a meal or more, bring a dish like lasagna or goodies for the grill. Mention it to your hosts beforehand so they can check for fridge or freezer space or suggest an alternative (like a dessert or appetizer). "There also might be something they're missing, like bottled water or fresh vegetables," adds Caldwell. "And it's nice if they [guests] can bring a cooler full of ice." If your kids are picky eaters, bring food for them. Communicate Some cottages , like Caldwell's, are accessible by water only, meaning guests have to be picked up at a marina. If you say you're going to appear at a certain time, be there; don't leave your hosts waiting while you go for dinner or tour the town. Curb your complaints If you're not crazy about cottages, don't say so. John Sawatzky and his wife, Irene, have a cabin in Lake of the Woods, Ont., about three hours east of Winnipeg. The couple invited good friends to join them there, but the conversation turned to how cottage life just wasn't for their guests. "For them to come to our cottage and to tell us why they didn't want a cottage... we didn't invite them again for years." Page 1 of 2 -- Cottage-owners dish on easy ways to help out when staying at a friend's cottage on page 2.