Frequently Asked Questions

Directions, Key, Check In, etc., type questions

Do you know of other mountain retreats that we can visit on our way to you?

Do you know of any other mountain retreats that we can visit on our way up to Wallowa Lake?

House Amenities

Miscellaneous

Payments or Tax Questions

Policies and Procedures

Reservation Questions

Ways to make your vacation PERFECT!

"Resume" type questions for WLVR

Directions, Key, Check In, etc., type questions

Does Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals have an office at Wallowa Lake?

Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals does NOT have an office at the lake--in fact, we are lucky enough to work from home. You must rely on the confirmation we provide you to find your home. If you need any assistance finding your cabin, please call the phone numbers listed at the bottom of your confirmation. We will be more than happy to assist you in any way!

How do I work the key lockbox?

Each home is equipped with a lock box that has your key in it. This numerical code is house specific and changes frequently, so if you change your dates, you will need a new code. To operate the lock box, press the numbers of the code into the keypad. Pull down the open lever, and pull the lid towards you. The box will stay on the home. Your key is inside this box. To return the key and the lid, press the numerical code again and while depressing the open lever, gently replace the lid. This is a gentle motion. If you make a mistake, depress the clear button and start again. Please keep the key in the lockbox at all times. If your group goes its own way during the day, by leaving the key in the lockbox, everyone can then access the home by knowing the lock box code.

I am paid in full and have received my final confirmation, now what?

Just count the days! Don't forget to pack your confirmation—it has very important information in it—maps, key information, check in times, etc.

I forgot to put my map/key information in the car. What do I do now?

Call us. We can give you verbal directions over the phone, or if you prefer, stop at Wallowa Mtn. Properties, a real estate office located in Enterprise, as they keep copies of our maps. You can find the office at 309 S. River Street, just past the Shell gas station. Please note that the office is the one in ENTERPRISE--not the Joseph office.

I have made my first payment, now what?

After we process your payment, you will receive a confirmation by email. If you do not have email, we will use snail mail, or fax. The next step will be clearly explained in your confirmation.

I have the map, the key code, and we are ready to go. Now what?

The map has the unit numbers as well as the physical address of the home. Look for the brown marker posts by the side of the driveways that will give you the physical address that matches with the physical address of the home listed on the map.

I haven't received a confirmation yet........why?

If you provided us with an email address upon making your reservation, your confirmation was sent to that email. If your e-mail account uses a junk e-mail filter, please be sure to check your junk mail folder periodically as you await your confirmation. On occasion we have heard from customers who did not realize that we sent them a reply because a junk mail filter intercepted our response. If you only have a snail mail address, then we will be putting your confirmation in the mail to you.

It is really late, and we forgot to put the map/key information in the car and it is past business hours what do I do?

Call us. We have an answering service available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. We will gladly give you verbal directions to your home.

When do I need to check out?

Check out time is 11am. If you would like a later check out, call us. However, sometimes, we simply won’t be able to extend the check out due to incoming guests. Before your departure we ask that you strip your used beds, do the dishes and put them away. Leave the home in the general condition that you found it. But, you are on vacation after all, so enjoy the time you are here, knowing that your last day of leisure will not be spent cleaning.

When may I check into my cabin?

You may check into your home anytime after 4 pm. Use the directions outlined in your confirmation to get you to the home, and use the key code to get your key out of the box. Remember, Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals is a home-based business, feel free to call us with any questions. If you arrive earlier than 4pm, we will gladly get you into the home as soon as we can. But it may take time to prep your home for your arrival. Because we want everything during your stay to be exceptional, we need the time to thoroughly clean your home. If your home is ready, we are happy to check you in early. If your home isn't quite ready, we will give you a time line for check in. We will, however, have your home ready for you by 4 pm! If you are here early, feel free to call us and we will see if your home is ready for you.

Do you know of other mountain retreats that we can visit on our way to you?

Do you know of any other mountain retreats that we can visit on our way up to Wallowa Lake?

Yes! The Historic Mineral Lake Lodge located by Mount Rainer looks to be a perfect halfway spot to spend a day or two! Visit http://www.minerallakelodge.com/ . Their lodge looks fantastic!

House Amenities

Do the cabins have long distance or internet?

Our phones have long distance blocks placed on them, but you may use a calling card from the home. All of our homes offer internet services, your directions on how to access it will be in your homes WELCOME book.

We need to leave a contact number for our dog/child/house sitter.

What is included in the house?

Paper products, garbage liners, coffee pots & filters, microwaves, toasters, dishcloths, towels, bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows), and bathroom and kitchen soap (no washing machine soap). You only need to bring clothing and food! Cabins are also equipped with either a propane or charcoal BBQ. If your home has propane, we provide the propane. If your cabin has a charcoal BBQ, you must provide briquettes. If your cabin has a fireplace, we provide the wood for you, with an axe if needed. We also try to list special amenities like cable, or VCR/DVD, on the website. If in doubt, email us! One hint for a great vacation? Throw in your own beach towels and lounge chairs. While we offer lawn furniture, they don't recline, and can be hard to take a nap in!

Miscellaneous

The deer are so tame! There are so many animals!

Yes, the deer are quite used to people, but please do respect their space. While they appear friendly, they are wild animals and have been known to attack, gore, and chase adults, children, and pets. Do not feed the deer as they rarely want you to stop and can get quite aggressive. There are other wild animals in the Wallowa Lake area and the Eagle Cap Wilderness. They deserve a wide space and a healthy amount of respect.

We are interested in owning a vacation property........

Contact Jayne Warrener, Broker, Wallowa Mountain Properties, this is the Realtor we have personally used and found her to be professional, knowledgeable, and excels in customer service. You may also visit her by clicking here.

We left something there. Will you ship it to us?

Of course! If you can, please help out with the costs to send it back to you.

What happens if I need emergency care while I am away?

We have a full service hospital in Enterprise, about a 15-mile drive from Wallowa Lake. If you need help at your home, use the sheet inside your Welcome Book that has the address of the home, as well as local emergency contact numbers to the police, fire, poison control, etc.

What happens if there is an emergency at the home I am staying in?

Call - 9 1 1 - just as you would in your home, and then contact us from a phone outside of the home. Back to top

What if I have some questions or comments?

Excellent! Let us hear it! We love success stories and appreciate your taking the time to tell us how your family enjoyed their vacation here! While we strive for your total enjoyment, sometimes we need some feedback. We rely on your experience to improve if needed. We will also share any feedback you have with the homeowner.

What kind of laundry soap and cleaning products do you use?

We know that people often find cleaning products and laundry soap scents to be offensive, so WLVR has done a lot of research and has found the perfect products to use to ensure that your vacation is perfect!

WLVR is in the process of switching all of our cleaning products and laundry detergents to Shaklee's Get Clean Product line. This fantastic line offers exceptional cleaning products, fragrance free laundry products, but most importantly, the products are earth friendly!

We do a LOT of laundry and a LOT of cleaning and we are thrilled to be a more green company! REAL clean doesn't have an odor and these products are safe for you and your family and safe for the environment!

Payments or Tax Questions

Do you accept credit cards?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, personal checks, money orders, or cash.

I am paying by check, but forgot to mail in my final payment.

You can drop it off at our conveniently located office in Enterprise at 309 S. River Street, right past the Shell gas station. The drop box by the front door is clearly marked WALLOWA LAKE VACATION RENTALS. Please put your payment into the locked and secure mailbox located to the right of the entrance. Do not leave cash in this box. If you have a cash payment, leave it at the Wallowa Mountain Properties front desk. You will be given a receipt here.

Is it OK if I make payments?

Absolutely.

What if another member of our group wants to pay on the bill?

If they are paying with a Visa or Mastercard, please supply them with your reservation number. If they would like to pay by a check, please put the reservation number or your name in the Memo line.

What is the motel tax?

Motel tax for the cabins at the lake is 6%. Tax in the city limits of Joseph is 9% (which effects Units #25, 26, and 35 only).

When is our final payment due?

If you are paying with a Visa or Mastercard, you will need to call us 1 week prior to your arrival and give us your credit card information. If you are paying by a check, please mail in your check 7 days prior to your arrival. Please include either your reservation number or name on all correspondence.

When will you take the final payment?

We will take the final payment roughly 1 week prior to your arrival using the same credit card that you used to make your deposit. If you prefer to pay via check, please let us know ASAP so we don't charge your card. You won't need to do anything if you plan to use your same card, we will do this on your behalf.

Policies and Procedures

How do I know my reservation is secure?

From the date you made your reservation, you have 10 days to mail us your payment, if you chose to pay by personal check. Your reservation is considered secure for these initial 10 days. If you chose Visa or Mastercard, your reservation is secure the moment we process your request.

I haven't received a confirmation yet.........why?

I see that you have minimum stays.....can we come for less than your required stay?

Sometimes. If we can put you on the front end or back end of someone else's vacation we usually can do a shorter stay. In other cases, If we only have a shorter stay available, then we will gladly take your shorter stay. Sometimes, we even take your shorter stays in the mid and shoulder season, but we aren't able to give you the discounted rate. The best way to know the for sure answer is to call us. We are happy to help you!

I smoke. Do you have any homes that allow smoking?

No, unfortunately we do not. You are able to smoke outside, with a few rules: please pick up all butts and do not throw any on the ground; please clean up your ashtray before you depart; and please know that if there has been smoking inside the home, a fee of $250 will be automatically charged to your credit card to cover the cost of deodorizing the home.

I would like to make a reservation for next year, what do I do?

We are thrilled that you would like to come back next year! Please contact us to make sure that your home is available. We typically renew contracts with our homeowners from July to October, and until we receive the signed contracts back, your reservation is considered tentative. Once we receive the signed contract back, we will get with you for your payment.

Our party grew by a few more than expected....

We operate on County permits, and we are strictly bound to regulations. If the home sleeps 10, that is the max. amount of persons that we can have on the premises. We are in violation of our permit if there are more people than allowed. If your group expands, then we need to evaluate the situation and find a solution. Contact us; lets see what we can do for you!

Since you work from home, how will you respond if we need you?

You are always provided with our cell #'s, as well as our 24 hours a day, 7 days a week oncall service. If you need anything, we are available and always willing and able to assist you!

Unfortunately, we need to go home a day or two early. What happens to those open days?

We are sorry to see you leave early. Let us know ASAP. We will try to get your unused nights rebooked! If you have given us more than 30 days lead-time to your vacation, you will be eligible for a refund. If you are within 30 days of your arrival (including being here when you discover you have to cut your trip short) we are only able to refund when we can re-rent your days. If your home sits empty, then we keep the rental money.

We want to bring another car/boat/trailer than what is listed on the parking allowances on the internet...

We have to respect the County and we have to respect the neighbors. If you have more than what is on the website, then contact us. We have overflow parking available.

What can I do to help fit in with the local residents?

To help fit in with the local residents, please keep to your own parking area, observe the quiet hours of 10 pm and 8 am, respect their privacy and their yards, and respect our rules of the house. Feel free to introduce yourself and make a new friend while you are here--but please do be considerate of them.

What happens if Mother Nature is in a bad mood?

Unfortunately do not have any control over Mother Nature, the Tooth fairy, or the Easter Bunny. We are not able to refund money due to any issue that is beyond our control.

What if I can't make it as planned?

CALL US ASAP! If you have given us more than 30 days lead time from the date you were set to arrive, then we will give you your deposit back minus a $50 cancellation fee. If you call us within the 30 days from the date you are set to arrive, then a refund will be given only if we are able to rent the home out. (We often have a waiting list, so if you can't make it for your timeframe, just call us and we will do the best that we can to book your house out for you.)

If you fail to call us and your home sits vacant, then you will be responsible for the full payment.

What if I have a winter cabin booked and the roads are so bad that I can't get there?

If the roads are closed, then we will work with you to chose different dates that you can come and enjoy the cabin! Keep close watch of tripcheck.com and keep in touch with us. Often the freeways are just closed for a short amount of time, and if you keep watch of tripcheck.com, you will know when you can head over to our direction!

What if I want to bring my pet for the next leg of our trip, but we have chosen a not pet friendly home?

A new business in town called Enterprise Animal Hospital offers boarding. Please visit their website at www.enterprisevet.com for more information.

Why do you want my email address?

We email your information. We will never sell, loan, or use your information for any other purpose than for your reservation(s).

Reservation Questions

HELP! You have so many that I am having a hard time deciding!

Let us help you! Call us and one of our reservation specialists will be able to help you decide upon your perfect home! We have all been into everyone of the cabins, and we are very familiar with location, amenities, and can help you find the perfect spot! It will be helpful if you have a couple thoughts ready when you call....specifically, dates, amenities desired, # of people in your party, or will you be traveling with pets. With just these few basics, we can help you narrow the homes down to a few to make your choice much easier! We are here to help, so just give us a call!

How strict are you on your minimum stays?

Sometimes we can flex.....If we can put you on the front end or back end of someone else's vacation we usually can do a shorter stay. In other cases, If we only have a shorter stay available, then we will gladly take your shorter stay. Sometimes, we even take your shorter stays, but we aren't able to give you a discounted rate or in some cases we may require a below minimum service charge if you are only staying for one night. Call or email us and let us know your situation--we are happy to help you find the perfect solution to your shorter vacation needs!

I am ready to make a reservation what do I do now?

Call 800.709.2039 or book online or email us at Cindi@wallowalakevacationrentals.com and give us your reservation details.

What if I can only stay 1 or 2 nights?

Often times we can accommodate your stays of 1 or 2 nights. You might not qualify for our lowest rates, but the best way to figure out if this is going to work for you or not, is to call us. Often, we are able to accommodate your request, but give us a call and lets see if we can make it work!

Ways to make your vacation PERFECT!

Can I buy groceries there?

There is Dollar Stretcher and Safeway in Enterprise, Mt. Joseph Market in Joseph, and a small store at the Lake. There are also convenience stores located at Enterprise and Joseph.

Do you have smoking units?

No. All of our units and property are non smoking.

Do you recommend anyone for a massage while we are there?

Ok, I should be in a 12 step program for massage. I am addicted, and I love it. So, I have gone to about everyone up here in our beautiful Wallowa County. I would recommend calling Nancy at 541.432.7765, Cindy at 541.398.1116, Colleen 541.398.0705. Of course, I had to make sure they were all good to refer on, so I had to try them out! There are a few others, but I need to get their permission first to post it. So, keep checking back!

I haven't had time to prepare for my vacation what services do you provide to make it easier on me?

Email us your grocery list and we will shop for you! We can arrange a celebration cake, flowers, fudge, and more to be waiting for you when you arrive! Want something a little different perhaps a massage appointment? Just ask!

May I bring a pet?

Some of our units allow pets, some don’t. Contact us. I will need to know what kind, how many, and what unit you are staying in. About ½ our properties allow pets. Some homes do not allow pets; this may be due to new carpets, no yard for the pooch to do its business, or the homeowners have strong pet allergies. Please respect the homes that have chosen to cater to the 2 legged vacationers and choose a home that wants to welcome the 4 legged vacationers.

My home is pet friendly, what are my responsibilities?

•Keep the pooch on a leash while outside. •Keep the poo picked up and disposed of it by placing it in a small plastic sack, and put it in the garbage can. •Keep the pooch off the furniture and off the beds. •Do not leave your pooch in the home unless contained in a crate, and do not allow your dog to bark. •Read the pet policy and email us (or print it and mail it) that you agree to the pet policy outlined.

We want to have an outside fire and roast some marshmallows....

Sorry, but we can't have outside campfires. You will be staying in a heavily wooded area, and fires can be very dangerous.

We want to leave the house for the day, what should we do?

Before you leave for the day, please turn down the heat and turn off the lights.

What happens if I need assistance while I am at the house?

Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals is a home-based business. We rely heavily on the use of the phone. If you are experiencing an emergency, contact the numbers provided on your confirmation, or in the cabins. We have an excellent support staff of people that will gladly help you.

What if I want to do some fishing....do you have any guides that could take me/us?

Mac from Eagle Cap Fishing Guides has taken many of our customers fishing on several different rivers/streams/lakes in Wallowa County. Mac is knowledgeable in the right bait to use, the best locations, and will gladly take you or your party fishing! Check out his website at www.eaglecapfishing.com . GOOD LUCK!

What is the weather forecast?

See the weather forcast for Joseph, OR and surrounding areas. Click here.

What is there to do there?

Visit our attractions page or the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce.

Will my cell phone work up there?

Your cell phone will probably not work up at the lake. However, all of our cabins have phones in them, so please let us know if we can provide you with a phone number. You will have cell reception in most places in Wallowa County, just not at the Lake.

"Resume" type questions for WLVR

Do you have any references?

Yes. We can provide you with past clients, current clients, and future clients if you have questions as to our rules and procedures.

How long have you been in business?

Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals, Inc., was formed in 1998 when we were looking for a family friendly job. We wanted a job that the kids could be involved in, and be with us. Little did we know that the business would boom like it has, and how many people we would need in our support staff to put it all together! We are so lucky to have this wonderful job that takes care of our family, but also to get the opportunity to make memories in your family as well! Thank you!!

What kind of cleaning and laundry products do you use?

Events

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