’s treasure hunt was waiting for us when we arrived at the cottage. We had no idea what to make of it.
We were not, to put it mildly, cottage types. Our biggest problem was that the rocky island in Georgian Bay where we were spending our first family summer holiday had not exactly been child-proofed. The shoreline fell steeply to deep water. The paths across the island—steering a route between ankle-snapping drops and patches of poison ivy—were a little vague. Certainly, more vague than the downtown sidewalks to which our two young children, ages six and three, were accustomed.
I was the one who had arranged to rent a cottage in a sleepy inlet, to the north of Parry Sound. My wife was surprised when I told her, but unruffled in the way wives are when they think they can easily undo a husband’s silliness. I had not mentioned the deposit. “What’s it like?” she asked.
I listed its attractions: on an island, no hydro, no running water, no telephone.
“Have you completely lost your mind?”
And for the first two days, as the rain fell, and as the fire sputtered and smoked, and as we continued to shout impatiently at the children to put on their lifejackets, it appeared as if I had—lost my mind. What had I been thinking? Well, actually, I had been thinking of my childhood summers—of a few magical holidays at a cottage that my parents had rented when I was young. I wanted our children to have the same kind of experience. But after the second day of calamine lotion, damp towels, and Crazy-Eights, I began to think that nostalgia was not an entirely useful tool for the planning of family holidays.
Everything changed, however, on the third day—the day of Mr. Thomson’s treasure hunt. The sun came out, for one thing. We peered at a view that had been largely shrouded by mist and rain, and realized that we were in an astonishingly beautiful place. By early afternoon, we were heading carefully to Mr. Thomson’s, by canoe.
Mr. Thomson, a cordial gentleman of about 70, greeted us warmly on his dock. He and his two equally gracious brothers share a lovely old cottage on a windswept point and have summered on the inlet all their lives. In the six summers we have returned since, I have never quite sorted out the complex ties of blood and marriage by which the family is related to almost everyone else in the inlet.
Mr. Thomson—a man of infinite patience and with the ability to communicate directly and magically with children—explained to the young people how the treasure hunt worked. Most of them already knew: Teams of three or four were each given a compass, a list of bearings, and a quick lesson in orienteering, and, if they followed their readings carefully, they would eventually discover the treasure—a peach pit. This was to be returned to the Thomson’s cottage, and exchanged for candy bars.
The courses varied in difficulty. The most advanced involved heading off across the water. My wife and I watched with trepidation as our six-year-old daughter waved bravely from the bow of a departing rowboat. “Just untying the apron stings a little,” Mr. Thomson said to my wife.
Our son was with a much more junior team—pursuing a land-bound course behind the cottage. Mr. Thomson and I followed them and, near the end of their quest, he said something that I still take to be the great secret of summer and which, more than anything, is the reason we return to the inlet year after year.
I had spotted the little cairn of stones where the peach pit was hidden. I had absent-mindedly started moving towards it while the kids were still crouched over their compass. Mr. Thomson placed his hand on my arm, holding me back. “Always,” he said solemnly, “let the children discover the treasure.”
