Frequently Asked Questions
Reservation Questions
Question: I do not understand your Rate Structure....will I be sharing the cabin with strangers?
Answer: No, you will not be sharing the cabin with strangers. We only rent to "One" family or party at a time this is not a shared house rate like a Bed and Breakfast. We only close off the bedrooms that are not ordered the rest of the cabin is open for full use.
Question: My budget is tight, can I order a sofa bed instead of an extra bedroom?
Answer: Yes, the sofa bed in the loft can be ordered as an additional bedroom, the cleaning and laundry fee is calculated into the rate.
Question: What if I book a reservation on line and change my mind a few moments later?
Question: We have 15 People.. why can't you make an exception for a few more?
Answer: Vacation homes on Orcas Island are governed by a San Juan County Vacation Rental Permit. Owner's have to go through a very strict permitting process to have our homes approved for rental. San Juan County sets the occupancy limits this is not something an owner has any control over. When a guest asks us to just accept a few more people you are asking us to break the law and would be putting our permit in jeopardy.
Question: We have friends & family staying on Orcas Island can we invite them over for a BBQ or to watch a Movie?
Answer: It depends on the number of friends or family members you would like to invite and the number of people in your party. The maximum occupancy is 10 over night guests plus two day visitors for a total of 12 people on the premises at all times. What if we are a party of six over night guests can we then invite six day guests instead of just two visitors ? No, even if a you have not exceeded our maximum occupancy the limitation on day guest visitors is still a maximum of two visitors.
Question: Why do you charge $10.00 for each Day Guest Visitor?
Answer: Vacation homes are an alternative to a hotel, motel or Bed and Breakfast Inn which all fall under the classification of Lodging. Therefore, our vacation home is intended to be used specifically for lodging not for the purpose of hosting a gathering. Every extra person adds wear and tear plus the added expense of trash removal and the risk of damage. By charging a $10.00 day guest visitor fee we are within the guidelines of our permit as only paying guests are suppose to be on the premises. What if I have different visitors coming on different days do I need to pay for more day guest visitors ? Yes, if different people will be visiting on different days you will need to order additional day guest visitor passes.
Question: What is the Guest Service Fee?
Answer: The guest service fee is not just cleaning this is a combination of fees; cleaning and laundry, preparing the cabin for arrival, includes blowing off the walkways and deck areas, verification of kitchen and linen inventory, checking the internet connection and testing all televisions to insure they are all working properly. This fee also includes the caretakers time for arrival and departure inspections, hot tub cleaning, trash removal and fireplace cleaning. Removal of trash is a time consuming activity as all trash has to be collected by our caretaker and driven over to the disposal center which is only open three days a week. All trash has to be weighted and if recycle is not done properly it will require hand sorting.
Answer: If you are not sure of the number of guests or the number of bedrooms you will require we recommend starting with a limited number and just adding more bedrooms or sofa beds when your headcount is better solidify. No deletions can be made to a confirmed reservation only additions up until 7 days before arrival. Our policy allows up to two changes to the reservation without charge or up until the final confirmation details have been sent out.
Question: It will just be the Two of us... can you waive the cleaning fee if we do the laundry and cleaning ourselves?
Answer: No, the cleaning fee cannot be waived as cleaning is very subjective; what may seem clean to one person may be totally unacceptable to someone else. We have spent years developing a detailed check-list for our housekeeper to use along with specific chemicals that are not available for guests use. We also do not just wash and toss wrinkled linens back on the beds. All of our linens are professionally steam pressed off premises and bath towels washed in small batches to insure the Timber Lodge custom logo emblem is not damaged due to bleach or threads pulled during a washing cycle.
General Location Questions
Question: Where is Timber Lodge located and How Far are you From......?
Answer: We are asked all the time where we are located and the approximate distance to town and the nearest grocery store. If you can visualize a horseshoe this is the shape of Orcas Island. The ferry terminal is located on the left bottom inner side of the horseshoe. If you travel to the center of horseshoe this is Eastsound where you will find the grocery store (Island Market), head around the inner side going south. Timber Lodge is about 25 minutes from the Ferry Terminal, approximately 3.5 miles to the grocery store and walking distance to Moran State park (about a mile).
Question: How far are you from the Beach?
Answer: The lodge is not within walking distance to a beach distance is approximately 3 miles to Cresent Beach Road.
Questions about the Cabin
Question: Do cell phones work at the cabin?
Answer: It depends on the cell phone carrier you are using. With AT&T, Verizon, and Tmobile we get limited coverage in the kitchen and dining area one - two bars. However, it is important for guests to know that cell phone coverage comes from Roger's wireless which is a Canada wireless carrier so phone calls are considered to be International calls.
Question: Is the yard fenced and if there a Play Area for the Children?
Answer: Yes, the lodge has deer fencing, however the grounds are no suited for bicycle riding or for playing ball games as the grounds are on a fairly steep incline. We have a path with steps to a picnic area below the home which has a horse shoe pit and picnic table.
Question: In winter months can my children play in the Tipi?
Answer: The Tipi is off limits to guests from the end of September through the end of April. We have the steps leading to the Tipi roped off as well as the doorway leading into the tipi locked. The reason the Tipi is closed off is because of water damage to the Tipi caused by guests leaving the door flap wide open and children pulling on the ropes that hold the rain cloth at the top of the Tipi on. Guests should keep in mind that the Tipi is not a play room it has been designed as a 5th bedroom for use during summer months.
Question: Does the Cabin have a Generator?
Answer: No, the cabin does not have a generator as we have not had enough power outages to justify the expense.
Question: Do I need to bring my own Movies for the Home Theater Room?
Answer: Yes, guests will need to bring their own movies, both Blu-Ray as well as standard DVD's will work on the projection system.
Question: Can we arrange for Pay Per View?
Answer: Yes, we are now able to offer this service to our guests with at least 48 hours notice and a nominal fee for the administration time to set this up and cover the cost to process the transaction.
Question: Why is the water flow restricted?
Answer: Keep in mind that you are on an island and water is a precious resource. Our water comes from the Orcas Highlands community water storage tank so water needs to be shared with the community and therefore consumption is critical. Therefore, we have low flow toilets and have set the dishwasher to conservation mode. The water flow coming into the cabin has been restricted to conserve water therefore, with larger size parties we recommend staggering showering.
Question: We just arrived and stocked the refrigerator but it does not seem to be cooling?
Answer: When you are at home your refrigerated already has foods that are chilled that act to absorb a certain amount of the heat from warmer foods being placed in the refrigerator. When there is no food in the refrigerator it can take up to 24 hours to reach the proper cooling temperature. This may cause you to think that the refrigerator is not working properly when it actually is. It is important not to adjust the cooling setting to the highest level as this could actually cause the refrigerator to freeze up and fail to operate. Be sure to keep the refrigerator doors closed as the freezer and fresh food compartment will warm up when doors are open and continual opening of the doors will delay the cooling process. We suggest turning the fresh food knob one setting colder (this will allow more cold air to flow into the refrigerator compartment). Allow 24 hours between adjustments. If the temperature is still not cool enough adjust the freezer knob one setting colder (this will allow the compressor to run slightly longer providing lower temperatures.
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