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Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water

Photo gallery for Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water

Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Miscellaneous
Living area
Exterior

Reviews

8.4 out of 10

Very good

Entire home

5 bedrooms2 bathrooms

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi
The price is SAR 1,304
SAR 1,844 total
includes taxes & fees
13 Jan - 14 Jan

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water

Balsam Lake , sand beach with walkout to clean water , no weeds , great swimming.
Two cottages joined together to create lots of room , 12 plus guests .
Canoeing, paddle boarding, badminton, beach volleyball , great fishing ,sheltered dock for boats as well. Looking for families or couples for special weekday rates.
Close to Fenelon Falls or Coboconk for amenities. Minimum stay of 3 nights only.
Premier lake in the Kawarthas , only hour drive from N Whitby area. Free Pickleball courts and grocers, beer store etc only 5 mins. away

Property manager

Peter

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Toaster
  • Spices

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Soap

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 1 total pets
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
1 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 20
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the neighborhood

Map
Kawartha Lakes, ON

What's nearby

  • Shadow Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Balsam Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Fenelon Falls - 13 min drive - 14.4 km
  • Sturgeon Lake - 14 min drive - 14.7 km
  • Balsam Lake Provincial Park - 18 min drive - 14.8 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Cow and Sow - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Texas Burger & Donut Shop - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Murphy’s Lockside Pub & Patio - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water ?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water located?

Situated in Kawartha Lakes, this cottage is steps from Shadow Lake and Balsam Lake. Burnt River and Cherry Island are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Balsam Lake Ontario Sand Beach “Welcome to Castaway Beach “Clean shallow water Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 19 reviews" "

7.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Holly M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
DO NOT BOOK! REAL REVIEWS GET DELETED! SAVE YOUR MONEY!
It’s clear why this property isn’t listed on other sites—Vrbo seems to allow reviews to be deleted, and that's exactly what's happening here. Although the listing says there are 18 reviews, only 10 are visible and all from 2023. The rating has dropped significantly since my booking, likely because 8 negative reviews have been removed. I'm sure mine will be deleted too, but I’ll be posting this elsewhere where the host can’t control it. I booked this place for a bachelorette party and was deeply embarrassed before even stepping inside. The outside looked like a junkyard; garbage, broken appliances and tarps all over. Inside, none of the light switches work and most of the lamps had blown bulbs with no replacements available. The property has three fridges, but only one is functional and free of mold. Bedding isn't provided, which wasn’t mentioned in the booking details or by the host, so I had run out and buy bedding for eight beds which is not cheap. The beach area was just as bad. The volleyball net is on the verge of collapsing. The sand is unkept to the point we had to rake it ourselves. The outdoor furniture could use a clean, we didn't feel comfortable unless we used our towels. Also, the beach and water aren’t private; there are neighbour right next to you. I’ve stayed in so many rentals and this is the most disappointing experience I’ve ever had – so much so that I’m try to get a partial refund and reimbursement for the bedding, but the host has stopped responding.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Judy C.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Dirty
I love a rustic property but this place was disgusting. I don’t think it’s ever been dusted. Bugs and spider and cob webs everywhere Couldn’t see out the windows because they were so filthy. It needs a deep cleaning and some dump runs.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Julia M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
If you have any standards - DO NOT STAY HERE!
This property is FILTHY. Once I raised concerns about the state of filth, Peter, the host, treated us with disgust & rudeness giving excuses for EVERYTHING. My friends and I have been camping for ten years and renting cottages for five. We now bring our young daughters with us and were appalled by the conditions and safety issues at the cottage, and Peter did nothing, instead remarking that we must be unaccustomed to a 'basic cottage' and even refused to bring us a working BBQ when we needed it to cook dinner for the children. Issues: - Mouse poop on counters, in dishes. - Mice living in oven, unusable- heavily smelled of urine. - No light in kitchen, hallway, bedroom. - Sand covered on each bed & shower basin - Crickets coming out of drains - Filth on floors, & windows - including dead bugs, spiders - Rusty nail & fishing lures found on the sand area - Peter (owner) dogs’ poop by the water where we sat, he refused to pick it up. - Rusted lake ladder with cracks on steps & held together by rusted hangers - Fuse blew in the kitchen, causing appliances to stop working - Peter refused to come assist - Broken fridge in kitchen - Hazardous entrance to cottage covered in spilled garbage & dirt we picked up - Fans did not work - No hot tub Don't stay here if you are used to anything more than a 1-star hotel. The outdoors looked nice, but the garbage and uncleanliness around the property were disgusting. If it is raining and hot and you have children, it will be your nightmare.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Warren D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Castaway Beach
Great swimming and shallow clean water with canoes and paddle boards with many amenities and lots of room for activities!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danielle B.

Wonderful cottage trip
5 moms and 9 kids under the age of 6. Perfect place for kids to be kids . Safe and stunning views. Peter was great. Wonderful stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hugh H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Castaway beach
Peter was a very helpful and accommodating host. Unfortunately the group before us left him with his hands full but he did an excellent job of making our stay comfortable and enjoyable. The beachfront wash beautiful and everyone had a blast! Looking forward to our next visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Christina R.

Great property, poor maintenance
Due to the price per night and use of a booking site I would have expected better maintenance and preparation of the cottages before use. The fridges were plugged in just before we got there so we had to spend money to buy ice to keep some of our food cold for the first day, and there was not enough toilet paper and paper towel provided for the 2 nights. The beach area was not cleaned before we arrived. The water off the beach was covered in leaves and in the water was an old bath mat. One canoe had a leak in it so couldn't be used, and the other had a broken seat. Helpful for potential renters: there is no hot tub even though it is stated in the amenities. One cottage has 4 bedrooms, and the other larger cottage is an open concept loft with one bed, so there wouldn't be much privacy if there are more than 2 people staying in that one. Great sandy beach and shallow sandy waters for water sports and swimming.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kennedy A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very beautiful place the view was amazing
We had a good time at outside by water
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Robert M.

Balsam Lake Beach weekend
We (2 couples, +1 child, +1 dog) booked a 3 night stay for the end of June. Host was easy to reach and very reachable via the vrbo site or text. The property is lakefront with a great beach (sand goes at least 30 m out, not deep, great for swimming and kids) and a sand volleyball/badminton court. Lots of beach and lawn chairs to sit outside by the water. Firepit, 2 propane bbq's - we bbq'ed most meals. The property includes 2 structures, an A frame with 1 bedroom and a larger cottage with 4 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. The property is branded Castaway Beach and there is a cool nautical motif, especially in the living room. There were some moderate irritants (burnt out lights, had to wash glasses/coffee filters/bowls) and one major one - the listing indicated a hot tub, but the hot tub was removed last fall. The property could use a deep clean and maintenance checks on appliances. Oven wasn't working - although host offered to repair it, we used some of the many toaster ovens instead. Some of the outdoor equipment (badminton racquets, volleyballs) were broken or worn out. We enjoyed our visit but it would have been better with all the amenities present and working.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tim K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beach getaway
Excellent property everything you need to chill by the water.Peter was a awesome host,friendly and down to earth.Family enjoyed stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Comfortable and marvellous amenities
Paddle boards, a canoe, badminton, clean beautiful water, it was all perfect.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Samantha P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Weekend
We had a very enjoyable stay at cottage. Peter was very welcoming and accommodating.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alicia K.

Liked: Cleanliness
A wonderful stay!
Our group had a great stay at Castaway Beach! Peter was friendly, easy to communicate and with and very accommodating. We had three families staying at the property, each with a child under the age of 3. The water was shallow, clear and a great place for the babies to sit and splash. The beach had a ton of seating and was also very clean. We had plenty of space between the two cottages. Enough room to have privacy and quiet at night while putting the kids to sleep. 3 fridges, two bbqs and a fully stocked kitchen made our stay easy, this was much appreciated. Cannot wait to book again next year!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Aaron M., Toronto, Canada

Good cottage getaway
We enjoyed our stay, the putdoor area is large and beautiful and we enjoyed using the different types of boats
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Balsam Lake Stay
It was an great stay on Balsam Lake. I have never been to a cottage with such a great sandy beach. It would be perfect for a family with young kids. Peter was a great host but even a better guy. Was great to meet him. Thanks for the stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Graham C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Location
Other than the Cottage being a little tired we enjoyed everything to the beach, the lake and surroundings. Brought our own boat, which I highly recommend and were able to travel through the locks to Bobcaygeon. Drove the lake and even had the opportunity to get in some fishing time, surprisingly did well. Worth the value
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mel n.

Liked: Cleanliness
The R&R you didn't know you needed....
As a group of friends just looking to get away from it all (and the city) we were lucky to find this property. Our host Peter was very personable, quick to reply, and readily available to answer any questions we had. Upon arrival, you notice how large the cottage is and the space, just the right amount to hang out with friends AND have personal space if needed. With that being said, you are automatically drawn to the outside through the large windows to the beautiful lake, multiple chairs, tables, sun loungers volleyball net, canoes, and paddle boards so your adventure awaits. We had such a good time, Peter even came and started a fire for us as the fire ban was lifted, which added to the relaxation. Also, a great fishing spot if that's what you are into. Due to the rain that weekend we were not able to get out Would highly recommend this place and we will be going back next year - hopefully for a longer stay. Thanks again Peter for everything, you helped make our getaway a memorable one
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

suhrob a.

Nice place
Peter was a great host and being next door and available within a call was very reassuring
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ben P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property and very accommodating host!
We were super lucky and grateful to stay at Peter's cottage. The property was well equipped, clean, and a very special place to stay at. Lots of good swimming, activities, etc. We will definitely be back. Thanks for everything Peter!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023