Fees
Our nightly rental fee is $115 plus HST ($100 when booking for 5 or more nights) and is the same for both the Guest House and Cottage. A two night minimum is required. Our nightly fee is inclusive, meaning that there are no additional fees added for cleaning, service charges etc.
Your credit card will be charged a $50 deposit when booking online. The remaining balance will be charged at check-in. Deposits are refundable, minus a $10 processing fee, if cancelation is more than 7 days before your stay. When cancelling within 7 days of your stay, the $50 deposit is non-refundable.
We do not want fees to be a barrier that prevents you from visiting. If the fee is an issue, please talk to us and we can work within your budget.
Meals
Meal service is not provided. Accommodations include a full kitchen and dishes. Pat and Anita are very willing to share additional kitchen items that aren’t specifically provided with the guest accommodations (a crock pot or fondue pot, for example). Just ask! The town of Dorchester (10 minutes away) has some take out options (ask Pat and Anita for details). Grocery stores and additional restaurant options are located in Sackville (20 mins), Amherst NS (30 mins, which has an excellent BBQ joint) and Moncton (40 minutes).
Some basic necessities (such as coffee, tea, condiments, etc.) and some homemade goodies are included. If you have leftover, unopened food items (canned, dried, or frozen goods) that you are willing to leave behind at the end of your stay, we encourage this as a way to bless the next guests.
Cleaning
All cleaning (except for dish-washing) is included in your rates. Unlike most vacation rentals, you are NOT expected to strip the beds, clean the bathrooms, and take out the garbage before you leave. We want you to relax for your WHOLE stay. If you require any housekeeping services during your stay, please just ask Pat and Anita.
WiFi
Wifi access is available, but our encouragement is that guests disconnect from technology as much as possible during your stay with us. There is a TV in the gymbrary and you can bring your own devices as you see fit. Our internet connection is very stable at 50mbps and we have full cellular coverage in our area.
Pets
Ballast Lodge cannot accommodate pets, with the exception of registered service dogs.
Smoking and Drugs
Smoking and vaping are not permitted indoors or within 5 meters of any building. Please ask us to bring you an ash can for cigarette butts and ashes. Illegal and recreational drugs are prohibited on the Ballast Lodge property.
Alcohol
Alcohol is permitted, but we kindly ask that you be mindful of other guests. If there are other guests staying at the same time as you, please keep alcoholic beverages inside your own accommodations.
Noise
Ballast Lodge is intended to be a place of refreshment, where our guests can enjoy the sounds of nature while they pray, read, or walk. However, we also want you to have some fun! As long as you’re not disturbing other guests, you are welcome to enjoy outdoor games, laugh around the campfire, or crank up the music during your workout in the gymbrary.
Children
The focus of Ballast Lodge is adults and couples, and our guest amenities and property have been developed with that in mind. We recognize that there will be times when families need to get away and spend time together, and in those cases, you are welcome. However, please note that the staircase in the Guest House is open on one side and is a significant safety concern for anyone not fully comfortable on the stairs. And the toaster oven in the Cottage gets quite hot on the outside and might be within reach of little fingers. And whatever your little ones need (high chair, crib, plastic dishes, toys…), you’ll need to bring with you.