Lake Ida Beach Resort

The cottage was spacious and just the right size for my husband and me.

The water heater stopped working on Thursday night, and hot water didn't return until Tuesday morning. Management doesn't seem to care whether guests have hot water. The rooms are dumpy, and there's a lot of what I'd call outside activity.

Our cabin had everything we needed: a kitchen, dining area, living room, bedroom and bathroom, plus dishes, a coffee maker and filters, an oven and stove, microwave, and a cold fridge with a freezer. The air conditioner worked amazingly well, and the place was clean. We stayed nine days during our vacation, and the rate was great. Having our own little place to come back to felt much better than being around so many people in a hotel. We spent mornings walking on the grass and looking out over the lake. We fished from the dock and caught a few pumpkin seeds. The pool was clean and roomy, with a shallow end where my son could play and enough depth and space on the other end for me to swim. The owners were very nice and always around if we needed anything. It was just right for our vacation. I'd highly recommend it for a solo trip or a small family, especially if you like having your own space instead of a typical hotel setup.

We come here once a year and really enjoy the lake, dock and cottage. It's clean and comfortable, and has a shabby charm. There is a bit of a musty smell when you first step inside, but opening the windows clears it quickly. The TV worked perfectly, though its placement was odd and the wires were all over the place. If you can let the small things go, it's a really nice little gem.