Ask Us Anything. Here Is Most Of It.

Twenty-five. Whoever books needs to be staying — we do not rent to someone booking on behalf of a group they are not part of.

Two nights. Most guests take three and wish they had taken four, but two works — particularly midweek.

Firm. The exact refund windows appear on your quote before you pay, so you will see them in full at the point of booking rather than having to hunt for them. If something serious comes up, talk to us.

Half when you book, and the balance four weeks before you arrive. If you book inside that four-week window, it is all taken at once. You will see the schedule on your quote before you pay anything.

No. Nothing is held against your card and there is no deposit to chase after you leave. We carry damage protection instead, which covers the ordinary accidents — a broken glass, a chipped plate. Tell us if something breaks and we will sort it out; we would far rather fix it than find it on changeover.

We are open April through November and closed December through March. The cottage sits at the waterline and is heated for shoulder season rather than deep winter, so we would rather shut than have you arrive cold.

Four at most. Two sleep comfortably in the queen bed, and the pull-out sofa in the living room adds one or two more — it suits smaller guests best. If there are four adults in your group, this is not the right cottage.

Six hundred and fifty-seven square feet. One bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen and a living room with windows on three sides. Small on purpose.

From every seat. The living room has lake-facing windows on three sides and a picture window over the water. The cottage sits at the waterline, so the view is the lake itself rather than a slope down to it.

A window air conditioning unit for summer, and an electric fireplace plus a space heater for the cooler end of the season. It is a cottage rather than a winterised house, which is why we close from December through March.

Enough to cook properly. An electric range and oven, a full-size refrigerator, a microwave, a Keurig with coffee left for you, and the basics you would rather not buy — oil, salt, pepper. There is no dishwasher, so plan on washing up by hand.

No washer or dryer at the cottage. For a two- or three-night stay it rarely comes up, but it is worth knowing before you pack light.

Yes — up to two, with prior approval. Tell us the breed and rough weight when you book. There is a pet fee, which appears in your quote before you pay.

The cottage side of the grounds, the shore and the dock. The big house next door is pet-free, so we ask that dogs stay on our side of the line — and that you clean up after them on the beach and the dock.

No. Dogs are not left unattended here — not because we doubt yours, but because a strange room and a strange lake make even settled dogs uneasy. If your day needs a few hours without them, tell us and we will point you at someone local.

Yes, at their own risk like everyone else. The bottom is shale, so water shoes are worth packing for you — and worth checking their pads after a long swim.

The dock runs to the porch. You walk out the door onto the deck, and the deck meets the dock. There is no lawn to cross and no road between you and the lake.

Yes. There is about ten feet of water at the end of the dock, and a ladder to get back out. There is no lifeguard and no shallow end — you swim at your own risk, and we ask that you keep an eye on anyone who is not a confident swimmer. The bottom is shale, so pack water shoes.

Included, at no extra charge. Two kayaks and two paddleboards, launched straight from the dock.

Around ten feet at the end.

Yes — a wide assortment, including child sizes. Tell us who is coming and we will make sure the right ones are out.

Yes, under twenty-two feet. There is a fee and a short waiver, and you bring your own lines and bumpers. Mention it when you book so we can get the dock ready.

On the east shore of Seneca Lake, just outside Burdett in Schuyler County — a few minutes north of Watkins Glen. We send the full address and driving directions with your booking confirmation rather than publishing them, which keeps the place quiet for whoever is staying.

Check in from 3 PM. Check out by 10 AM.

A smart lock on the door. We send your code before you arrive, so there is no key to collect and nobody to meet — come and go as you like.

Sometimes. It depends entirely on whether anyone is in the night before or the night after, and on how long the changeover takes. Ask us close to the date and we will tell you straight.

About thirty steps, in two runs: ten from the parking area down to the driveway, then twenty more down to the beach and the cottage. They are the reason the cottage sits where it does — closer to the water than anything you could drive up to. You will carry the groceries down and the bags back up. If that trade sounds right, it is the right cottage.

No, and we would rather say so plainly. The only way in is down about thirty steps, and there is no alternative route. Our other property next door sits on the same bluff and is reached the same way, so it is not a solution either. If steps are genuinely difficult for anyone coming, neither of our places will work, and we would rather tell you that now than have you find out on arrival.

There is room for two cars at the top, and the stairs start from there. Worth knowing if you are travelling in more than one vehicle.

Ten at night until eight in the morning. Sound travels further over water than people expect, and our neighbours are our family.

No. No parties, no events, and no headcount beyond what is on the booking. The cottage is built for a quiet stay and that is what we protect.

Not indoors and not on the deck.

You are booking with us rather than through a marketplace, so there is no booking fee and no service fee on top of your total. Your payment is handled by our reservation system on a secure page, and your questions come to us directly instead of through a messaging platform.

Your card details are entered on our reservation system’s own secure payment page, not on this website. We never see or store your card number.

Ben and Sarah Hoadley. We own the cottage and the house next door, and we answer our own messages.