We love pets, but we do not permit them at our homes. Animals that fall within the legal definition of ADA service animals are always welcomed.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "OUR HOMES ARE DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE, NOT SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOS?"
Our family frequently stays at vacation rentals. Our pet peeve is when a vacation home looks like something out of a home design magazine in photos, but once we arrive, we find it so uncomfortable, inadequately furnished, or poorly cleaned that we can't wait to leave. At Chicory Door County, we constantly work to maximize and improve guest comfort in our homes. All of the main living rooms in our rental homes have leather recliners that are comfortable to sit in and put your feet up. That might not be the most Instagram-trendy way to furnish a vacation home, but it sure is nice after a full day of Door County activities! We've done our best to design the relaxation and entertainment spaces so that there's something for every age. Because we are family-managed, we keep tabs on whether there is enough silverware, what condition the cookware is in, and whether items are missing from the kitchen. Our cleaning protocols are second to none, attention to detail is our calling card, and we inspect every home before every guest to be sure that corners are never being cut. We genuinely care about your family's experience during your stay with us - it's not just something we say because it sounds good.
AFTER I'VE MADE MY RESERVATION, HOW WILL I RECEIVE CHECK-IN INSTRUCTIONS?
After your booking is processed, we send your receipt, reservation confirmation, and a signed copy of the rental agreement to the email address you've provided. One week before your arrival, we send an additional email containing full check-instructions and helpful information about our home.
WHAT IS YOUR WEBSITE CANCELLATION POLICY?
Full refund (less a $100.00 cancellation fee) if the cancellation occurs at least 30 days before arrival; Fifty percent refund (less a $100.00 cancellation fee) if the cancellation occurs at least 14 days before arrival; No refund after that.
If the booking is made less than 30 days before check-in, fifty percent refund (less a $100.00 cancellation fee) if the cancellation occurs at least 14 days before arrival; No refund after that.
During the booking process, our cancellation policy containing your specific dates can be found at the bottom of the first page of your quote.
IS BOOKING ON THIS WEBSITE SECURE?
Yes. We take payment security very seriously. Our booking page has been secured by a 2048-bit TLS certificate, and all data is securely transmitted to our credit card processor. We will not sell or share your personal information to anyone.
ARE THERE CAMERAS ON YOUR PROPERTIES?
Nope. Outdoor cameras are not present at any of our properties, and of course, absolutely no indoor cameras are present. The use of cameras is a sensitive issue for anyone who stays in vacation homes or hotels. We want you to relax and truly enjoy your time in Door County. That requires an element of trust for everyone involved. We have wonderful guests and the overwhelming majority abide by our policies and our renter agreement. We don't feel the need to use outdoor cameras to monitor the families that stay with us. In the rare event that we receive a neighbor complaint, we are close enough to respond quickly. There have been a lot of terrifying stories in the media about the illegal use of indoor cameras in vacation homes. One of the benefits of renting from us is that we are owner-managed, meaning that every time we prepare our home for a new guest, we personally inspect its contents. We are familiar with all of the furnishings and amenities in our homes, and from clocks to televisions, we know what electronic items are normally present. It is in our best interest that our guests feel safe within our home.
WHAT ABOUT THAT SECURITY DEPOSIT HOLD? DO YOU RETAIN FUNDS FOR EVERY TINY ACCIDENT OR BROKEN PLATE?
Absolutely not. Accidents happen and we are understanding about that. We insure our home and its contents for accidental damage. Our damage insurance covers most accidental damage if the guest reports the damage to us. If you accidentally break a lamp at our home, the best thing you can do is message us so that our damage insurance will cover it. The security deposit hold funds are used to pay for blatant and intentional acts causing damage or losses that our accidental damage insurance policy does not cover.
WHY DON'T YOU SUPPLY LARGE BOTTLES OF SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER OR BULK COFFEE AND SPICES?
You know, it really comes down to guest safety for us. Try as we might, we just can't guarantee that a bulk container of coffee grounds or sugar hasn't been tampered with. It's an unfortunate reality of the world we live in. We aren't perfect, but as a family-managed operation, we are constantly asking ourselves, "Is this safe for the families who stay here? Will this be ok for kids?" In the end, we feel that single use consumables and toiletries are best practice. We appreciate your understanding.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE LAKEFRONT AT CHICORY LAKE HOUSE?
We call the lakefront at Chicory Lake House a "fishing lakefront." Our shore is a mix of rock and soft bottom. Reeds surround our pier. Kangaroo Lake's typical calm, warm waters make it great for swimming and paddling. Diving and jumping off of our pier is strictly prohibited, and we strongly recommend water shoes and life preservers for swimming. Like virtually every inland Wisconsin Lake, it is possible that you may encounter issues with Canadian Geese and/or swimmers itch during your stay. Some summers we hardly deal with these problems at all, but other summers we do. It is unpredictable. We recommend vigorously toweling off after swimming. We have implemented legal and ethical geese deterrents on our lakeshore, but ultimately the geese get the final decision of where they roam and abide. If you have any difficulty with goose droppings during your stay, please reach out to us, so that we can assist with clean-up.
WILL THE PIER AT CHICORY LAKE HOUSE BE IN THE WATER DURING MY STAY?
Ice and weather conditions are different every year, but we typically have our pier in the water from mid-May to mid-October. If you are booking during the fall or spring, feel free to reach out and ask!