How To Be the Cottage Guest Everyone Wants To Invite Back
(Photo: Getty)
Whether you’re heading away for the long weekend or spending a week dockside, being a great cottage guest comes down to more than just showing up with a swimsuit and sunscreen.
We asked Andrea Buckett, celebrity chef and best-selling author of The Essential Cottage Cookbook, to share the cottage etiquette rules she swears by.
Cue Ilya Rozanov’s “I'm coming to the cottage.”
Think beyond the obligatory bottle of wine
There’s nothing wrong with showing up with a chilled bottle of rosé, but if you're aiming to reach dream-guest status, Buckett says to think about the entire weekend—not just your arrival.
The best host gifts are the ones everyone can enjoy together. Think your favourite coffee beans for slow mornings lakeside, ingredients for a big-batch cocktail for happy hour, a batch of homemade cookies or even a bundle of firewood.
If you want bonus points? Grab a gift card to a local bakery or even the marina (the boat doesn't drive on fumes).
Pack for yourself... and your host
Being a thoughtful guest starts before you even pull into the driveway. Buckett recommends bringing your own beach towel and pillow whenever possible, sparing your host from an extra mountain of laundry once the weekend wraps up. Pack the drinks you'll want for the weekend (sharing is caring) and toss in a few fancy snacks.
And don't underestimate the power of a new game. Whether it's a deck of cards, a lawn game or something to keep the kids entertained, you'll quickly become the MVP if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Remember: It’s a cottage, not a resort
The biggest etiquette red flag? Acting like you've checked into one.
"A cottage is usually a group activity," says Buckett. "Be willing to be flexible and get involved in what’s happening around you."
Translation? If you drink the last cup of coffee, make another pot. If dinner’s over, start clearing the table. (Seriously, don’t make us call your mother.)
Buckett also suggests asking a few practical questions: Where's the broom? Where can I empty the garbage or recycling? How are meals going to work this weekend? Knowing the cottage’s little routines makes it much easier to naturally jump in and feels more like a collective effort.
That said, every host is different. If yours genuinely loves cooking every meal or insists on doing the clean up themselves (or as Buckett likes to call it, being a "super host"), don’t turn trying to help into another chore they need to deal with.
Instead, Buckett has a solution: “Find yourself a good book and an empty hammock.”
Leave it better than you found it
Long after the last s’more has been toasted, your host will remember how you left the cottage. Before packing up the car, quietly tackle a few final tasks: Run the last load of dishes, stack the firewood or haul the water toys back from the dock.
Buckett's philosophy is foolproof: Leave the cottage exactly as you found it...or even better!
And if you want to seal the deal and guarantee another invitation? Leave a personal, handwritten thank-you note on your bedside table. It's a small gesture but one your host will likely remember long after the long weekend ends.
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Sarah Bauly is the assistant editor at Chatelaine. Outside of writing, she can often be found getting lost in her favourite ’80s hits, lingering in bookshops or exploring the city in search of her next go-to coffee spot.
