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Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden

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Interior - Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden (Alden)
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player - Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden (Alden)
Exterior - Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden (Alden)
Exterior - Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden (Alden)
Dining - Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden (Alden)
Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden provides amenities like a firepit and a garden. This vacation home is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location and sun loungers. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathrooms111 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available

Add dates for prices

About this property

Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden

  • Welcome to my Grandfather's Cottage on Torch Lake, one of the very few cottages with a beautiful sandy beach and within walking distance to Downtown Alden. First off to address some of the reviews for last year. Full disclosure, I fell short on some of the minor maintenance that needed to happen while guests where staying with me. This past fall I spent and extensive about of time fixing everything that needed to be taken care of and will be spending this spring making additional improvements. For this coming summer we also are bringing on a new cleaning crew as the ones we had last year fell well short of expectations.

    In regards to the review claiming Bed Bugs and Child Safety issues, Both of these are flat out incorrect. Swimming in Torch lake there is the possibility of getting swimmers ich, like most any inland lake, which can lead to minor irritation. Which is why it was only her grandkids that and any issues since they were the only one swimming.

    I have welcomed people into my Grandfather’s Cottage coming to visit Up North for many years and I love being able to share this amazing and special place I hope that you will come stay with me and enjoy the place like so many people in the past. If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to reach out.

    This ideal location is only a brief walk from downtown Alden. The sandy beach slopes into the clear water gently, making this a great walk-in swim site for all ages. There is also a permanent anchor off the end of the dock for those who bring there boat. We also offer a few different options in boat rentals if you are interested in that as well.

    This single story cottage has a fully fenced back yard making it perfect for dogs or small kids. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen with a small island and an attached breakfast area as you walk in from the street. Through the kitchen opens in to a spacious living room with large picture windows facing the lake. With a TV and fireplace on one end of the room and a dining area on the other.

    The living room opens out through French doors onto the screened in porch which provides an exceptional sunset view. There are two bedrooms one with a queen size bed and the other with two twin beds located on one side of the house sharing a full bath. The third bedroom is on the opposite side with a set of bunk beds and a full bath attached to it.

    VERY IMPORTANT - DUE TO SEVERAL RENTERS IN THE PAST NOT RESPECTING OUR NO SMOKING POLICY - WE NOW HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SMOKING OF ANY KNID ANYWHERE ON THE PROPERTY, SO IF YOU SMOKE PLEASE EITHER RESPECT THE NO SMOKING POLICY

    Keywords: House,

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed
  • Note from host: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING ON OUR PROPERTY.

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,200 square feet

Similar properties

Exterior
Grand Traverse Resort And Spa
Williamsburg
  • On private beach
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Spa
8.4 out of 10, Very Good, 1,000 reviews
The price is AED 625
AED 770 total
includes taxes & fees
28 Jun - 29 Jun
Grand Traverse Resort And Spa
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets allowed

Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING ON OUR PROPERTY.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the neighborhood

Located in Alden, this vacation home is on the beach. Twisted Fish Gallery and Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Elk Rapids District Library and Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and water skiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking. Visit our Alden travel guide
View more Vacation Homes in Alden
Map
Alden, MI

What's nearby

  • The drop off at Torch Lake in northern Michigan; Shutterstock ID 748887706; purchase_order: SP-1269 HA 2018 Batch 1; Order: ; client: ; other:
    Torch Lake
    1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • scenic view of trees on the lake
    Torch Lake Park
    3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Aerial view of Petoskey and Little Traverse Bay, Michigan
    Traverse City Beach
    29 min drive - 41.8 km
  • Front Street
    Front Street
    35 min drive - 47.2 km
  • Boyne Mountain
    Boyne Mountain
    42 min drive - 70.0 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)
    40 min drive

Restaurants

  • Blue Water Bistro & Pizzeria - Torch Lake Pizza
    3 min drive
  • Oasis Tavern
    17 min drive
  • Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen
    21 min drive
  • Johnny's Torch Riviera
    8 min drive
  • Alden Bar
    3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden located?

Nestled on the beach, this Alden vacation home is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Torch Lake and 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Torch Lake Park. Grass River Natural Area and Clam Lake are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden Reviews

Reviews

Excellent

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 60 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 60 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 60 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 60 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 60 reviews

8.4

Cleanliness

10

Location

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Torch Lake in your backyard is an absolute dream. We seemed to be the only people on the lake at times in late August. It was eonderful to be able to swim, snorkle and float. We did not see a need to rent a boat but it is an option in the area. Gorgeous, quiet neighborhood with a couple restaurants a very short walk away, several places to walk your dog or yourself and stop and enjoy the views. House is older but open layout and good AC are a real plus. Beds were comfy, too.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

ANDREA B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bachelorette weekend

Great little lake cottage. Has pretty much all you need, Beautiful view, quick easy walk to downtown Alden. Not to far from shorts brewery. Chris was friendly and easy to talk with.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful & Relaxing

Perfect cottage for one or two families. Beautiful view of the lake from inside, screened-in porch, and multiple outdoor seating areas. Sandy beach with a dock for the kids. Walking distance to Alden, which I didn't think would matter, but it was so nice to walk for coffee and muffins in the mornings. Very clean and comfortable. Can't wait to stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chuck E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Torch Getaway

A quaint comfortable cottage with plenty of room and amenities, with an incredible view of the lake and sunsets! The host was ALWAYS quick to respond to questions and went out of his way to make sure we had everything. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Lake house!

This is a comfortable home right on the lake. Plenty of space for 3 of us and a large dog. We didn’t even use 2 of the bedrooms. Torch Lake is crystal clear and so beautiful! Chris is easy to work with and we enjoyed meeting him! We will return.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Christina F.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Beautiful sunsets, unsafe security for children from lake & biting bed bugs!!

We loved the features & character of this old cabin with a Great location & Beautiful sunsets!! This place is very neglected which is so sad seeing it was his grandpas…he would be ashamed! Clearly he just cares about the money coming in! No proper security on lake side or secure fencing in front (wobbly Chicken wire between homes 🙄) Our biggest problem was the owner NEVER RESOLVED the safety issue that we addressed the very first night we arrived!! I texted 2 times which he answered with promises & he came over twice which was nice but what good is it if you never help to resolve the issues & make excuses!! He just doesn’t care! No door knobs on the water side of the lake with only a little slide lock on French doors that clearly was eye level that a small child could easily figure out & a porch door that didn’t even have a door knob let alone a lock! Such a hazard for small children that could easily escape & die from drowning!! I spent 2 days of my vacation cleaning & going to the hardware to find something to make it secure the day before our 2 grandsons arrived (3yrs-9mo) to make it SAFE, clean, & presentable!! We left it better than when we arrived! The next issue we had there was biting bed bugs all over the place! My daughter & 9 mo grandson were peppered with bites & huge welts from visiting! 😥 I also encountered sleeping with this residents!! 😖 *if you don’t mind biting bugs & no locks on lake side for children then this is your place! 👍
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Gena P.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Amazing Location, Disappointing Details

READ ENTIRE REVIEW: The location is PERFECT. A few minute walk to downtown Alden with shops, food, and more. The public boat launch is down the road and of course you are directly on Torch Lake with a short boat ride to the sand bar or Torch River. The house itself is a great layout and very spacious. Split essentially into two wings with 2 rooms and 1 bathroom on each side with a great large living and dining area. The screen in porch is great. BUT, the house itself does need A LOT of TLC. The house is lacking for the price you pay. Things like not having handles for doors (ropes as latches), screens with holes letting bugs in (barely held together with tacks which I ended up stepping on one), painters tape in a half painted kitchen, etc. It also lacked the essentials you'd assume to have (spices, Tupperware, charcoal or a lighter for the grill, etc.). Chris is hard to get ahold of. I had messaged him for weeks asking for details on items within the kitchen, clarity on check-in, etc. I heard from him once via text, once in person (just to clear up the confusion on being double booked), and never heard from him on the check out process. We couldn't use one shower for multiple days due to the septic. The yard is fenced, but is SHARED with the house next to you, also "divided" by chickenwire. NOT what the listing says. Also the laundry is again, SHARED with your neighbor. Extremely disappointing to pay so much for items you aren't fully given the true details on.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

maygan r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super cute, vintage lake house! Pet and family friendly! Beachfront and Walkable to the town of Alden. Was the perfect low key family getaway
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Terry O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is the perfect house for family fun. You are right on the water for daytime activities. Perfect for playing board games in the evening! We had a blast!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sonya F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a beautiful lake and wonderful location!!! We had an awesome family vacation - close enough for day trips to Mackinaw Island, the Dunes, lighthouses, and wineries. Chris was great! The house is stocked with everything we needed - even a family game we loved! The quiet street was great for walking the baby and short walks to Alden.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Megan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family vacation on the lake

We loved staying in this house! The ease of being able to walk to Alden and access the beach were exactly what our family was looking for. While some parts in the home are older the view and space were well worth it.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Susan T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
The house was in a perfect location, and we loved that it was pet friendly. We loved the view of the lake, and the beach was beautiful. The host was very nice and helpful! The problem we had was with vrbo. The cabin was listed as having a hot tub, and it did not. When we asked the host, he stated he knew nothing about it showing it had a hot tub. That was something we all looked for to enjoying. Sitting in the hot tub and enjoying the view. I have already stated this with vrbo and have heard nothing from them. This is my first time using vrbo and I'm not satisfied with vrbo at all! That is why I gave them 1 star!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Nancy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable

Comfy home and comfy bed. Enjoyed the screened in porch. No contact person phone number was given to us before arriving. No contact person phone number was posted at the cottage. Up the creek if something happened and needed to contact someone.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

kari j.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place is in an excellent location and beautiful sunsets over lake, and close walking distance to a very small quaint town. Cottage is cute and has been updated in some places very nicely. As it does state it truly is "Grandfather's Cottage". The downside we felt were lack of privacy curtains in the bedrooms. There were very sheer white curtains that were completely see through. It would be very nice if actual privacy curtains or blinds there, so if you wanted to change in a bedroom or shut for some morning sleep in time, not have entire bedroom light at sunrise. The 2 small windows in living room would be nice to have a pull down blind option (there is nothing on these windows) to have privacy from close neighbors if you wanted. There were only two of us, so we hung some bed sheets in bedrooms & improvised with towels in the living room. Electrical outlets are very minimal and very outdated (thus to be expected with age of home). Tough if needing to work with a computer or electronic devices in certain spots/limited capacity. I give it an 8.5/10 for being clean (will admit, I probably have a little OCD on the cleaning scale). Great place if you want to be directly on lake and have the views, along with the BEST feature of being able to bring your fur babies along. Thanks for the adventure!
actual curtains
our makeshift curtains
makeshift living room curtain
cleaning staff "miss"
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

4/10 Poor

Kari D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Extremely disappointed with this stay.House was very dirty, didn't appear cleaned recently, spiderwebs/bugs, filth under couch cushions, bedding had stains; oven didn't work; walk-in shower valve broke or required adjustment from host multiple times; washer/dryer are shared, then couldn't use due to washer malfunction; fenced yard is shared, unable to freely use for our dogs due to hosts dogs; window coverings were to sheer/translucent to provide privacy, even in the bathrooms; french doors to back patio were unable to be locked, door knob was broken; patio screen door and screen windows were torn allowing for insects/bugs to enter; box steps down to water from house were in disrepair, making it very difficult for our daughter with special needs to walk down. We ended our stay early due to these continuous problems, culminating with my wife waking to approximately three dozen bug bites on her body. Chris suggested it was probably swimmers itch, but it did not look like a rash.The host, Chris, was staying next door. He was very friendly, but admitted he's never had guests experience as many issues as we had. We feel some kind of compensation and/or a refund would be appropriate, but he made no offer to do so.
Torn screen patio door; adjacent window screens were the same
Box steps to lake
Filth under couch cushion with old dryer sheet
Sheer window coverings; added blankets for privacy in all bedrooms
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Kimberly M.

Great location but intrusive neighbors and bad plumbing

This home is beautiful and a GREAT location to downtown Alden, but could use a little clean up and maintenance. There were still leaves from the fall around the house when we visited on the 4th of July and the landscaping hadn't been updated in MANY years. The path to the water was treacherous and I fell one time at night trying to get down to the bonfire. The main shower did not drain the entire week we were there. The 2nd shower didn't work the first 3 days. The toilet in the 2nd bathroom had to be plunged almost every time it was used. The neighbors (who own the property) kept a CLOSE eye on you. We were being watched the entire stay. Their small children wandered over to the home and one time we found him INSIDE the house in a bedroom. The laundry area is shared as well as the yard, which is fine, but we were not there to keep an eye on young children as we had a group of adults with no children for the week. They were very firm on the no smoking policy, which I respect. But when they came over and complained because someone was smoking a cigarette down by the water at the bonfire, I felt that was a little ridiculous. We were definitely more than 500 feet away from the home. They asked us to walk downtown to smoke. All in all I would say this is a great location, but not inviting to adults with no children. For the price they could update some of the patio furniture (broken plastic chairs).
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Monica J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage on the lake

A lovely rustic cottage on the shore line of Torch Lake. A perfect view of Torch Lake through the windows looking out on the lake. There's nothing like listening to waves. The cottage is rather spacious, great location for a short walk into down town Alden. Owner, Chris, quick to respond.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert F J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Torch Lake

Comfort Cottage as described
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christina H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful & Relaxing Long Weekend

The property is absolutely beautiful with a sandy shoreline on Torch Lake. We had a truly amazing long weekend with our friends and pups. The cottage is very clean, well appointed and in a great location (very short walk into downtown Alden). The owner Chris was great with communication and we enjoyed having the opportunity to meet him. All in all a wonderful trip!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

Tall ceilings, spacious rooms, and tasteful decor greeted us as we were transported back to the 1940’s in this lovely cottage. The beach is perfect, the water clear, and the view beautiful. Our only disappointment was one small bedroom containing a trundle bed, which was the access point to a bathroom and another bedroom. It is a memorable place that I’d love to revisit.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

4/10 Poor

Gregory T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

cottage on torch lake

The property was in a nice location. The property itself didn't meet the standards that we are used to when renting through VRBO.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Stacey L.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location

Great property snd location. House needs some love and cleaning.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

staci t.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

Perfect location on a beautiful clean lake!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Lakefront Cottage

We had a wonderful time! This was a perfect get away. Location was great.. beautiful views of Torch Lake & a short walk to Alden. The cottage had everything we needed. I would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Phil O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We love coming here!!

The cabin is spacious, comfortable, clean and Torch Lake is gorgeous! This is our second year staying at this property because we love it so much!! Great communication with the owner, couldn’t ask for a better place! We are already planning our trip there next year!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022