Lakefront Cottage w/Breathtaking Views! Hiking.PaddleBoat.Doc.Fishing.WiFi Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Is Lakefront Cottage w/Breathtaking Views! Hiking.PaddleBoat.Doc.Fishing.WiFi pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Q: Where is Lakefront Cottage w/Breathtaking Views! Hiking.PaddleBoat.Doc.Fishing.WiFi located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is steps from Lake Saint Catherine and 1.9 mi (3.1 km) from Wells Lakeside Park. Lake Saint Catherine State Park and Lake St Catherine Country Club are also within 6 mi (10 km).

10/10 Excellent

Holly M., Londonderry, NH USA

20 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway

We had a great time, enjoyed the lake & fire pit.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marianne F.

23 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful lakefront cottage

We love cottage illusion. The location is perfect, & the cottage is clean & very comfortable.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

shannon v.

23 August 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake getaway

This is the second time we stayed at the cottage. We love the access to lake, and peacefulness of Lake St. Catherine.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christopher K.

26 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Good Time at Cottage Illusion

The cottage was just the right size for me. The bed was very comfortable, and the living room furniture was as well; great for reading and watching TV. The Wi-Fi and Streaming were very reliable, and the view of the lake was absolutely amazing. I would definitely stay here again.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jon T.

28 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Kick back & relax!

A lovely property on a great spot on the lake. Very nicely appointed and well kept. Breathtaking view! Property manager was responsive, friendly, and helpful. We very much enjoyed a comfortable, relaxing stay.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Liz S.

14 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage illusion

This cottage on Lake Saint Catherine is perfect for a quiet getaway in a quaint Vermont town, especially if you love to fish or boat. The house has been updated with new kitchen features and a new shower. It has been stocked with a thoughtful supply of kitchen items and linens and was squeaky clean throughout. Sandy, the property manager, responded quickly to an issue we reported and seemed very committed to helping guests. The only drawback was the presence of thick milfoil in the water. We expected some vegetation, but the amount made swimming unpleasant. We used the beach at the state park for swimming. We enjoyed our time there, especially as we lived in Vermont for the first 50 years of our lives!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Angela P.

14 October 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Cottage with a View

My husband and I enjoyed our stay in this lovely cottage. There are beautiful views of the lake and mountain from within the cottage and the outside rear deck. We were pleasantly surprised to find a box of muffins that the owner purchased from the local bakery. We made use of the cookware and prepared our meals which allowed us to simply relax. Telephone reception is a little spotty but we had no difficulty with the internet. The owner reached out to ask if we were enjoying our stay. Overall it was a very pleasant experience.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michelle W.

4 September 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic!

This was a wonderful place to to stay. Exceptionally clean, bright and sunny, front row seat for lake views! The neighborhood was very quiet, with the exception of a few dogs, but that was pretty much just one afternoon. The only two things I’d recommend to the host would be fragrance free laundry detergent, the fragrance was so strong, made me sneeze (of course this is just personal preference so no points off!). Also, there are quite a few wasps around. I found an area in the roof overhang, above the pool noodles on road side deck, where wasps were going in and out. Again, no points off, just an observation that the host may want to check out I didn’t get stung or anything. Thanks for a great long weekend, it was amazing!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Greg S.

30 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Cottage

A great cottage right on the lake with a dock. Includes row boat and paddle boat. Clean, comfy cute cottage. Would love to stay here again and probably will!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brian A.

20 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great summer get away

The house is very well kept and clean. The lot was great for us. Our youngest daughter has a wheelchair and the gentle sloping yard allowed her to easily access the lake edge for fishing or swimming. The muffins from the store in wells left from the host with a welcome note we’re a great added touch.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marianne F.

11 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

Perfect lakefront location. We've stayed here before & this year found many beautiful upgrades. The owners are very nice & accessible. Can't wait to come back.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Thomas K.

22 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage Illusion is the ideal lake front cottage.

Thinking about an escape to a cute cottage on a peaceful, beautiful lake surrounded by Mother Nature’s beauty. Cottage Illusion is the place you’re looking for to spend your vacation. The cottage is very neat and clean and well equipped. The kitchen has all your needs, and the living room is very comfortable. The master bedroom has a new mattress that is incredibly comfortable. The owner Ed is very responsive and helpful. We spent several days traveling and requested an earlier check-in. He quickly responded to our request and allowed the earlier check-in. Shortly after our arrival, Ed gave us a call to assure all was well. We had a little trouble communicating. Cell service is spotty at best which is a good thing if you’re looking for that escape. Cottage Illusion is tops on our list when planning for our next visit to Lake St. Catherine.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Marguerite C.

19 October 2021

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Water smelled bad

The water smelled like a hair perm. Consequently, we didn't dare drink it, brush our teeth with the tap water and or shower.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sherry B.

15 September 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

My mom and two of my sisters and myself spent a long weekend at the cottage. We really enjoyed the beautiful location and the cottage. The beds were very comfortable. There was a Roku TV so we were able to access Netflix and other apps. We used the DVD player as well. A box of bakery items from the Wells Country Store was waiting for us when we arrived....a very nice surprise! We used the firepit each night and used the row and paddle boats. We were unable to use the grill but the stove top and oven worked very well. I would definitely stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Collette G.

7 September 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Relaxing, restful stay in a lovely lakeside cottage

The location is awesome in a cove that keeps the noisy action on the lake at a distance. The neighbors next-door and those walking by the property are friendly and engaging. The cottage is well maintained and clean. We felt welcomed as guests...not simply renters. Would highly recommend this property to others.

Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Joe M.

17 August 2021

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Communication

Camping Feel

Apart from the mixup about checkout time (both hosts gave us different times ) we had a lovely time. The house did get hot during a heat wave but the lake was fun and refreshing. Master bed was comfortable.. Row boat, paddle boat and life jackets were available. Found other critical comments from other reviewers to be pretty accurate.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Christine P.

27 June 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Cleanliness

Average lake camp, great location

I don’t want to disparage the owner and cottage (camp) because I’m sure many families could have a great lake experience here. The owner, Ed, was accommodating and accessible. The location is lovely, but to be clear, this is a camp - bathroom is EXTREMELY small, particularly the toilet area. The beds need updating as others have mentioned in the reviews and cleanliness was not up to par with our standards. It appeared portions of the camp were clean & tidy while other aspects seemed to be neglected.

6/10 Okay

Melissa K.

23 June 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Cleanliness

Renter take heed

Ed's "Illusion" cottage sits on a pretty and easy to access property that allows for a short walk to a sturdy dock and swimmable shoreline on Lake St. Catherine. The property has potential. Here's what we found problematic: Upon entering cottage Illusion, there was a good deal of dust and dirt in need of vacuuming. The window casings were filthy and there was abundant dust on the rafters, upper windows, and on the plethora of bric-a-brac. When I mentioned this to Ed, he said he did not know how to respond to the cleanliness complaint "as he and his wife had been there right after the house was cleaned and it looked very clean." I have pics that reveal otherwise. The fan in the guest bedroom is hanging by a wire and needs to be fixed. One mattress was horrible (hard as a rock); Ed said he has changed it. The deck off the back has a rickety railing. The part that is comprised of a baby gate and zip ties is, according to Ed, there to keep pets from jumping off the deck. Our concern was with that particular "illusion" as well as the newel posts that came off in our hands and the deck that gave a bit when leaned against. We did not see a fire extinguisher and Ed said he was sorry we did not see it...I asked why there were no smoke or carbon monoxide detectors (a requirement for any rental). Ed said they were "in the house, and the repair man was supposed to install them when he installed the new interior rail." I know not of what interior rail he speaks, and I assure you, no smoke, nor carbon monoxide detectors were present. We informed Ed that the pedals on the paddle board snap off, and we were told those must have been damaged by a previous renter. (This is a complaint that's been made in the past). The phone (landline) required a service code. Ed said he will contact the phone company because "it has not done that before." Numerous electrical cords and extension cords are jury-rigged throughout. A gust of wind blew over the standing dead birch in the yard, which my husband cleaned up; Ed thanked us for that. We expected a rustic cottage and did not mind a tiny bathroom or kitchen. As I said, the property is sweet and has enormous potential, but considering the lack of code compliance and lack of cleanliness, which in pre-COVID times would be unacceptable, I can't recommend staying here. As a host/renter, I know something about renting in VT and I do not appreciate excuses. Own the problems and fix them if you intend to rent.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Yilan S.

11 June 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Enjoy the peaceful lake!

My husband has been looking to tour the area near Lake George, but we found this small, quiet, and beautiful lake to be much better. Ed's cabin is facing the spectacular view of the lake, and is decorated thoughtfully in a homey, rustic style. Even better, we found everything we needed to enjoy our stay in the cabin, from life jackets to disinfecting wipes. The neighbors we met were all super nice and friendly. One of them told us the law requires everyone rowing a boat on the lake to wear a life jacket. Another groups of neighbors helped our kid catch plenty of fish, including a 4-lb bass. Our dog also enjoyed running on the grass and she ran incessantly everyday. We all had a blast despite the cold and rainy weather during the Memorial Day weekend. In a rainy afternoon, we stayed in and the WIFI was good enough for all of us to stream something on our devices. I do agree with a previous review that the mattresses could use an update. Other than that, this cabin is perfect.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

17 May 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

The views were incredible (with sliding glass doors in the larger bedroom and two sides of the gathering room; from the deck; and the grassy lawn closer to the lake). The property was beautifully maintained, comfortably furnished, and tastefully decorated. Information provided by the owners was both comprehensive and helpful with regards to what was available in the surrounding area.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

15 November 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing weekend in Vermont at cozy, clean lakefront cottage

Really enjoyed our stay, hosts were attentive and clear, property fit our needs-great location on the lake with nice property

6/10 Okay

Alfred G.

9 October 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Overpriced.

While the location was great and the place was clean what I paid I expected a little better. The bathroom is practically a closet and cheaply finished. Cables going down the walls and across the floors. Nothing luxurious about this place. When I compare it to the Hilton Head Condo we stayed in last October for considerably less money this was not a good deal.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

6/10 Okay

Amy H.

20 September 2020

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage Illusion

Location and access to lake perfect! The views are beautiful. Very peaceful stay.

8/10 Good

William S.

14 September 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location and nice property

The lake is fantastic and location is amazing. Ot provides the right balance of relaxing, nice home and great property. The owners are attentive without being intrusive. Nice place!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

8/10 Good

Bethany C.

7 September 2020

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we needed!

This cabin was perfect for kids - the lakefront property has an easy, shallow entry where kids can comfortably wade. We did a lot of paddleboarding and some sailing. The neighbors were very friendly and the owners very easy to work with! Overall a comfortable cabin. A great getaway and change of scenery!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

Lakefront Cottage w/Breathtaking Views! Hiking.PaddleBoat.Doc.Fishing.WiFi

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