🧾🔑 Booking without surprises: cancellations, cleaning, bedding, late check-in

Glamping is about simple pleasures: clean air, views from the window, quiet evenings. But the joy can easily be spoiled by ‘hidden’ extra charges: paid sheets, mandatory final cleaning, electricity bills ‘by the meter’, firewood ‘by the bundle’, late check-in without instructions. This guide is your safety net: how to read the cancellation policy, what to ask about bedding and towels, how to arrange cleaning and self-check-in, and how to calculate the ‘total to pay’ before booking.

📅 Cancellation policy (and how not to lose money)

There are three basic types of policies for glamping:

• Flexible. Free cancellation N days/hours before arrival, then a charge for the first night or a fixed fee.
• Moderate. Free cancellation N days before arrival; closer to arrival — a charge of 50-100%.
• Strict/seasonal. Non-refundable deposit immediately or after a short ‘window’, especially during ‘peak weeks’ (summer, holidays, festivals).

What to check before paying:

• free cancellation period and time zone;
• no-show fee;
• penalty-free date changes (rebooking);
• storm clauses (when weather conditions make access impossible);
• taxes/fees: are they refundable upon cancellation?

🛏️ Bedding and towels: included, rental or ‘bring your own’?

Many glamping sites and farmhouses do not include bed linen by default (this is a separately paid set per person) or offer a choice: bring your own, rent on site, or take a ‘ready-made bed’ (bedding + towels).

What to clarify before booking:

• What is included in the ‘bed linen set’: sheet, duvet cover, pillowcase, towel/towels.
• Format: ‘set per person’ vs ‘price per bed’.
• Children's sets and playpens (if needed).
• Delivery: will the bed be made or will the sets be delivered sealed?
• Change during long-term stays: how many days and how much does it cost.

🧹 Final cleaning: included, mandatory or ‘optional’?

The options depend on the property:

• Included in the price. You leave the property in a ‘reasonably clean’ condition (dishes washed, rubbish taken out).
• Optional for a fee. You can clean yourself according to a checklist or pay for cleaning.
• Mandatory for a fee. Fixed amount, sometimes varies depending on the size of the cottage.

What to clarify:

• whether washing dishes and laundry are included in the final cleaning;
• what guests need to do in any case (rubbish/dishwasher/wipe down tables);
• penalties for severe mess/stains;
• checkout time (often 10:00) and whether late checkout is possible.

🕘 Late check-in and self-check-in: arriving late — everything is clear

Late arrival is a common occurrence, especially after ferries and long journeys. To avoid ‘searching in the dark’:

What to ask the host:

• Self-check-in instructions: lock code/key box, procedure, video/photo of the door.
• Path and car park lighting: turns on automatically or manually.
• Landmarks: ‘house no. , to the left of...’, ‘second path after the shed’.
• Quiet hours: so as not to make noise when arriving.
• Emergency contact (phone/messenger).

🔌🪵 Utilities/firewood: ‘all inclusive’ or ‘by meter’?

This is where surprises are most often hidden:

• Electricity. Included in the rate or metered/limited (e.g., included up to X kWh/night, extra charged). In winter, ask for a separate limit for heating.
• Firewood. Included in the ‘starter box’ or purchased in ‘bundles’ (check the weight/volume and price).
• Sauna/badestamp. By reservation and at a separate price for heating/session, sometimes included with premium cabins.
• EV charging. Per kWh/fixed/extension cord prohibited (often prohibited).
• Water/gas. Usually included, but gas for portable stoves is at your own expense.

📨 Template for a general letter to the host (short and to the point)

When there is a long list of questions, it is convenient to send one clear request.

🧭 Before paying: mini checklist ‘read and understood’

• Dates/people/house match the plan, times of arrival/departure are clear.
• Cancellation: you know the last free date and the amount of deductions.
• Bedding/towels: included or the exact rental budget is specified.
• Cleaning: format agreed (included/optional/mandatory) + checklist.
• Late check-in: self-check-in instructions, lighting, parking, ‘quiet hours’.
• Utilities: electricity limit/meter, firewood, sauna/hot tub, EV charging.
• Final amount: ‘total’ calculated in the calculator above, 10-15% reserve for small items.
• Contacts: host's phone number and emergency numbers saved offline.