Covid 19 Rental Policies 2020/2021

We understand many of you are in the same boat, you are ready to enjoy Acadia National Park and a 2021 vacation but you aren’t sure about Maine’s travel mandates or Acadia Yurts’ rental policies. Currently there are several ways to vacation safely to Maine and here is a brief overview (as of 12/11/20):

• If your place of primary residence is from any of these states, ME, NH, VT then you are currently exempt from travel restrictions and may move freely about the state.

• For all other state residents, you must receive a negative Covid 19 test 72 hours prior to your arrival in Maine.

• Spend 14 days quarantining in Maine prior to starting your vacation.

• Spend your entire vacation in “quarantine”. This would look like social distancing and you could still access the park for outdoor activities (hiking, biking, swimming, etc.) and you could get takeout from restaurants but you would NOT be able to grocery shop, dine in restaurants or go on excursions such as nature cruises/whale watches etc. without a negative test.

As far as the Acadia Yurts cancellation policy, for people booking now, we are enforcing it (click here to view our Rental Agreement). Basically if you cancel outside 30 days to check in your security deposit would be held as a penalty. If cancelled inside 30 days to check in, your entire rental amount is at risk unless we can rebook your dates to another traveler. If you were to book today and everything stays the same (pandemic wise) but you get fearful of travel, we would follow our existing policies.

If the test you take in order to travel to Maine comes back positive for the Coronavirus, we are unable to issue refunds it will be too late for us to remarket your dates. We unfortunately cannot to be responsible for the financial burden of a cancellation so close to your check in date. We urge you to be mindful of your activities 14 days prior to travel in order to maintain virus free and thus enjoy your vacation at Acadia Yurts.

If you booked prior to the pandemic or the travel restrictions tighten heavily after you book and we experience another shut down, we would give all existing reservations the following 3 options:

• Move dates to another time, this year or next (no penalty).

• Hold a flexible credit for future travel (no penalty).

• Issue a full refund (no penalty).

We are not in the business of holding people’s money unnecessarily and have worked closely with each guest during the pandemic to find a solution that best meets their needs. Hopefully these answers will set your mind at ease and give you an confidence to book a fun 2021 vacation at Acadia Yurts! If you have any further questions please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you have questions after that then send us an email. We look forward to the possibility of hosting you!

Covid Rental Cleaning Protocols

At Acadia Yurts, we take great pride in the cleanliness of your unit.  To ensure your safety, we have cleaned the Yurts and Tiny Houses in the following ways:

• All staff wore 3 ply face masks and gloves while in your unit.

• Cleaning products are consistent with CDC recommended disinfectants.

• All bed, bath and kitchen linens were washed in hot water with soap and a touch of bleach (whites) or white vinegar (colors).

• All surfaces, included but not limited to, countertops, sinks, shower, toilet, etc. have been disinfected.

• All fabric items, included but not limited to, pillows, mattresses, rugs, couches, curtains, etc. have been sprayed with a fabric safe disinfectant.

• All commonly touched areas, included but not limited to, door handles, light switches, lockboxes, cabinet knobs, shower handle, etc. were wiped down with a disinfectant wipe.

• Floors are vacuumed and mopped.

• Windows have been opened with fan on high and bathroom exhaust on to promote airflow between guests.

If you have any questions about our cleaning process or anything else safety related, please feel free to call or text our business number, (207) 669-2059.  We hope this sets your mind at ease so you can enjoy your vacation

Covid and The Wellness Center

This season we will be limiting use of the Wellness Center to clients who fit the following criteria:

• Maine residents, residents of the other 2 exempt states (NH & VT) or folks that have completed a 14 day quarantine in the state of Maine.

• Travelers who have recently tested negative for the Coronavirus.

We have also added measures to ensure client safety while using our services:

• All staff members wear a 3 ply-face mask.

• Cleaning products are consistent with CDC recommended disinfectants.

• Staggered appointment times to limit patrons in waiting area as well as leaving more time to cleaning between visitors.

• When possible, waiver forms will be sent electronically to be filled out prior to arrival.

• All visitors are expected to wear a mask until they have entered their treatment room.

• All commonly touched areas, including but not limited to door handles, light switches, bathroom fixtures, shower handle, etc. were wiped down with a disinfectant wipe between patrons.

• Additional time between appointments to allow for deeper cleaning (unless back to back clients are from the same household).

• Air purifiers will be utilized in the treatment rooms.

• The float tank will be cleaned following the Floatation Tank Association covid guidelines between clients.

• The sauna, as per Sunlighten Sauna Company, will be cleaned with it’s traditional solution of 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water. This is because our sauna is a medical grade unit (utilizes the correct wavelengths the human body can absorb at least 95% of the time) and high quality infrared is a natural germ and bacteria killer. All touch points inside the room of the sauna will also be cleaned (with a CDC recommended cleaner) as well as all fabric items and the shower in between each client.

• The massage room will be disinfected between each client including all touch points, the massage table and all fabric items. The face cradle will also have a pillow case attached underneath to collect any droplets while the client is face down. Karen will be wearing a face covering during the duration of the session and all clients are asked to wear one while face up.

Pay What You Can

UPDATE 5/20/20:

Thank you so much for all of those that participated in our “Pay What You Can” Program for the month of June! In the last 3 weeks we have received over 300 applications and placed over 100 families who offered to pay what they can! We have been overwhelmed by the positive response to this offering and plan to offer something similar annually.

***** At this point we are NO LONGER accepting applications for the program *****

Since we shared this program first via our NEWSLETTER and social media pages, we encourage you to follow us on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM. If we do not get the chance to host you this summer, then we look forward to opportunity in the future! Thank you so much again!

ORIGINAL POST 4/30/20:

As life in Maine changes in the wake of Covid-19, we at Acadia Yurts are excited to ask you to try an experiment with us!  Tourism is such a huge part of local economy on Mount Desert Island and due to the newly imposed 14 day “out-of-stater” quarantine in June (and potentially July & August), our yurts will largely remain empty.  Without these June travelers, we thought we might offer Mainers a staycation option to experience Acadia National Park and still remain within your budget.  Here is our pitch:

This June, we would like to offer people living in Maine, the opportunity to “pay what you can” to stay at Acadia Yurts!  We are waiving our usual 7-night requirement and welcoming locals for shorter periods of time, all while offering this on a budget you get to set.  That’s right, you get to stay in one of our yurts or tiny houses and name your price. 

Acadia Yurts, a perfect place to safely and pleasantly social distance, will offer you one of our rental units, each featuring an indoor bathroom and fully stocked kitchen, located in Southwest Harbor and surrounded by Acadia National Park, at a price you can afford for a length of time that works for you.  We will furnish all the necessary bed and bath linens; you just bring the people you want to spend time with!  We have on site charcoal grills and a fire pit for star gazing, free Wi-Fi, picnic table eating areas and we are just minutes from many incredible national park sites.

To ensure your safety at our property, we are going to schedule June reservations with gap days in order to allow for proper cleaning between guests.  We will of course be washing all bed and bath linens in hot water with bleach.  All surfaces and commonly touched areas will be disinfected including countertops, door handles, light switches, etc. and we use a self-check in process so you can arrive and depart at your leisure.  Cleaning products will be consistent with the CDC recommended disinfectants.

·         To apply please fill out the short application below and email it to us at acadiayurts@gmail.com

·         Due to current state requirements, this offer is only valid for residents living in Maine who have been quarantined in the state for at least 14 days

·         Please share this offer with someone you think could also benefit from a short getaway.  Getting the word out via your social media or by forwarding our messages helps us reach more people

While this pandemic has drastically affected everyone lives, we’d like to still take advantage of the things we find important (and share them with you!): reconnecting with friends and family, spending time in nature, traveling and sharing new experiences!  Hopefully this offer adds a silver lining to the next month as you prepare for a fun staycation.

Application deadline is 12pm on Friday, May 15 and recipients will be notified if their application was accepted on Monday, May 18.  We will do our best to accommodate as many requests as possible and WE can’t wait to hear from you!

Warmest Regards,

Aaron & Karen

PAY WHAT YOU CAN APPLICATION

Why Yurts?

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “where did the idea for yurts come from?”  We must admit, before our friend Lauren bought a yurt to live in, neither of us had heard of a yurt let alone seen one in person!  Lauren is an incredibly creative person and anyone who knows her knows she is often on the cutting edge of creativity and exploration.  Lauren’s yurt was very rustic and since she knows how to stretch a dollar, she didn’t mind “roughing” it in order to have her own home, debt free, in a place where the housing market is very expensive.

Yurts were originally used by nomadic tribes because they can be assembled and disassembled quickly while following your food source.  Our first yurt visit was the day Lauren’s yurt was erected.  To paint a picture of her dwelling, it had beautiful birch saplings for the lattice and rafters, the classic yurt dome on top complete with a cutout for a stove pipe and a handcrafted platform to rest on.  Because it did not have running water, electricity, an indoor bathroom, or insulation, Lauren carried in water, utilized lanterns and solar power, built an outhouse, and used a wood stove for heat during the winter months.  It was rustic in terms of amenities but what it lacked in modern conveniences it made up for in character. 

Days after Lauren’s yurt went up and she had begun moving in, Aaron and Karen went for a second visit.  Lauren had beautified the space and we were stunned by the energetic feel of the rustic, circular space.  From that day forward we had yurts on the brain!  We started to pontificate about blending the classic yurt structure but with a few more modern amenities.  We wondered if tourists traveling to MDI would be interested in renting our version of the nomadic dwelling. Our vision had started to take shape. 

We took our idea to the internet and began browsing yurt manufacturers.  The 2 largest US companies are Colorado Yurt Company and Pacific Yurt Company.  We moved through all the information on their websites, browsed their social media pages and in the end felt most drawn to Colorado Yurt Company.  Based in Colorado, we trusted their knowledge and understanding for the potential of high wind and heavy snow loads; two similarities Colorado and Maine experience.  With our vision taking shape we naively wondered if we were the first people to think of glamming up a rustic yurt, only to learn that not only were people already doing it, it was starting to become a travel trend!  In fact, there was already a word for it: GLAMPING (Glamour- Camping)!  This was marketing at its finest as they perfectly described what we wanted to offer.

We now had the idea and the yurt manufacturing company figured out.  Next, we began to investigate if our vision was even feasible.  Many yurt rentals we found online or in the state of Maine were very rustic like Lauren’s; carry in water for washing dishes, outhouses, solar showers.  These stripped-down versions seemed novel for a night or 2 but we knew that to appeal to a wider demographic, we’d need more in terms of amenities.  From here we began a list of what we look for in a vacation rental.  The big ones for us were a full kitchen, a bathroom with running water and flushing toilet and finally a heat source we wouldn’t have to stoke in the middle of the night.  Even Wifi was a priority for us!

We started to assemble a creative team of contractors who would make our dream a reality.  Many of them didn’t quite understand our vision but they knew we were extremely motivated and our money was green!  At the end of our build they had become yurt converts.  Some even wondered if they could put a rental yurt on a dock in the bay or up at their camp as a bunk house.  Our finished product turned out amazing!  Karen will often describe our yurts as circular condos because of how much luxury they offer; a queen-sized bed, provided towels and bedding and a fully stocked kitchen and bath. 

The yurts also draw on the nostalgia of camping.  The thin canvas walls allow you to hear the surrounding nature.  You wake with the sun and fall asleep to the stars thanks to the circular dome at the apex of the building.  All this while lying in a cushy queen size bed in a climate-controlled space.  Long gone are the nights of sleeping on the ground or going outside to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  And the rain, oh the rain on the yurt canvas is its own kind of magic, similar to that of a tin roof, is best experienced in person.  Our former camping clientele use to see the rain and wonder if their belongings would be floating in the morning, now the rain lulls them to sleep in the comforts of the yurt.  It’s all the good parts of camping without the potential downsides. 

Our yurts also have a wonderful way of tricking you into thinking you have more space because of the open floor plans.  We only have 2 walls in the whole structure and they enclose the bathroom for privacy.  The remainder of the building is open and the ceiling vaulted which makes the space feel larger than its reality of only 452 square feet.  This space is perfectly equipped for a couple up to a family of four, looking for a fun alternative option to traditional lodging. 

With the glamping trend hitting the mainstream, travelers are now looking to make their lodging choice more than just a place to lay their heads at night; they want an experience, to try something new!  We feel lucky to have created our little yurt village just as the glamping trend became so popular.  At Acadia Yurts, we are thrilled to offer you a truly unique way to stay while exploring the beauty of Acadia National Park.