Policies & Good-to-Knows
No fine-print surprises: everything below is also spelled out on your quote and confirmation email, including which cancellation policy applies to your specific stay and why.
Cancellation policy — computed per booking
Strict
Applies when any part of the stay falls May 1 – Sep 30, or the stay is 5+ nights.
- Full refund 30+ days before check-in
- 50% refund 14–29 days before check-in
- No refund under 14 days
Moderate
Applies to short off-season stays (Oct–Apr, under 5 nights).
- Full refund 14+ days before check-in
- 50% refund 7–13 days before check-in
- No refund under 7 days
Your quote states which policy applies before you commit to anything.
Payment schedule
- 50% deposit secures your dates once we approve your request.
- Balance is due 14 days before check-in — we email a payment link.
- Booking less than 14 days out? Full payment up front.
- All payments are by card through Stripe — we never see or store card numbers.
Damage deposit
A $250 CAD pre-authorization hold (not a charge) is placed on a card 1–2 days before check-in and released after checkout, assuming the nest is left happy.
Taxes — itemized, as BC requires
| Line | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| GST | 5% | accommodation + cleaning fee |
| BC PST | 8% | accommodation + cleaning fee |
| MRDT (Municipal & Regional District Tax) | 2% | accommodation + cleaning fee |
15% combined. Shown as three separate lines on every quote and receipt.
House rules
- Check-in after 3:00 pm, check-out before 11:00 am.
- Maximum 2 guests — the cabin is genuinely tiny and we love it that way.
- The person booking must be 25 or older — our insurer requires it.
- 2-night minimum stay (3 nights in peak summer).
- No pets, no smoking or vaping anywhere on the property.
- No parties or events; quiet hours 10 pm – 8 am.
- Outdoor fires only in the firepit, only when no fire ban is in effect.
Stay-in-touch emails
If you sign up to stay in touch, we keep your email (and first name, if you give it) only to send the occasional note about openings and news — a few times a year. We never share or sell it. Every note has an unsubscribe link, or just reply "no thanks".
Licensing
A Happinest Cabin is a registered BC short-term rental — registration H992392407, property address 380 Cranberry Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2H2.
Taxes are collected by A Happinest a Wellness B&B, a BC general partnership (registration FM0502600).