FAQ

HOW DO WE GET TO ISLESBORO?

Islesboro is the largest island in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Its largest neighboring towns on the mainland are Rockland, Camden, and Belfast. The capital city of Augusta is to the west. Islesboro is reached by a State of Maine ferry that leaves Lincolnville hourly between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM in the summer months - - the ferry ride across to the island is 20 minutes. Lincolnville is 10 miles (or about 15 minutes) south of Belfast and 6 miles (or about 10 minutes) north of Camden. Camden, arguably Maine's finest harbor town, is minutes north of Rockland, home of the Farnsworth Museum, a little known treasure showcasing the Wyeth family artists, among other New England and American greats. See more information about the ferry, below.

WHAT'S THE RENTAL PERIOD ?
	Saturday 4:00 PM through the following Saturday 10:00 AM.

RESERVATIONS and CANCELATIONS ?

When you are ready to reserve the cottage, we will put you in contact with our rental agent on the island, Mr. John Oldham. He will prepare a lease for your signature to confirm the reservation. 50% of the rental fees PLUS security deposit must accompany the signed lease as a reservation deposit. The balance is due within 30 days of the reservation date. Cancellations must be received IN WRITING 45 days prior to the day of the rental. Your rental fees and security deposit will be promptly returned to you LESS $ 100 cancellation fee. For any other cancellation, only 1/2 of the amount paid will be returned unless we can rent the cottage. If the cottage gets rented, we will return the full amount paid less the $100 cancellation fee. Giovanna and David encourage our guests to purchase travel/vacation insurance. If an emergency occurs prior to the vacation, our guests then have additional recourse for canceling their stay and potentially obtaining a refund from the insurance company.

SLEEPING ACCOMODATIONS?

The cottage has 2 bedrooms: one large master bedroom with Queen bed (sleeps 2) and one small bedroom (very "cozy") with Double bed (sleeps 2). An extra child and friend can sleep on the Queen-sized (when you pull out), mattress-quality futons in the living room. The living room futons are very high quality and comfortable futons. We ask that you bring your own bed linens (see the “TO BRING” list) and towels, unless you are flying to Maine from a distance and carrying linens is a hardship. Let us know in that case and we can help out.

WHAT WE PROVIDE:

This is NOT a comprehensive list. ASK us if you have any questions. Basic kitchen supplies (salt, pepper,spices, etc.), toaster, coffeemaker, microwave oven, cooking pots/pans/utensils, kitchen towels, large lobster boiler, lots of old fashioned board games (including Scrabble, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, and others),puzzles, assorted books, pillows and blankets (You bring the linens unless you let us know otherwise), gas grill (with gas), chaise lounges for deck, dining table/chairs for 6 on the deck, assorted incidentals (such as toilet paper and coffee filters!), TV with VHS and DVD (no TV service). If you book with us, we will send you a list of what's there and what we recommend you bring.

FOR YOU TO BRING:

Bed linens and bath towels: We have lots of pillows and blankets but we ask that you supply your own bed linens and towels. However, let us know if this is a hardship, for example, if you are flying to the East coast, and we will provide them for you. Your favorite "can't-live-without" foods in case they are not available at the island markets (we do a shop in Camden or Belfast before we arrive on island), your favorite wine, beer and spirits, bikes and bike helmets, kayaks and paddles, life jackets, fishing gear (SALT WATER!!), favorite games to supplement ours (see above), beach towels, beach pails, DVD or VHS movies, walking shoes, water-beach shoes (or sandals to walk in water),sunhats, sunscreen, beach reading, laundry detergent. We will send you a "care package" before you leave home with detailed lists reminding you what to bring!

IS THERE INTERNET AT THE COTTAGE?
	Yes and No. Our hand-held devices get a signal just fine but there's no Internet for your laptop. However, the public library - inside and outside -- has wireless so many islanders sit on a bench outside the library or even in their cars if they want to catch up with their email.

PETS ??
	Yes, we'll consider 1 or 2 dogs. See "PETS ??" tab.

GROCERY SHOPPING ON THE ISLAND ?

The island has 2 small grocery shops -- THEY ARE BOTH CLOSED ON SUNDAY!!. Durkee's Market is 3 minutes from the cottage and has the "basics," including wine, beer, a meat counter, DVDs, and newspapers. They also serve lunch and make good cheeseburgers and fries. The Island Market, about 10 minutes from the cottage and across from the post office, has a range of gourmet foods, home-made goodies (terrific carrot cake and other baked goods), ready-to-go pizza, meat and fish counter, newspapers, DVDs, and more. The folks at both markets are very nice, only the products are, of course, a bit more expensive than on the mainland (on the other hand, you're on vacation....so treat yourself to homemade gourmet lasagna, quiche, fruit pies, and that terrific carrot cake from the Island Market!).

DINING ON THE ISLAND ?

There are very few choices on the island itself. Our preference is to do homemade "take-out" from the Island Market. We also lean towards steaming lobsters at home (can't beat the price...). Durkee's Store serves lunch, as does the Dark Harbour Shop (also an ice cream parlor!!). The snack shack at the Ferry -- Islesboro side-- offers tasty food throughout the day. Lots of people go there for "supper," eating on the grass near the water's edge. We've heard of John Travolta sightings at the ferry snack shack!

LAUNDRY?
	We have a washer and drier for your use. BRING YOUR OWN DETERGENT. There is no laundrymat on the island (although there are plenty on the mainland in Belfast and Camden).

WHAT DO WE DO ON THE ISLAND ?

Awesome beachcombing,walking, hiking, bike riding, swimming (real cold water!!...), kayaking, canoeing, tennis, sailing, hiking, clamming, "site seeing" the wonderful historic architecture on the island, and not doing anything. Take pictures, read some books that have been waiting to be read for a while, sleep, paint, organize your photos...... There's a fun public, children's playground on the island, next to the public tennis courts; there's a small but wonderful public library in a beautiful historic building a few minutes from the cottage (with wireless so you can catch up on email, even sitting outside on the grass). There's a 9 hole gold course you can look into playing on.

HOW FAR ARE THE BEACHES?

There are dozens of secluded and incredible coves and beaches -- both sandy and rocky -- within a 5 to 15 minute drive from the cottage…... or pack a backpack and bike to them. The island is only 14 miles long and very narrow (if you look at a map) so everything is very close by. Bring picnic lunches and suppers and play Robinson Crusoe on your "private" island. We often walk after supper to several coves west of the Meadow Pond but they are a good walk away. You’ll want to drive -- or bike ride -- to the awesome beaches at Marshall Cove, Hutchins Island, Turtle Head, Pendleton Point, and elsewhere. We always carry water, sunscreen, snacks or whole picnics, chairs, books, towels, etc., so driving is a good idea.

CAN WE SWIM IN THE MEADOW POND?
	Not really. The Meadow Pond, across the road from the cottage, is a 10 acre, fresh water wildlife refuge for deer, birds, turtles, beaver, frogs, and this year a large bald eagle. It’s not a swimming pond. There’s a public access to the pond just several hundred feet south of the cottage where it's possible to fish or put in your kayak.

THE ART OF THE ISLESBORO FERRY

The ferry experience is quite amazing and a bit of an art….The ferry between Lincolnville Beach and Islesboro is a State of Maine public ferry with regular and frequent 20 minute passages back and forth during the day. See the ferry schedule on line at http://www.state.me.us/mdot/opt/ferry/islesboro.php. Many summer people and full-time islanders keep one car on the mainland and one on the island so they can just walk on (and off) the ferry and not wait in the famous waiting lines. With all the gear you'll be bringing to the island, you'll need to bring a car for sure. The RULE OF THUMB: get to the ferry in Lincolnville AT LEAST ONE HOUR prior to departure so bring a book, newspaper, or beach shoes. On the Lincolnville side, there are nice beaches at the ferry terminal for the whole gang to hang out, as well as a few fun shops on the main road, and a lobster pound 100’ from the car line serving a range of excellent "beach" food, from hotdogs to lobster rolls. There are also very clean and nice public toilets in the ticket house. So the wait goes quickly....... At the Islesboro end, as you leave the island, same story..... if you are in no rush, then get there when you get there ----if you miss the ferry, just wait 1 hour for the next one.....If you need to meet a schedule, get to the ferry line AT LEAST ONE HOUR prior to scheduled departure..... OR, make a reservation. On the island side, there too you'll find grassy picnic areas, a bit of shore to wade in, very nice public toilets and an assortment of free paperback books in the ticket office, and a "food shack" with excellent hotdogs, lobster rolls, cheeseburgers, a veggie option, drinks, water bottles, etc. The trick is to RELAX.... this is an island and time (and the ferry line) move at their own pace.