Entire home

Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access; Paid Access to Sauna; BBQ; Wi-Fi

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Outdoor Hot tub
for each booked night you will get 1 hour hot tub
Room
Bedroom with a king size bed
Westside Fire pit
Kitchen and dinning table

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 453.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Grand River, NS
  • Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park
    ‪34 min drive‬
  • Bras d'Or Lake
    ‪39 min drive‬
  • Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site
    ‪107 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom

1 King Bed

Living Area Inside Cottage

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom

+1
Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access; Paid Access to Sauna; BBQ; Wi-Fi

**PLEASE READ HOUSE RULES BELOW IN THIS DESCRIPTION BEFORE BOOKING. Also if there's no availability, message us and we'll try to find a different cottage for you at the same location via Vrbo!

>Resort Activities: relaxing by either of the two romantic lakeside fire pits, hiking, kayaking to ocean beach, free outdoor hot tub time slot, sauna (30$/hr)

>Cottage Features: cleaned with highest cleanliness standards, stunning lake view, designer log furniture, balcony, BBQ, WiFi, Keurig Machine, dishwasher, stove with oven, microwave & more

HOUSE RULES (If you wish to book this listing, you must read, understand & agree to these rules):

1) We have a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs

2) Bringing pets = 500$ fee & guest(s) will be asked to leave premises immediately without refund—> There are people with severe pet allergies, so we ask for compassion & for you to respect this.

3) All forms of Smoking (tobacco, cannabis, e-cigarettes/vaping etc) is strictly prohibited inside any cottage or building (500$ fee for contaminating a cottage/building with third-hand smoke). Smoking is allowed everywhere else (outside only).

4) Important: Full disclosure on remoteness of location->
St. Esprit is remote, with no nearby restaurants, stores, shopping etc.
-->The closest....
A) Restaurant & full-size grocery store ca. 40 min away (St. Peter’s)
B) Convenience store ca. 20 min away (L’Ardoise)
C) Full size shopping mall or theatre= over 1 hr away (Sydney)
Please keep this in mind before booking as the remoteness of this location is not something we can change or improve on. Getting reviews that mention our location as being unfavourably remote is unfair to us which is why we want to disclose this beforehand to make sure everyone is fully aware of it before booking.

5) Important: Full disclosure on why cottage bear has a 2pm check in & 10 am check out time & why we can't offer you an earlier check-in in or a later check out-->

Please don't ask for an earlier check in or later check out time because it's not possible. We must stagger our check-in/check-out times so that we are able to clean all our cottages thoroughly. This cottage is typically for people who can arrive earlier and able to check out earlier the next day as well. Total stay duration is 21 hours, which is also more than many other Airbnb’s.

6) Hot tub Rules:
a) ALWAYS shower before using the hot tub
b) No glass at hot tub area—>

NEVER bring anything with glass to the hot tub area food (beverage or whatever else). In the rare case, if for some reason you believe there is a medical exemption to this rule you MUST contact us and let us know about this before booking. If for some reason you break this rule & glass breaks (not good.... especially if it lands inside the hot tub), you must immediately exit the hot tub and then
turn off the jets for the safety of yourself and others. Then you have to report this to us immediately so this issue can be taken care of as quickly as possible. This is not a joke & must be taken seriously.

c) All guests must sign a hot tub waiver/questionnaire before using the hot tub. This waiver can be found in the cottage when you arrive.

d) Do not open or close the hot tub cover unless we have granted you permission to do so.

e) No food/snack consumption in the hot tub-->
Food/snacks can be kept on the patio deck & can be consumed outside of the hot tub on the deck. Beverages & smoking are allowed but nothing is to be spilled into the hot tub (use the ash tray provided at hot tub
area). Disclaimer: Do not use drugs or alcohol before or during the use of the hot tub to avoid unconsciousness, possible drowning, and the risk of fatal hyperthermia. Exceptions of course include drugs that have been
medically indicated for you to take by your physician, who has assured that they are safe for you to use before or during hot tub use.

g) Please leave the hot tub area clean & dispose of your trash in the sauna cabin trash can.

h) Pregnancy disqualifies one from hot tub use due to safety reasons.

i) Children under the age of 5 aren't permitted to use the hot tub. All children 5 years or older should have parents/guardians consult with the child's physician on whether hot tub use is safe for them & for how long they are allowed to remain in the hot tub. All children that decide to use the hot tub must be always accompanied by their parent/guardian.

j) Disclaimer: Anyone who decides to use the hot tub should consult with their physician to ensure that they are safe to use a hot tub. Exit the hot tub as soon as you feel hot, dizzy, nauseous, or light-headed. Check with your physician if it is safe for you to use the hot tub for extended periods of time & how often (as well as how long) you should take breaks to sufficiently cool off. If you wish to have more private hot tub time slots after thoroughly considering & implementing the statements
in the aforementioned sentence,
the pricing is 30$/extra hr

7) Full disclosure on last points of Cellular Service before arriving & Resort Wi-Fi:

a) Cellular Service—>There’s no cell phone reception on the resort, however, if your phone allows it & you are with a suitable carrier, you can turn on "Wi-Fi Calling" in your cellular network settings. For certain carriers, this allows you to make & receive phone calls and send/receive text messages. The last service point along the Fleur-de-lis Trail if travelling eastbound is next to the nova scotia transportation and public works building on top of the big hill in Grand River. If travelling westbound, ~12km before the entrance to our driveway, there will be full LTE reception.

b) Resort WiFi—>may experience interruptions during certain weather conditions.

8) Don't sneak in additional people (including brief visitors) without adding them to the reservation-->
Regardless of how minimal someone’s visit/stay is, they have to be added as a guest to the reservation.
Also, up to 1 child, up to and including 12 years of age, can stay for free if they share the rental (as described in the listing) with their respective parent/guardian who has booked the reservation. If the futon in the cottage needs to be prepared as a bed (regardless of whether it’s for a child or adult), there will be a fee of 30$.

9) Thoroughly check for your personal belongings (plugged-in devices/cables/chargers/clothing/ jewelry, wallet, passport etc.) when leaving the hot tub or when checking out of our cottage during departure--> We are not responsible for returning ANY items lost/forgotten to guests. If we find anything, they will be kept in a lost & found box for 30 days. During this time, you can come & arrange to pick it up & after this time, it will be thrown in the trash.

10) To protect guest privacy, taking off or landing a drone on our property is not permitted

11) FAQs: Cottage & Hot Tub location + walking times:
Hot tub location--> private forest clearing ~1.5 min away (walking) from Cottage Bear. ALL guests on our resort are entitled to pick a time slot per booked night for this hot tub. Walking from Cottage Bear to the lakeside beach= ~ 30 sec.

b) How private is the hot tub?--> Guests can block off the hot tub trail using the rope attached to a wooden post along the trail (this fully blocks off the trail) & lowering the "Do Not Enter" sign next to the rope for your convenience. Only the guests who have booked the hot tub for that specific time slot are allowed to enter the hot tub area during that specific time so all guests are aware of the rules anyway & no guest will ever have to share the hot tub with other guests. We have simply provided the rope barrier & sign for extra reassurance with regards to privacy.

c) How big is the cabin?—> 570 square feet. Please consider this given the number of guests that are coming.

d) Anything else I should note?—> see listing pictures. There is a stove with oven, fridge and dishwasher.

12) All services & items for which a fee must be charged must be paid before using the product or service (ex: extra hot tub time, firewood, washed/dried clothes, sauna etc.)

13) Please do not vandalize any part of our property. Landscaped rocks (such as the fireplace) or any other rocks are not to be thrown into the lake or smashed. Please leave the fireplace in a normal respectful condition & do not use our provided bath robes for the fireplace (these bathrobes are intended to be used inside the cottage and for the hot tub/sauna). Do not chop down trees or break off branches.

14) Propane is free for guests but remember to turn off the dial on the BBQ itself & the dial on propane bottle after you are done using it or it’ll drain the entire bottle of its propane!

15) If you need any laundry done we would be more than happy to do that for you (washing - $10 , drying - $10)

16) Bundle $20

17) Sauna (capacity= 2 people)--> 30$/hr (to cover electricity & maintenance)

Property manager

Liane Vetter

Languages

English, German

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
No gatherings exceeding 10 people
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Pets

No pets allowed
500$ fee for breaking this rule & asked to leave!!
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Smoking is allowed outside of the cabin
1) Must read and agree to the house rules found in the listing description for this property if you wish to book this property.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No gatherings exceeding 10 people
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number RYA-2023-24-03011032498061816-4834

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Saint Esprit

Located in Saint Esprit, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Nicholas Denys Museum and MacAskill House Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Cape George Harbour Lighthouse and Jerome Point Lighthouse. Kayaking, power boating and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking nearby.
Map
Grand River, NS

What's nearby

  • Basque Islands Nature Reserve - 28 min drive - 21.3 km
  • Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park - 34 min drive - 23.2 km
  • Bras d'Or Lake - 39 min drive - 31.4 km
  • The Lakes Golf Club at Ben Eoin - 79 min drive - 72.4 km
  • Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site - 107 min drive - 96.4 km

Frequently asked questions

Is Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access; Paid Access to Sauna; BBQ; Wi-Fi pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access; Paid Access to Sauna; BBQ; Wi-Fi?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access; Paid Access to Sauna; BBQ; Wi-Fi?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access; Paid Access to Sauna; BBQ; Wi-Fi located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 20 miles (32 km) of Basque Islands Nature Reserve, Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park and Bras d'Or Lake. Battery Provincial Park and Nicholas Denys Museum are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cara S.

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

Beautiful Oasis

Absolutely perfect, serene getaway. Highly recommend this hidden gem, great stay with beautiful, peaceful surroundings and fabulous hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

zhongjian

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Fabulous wood house, lake side, expansive water view. 5 stars! Restaurants and gas about 30-50 mins drive away, plan accordingly.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Markus M.

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

Cabin by the water

We had a wonderful relaxing time. After spending four days exploring the area, it was a treat to jump into the whirlpool. One evening counting the stars, the next listening to the waves crash against the stones as the sun was setting. Another enjoying the Ocean mist swirl around us, and our last evening as the moon rose above the tree tops, it's reflection shimmering on the water. Walking back to make a tea, and sit before the fire. Liane is a wounderful and thoughtful host! The cabin had everything we needed and more.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ben P.

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

Beautiful Hidden Gem

Everyone should absolutely visit this hidden gem. You will not regret it! My wife and I stayed here for the second time this past weekend, and had an amazing time yet again. We stayed in Cottage Bear, which was very clean, comfortable, and well outfitted. The location is absolutely stunning, with beautiful views of the lake from our cottage. The hot tub is very private, and the fire pits by the lake were a great way to end each night. This is a prefect spot for a romantic getaway. One of the best undiscovered resorts in Nova Scotia!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

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

Relaxing Stay!

We rented this cottage for our 26th Wedding Anniversary and were really looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the view. It was a wonderful spot, with an amazing view. The hot tub was in a beautiful private location. The host stayed in contact by messaging every so often but we had complete privacy. We would definitely go back and stay for longer next time.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathy M.

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

Cannot wait to return! Perfect getaway!

Hi Lianne, I finally got a chance to sit down to write a review of your property, but I don't seem to be able to add it to the site so I wanted to send it along to you directly. We found your property when we were looking for a romantic cottage with a hot tub for my husband's birthday in October. We were thrilled with your property. The Bear Cottage had everything that we could want - it was very clean, fully equipped, warm & cozy. We were relaxed the minute we walked through the door. That evening we enjoyed an hour of peace and tranquility in the hot tub, watching the sunset and the moon appear over the lake. The landscaping around the hot tub made us feel like we were in a private garden, and it was so dark and quiet that we felt like the only 2 people in the whole world. After the hot tub, we enjoyed hot showers and went to the large fire pit by the lake. We toasted homemade bread over a roaring fire and soaked up the beautiful fall evening. The next day we drove to St Peters and went for a walk along the canal. We visited the Christmas shop and found a couple of priceless keepsakes. We stopped at Point MIchaud and spent the afternoon walking along the beach watching the sandpipers run. It was so clean, and the sounds of the birds and the waves were very soothing. We had such an amazing day that we re-booked for the same weekend next year as soon as we returned to the cottage that afternoon. That evening you surprised us with a bottle of wine for my husband's birthday and it was the perfect end to a perfect day. Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful get-away. See you next year Kathy & James
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Robert P.

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

Have never experienced such a tranquil and beautiful place to stay, totally want to visit again

Loved everything about the place
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Alexa W.

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

Beautiful & Quiet

This is a beautiful spot with a lovely view of the lake. Bear cottage is very rustic modern, you can tell they paid attention to all details. My only complaint would be that it says private hot tub but that actually means a booked time slot to the shared hot tub. You're only allowed a 1 hr time slot per night which means it sits idle most of the time. Extra time is $30/hr. The hot tub area is great but more access would be nice in my opinion. Otherwise a lovely spot with all of the things necessary for relaxation!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Leah L.

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

Loved it

I love this spot just beautiful 😊 We will be back again forsure! Great service 👏
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Candace S.

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

Amazing get away location

We stayed in Bear Cabin which had gorgeous views of the lake and a 30 second walk to the amazing, secluded hot tub. Liane was extremely friendly and we had everything we could’ve asked for. We will go back in the summer for a longer period of time to unwind and relax.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

8/10 Good

Chris B.

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

Great time

Great time Will return again sometime
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl N.

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

Winter romantic getaway

Beauiful country surroundings, so quiet and peaceful. Stayed in cottage bear with waterfront view. Cottage was very comfortable great long sized bed. Hot tub was amazing and private. Liane the owner is very friendly and automating. Thanks for the greatest winter getaway ever. Can't wait to experience summer getaway here.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Daniel P.

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

Lovely place

Highly recommended this was an amazing quiet place deff going back
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyn H.

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

A magical weekend.

A lovely spot. The cabin was warm and cozy. Fairy lights lit our way to the hot tub which was open to the night sky. Wonderful weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

About the host

Hosted by Liane Vetter

Host profile image
Family-owned and operated since 1998, here at St. Esprit Lake Wilderness holiday we pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service, hospitality, cleanliness and an overall vacation experience that you will keep close to your heart for years to come. Come and join us on your Cape Breton adventure, and let us show you the peace, quiet and beauty of St. Esprit, situated within the smallest county (by land area) in all of Nova Scotia!

Why they chose this property

The cottage is completely detached from the host house (about 80 meters away) with trees acting as a barrier for privacy.

The waterfront cottage is neatly nestled in a clearing that is surrounded by trees to ensure privacy relative to other cottages, yet has a clearing on the balcony side, yielding for a stunning view of the lake and the surrounding lush green plant life and scenery.

You'll be able to lounge on the balcony and bask in the sun while enjoying your outdoor BBQ with the utmost amount of privacy. Access to the lake (which often reaches temperatures of 26 degrees celsius (79 F) is just seconds away, and reaching, arguably one of the most private ocean beaches you'll find in nova scotia, is just another 30 minute kayak tour away. Most of the time, you'll be the only one on St. Esprit beach. Check out the guidebook in our cottage or on airbnb for other fun adventures that await you with your next stay.

Cottage Bear features one bedroom with a king-size bed as well as one beautiful log-style futon in the living room that is able to accommodate another two people if needed. Additionally, the cottage has a flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, mini-fridge, coffee maker, stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher, balcony with patio furniture, outside BBQ, resort lakeside fire pits and free parking. The bathroom also features a shower where the tub component is a jacuzzi with water jets.

What makes this property unique

Guests are able to access any part of the resort they wish (this includes the lake, ocean or wherever they wish to go exploring!) other than the cottage areas since they may be occupied by other guests.

Free:
-Internet access (available in the cottage and most areas of the main parts of the resort)
-Boating (canoe, kayaks, paddleboat)
-Two Lakeside Fire-pits
-BBQ (the charcoal BBQ itself is free to all guests, as is the propane BBQ. Propane is free)
-1 hr of Daily Private Outdoor Hot Tub Access

Access for a fee:
-Sauna (fits 2 people; 30 CAD per hour)
-Charcoal can be purchased if using charcoal BBQ

Interaction with guests:

By default, guests will receive the utmost amount of privacy, peace and quiet. If we are needed, guests are able to knock on the office door (former protocol that is currently not active: to contact the host by pressing the button for the bell ( found to your right when walking into the office area entrance, right next to the light switches). We live on premises so guests can reach us 24/7 if needed.

Languages:

English, German