The words “cottage” and “lodge” are terms that are often used interchangeably. But, there are more than a few differences between them, and these differences can impact your vacation. If you’re looking for a way to tell these two apart, take a close look at what makes these buildings what they are.
First Off: The Similarities
The most significant similarity between cottages and lodges is the reason why so many people mix them up.
Location
Cottages and lodges are primarily in remote areas. They usually have a lot of greenery around them and have a woody place or a body of water nearby. The nature of the building’s design is for it to be as close to nature as possible.
The Intention
With a large portion of Earth’s population living in cities or developed towns, most cottages and lodges aren’t for everyday living. They are perfect for holiday rentals. They’re closer to nature, but, honestly, most people aren’t going to live their whole lives there.
Physical Similarities
Many cottages (but not all) are built out of wood or stone. Then again, so are lodges. This adds yet another rustic touch to your vacation. Sure, you may have hardwood floors at home, but it feels different when almost everything around you is from nature.
Now that we’ve checked off the similarities, let’s move on to the question that led you here.
What’s the Difference Between a Lodge and a Cottage?
We have eight differences between cottages and lodges for you. Let’s start with the one we ended our last section with:
1. Physical Differences
Cottages
As we said above, many cottages are majorly from wood-based materials, but nowadays, many aren’t. Materials can include stone, brick, and cement. It all depends on who’s building it, for what purpose, and what material they feel is sturdiest.
There are various cottage designs. Some cottages only have a ground floor, but others have rooms up on the first floor. Typically, a cottage doesn’t have more than one floor because builders design these houses to be nestled in the woods. Who’d want a cottage with its roof sticking above the treetops?
Cottages ought to be cozy, warm, inviting places where you can enjoy nature closely without losing the creature comforts of home and technology. You’ll often see cottages that have complete finishing, such as painted walls and wallpapers. You’ll also get amenities like electricity and running water.
And while some woodland or seashore homes bear the name “cottage,” these homes might not be modest at all. Some sprawling properties with several rooms and complete facilities are named cottages, too.
Lodges
Lodges are, almost exclusively, from wood materials, mostly pine, hemlock, douglas fir, oak, and cyprus. Log cabins also come in different shapes, but they are primarily rectangular (more common) or a round shape (a little less common).
Lodges are also cabins or log cabins, and these structures have a history dating back as far as the Roman Empire.
Lodges are usually simple and easier to erect. Often, you’ll see various lodges together within the same area by a company that rents them out to tourists or vacationers.
2. Comforts
You can live in a cottage year-round. They usually come with electricity and have almost everything you use at home—for example, a coffee maker, a washer and dryer, a blender, etc. You might even get cable and an internet connection.
Cottages are typically vacation homes by private individuals, so there aren’t many issues of discomfort. Your cottage might even have a fence, and some have a small garden for those interested.
On the other hand, lodges are a lot more rustic. A lot of lodges belong to corporations looking to earn returns. Their uniform nature means that they may not have a lot of the facilities available in cottages. For example, your lodge might have electricity but not a lot of appliances.
You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a lodge with a garden and a fence. They’re usually just in an even patch of land within the woods.
3. The Intentions
People build cottages intending to make them their vacation home. But, lodges don’t necessarily have the same end goal.
Some lodges have more furnishings, with electricity and running water to enhance comfort or as a place to rent to people as a vacation home. But, the more rustic lodges without amenities might be a rest stop for hunters, people who make a living in the woods or spend a lot of time outside.
4. Size
Cottages can have a lot of space. They might’ve been intended as a year-round home before. Some of them might have the first floor with several rooms and even have a laundry room, a pantry, and so on. We mentioned earlier that many big, sprawling homes within the woods could also fall under the category of cottages.
This makes cottages an ideal choice for large groups of people looking to spend a holiday together.
Lodges aren’t large. A typical lodge can comfortably house two, three, maybe four people before it starts getting crowded. They’re mostly built for commercial purposes, so they’re not as large as some cottages.
Note that these large cottages aren’t too common, but they are a better investment if you have a larger party.
5. Price
This is the difference that’ll probably have the most significant impact when deciding where to stay.
Cottages are usually more expensive than lodges. This is because they already bear the personalities and luxuries of their owners. They’re more decorated, feel more lived in, and have more amenities than the average house in the woods.
They aren’t exactly easy to put together, and this reflects in their price. One night in a cottage for two people can be as high as £200.
Lodges aren’t so expensive, and the more comfortable ones with all the necessary amenities are around £65 per night for two people. But you can rent a lodge for two people for as low as £30 per night. Just don’t expect the luxuries of home.
6. Activities
Since lodges often act as commercial properties, it also stands to reason that there’ll be other businesses hoping to make money off of the people living in them. This is why lodges (the commercial ones) tend to have a lot more entertainment.
There might be bars and restaurants nearby and kids’ entertainment places, like arcades and shows. The fact that commercially-built lodges also are built in groups means that vacationers have more opportunities to meet new people and socialize.
7. Privacy
The flip side of close living in commercial lodges is that there isn’t a lot of privacy. Since lodges may double as holiday parks, they may be reasonably close to one another. This means that you’ll often be visible around your lodge to the people staying in the other lodges.
This isn’t necessarily a problem for some people. But if it is for you and you’d prefer a more private holiday, then a cottage with a fenced cottage might be a good option for you.
8. Pets
Deciding to spend your holiday in a cottage or lodge is a great way to ensure that your pet gets to take some time off too. However, it also means that you’ll need to find a way to exercise them while you’re there. This can pose a slight challenge.
Cottages are often in the woods and are more suitable to human movement than to our four-legged friends. It might be harder to walk your pet within the woods with all the natural obstacles like tree roots, twigs, and sprawling plants that they’re not familiar with.
Holiday lodges have a solution for this in the form of dog-walking paths. They usually designate and maintain specific paths to walk pets. Plus, the much higher concentration of humans and the likelihood of other pets in these holiday parks means that your pet won’t find their surroundings too unfamiliar.
These are the eight significant differences between a lodge and a cottage. We hope that you now understand the unique characteristics of cottages and lodges. Now that that’s done, on to the next big question.
Should You Rent a Cottage Or a Lodge?
The answer to this question lies in determining your needs. Both cottages and lodges are great for holidays if you understand what to expect from them.
Who Should Rent a Cottage?
A cottage is for someone who prefers to live comfortably but still appreciates nature. It is also perfect for a large group of people who’d like to stay together or people who want to get away and want to live in seclusion for a while. Anyone who wants a tranquil, natural environment will fit right in.
Who Should Rent a Lodge?
A lodge is an excellent choice for people who don’t mind a rustic life. They also fit people who want to experience nature or those with a pet or two. People who want to be in a more quiet, natural environment but don’t want to live in seclusion will fit in too.
Conclusion
While the differences between lodges and cottages may seem striking, the lines can blur easily. A lodge with amenities in a more isolated area can be called a cottage, and a run-down cottage can be called a lodge. What’s more important is that the holiday home you choose meets your needs.
