We had a great stay, cottage was cozy and the host was very responsive. The 'town' folk were also very welcoming...overall a wonderful vibe.

We were pleasantly surprised with our little cottage. It was just 2 of us and a dog. We had company stay one night and we were all comfortable. Cottage is well appointed with everything you need. Great waterfront and nice swimming So close to Bala (we walked one day) Port Carling, Gravenhurst. Totally happy. Philip and Claudia are great hosts. Very attentive and easy to get a hold of. We would rent again.

- first of all it is a cabin, not a cottage - internet connection it terribly slow and unreliable. You probably can check weather or do text chat, but nothing more. - all beds are in the same room, so adults will not have any private space - loft smells, most probably it is a smell of mice feces (I grown up in a country side, I know smells) - expect additional charge on top of all VRBO charges

Great place to relax and enjoy nature. Excellent communication with owner, prompt response for any issues.

Overall good place to stay. Directions and check in were spot on. Cabin was clean and well appointed. The cabin is small. And the staircase is a bit steep and narrow. We went at the end of September and the lake was quiet and peaceful. Nice dock, nice fire pit and a nice deck with glass rail for a great view. All the cottages on this lake are close together so in high season I would think it might be busy. It is close to town and easy to walk in for essentials or a meal. Bathroom with shower were recently renovated very nicely.

An excellent family cottage. For me personally, I stayed on the first floor as I have knee issues and the angle of the loft stairs may have been a challenge. The pullout futon on the first floor was surprisingly very comfortable. The bathroom and shower was 1st rate. A complete kitchen which was fully equipped with all the appliances. Communication with the owner was immediate and responsive. This is a cozy, homie cottage with a lovely little beach and dock to launch a kayak and sit and take in a sunset. Will go back!

Awesome experience, beautiful fully equipped property with great view. Hosts were extremely helpful.

This property is just as described and presented! Cute cabin with everything you need. The time of year we chose was quiet, which is exactly what we wanted. I would love to return during warmer weather to experience everything it has to offer! Phil and Claudia were amazing hosts and very accommodating to our specific needs. Thank you for sharing your ‘little secret’!!

This cottage is super cute. Nicely stocked. Clean. Decorated adorably. Great views. But it is on shared property with a larger cottage. If you are looking for seclusion this isn’t the place.

Wonderful little cottage for a small family looking for a quiet getaway. The pictures do not do it justice.

This a an amazing little spot. The cottage is so cute and cozy, and the little electric fireplace makes for a sweet atmosphere when the nights are a bit chilly. The kitchen is very well equipped, the beds are super comfy, the bathroom is surprisingly big and the shower is really cool! Outside, the little deck is perfect for a nice candlelight dinner (they provide lots of “Off” for the mosquitos), you can also lounge in the hammock, or sit by the nice firepit, but the dock is the star of the show. Yes, it is perfect for a glass of wine while gazing at the unbelievably beautiful lake, or for hours of reading and writing (which I did). Note that the neighbours are pretty close on each side, so it can get a bit noisy (depending on your neighbours) but the cottage in itself is just fantastic and the lake view is so breathtaking, it is worth it. A huge thanks to the owners for such a sweet, cozy and amazing place

We recently rented Bala's Little Secret for my father and his wife while we stayed in Bala's Lakehouse Retreat next door. The cottage was perfect in every way and exactly what you would expect from a Muskoka experience. The stairs to the loft are a bit steep so if you have issues with mobility or small children this little house may not be right for you. The dock is perfect and the facilities really great. Philip great to work with and a perfect host.

We rent a cottage every summer and this is by far our favourite in about 10 years! Just two of us and our dog and the cottage was perfect size for us. Would also be good for two couples or a couple with one or two children. The swimming off the dock is fantastic and there are NO WEEDS!! Just amazing swimming! There is also a gentle slope for kids/pets to wade into the water on either side of the dock. Absolutely everything we could have needed was provided, including a paddleboat and kayaks which really added to our enjoyment of the lake! The owners were available by phone if we needed them and very kind. I would Highly recommend this cottage and hope to rent it again next year!

This is an absolute find for anyone looking for a small cottage in a great area! We snapped up this cottage after seeing it while renting the larger cottage next door last year. It was perfect for our son, his wife, and their 13 year old son, although it could accomodate more. They absolutely loved it! Great deck, lots of wonderful Muskoka chairs here and there to relax in and amazing sparkling water to swim and boat in! Lots of space between the two cottages, so could easily be rented on it's own. It is full of charm, with a nice sized living area with comfy chairs, a little kitchen, and an unexpectedly wonderful renovated bathroom! There is a loft bedroom upstairs that sleeps 4, accessed by a small stairway. I did see several reviews commenting on the steep stairs, but did not find them a problem myself and I am in my late 60's, so except for very small children, don't think it would be an issue. We rented both cottages last year, and can't wait to return for what my grandson who stayed here calls "the best week of the year!"

We had a great vacation. The cottage is small, but accommodated two people very well. It is clean and nicely decorated. Our only complaint was lack of privacy, since there is another larger cottage on the same property. Despite that fact we really enjoyed ourselves. The location is beautiful and the lake was great for swimming. It is a very steep climb to get up to the loft space--so I wouldn't recommend this cottage for people with physical limitations or very young children. The bed in the loft is not queen size--it is a double. Owner needs to change this in his description. Also, there is no blu-ray. Aside from that, we really enjoyed ourselves and had a wonderful holiday.

One week of total relaxation. Boy this was exactly what the doctor ordered. We will consider this place again for next year. A few notes - If you don't do ladders you end up sleeping on a pull out couch (focus on the ouch part). We saw the pics, thought we could handle the ladder, we were wrong, our bad. We hit a week of cold nights, 12-14, so we got the most out of the electric fire place - thankful for that. Wireless spotty, but we knew that ahead of time. TV - 1 channel, plus another one part time. For us, not a problem. Nice area for walking. Water was cold but nice and clean. As I said, if it's peace and quiet you want, consider this place - it will give you that.

Great cozy cottage with a loft for sleeping. Nice living room area and deck. Great lake for swimming and kayaking. Great views from the dock. Would definitely recommend this place. We hope to come back sometime soon!

The cottage was clean and attractive, however if you are looking for quiet and privacy, this is not the cottage to choose. It is VERY close to another cottage that was occupied by many partiers who kept the music going until sometime after 4 in the morning on the weekend. It is also very close to the owners' own cottage, and their children obviously use the dock area frequently. It should also be noted that the bedrooms are only accessible by stairs that are really more of a ladder and would be difficult to negotiate for seniors or small children. Best smoked meat ever eaten in pulled pork sandwiches at Bala House, a tiny restaurant not too far away on the main road.

Fantastic cottage, super easy to get to and the owners were very accommodating and organized! Cottage has all the luxuries and is super clean! Thanks for a wonderful stay.