Suggestions for a summer rental in the NE, Alaska, Canada?

[WillyElliot]

Has anyone had the experience of renting a home for a month during the summer? I would like to be up north during the blistering summers here. I've thought about Alaska, Maine, and even Canada/Nova Scotia. Does anyone have any interesting ideas? All I need is internet, electricity and indoor plumbing and I'm fine. Close to the shore is a plus. TIA.

 

[Spun Silver]

I've rented a few similar lakefront places in Maine and NY State, though not for a whole month. One through Craigslist, one through VRBO, and I can't remember how I found the third. My advice is to ask a lot of Qs (don't take anything for granted), research the area well, and get a lot of pix from the owner. One of the places we rented was on a lake full of motorboats -- not the secluded, peaceful getaway we expected. One had a lower-level room with a door that opened directly into a hillside and was teeming with bugs! OMG, I never got over that one. Also that owner was constantly coming and going which is also not what we expected or wanted. The last one had no internet or phone reception, which isn't that rare in rural mountainous areas, but it caused some inconvenience. Also the electricity was very limited -- there were serious power outages and we were annoyed that the owner wouldn't give us a partial refund for that inconvenience. I'm not sure if I could have come up with screening questions that would have allowed me to rule out the bug room place, but I think I might have addressed most of the other issues. It's hard though, because the demand for vacation rentals is such that owners don't need to provide much info.

Overall I had a better experience renting "hotel rooms" at places whose rooms were actually private cabins. It wasn't as private but the gap between expectations and reality was less and the accountability was better. There was a lovely place like that on Schroon Lake in the NY Adirondacks but I can't remember the name (it's probably changed management since I was there anyway). Good luck!

 

[Garden Kitty]

Did you consider Lake Placid or other mountain towns in the Adirondacks? It's not by the ocean but it is in the mountains which are usually cooler. Depending on when you go, you might even catch the JGP.

 

[WillyElliot]

I'm sure Lake Placid is pricey. I just want to escape with my computer and piano and my DH and my baby dog. Is it cheaper in Canada, is really what I want to know. I could go two months in cooler to get me out of my summer life.

 

[Japanfan]

We enjoy this resort in British Columbia: https://www.google.ca/travel/hotels...tcfs=EhoaGAoKMjAxOS0wNS0xORIKMjAxOS0wNS0yMFIA

We rent one of the cabins that are right on the ocean (rocky beach). There is a cute town about a 20 minute drive away where you can get your supplies or go out for a meal.

I don't know if they offer long-term rental deals, but it's possible.

 

[aliceanne]

You are getting a late start looking for a summer rental. I found the Homeaway.com website helpful.

We rented this place in northern Nova Scotia. The hosts were wonderful.

http://www.fieldstonegarden.com/

 

[WillyElliot]

Thank you Aliceanne. That's probably what I want. And yes I know I'm off the timescale of renting for the summer since it's coming up, but I really just want a getaway, no noise, heat, an early dip in the ocean each morning... Let me read and compose on my piano. That would be heaven.