Would you pay $1000 to stay here for 5 nights?

[TylerM4]

Family cabin is getting to be a hardship cost-wise and I'm trying to find ways to help offset the cost. Annual cost between leasing fees, property taxes, water license fees, etc is approximately $4000/year and that's without any maintenance costs, etc.

Rustic cabin in the woods - 5 consecutive nights for $1000, additional nights for $125/night.

The good:
- Beautiful lakeshore lot and view.
- Very private and quiet.
- Great lake with clean water, can swim in it, great fishing, great for boating/kayaking, larger and more interesting than most mountain lakes.
- Cost would include rental of aluminum fishing boat, gas motor, electric motor, lifejackets, etc. Perhaps some basic fishing equipment as well.
- 2 bedrooms plus large living area with pull out couch, can sleep 8 easily. Suitable for 2 smaller families or 1 large.
- 1hr drive from Kelowna area.

The bad:
- Rustic cabin. Clean and bright, but also with some staining, old flooring, etc. Overall it's in decent shape but it's far from fancy.
- No services. Water is packed in or taken from the lake by the bucket. Bathroom is an outhouse, wood stove for heat, etc.
- No power but it does have a simple solar power setup to run cabin lights and 12V accessories.
- BBQ and Propane cooktop are only appliances - no oven or fridge.
- Not directly accessible via vehicle. Must walk 15min or take a quick 2 min boat ride, or follow a 15Km ATV trail. This is why boat rental would be included.
- Road up to parking area is a little rough. 4x4 not required but I wouldn't recommend bringing a regular car up (tho you do see cars there fairly regularly)


My gut instinct is that this wouldn't work. While I think people will really enjoy the location and privacy, I think the lack of services would scare many away. Perhaps if the price was cheaper - but I can't see charging much less as I would need to escort each group in (and probably out) of the location which means a fair amount of my time. Each rental would represent about a solid day's worth of work for me by the time it's all done.

BUT - I wanted to see what you folks thought. I'll try to get some pictures up later.

[JLives]

I think we should barter my consulting fee for a few nights in said cabin and I will post my report.

[Even Steven]

While it does sound appealing on some level to some people (me including), when I pay $200/night I'd expect certain level of comfort and luxury. So, negatory.

[TylerM4]

While it does sound appealing on some level to some people (me including), when I pay $200/night I'd expect certain level of comfort and luxury. So, negatory.

Thanks. Pretty much sums up my own thoughts as well.

[Bpeep]

If you want to stay somewhere rustic that's stained, has old flooring, no power and ya gotta pee in a bucket, and are willing to pay a thousand bucks for 5 days, come stay with me.
Ya get free wifi and I have 400 channels.

[Bsuds]

If you want to stay somewhere rustic that's stained, has old flooring, no power and ya gotta pee in a bucket, and are willing to pay a thousand bucks for 5 days, come stay with me.
Ya get free wifi and I have 400 channels.

Don't forget fishing in the pond just a few feet from your front door.

[LANDM]

The fact that your (OP) gut instinct is that it won't work tells it all. Of course it won't work!!
The only benefit is a roof over your head compared to a tent and packing marginally more stuff.

While the location and setting is probably beautiful, the people that would find the rustic part appealing would most likely not pay the price you are quoting.

Go with your gut and rethink or forget about it.

[mexi cali]

I think that maybe if he were to add some perks like a genny and maybe cleaned up some of the deficiencies folks might be more interested.

A water tank and a large propane delivery system would be great but he says that getting there is rough so maybe those type trucks couldn't get there.

The genny could power one of those electric toilets that compost errr, stuff, they cost about a G I think but are much more desirable and civilized than an out house.

I get the whole cost saving direction but with a few bucks spent now, maybe all of a sudden this place aint so bad?

I loves me some fishin early in the morning.

[WeatherWoman]

I can rent oceanfront with running water and comforts of home on Vancouver Island for less than that on the off season.

If you are looking at covering the cost for the cabin figure out a much lower price. How many weeks a year would it be available?

i would advertise it as a real back wood experience at a very affordable prize. Do some free or low cost adverts and see if you can get any bites.

[zookeeper]

Well I dunno, I could see a few parents sending their lazy spoiled teenagers for a week or so. You know, when I was your age....is it uphill both ways?