FAQs

If this list doesn't include your question, just ask!  We'll be happy to answer it, and who knows -- maybe it will end up this list too! 

Do I have to bring my own bedding/sleeping bags/pillows?

No, bedding is provided for all beds in our cabins, including clean sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillows. Exception: If you plan on using the Pack-and-Play crib, you will want to bring bedding suitable for your baby's age and size.

What cooking/eating utensils will I need?

Our cabins are provided with all ordinary cooking equipment, including pans, cutlery, dishware, and grilling tools. Unless you have a specific and unusual requirement, you should not need to bring anything to cook with.

Do you provide gas for the grill?

If your cabin is equipped with a gas grill a propane canisters is provided, and can be filled at the Ace Hardware Store in Glennie. If the propane tank is full, you are welcome to use it!

Do you provide charcoal for the grill or campfire pit?

No, we do not provide charcoal or lighter fluid for liability reasons. You would need to bring charcoal and/or lighter fluid with you. Check the description of each cabin to see which ones have a charcoal grill in addition to or in place of a gas grill.

Do you provide wood for the fireplace or campfire pit?

No, however firewood can be purchased in town at the Glennie Grocery Store or you may bring firewood with you if you choose.

Where can I fish, and what licenses do I need?

North Lake, Vaughn Lake, Hunters Lake and the Au Sable River offer excellent fishing conditions! You will need to have a Michigan fishing license, but no worries if you don't have one! Licenses can be purchased at the Glennie Ace Hardware store. You will have to provide your own fishing equipment.

Will my cellphone work in your cabin?

Cell phone service is available in the area, but Verizon is the best carrier in the area.

Are there any limits on Internet usage?

We do not actively throttle or block any particular websites or Internet protocols. Our Internet connections can be used to stream Netflix and hold Skype conversations. However, please bear in mind that our properties are up north, and Internet connection speed and reliability cannot be guaranteed. In the event of any problems, please contact us and we will work with the provider to get the issue resolved as quickly as possible.

Do I have to clean up after myself?

We do not expect you to do your own laundry; you didn't go on vacation to clean house, after all! However, we do ask for guests to wash all dirty dishes and remove garbage from the home and place in the trash bins located outside. At Big Buck Lodge, we ask that guests dispose of the garbage at the Glennie Party Store for a small fee as garbage service is not available.

Will I be hit with charges for consumables or minor damages?

We expect a certain amount of wear and tear, as well as consumption of products. We expect you to use the toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc., and there will be no charge. We also understand that light bulbs blow, plates break, and there may be the occasional scratch on the wall. We charge only for unreasonable damage or missing items that can't be considered normal usage – lost towels, torn sheets, mud-ruined comforters, a hole bashed in the wall, a whole case of paper towels vanished, that sort of significant and unusual thing.

Can some of my party camp out on the lawn in a tent?

Yes, for a reduced additional fee. We know tenters don't create laundry, but they do use the other utilities and can cause repairs to be needed to the lawn.

What do I do for food?

You will need to provide your own food if you want to cook; the Rogers IGA Grocery Store in Glennie has a large grocery section. There are also bars/restaurants in town: Glennie Tavern and in the summer, Eagle Ridge Golf Course.

Can I check in early/check out later?

Possibly, depending on when the next guest will be arriving, but you need to specifically ask and receive an answer beforehand. You must ask within 1 week of your arrival, and at least 24 hours ahead of the extra time you want.

If there is a guest arriving/departing on the same day, no early/late check is possible.

If there is no other arrival or departure, we usually permit up to 2 extra hours. Beyond that requires payment of an additional fee. Taking early/late checkout without arranging it with us beforehand and obtaining written permission, will incur a sizable additional fee.

Please note: early check-in and late check-out may be rescinded later on if a different group reserves the nights immediately before or after your booking. If that happens, we will contact you and let you know that your early check-in or late check-out is no longer possible. While rare, this does happen from time to time, so please be aware of the possibility. If you wish to lock in your early check-in or late check-out, we offer an "All Day" check-in and check-out option, for a fee, that blocks off the preceding or following nights so that others cannot book that time. Please let us know if you wish to have this option.

Can I bring my pet?

You may bring your pet to Big Buck Lodge only. There is an additional cost per pet that you see under the Rates section of the cabin. Please note that this is a pet rent fee, not a cleaning fee; you may still be charged an excess cleaning fee if your pet leaves a mess.

I want to have family over for dinner, do I have to pay extra?

The extra-guest charges are for guests staying overnight. You do not have to pay to have people visit for the day as long as they do not stay the night.

Do your cabins allow smoking?

Smoking is strictly forbidden inside all of our cabins. However, you are perfectly free to smoke in the beautiful great outdoors surrounding each cabin. Please use good sense and courtesy regarding your ashes, butts, or other potentially hazardous materials.

When will the fall foliage be the prettiest?

Well, it kind of depends on the weather, and you know how reliable that is. But colors begin to change typically early to mid-October. But regardless of the time of year, there will always be beautiful leaves to look at - evergreens if nothing else. :-)

Do you have hiking trails?

Most of our properties aren't large enough to have official hiking trails marked on them, although many of them have pleasant woods that you can walk in.

What is your cancellation policy?

When you rent a property from The Heart of Glennie Vacations, the entire property is reserved for your exclusive use, and so it is unavailable for anyone else to rent. A cancellation usually means that nobody will be able to stay at the property for that time, because most people plan their vacations in advance. Therefore, we do not encourage cancellations. Please see each listing for the applicable cancellation policy.

We highly recommend buying travel insurance - either standard or CFAR (cancel for any reason) - when booking a vacation rental cabin.  Needing to cancel or move dates is extremely common and it greatly helps to have travel insurance if the unforeseen happens.  We sell travel insurance directly through our software and can provide you links to buy it with your booking.  Please contact us about this if you have questions.  It typically costs about 7% for standard and about 9% for CFAR.

How do I get into the cabin I rented?

About a week before your scheduled arrival, we send you an email with directions and an access code to a key-less entry at the door of the cabin. This way, you can arrive however late suits your schedule and you don't have to worry about meeting anyone in person. If you have multiple cars coming, you can give everybody the code, and whoever gets there first can unlock the door and get in.

If for some reason you don't receive this email, check your SPAM folder or write us to have it re-sent to you.

What if my guest numbers change after I make a booking?

No problem! You can simply change your guest numbers up or down by letting us know, and we'll adjust the charges accordingly.

Please note that we cannot allow reduction of guest numbers within 2 weeks of arrival , because we've already started stocking and preparing for the numbers you gave us. We may, however, still be able to increase guest numbers right up to arrival. Please contact us for confirmation.

Who counts as children?

When counting guests at our cabins, children are defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This includes infants but does not include those yet unborn.

Do you accept service animals?

Any of our properties which accept pets can also accommodate service animals by prior arrangement, for which there will be an additional cleaning charge. Documented, government-issued proof of service animal status is required.

Can I park my bus/RV at the cabin?

You are welcome to park any vehicle that you can make fit. However, our cabins are designed as private residences and not as commercial parking lots. You will generally have a very difficult if not impossible time squeezing very large vehicles into the driveways, and of course you would be liable to any damages to the property or grounds.

Basically, if it's larger than a 15-passenger van - don't count on it.