What additional charges might apply when renting a mountain cottage in Sälen?

The issue of additional charges when booking a holiday home is what determines whether a premium price feels reasonable or worrying. We’ve all heard the story of the friend who booked a cheap holiday and was then hit with a cleaning charge, a linen charge, a service charge and a deposit that nobody had mentioned. You shouldn’t have to go through that experience, and the honest way to avoid it is to lay out the full list before you book – which is exactly what this article does.

The short version: when you book a large mountain chalet in Sälen With us, the rent is essentially the amount you pay. Any additional costs may include optional extras that you choose yourself, a security deposit – which is not a charge but a guarantee – and a few charges that only arise if something actually goes wrong. The exact amounts and rules that apply to your specific booking are set out in the booking terms and conditions and in the booking confirmation – we do not quote any figures here, as they may vary between properties.

Short answer: most things are included – but there are four things you should check

Before you compare two accommodation options, ask the same four questions of both:

• Is the final clean included, or is it an optional extra that is added at checkout?
• Are bed linen and towels included, and if so, how many per person?
• Is a deposit taken, and if so, when is it refunded?
• What optional extras are available, and how much do they cost?

If you receive four clear answers, you will have a comparable total. If you receive four vague answers, you will also learn something important. We have described what is normally included in our overview of what is usually included when you hire a holiday cottage in Sälen.

Cleaning: what’s included and what’s optional

Here, it is important to distinguish between two completely different things. End-of-stay cleaning is the professional cleaning carried out between guests, so that the next group arrives at a clean property. Extra cleaning during the stay is something else entirely – an optional service for those who want their towels changed and the kitchen tidied up mid-week, which is common for larger groups and longer stays.

What is included for your particular property is set out in the booking terms and conditions and in the confirmation. Whichever applies, the same basic rule always stands: the fact that final cleaning is included does not mean that the property can be left in a state of disarray. The dishwasher must be emptied, the fridge must be cleared out and the rubbish must be taken out. We have gone through the practical procedure in detail in the article on Cleaning and check-out in practice.

Bed linen, towels and made-up beds

In the traditional Swedish holiday cottage system, guests bring their own bed linen. In the premium segment, it’s the other way round – bed linen and towels are included as standard, and this is one of the most obvious differences compared to a standard holiday cottage booking. However, always check two details: how many towels per person are included, and whether these are bath towels or smaller towels. If you want bath towels for the sauna and hot tub, these are often an optional extra.

Made-up beds on arrival are also an optional extra, and one of the most appreciated when you’re travelling in a large group or arriving late in the evening. Making up twelve beds after a five-hour drive is not a great way to start the week. You can see which optional extras are available for each house under optional extras for the mountain cabin.

Optional extras that cost extra – and are usually worth it

Optional extras are the only category of additional charges that you have complete control over. The most common ones are early check-in, late check-out, extra cleaning during your stay, made-up beds, a welcome pack, firewood delivery, ski storage, and a private chef or catering service. For larger groups, a dinner with a private chef is often cheaper per person than taking the same group to a restaurant, and also saves you the hassle of organising an evening out.

Book any extras at the same time as making your booking, if you can. Not only is availability limited during the school holidays, but the total amount will also be shown on a single confirmation – which is the whole point of this article.

Deposit – a security, not a fee

A security deposit is not a cost. It is a sum held as security during your stay and which is refunded afterwards if the property is left in the same condition as when you arrived. This distinction is important when comparing two properties: the deposit should not be included in the price, but it should be taken into account in terms of liquidity, as the money is tied up for a period of time.

If a deposit is required for your house, the amount and when it will be refunded are set out in the booking terms and conditions and the booking confirmation. Please do ask before booking if you would like to know in advance.

Charges that only apply if something goes wrong

The last category is the one that causes the most concern and affects the fewest guests. This includes compensation for damage, a charge for failure to sort waste or for waste left behind, the cost of cleaning if the property is left in such a state of disarray that extra cleaning time is required, and the cost of decontamination if pets have been brought to accommodation where pets are not permitted.

The issue of pets is worth clarifying, as it is often misunderstood. Pets are welcome in those of our properties that are labelled as dog-friendly – you’ll find them listed under dog friendly accommodation in Sälen. In other accommodation, pets are not permitted, out of consideration for people with allergies, and no pets are allowed at all during events and large gatherings. If a dog is brought to a place where it is not permitted, or during an event, a cleaning fee will be charged in accordance with the booking terms and conditions. The rule is therefore simple to follow: book a dog-friendly property, and make sure to state that your dog will be accompanying you at the time of booking.

The same applies to electric car charging, which must take place at a designated charging point and not from a standard wall socket. This is a fire safety issue, not a revenue issue.

This way, you’ll have the full amount set out in black and white before you book

Here’s what to do: request a quote or a booking summary where the rent, optional extras and any deposit are listed on separate lines. Read through the booking terms and conditions for the property you have chosen – there are two versions, depending on whether we are the landlord or an agent, as the terms and conditions for Sälengodset and Fjällgodset respectively the terms and conditions for the properties we act as agents for. Then ask the four questions at the top of the article. If you’ve got answers to all of them, there won’t be any surprises left.

Summary – get the maths right for your mountain cabin

Additional charges when renting a holiday home are rarely a problem with landlords who are open about them, and almost always a problem with those who aren’t. With us, the structure is simple: the rental fee is the base price, you choose the optional extras yourself, the deposit is a security deposit that you’ll get back, and the final charges only apply if something goes wrong – which it rarely does when the rules are known in advance. The amounts and deadlines specific to your booking are set out in the booking terms and conditions and in your confirmation. If anything is unclear, please ask before booking; we’d rather answer once too often than for you to discover a charge you hadn’t anticipated.