Kids Activities
The Bozeman Public Library has kids programs which are very popular. For outdoor education, Montana Outdoor Science School runs year-round programs for ages pre-kindergarten to teen, highly recommended – check out their class schedule on the web. During summer, Bogart Pool located on S Church Ave has lots of things going on.
The Montana Raptor Center has great offerings for kids and adults. Each Sunday from 3-4 in the summer the have free programs that are sure to be intrigue locals and visitors alike.
How long has Bozeman Cottage been in business?
Since 1998, starting with just one house and gradually expanding to include all the Bozeman rentals on the web site.
What day of the week do reservations start?
Any day you want, no rules about that because it’s ridiculous to make people start their vacations on a specific day of the week. A one week reservation means staying 7 nights, ie. arrive on Saturday, leave the next Saturday.
What is the minimum stay?
All houses have 7 night minimums during Summer and holidays unless the reservation is made within 30 days of arrival. If shorter gaps are created in between two other reservations you can reserve them at any time (in other words, two week-long reservations with say, 4 nights in between, can be booked during Summer or Christmas even if it’s far in advance).
How do I make a reservation for Bozeman rentals?
The whole reservation process can be done online, starting with the calendar grid on the home page, and usually confirmed instantly. Simply click the arrival date on any of the calendars and you will be walked through the entire process. A 25% reservation deposit holds the reservation.
What payment methods are available?
Credit Cards: Payable online through the secure reservation process.
Checks: Any type of check.
How much of a damage deposit is required?
I have switched mainly to using a damage insurance policy which costs you $55 and cover up to $1500 in damage with no deductible. There is still the option of giving me your credit card number or paying a refundable damage deposit if you prefer. If using a credit card, I only charge the card if needed. I’ve had very few instances of needing to do that, but the insurance policies are the best way in my opinion.
What is the cancellation policy?
Any cancellation made 60 days or more before the scheduled arrival date will receive a full refund of the reservation deposit, less a $100 cancellation fee. Any cancellation made within 60 days of the scheduled arrival date shall be subject to a forfeiture of the Agreement payment(s), unless the Manager is able to re-rent the Premises for the reserved dates at an equivalent rate.
What is travel protection (trip insurance) and should I buy it?
We highly recommend travel protection as it covers things like missed flights, sickness (including COVID-19), lost baggage, job loss, weather, and travel delays for a very low price. You may purchase through our travel protection partner here or other providers. Here is a resource that describes vacation rental travel protection for renters. You will find details on what is covered, as well as an accurate quote to protect your trip.
What is the 8% bed tax?
This tax is included in the rental rate, except where noted. Montana does not have a sales tax, but the bed tax has been in effect since 1987. Businesses who provide lodging must collect the tax and forward it to the Montana Department of Revenue on a quarterly basis. Proceeds from the tax are transferred to the Montana Heritage Commission for the preservation of its historic properties; the university system for a Montana travel research program; the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the maintenance of facilities in state parks; the Montana Historical Society for signage and maintenance of historic sites; and the Department of Commerce for tourism promotion and for the promotion of Montana as a location for the production of motion pictures and television commercials.
What airport do I fly into for Bozeman?
Gallatin Field, airport code BZN, located just 8 miles from downtown Bozeman. If you have trouble getting flights into Bozeman or find them expensive, try Billings, Helena, or Butte (140, 90, and 80 miles away, respectively).
When should I visit Bozeman for Fishing, Hiking, Skiing, and Yellowstone?
FISHING SEASONS – As for fishing, a great pre-runoff season sneaks into late March and April, before the rivers swell with snowmelt. Mid June is when the waters usually clear up again and stay nice thru the fall except for thunderstorm runoff. Late July – mid August can be slow fishing due to higher river temperatures and lower flows. Fall fishing can be excellent right up thru Thanksgiving. The Lucky Dog Lodge and the River Bend Cabin, just west of Bozeman, are perfect for fishing from the house on the West Gallatin. For those of you looking to hone your skills and go out with a guide, see links below. Need the latest fishing report?
WEATHER – The most colorful time of year to visit is mid May to mid June when the tulips, iris and lilacs are in bloom. It’s a moist time of year with dramatic swings in the weather which is always exciting. July is the hottest month with temps in the 90’s commonly as the countryside fades from green to brown. August – October is great for cooler temperatures, hopper fly fishing, and lots of local produce.
SKIING – In November we start accumulating our winter’s snow and the best skiing usually kicks in around the holidays and lasts into April.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – During winter I would highly recommend a snowcoach tour with Alpen Guides out of West Yellowstone, MT. They have awesome historic coaches, with all new drive trains, and will truly educate you about park ecology and geology. They’ll get you into the park early in the morning before the snowmobiles. There is great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the north part of the park between the Mammoth and Cook City entrances, and no snowmobiles there because the road remains open.
During summer, the possibilities are endless – just go!
What is the busiest time of year in Bozeman?
June-August is the busiest time to visit so I recommend making housing & air reservations for by December. The Sweet Pea Festival is always the first weekend in August which is very popular also for it’s outdoor arts exhibits and music performances. Christmas and MSU’s graduations are also good times to book far in advance.
How do I find the house?
You will receive extensive directions and door code to your house by email. There is a map link for each house on the house’s web page and in the directions emails, so you can bookmark or print that map and bring it with you. Cab/Uber/Lyft drivers can find street addresses usually, but will not know where the houses are by name (like, “Where is Lindley Place Guest House?”). You must bring all necessary information with you to find your house in case you cannot reach us when you arrive. The directions and keyless door code you receive by email are bulletproof. If you have questions about arrival then it’s best to call or write before you leave home but we are always available by phone/text if you encounter difficulties.
How do I check-in, and at what time?
All Bozeman Cottage houses have keyless entry locks, so all you need is your own personal code for the lock and the directions to the house. This way you can arrive whenever you want and you don’t need to find a key to get in. Keyless entry also means you don’t have to keep track of keys and everyone has access to the house if you split up during the day. Check-in is at 4pm. Larger houses need more time to be cleaned and during busy seasons and we commonly have people leaving in the morning and the next party arriving the same afternoon. If not, then we can usually flex the check-in/check-out times.
How do I check-out?
Check-out time is 10am. Just collect your belongings, pick up the house and lock the door. We’ll take care of all the cleaning and laundry.
Is there public transportation in the area?
Uber and Lyft are operating here so it’s increasingly common for people to be able to skip renting a car, especially when paired with our in-house town bike rental! A free Streamline bus network serves Bozeman, 4-Corners and Belgrade, including a Big Sky shuttle. Bozeman Area Bus Information
Internet?Yes, all of our rentals have wireless internet access, the password will be emailed to you with the keyless entry code when you book your stay.
Babies?
A vacation rental is ideal lodging for young families; children can explore much more inside and outside without waking strangers next door, wandering the halls of the hotel, or disappearing into another lodger’s room.
Children 0-18 months in age are completely FREE in all Bozeman Cottage rentals. All of our rentals come with a pac-n-play. Please check individual rental descriptions or let us know if you need anything extra for your family.
Are there supplies and utensils for cooking?
Along with linens and non-toxic shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel from EO Products, Bozeman Cottage rentals are fully equipped with pots/pans, cooking utensils, spices, dry goods (flour, sugar, etc), and come with a starter pack of hometown roasted coffee. We use Dropps brand pods for laundry and dish detergent which are all natural and do not involve single use plastic packaging.
Another reason you can save so much by staying in a vacation rental instead of a hotel/motel is that you don’t need to eat out for all your meals, cooking is possible in all of our rentals. I calculate you would be spending at least $25-$50 per person, per day, to eat out. Cooking your own meals gets cheaper the larger the party. Besides, even Bozeman’s spectacular eating destinations won’t always top your own recipes.