Terms and Conditions

RATES AND FEES

By completing this Rental Agreement, you are agreeing to all charges (including taxes and fees) outlined in the Reservation Invoice sent by Cascade Vacation Rentals, LLC upon booking. If you add additional people, days, or pets with prior approval to your reservation, additional charges may apply.

Additional guests can be added up to the maximum occupancy for the home found in the Reservation Invoice. Children age 2 and up count as occupants/guests. The definition of “occupant” is set by the Minnesota Department of Health and not by our business.

RESERVATION / PAYMENT POLICY

A reservation hold payment of 50% of your reservation is due within 4 business days of booking. If we do not receive these monies within 4 business days of booking, your reservation is subject to cancellation.

Reservations will not be considered confirmed until Cascade Vacation Rentals has received the reservation hold payment and signed rental agreement. Once the reservation hold payment is received, whether or not the rental agreement has been completed, the regular cancellation policy applies.

The balance of your payment is due no less than 30 days before arrival. 30 days prior to your arrival Cascade Vacation Rentals will automatically charge the balance due to the credit card on file that was used for your reservation hold payment. If we do not receive the balance by the 30 days prior to arrival deadline, your reservation is subject to cancellation. If your reservation is booked within 30 days before arrival, the full balance will be due upon booking. The balance for a stay 21 days or longer will be due 60 days prior to the arrival date.

If you prefer to have the balance due charged to a different card, you must call us prior to your balance due date at 877-415-8974 to make alternative arrangements. If a request to use an alternate credit card is made after your balance due date and we have charged the credit card on file, a 10% fee will be added to your balance due to cover reprocessing fees.

If you remove pets from your reservation within the 30 days before arrival, thereby removing the pet fee, we will provide a refund for this fee upon request. A processing fee of 10% of refund, will be deducted from the refund.

CANCELLATION / TRANSFER POLICY (for stays 20 days or less)

Cancellations must be made via phone. Email or webchat cancellations will not be accepted.

Cancellations due to weather will receive no refunds or rebates

Transfers between properties within 30 days of your arrival date are considered a cancellation, but property transfers more than 30 days out can be processed for a $25 fee.

If you need to cancel your reservation for any reason, notify us as soon as possible. If you notify our office of cancellation more than 30 days prior to scheduled arrival, all monies, less 13% of the total reservation (standard cancellation fee), will be returned by check or credit card.

If you cancel your reservation within 30 days of your scheduled arrival, we will make every effort to re-rent the property. If the property is re-rented for the same period of time, you will receive a refund of monies recouped, minus the standard cancellation fees. If only part of your reservation is re-rented, we will refund monies for each night booked – minus the standard cancellation fees. No refunds will be given if the property is not able to be re-booked.

If you have CSA travel insurance on the reservation that you need to cancel, please still notify our office. You are responsible for submitting any applicable claims to CSA Travel Protection. Cascade Vacation Rentals is not involved in the claims process. Please contact CSA Travel Protection for any claims or coverage questions.

In cases where a rental agreement is not completed and returned within the 10 days, the reservation is subject to cancellation. If a rental agreement has not been received or the guest has decided to cancel their reservation, the regular cancellation policy applies (see above).

For stays 21 days or longer, the cancellation time frame is 60 days before arrival.

CHECK-IN / CHECK-OUT

The check-in time is 4 pm for all properties. The check-out time is 10 am for all properties.

EARLY CHECK-IN / LATE DEPARTURE

Due to the location of our homes, early check-in and late departures cannot be arranged between June 1st and October 31st. We may be able to arrange for early check-in / late departure between November 1st and May 31st, but it may not always be possible. Guests may request an early check-in no more than 48 hours in advance of arrival. Late departures can only be requested 24 hours in advance of your scheduled departure. If approved, we offer check-in 2 hours early and check-out 2 hours late for $50 plus tax. If you would like an even earlier check-in time the fee will be equal to half the nightly rate of the property plus tax. Guests who enter a home before check-in, or leave after check-out, without permission, will be charged $150. Charges will be made to the card used to make the final payment.

KEYS / CHECK-IN

All of our homes are now direct check-in. Please review the check-in instructions for the property you have rented. All check-in directions will be in a separate confirmation email that you will receive 7 days prior to your stay. There is a $25 charge for lost guest keys removed from homes (where applicable).

LOCKOUT CHARGES

A lockout consists of when a guest locks themselves out of a property and needs assistance from our staff to re-enter. A minimum $40 fee will be charged for all lockouts outside of business hours.

MAINTENANCE

Every effort is made to keep each property and its equipment in good working order, but just like with your own home, failures do occur. Please notify our rental agents of any maintenance problems or difficulty you experience during your stay as soon as possible so repairs can be scheduled. Non-emergency maintenance issues can be reported to the office during business hours. For emergency after-hour requests you may reach staff on the emergency phone 218-264-0507.

Please remember NO REFUNDS will be given for mechanical failures. However, if there are failures to necessary systems (such as water, hot water, heat, or septic system) that cannot be resolved in a timely manner, we will make every effort to provide alternative accommodations or compensation. We appreciate your understanding.

HOUSEKEEPING

All homes, with the exception of Sandy Beach and Portage House will be supplied with bed, bath, and kitchen linens. An initial supply of basic household products such as trash bags, paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, laundry detergent, (if applies) and bar soap will be provided. Only basic soaps are provided, so please bring your own toiletries. Homes are cleaned and inspected after check-out only.

Our homes are not generally equipped with irons, ironing boards, or hair dryers. Please bring your own, if needed.

FIRES, CAMPFIRES, AND GRILLS

Many of our homes have grills. You will need to provide your own charcoal and lighter fluid for charcoal grills. Fuel will be provided for gas grills. Never place charcoal grills on decks or touching any structures. For homes with wood fireplaces, please build safe and reasonably sized fires. Damage caused by careless fires will be guests’ responsibility.

In most areas, small fires on the beach are permitted. Please use a designated fire pit only or create a 3’x3’ fire pit on the beach. Do not use indoor fireplace wood for campfires. Please make note of seasonal fire bans and follow any restrictions. Fully extinguish fire and use at your own risk! The Game Warden and Sheriff’s Office will issue a $150 ticket for fires left unattended or that are not completely extinguished. If a wildfire starts or structures are damaged as a result of your fire, you are also responsible for any fire suppression costs.

HOUSE PARTIES / QUIET HOURS

All of our homes are privately owned and our management contract with the owners prohibits house parties. Any guests abusing this policy will be asked to leave immediately with no refund and an additional $250 will be added to the rental fee. Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Please make sure that, after this hour, music and voices are not audible outside of your rental.

PRIVACY AND TRESPASSING

Please be aware that it is illegal to trespass onto a neighbor’s property. For inland and Lake Superior homes, the shoreline is private property. In most cases, lake-front rentals include 100-200+ feet of shoreline. Please enjoy this shoreline and do not go to adjacent properties. Most property lines, including non-lake front properties, are clearly marked or obvious in some way. If you are in doubt about the property boundaries, call Cascade Vacation Rentals for assistance. Parties trespassing or otherwise being a nuisance to neighbors will be asked to leave immediately with no refund and an additional $250 will be added to the rental fee. Please keep pets contained on the property.

PESTS

The North Shore of Lake Superior has a low-density population and many of our rentals are nestled amongst the trees. Because of this, you will find we have a large population of critters, insects, and wild animals. Cluster flies, ants, and spiders are common and harmless. Our housekeepers do their best to rid homes of unwanted insects, but an insect-free home cannot be guaranteed. We do not do anything to prevent insects outside of the home (i.e. spider webs on decks, eaves, etc.).

Similar to insects, you may notice more small critters due to the rural location of most of our homes. These can include squirrels, chipmunks, and mice, amongst other critters. We do utilize pest services to control mice in homes, so please alert us if you see a mouse or signs of mice. You may see snap or bait traps in or around your home as a preventative measure at certain homes. Should a mouse get caught in one of these traps, and you do not wish to handle it yourself, please contact us so we can arrange for disposal.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

Discharging weapons of any kind, igniting fireworks, lewd or offensive behavior, destructive abuse of home or landscape, terrorizing wildlife, and disrespectful treatment of rental agents are not allowed. Violators are subject to immediate termination of rental and dismissal without refund. Any damage will be charged back to the renter on the card used to make the final payment. Actions that result in a call or visit from the Sheriff’s Department are subject to a $250 fine.

SEPTIC/WELL USE

Most of our homes are on a septic system and use water drawn from a well. Please let us know if any toilets are running or faucets are dripping. If an alarm sounds, contact us immediately. Do not flush any items except bath tissue and appropriate organic material. Please do not overuse the water supply.

LOST ITEMS

When departing, please check for personal items. Left items that are found can be returned upon request, with a fee for retrieval, processing, and shipping. Unclaimed items will be disposed of or donated to our local thrift store 30 days after a guest’s departure date.

FURNITURE

Please do not rearrange furniture or other items at the home. These homes are privately owned. You may not agree with the placement of items, however, this is the arrangement preferred by the owner. If you do move an item or piece of furniture, please return to its original location upon check-out. If the furniture is not returned to its original position we will need to bring in a team to put furniture back. You will be charged for the time and expense of this. Charges will be made to the card used to make the final payment.

NO SMOKING

Smoking is not allowed in any of our homes. If smoking outside, be aware of fire danger. Do not smoke directly in front of open windows or allow smoke to blow inside. Please use an ash can and properly dispose of all cigarette butts from property upon departure. You will be charged for clean-up if excessive cigarette butts are found outside. Parties found smoking in the home will be asked to leave immediately without refund, be assessed a $500 fee, and will pay any associated cleaning costs. Charges will be made to the card used to make the final payment.

TRASH

In our rural area private home trash pick-up is often not available by a trash removal company, and Cascade Vacation Rentals does not have the ability to provide trash pick-up for all properties. Therefore, we must require guests to remove all trash from the property upon checkout, just like area locals do. Trash dumpster and recycling are available behind the Cascade Vacation Rentals office. You may use these during your stay and upon departure. Some homes do have trash pick-up services, so please refer to your check-in letter for additional instructions. This is a wilderness area occupied by animals that love leftovers and will spread garbage everywhere: trash should not be left outside the home for this reason. There will be a $75 charge for trash left at the property or if any trash is scattered on the property. Charges will be made to the card used to make the final payment.

DAMAGES AND DAMAGE WAIVER

Renters are responsible for any damages or theft. You may be charged for such things as: abuse, damage above normal wear and tear, garbage left at home, pet damage, theft, long-distance telephone charges and extra cleaning costs. If damage to the home occurs during your stay you will be charged on the card used to make the final payment.

The Damage Waiver Fee, where applicable, provides coverage for renter of up to $2,000 for reported, accidental damage. This fee does not apply to Opels Hillside or Bluefin Bay units 14, 56, and 57 reservations.

Damage not reported to Cascade Vacation Rentals, LLC, intentional damage, and damage caused by negligence will not be covered by this fee and renter will be liable for all costs associated with intentional damage. Pet damage will not be covered; renter is responsible for any pet-related damage. The guest is liable for any and all costs and fees associated with the rental, including reasonable collection costs and attorneys’ fees that are in any way associated with the guest’s and/or the guest’s invitees’ breach of this agreement, including but not limited to, money owed under this agreement for damage to the premises, fees and/or fines. Expenses incurred as the result of damage will be charged to the credit card used to make the final reservation payment.

PLEASE BE AWARE

Northern Minnesota is a beautiful area, but there are dangers. Hiking, swimming, boating, etc. are done at your own risk. Please use caution and common sense when outdoors. Be aware of unsafe terrain (loose and slippery rocks, dead trees, fast rivers) and use good judgment. Keep a close eye on children, especially around water and near cliffs or rocky places. Always use life jackets when boating. We want everyone to have a safe and healthy vacation!

WATERSPORTS EQUIPMENT

For insurance reasons, Cascade Vacation Rentals does not provide any water sports equipment, nor do the owners of the rental properties. Any equipment at the home is the private property of the owner and may not be used by the renter (e.g., boats, canoes, rafts).

AMENITIES

All available amenities will be listed on the property page. If an amenity is not listed on the property page that means it is not available for that home (i.e. televisions, satellite, etc.). The only amenity we clarify as NOT being available in the amenities is Wi-Fi. For all other amenities, if it is not listed it is not a provided amenity at that property. Every effort is made to ensure that the information on our website is as accurate as possible. We are not responsible for incorrect assumptions regarding cell service and available amenities. Please keep in mind that the internet speeds on the North Shore are slower than you may be accustomed to. Please do not make long-distance calls from the phone.

Should services require repairs please contact our office. Repairs may take several days to schedule a service appointment given our remote location.

Amenities like Satellite TV and Wi-Fi are often affected by bad weather, downed lines, or scheduled maintenance work. We cannot guarantee their functionality and we will not provide any refunds or rebates in cases of failure.

For more information on the property you have rented be sure to click on the “Welcome Book” link in your check-in instructions email.

SECURITY CAMERAS

Due to our location and the fact that many of our homes are secondary homes for owners, some homes may have outward-facing security cameras located on the outside of the home or on the outside of the door locks. This is for security measures. It also allows plow service to know when the driveway needs to be plowed. If there is a camera or other device capable of recording sound or images, such as a Smart Home device, it will be mentioned in the property description so you are aware of their presence prior to booking.

MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY

The maximum occupancy of our homes is determined by the State of Minnesota. Exceeding the maximum number of guests is grounds for immediate termination without refund. Children under 2 do not count toward maximum occupancy. Housing additional guests in sleeping bags, tents, or RV’s is not allowed.

PETS

Pets are allowed at some homes with prior approval for an additional pet fee. The max number of pets allowed in the home is 2. Pet owners must: pick up droppings, keep pet leashed when outside, keep pet off of furniture and bedding, must kennel pet if the pet is left alone in the home. Guests staying in townhomes and condos may not leave pets unattended. Failure to follow the pet policy will result in a $250 fine charged to the card used to make your final payment.

Parties found with pets without prior approval will be asked to leave immediately without a refund and will pay a $250 cleaning fee that will be charged to the card on file. Any other pet damages or excess cleaning will be charged back to renters. The Damage Waiver does not cover any pet-related damage.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

CSA Vacation Rental Insurance has been offered with your reservation. Vacation Rental Insurance reimburses for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses due to certain unforeseeable circumstances that may jeopardize your vacation and force you to incur unplanned expenses. View a Description of Coverage/Policy at www.vacationrentalinsurance.com/330cert

CSA Travel Protection is available at 6.95% of your total reservation. It is an optional add-on and can be added to your reservation at the time of booking or up until your balance is paid in full. You may cancel this insurance within 10 days of purchasing. If canceling after the balance is paid in full the standard cancellation/refund policy applies. Travel Insurance is non-refundable. In the event, you need to cancel your reservation the cost of the travel insurance will be taken out of the reservation hold payment in addition to the cancellation fee.

This insurance will only cover the cost of renting the home. Coverage is provided by CSA Travel Protection, a third-party vendor. Once travel insurance has been added to your reservation, you will receive an email about your coverage directly from CSA Travel Protection. Contact CSA with any questions about the policy we offer CSA 330 at (800) 711-1197 or visit their website www.csatravelprotection.com

RESPONSIBILITY

The signing guest is responsible to ensure that all others in their party are made aware of the rules and regulations set forth in this rental agreement.

911 EMERGENCY CALLS

If a home does not have a landline phone, it is the guests’ responsibility to make arrangements for emergency calls and communications. Cascade Vacation Rentals will not accept any responsibility for renters unable to contact 911 services or after-hours CVR maintenance emergency number in the event of an emergency if no phone is provided.

INDEMNIFICATION

The guest agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the individual homeowner, Cascade Vacation Rentals, and its agents, employees and owners, from and against any and all claims, losses or damages, including, but not limited to, any claims, losses or damages resulting from personal injury and/or damage or loss of property, that are made, incurred or sustained by the guest, the guest’s invitees and/or any other person, that are in any way related to the rental of the premises, unless such claims, losses or damages are caused by the negligent or otherwise wrongful act or omission of the individual homeowner or Cascade Vacation Rentals.

VENUE AND APPLICABLE LAW

Any and all disputes related to this agreement and/or the rental of the premises shall be litigated in Cook County Court, State of Minnesota. This agreement shall be governed by Minnesota Law.