697 Cottage Grove Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002

SHORT TERM RENTALS ONLY- Our hidden eco vintage cottage perched above a brook is available for short term rentals whether you're looking for a relaxing getaway for a few days or needing to rent for several weeks. Lovingly renovated to honor it's 1930s roots with a mission to become a sustainable eco-friendly property, it is fully furnished and equipped with all the amenities one could want for a relaxing stay. It has one bedroom and a sleeper-sofa in the living room- ideal for 2 people but could sleep up to 4. Private and cozy, our guest house shares our driveway but otherwise is in a world of its own and features a private deck sitting over the water as well as a screened-in portion to be able to sit in the quiet outdoors. Our property is very quiet but right near all the major needs like groceries and shopping as well as quick access to highways. Just 12 mins into downtown Hartford, 5 mins to University of Hartford, and 15 minutes to West Hartford Center. We live on the property across the main bridge in the island house. Guests are welcome to inquire about our pets policies (please note, we cannot accommodate cats). We use our guesthouse when our family and friends visit and as we are a short term rental, we do have other reservations through other platforms on the calendar. Please send us the dates you are looking to stay when inquiring and whether your dates are flexible or not and we will do our best to let you know availability and pricing for those dates. Please note pricing is dependent on dates and length of stay as well as pets and we will send you a corrected quote once we have all the pertinent info. We offer SHORT TERM RENTALS ONLY as the guest house is also used when our family stays with us from out of state. Please contact us with the dates you are looking to stay/length of stay requested, whether those dates are flexible, how many people, pet details, how many vehicles and we will send back a quote and more info on the property rules and availability. Guests staying 1 month or more will be billed for their utilities separately- we will send an invoice/bill copies. Less than one month stays, utilities will be rolled into the pricing. An additional cleaning fee of $106 will be charged for all stays of up to 3 weeks. Stays longer than 3 weeks have a $180 cleaning fee. Laundry is available onsite. There is NO SMOKING of cigarettes at all allowed on the property. Please review all property rules posted below to make sure you can accommodate them. Guests will be asked to sign contracts agreeing to rules, short term lease, provide copies of identification, and may be required to carry renters insurance. Guests may opt to book through a vacation rental platform like airbnb if they would rather not have to do as much paperwork. Rules: Fire Safety + No Smoking There is absolutely no smoking allowed on the property- neither inside nor outside. The property is basically a hillside of kindling so anything that creates a "butt" is prohibited. Medicinal marijuana is allowed in forms that do not produce butts and ash must be responsibly disposed of- no dumping of ash over railings or on the deck. If you vape, you may use pens outside only. Absolutely no vaping in the house. There is also no open flames allowed in the house. If you use the citronella candle outside on the deck, please keep it centered on the table and not set close to the house or screens. We prefer you use the flameless lantern for bug repellent outside provided under the kitchen sink. If you are seen smoking cigarettes (anything that creates a butt) anywhere within the premises or vaping or smoking in the house, you will be asked to leave without a refund. This is a major safety issue so we take it seriously. There is a commercial parking lot near by or a neighborhood behind us where smokers could take a walk and use the paved parking lots. If you smoke in your vehicle, butts and ash must stay in your vehicle. Guests must follow the instructions provided in the house manual for using the fireplace insert when making a fire- it is not the same as making a fire in an open fireplace so please use the directions provided. Please practice fire safety. Incorrect use could damage the unit and guests may be charged should they crack or damage the fireplace insert. 1 bundle of firewood is provided for guests from the months of October until it is warmer around the end of March. It is a heat producing insert and should guests opt to make a fire in the warmer weather, they must use properly dried firewood (one can usually find at Lowe's down the street). Fire extinguisher is under kitchen sink in case of emergency. In case of emergency, call 911. No bon fires. No parties or events. Don't Be Wasteful Here at Otter Falls Inn we ask guests to join us during their stay on a mission to be eco-conscious. This can mean many different things! Maybe it means you remember to say no plastic utensils when you order take out or use one of the reusable straws we provide instead of a plastic one. That's awesome! Most importantly, to help the cottage operate within its' minimal footprint, here are the key things we ask guests to do: -Turn off any lights in areas you are not actively using. -Don't leave deck lights plugged in over night or all day when not in use. -Keep windows and doors closed if using heating or cooling. Turn off AC in a room that is not being used (ex- turn off AC in livingroom when going to sleep in bedroom) -Be conscious of your trash production. The key is to reduce as this area does not have it's own trash plant. For recycling, please rinse and place in recycle bin by carport- do not put recyclables in a plastic bag (paper only). Please consider limiting your trash and recycling when shopping by products with limited packaging. See sign in kitchen or in the guidebook if unsure what can be recycled. Trash and recycling should be placed in bins by carport at check out. Remove Shoes Because we have a dirt/gravel driveway, please remove your shoes upon entering the cottage. We provide slippers for your comfort! There is a green vase on front stoop for wet umbrellas. We provide umbrellas you can borrow. No Entering our Yard without Permission Do not open the gate at the end of the bridge which is where our yard on the island starts or enter our yard without permission. Our rescue pooch is a senior citizen who is partially blind and not good with strangers so for safety, please do not enter our yard without us knowing so we know grumpy is snoozing in the house and not outside. The rental consists only of the cottage and it's deck- it does not have a traditional yard. Please use the black washcloths in the bathroom for removing makeup. Please don't take or break items in the home. Accidents happen- if something breaks, please let us know what or leave it behind should it be something that can be repaired. This is part of a reduce and reuse effort. Guests must do their dishes, take out their trash, take any food items, and leave the house tidy upon check out. Laundry is available to guests staying longer than 5 nights. There is a noise ordinance in the area so there is a quiet outside after 10pm policy. Protect Nature + Be Respectful No littering. Please follow guidelines to dispose of trash, recycling, and compost. We seek to find ways to travel and host while minimizing our environmental impact which includes efforts to limit waste. Part of being in nature, is wildlife. Please don't hunt, kill, chase, yell at or throw things at animals- big and small. Fishing and hunting are not allowed. Most of the wildlife here is innocuous but there are some larger, dangerous creatures. It's CT so also please be careful of small, dangerous creature like ticks and mosquitos. Bring bug spray on hikes and always check for ticks after being in wooded areas. There are some creatures you should be careful of. The 2 we have seen are bob cats and a black bear. These are very common animals for this area. We very rarely see a bear but they are prevalent in this part of CT, so please don't leave food outside over night or in your car. Just steer clear of either should you see them outside and appreciate their beauty from afar. As part of the practice of respecting the eco-system we are a part of here, we try not to kill even the smallest creatures like spiders or dragonflies which are hugely helpful in pest control of flies and mosquitos. Trap and release if you come across any pest you want out of your space or give us a buzz and we can remove any unwanted visitor. PET POLICY Please pay your pet fees before your check in. Pet fees per pet are $50 for 2-3 nights stays, $75 for 4-5 nights, $100 for 6-8 nights, and $120 for 8 or more nights. We allow up to 2 dogs. We do provide 1 dog bed and set of bowls for our furry friends:) Dogs must be on leash at all times when outside the cottage- this is for their safety as there are bobcats and bear on the property. This is also to protect from erosion on hillsides and so they don't chase other animals that call the property their home. The deck has a gate at the end so they don't need to be leashed on the deck. They may not go in the area beyond the deck currently (this is a large area of poison ivy that needs to be dealt with). The small mossy patio area out front is the pet relief area. Please pick up/bag dog waste and dispose in trash can by carport. Do not flick waste down hillside to waterways. Pets may not be left unattended in the cottage unless well-behaved in crate. Pets are not allowed on furniture or bedding. Please do not use towels or linens on pets- if you need a dog towel or sheet, there are 2 dog sheets in the 3rd drawer down on the left side of the hallway drawers. A towel is provided for their paws should they be muddy at the entrance. If you make a fire, please don't let them touch the insert as it could burn them! There are tons of dog friendly trails, activities and parks around- check out the guide book! Please give advanced notice of pets at time of reservation to pay the pet fee. No cats. Ask if it's a pet other than a dog. Came with kiddos? We are not child-proofed and the house is generally not comfortable/safe for kids under 10. We can accommodate you with a newborn if the baby is not yet mobile but we do not have baby items stocked in the cottage. If you are coming with a child over the age of 10, parents agree to be responsible for keeping a watchful eye over children as the space is not child-proofed and various items and surfaces could be dangerous. Children may not handle antiques like the typewriter. Kids count as people and count towards the 4 person total limit we have for booking. Please include them in your reservation at time of booking. Staying longer than 5 nights? Here's some additional considerations for you. If you are staying longer than 5 nights you have the option to let us come in and wash/change towels/linens every 7 days OR if you do not want us in the space, please let us know if you need new linens or towels and leave a laundry basket on the front steps for us. There is a vacuum and cleaning supplies in the hallway closet and under the sink as well. Please do not wash towels or bedding from the cottage with clothing- leave it for us! We've tried to let guests do the wash in the past and too many items have been ruined with improper laundering so please do not wash the towels/sheets/blankets. Guests staying longer than 5 nights are welcome to use the laundry and dryer in the garage- do not touch tools or furniture projects in the garage. Follow instructions on machines. We have a shared driveway. There is one dedicated spot for the cottage and we can offer a second spot upon request.