Domek Pod Jemiołami – Out of Love for the Lake District

The “Domek Pod Jemiołami ” cottage grew out of family memories of Lake Sopień – of vacations at Grandma’s, first swimming lessons, and time spent among the forests of the Brodnica Lake District. Justyna and Dawid decided to transform this place into an intimate retreat where the view outside the window, closeness to nature, and the freedom to relax at your own pace are what matter most, while technology – including the BedBooking reservation system – discreetly supports them in taking care of their guests and ensuring the property’s peaceful growth.

What is the story behind the location where Domek Pod Jemiołami was built?

J&D Fischer: The spot on Lake Sopień is connected to Dawid’s family – this is where he used to come to visit his grandmother during summer vacations, and his father ran a sawmill here. In Lake Sopień, he, his siblings, and his cousins learned to swim and spent entire days surrounded by nature. Justyna also has ties to the Brodnica Lake District – a region of over a hundred lakes, forests, and small towns that is not only an attractive vacation destination but, above all, our home and everyday surroundings.

From the very beginning, the greatest value of this place for us was its location itself and the memories associated with it. The lake and the forest allow you to truly disconnect from the daily grind. We didn’t want to create yet another place that attracts guests solely with its amenities. We wanted a place where the most important experience would be the view out the window, the proximity to the water, and the opportunity to spend a few days at your own pace.

Where did the name “Domek Pod Jemiołami” come from?

J&D Fischer: The cottage’s name came about thanks to our first guests, who noticed the beauty of the mistletoe growing on the surrounding trees. We joked that no matter how this place changes, the mistletoe will always be with us.

We also liked its symbolism. Evergreen mistletoe is associated with love, abundance, and health, which is why we made it the hallmark of our cottage and included it in its name.

What kind of vacation experience did you want to offer your guests?

J&D Fischer: We wanted to create an alternative to large hotels and resorts. Guests have the entire cottage to themselves; they can come as a couple, with their family, or in a small group, and they don’t have to adjust to other people’s schedules.

On the one hand, there’s nature – the lake and the forest – and on the other, all the comforts you need for a relaxing stay: full amenities, two bedrooms, air conditioning, a fireplace, and plenty of space where you can feel at home even when the weather isn’t ideal.

How did you translate your own vision of relaxation into the cottage’s amenities?

J&D Fischer: We didn’t want to just put together a random list of amenities. Instead, we thought about specific moments during a stay: a morning spent gazing out the panoramic window, an evening by the fireplace, a bonfire in front of the cottage, or time spent on the lake.

That’s why we included, among other things, two SUPs, a fire pit with firewood, a grill, a hammock, air conditioning with a heating function, and a well-equipped kitchen. Each of these elements is meant to help guests enjoy the space, rather than simply being another item on the list of amenities.

For what kind of guests was the Pod Jemiołami Cottage created?

J&D Fischer: The cottage can accommodate up to six people, but we don’t want to define it solely by the number of beds. It’s a space for a couple looking for a peaceful weekend, as well as for a family or a small group of friends.

What surprised you the most after the start of the first season?

J&D Fischer: The first season quickly showed us that simply preparing a beautiful property is just the beginning. Running the cottage also means answering guests’ questions, setting prices, preparing promotional content, keeping track of reservations, organizing cleaning, and responding to situations that couldn’t have been predicted beforehand.

We were also surprised by how differently guests plan their stays. Some book well in advance – the week of Corpus Christi was already booked back in January. Others make their decisions completely on the spur of the moment and ask about available cottages on Friday, just as the weekend is beginning.

Is running a single cottage really a simple business?

J&D Fischer: From the outside, it might seem like one cottage means very little work. In reality, you have to juggle marketing, sales, the calendar, guest communication, preparing the property, repairs, accounting, and expanding your offerings all at once. Having just one cottage also means you can’t spread the risk across a dozen or so rooms, which is why good seasonal planning and efficient handling of inquiries are so important.

Why is a reservation system necessary even for a single property?

J&D Fischer: With a single property, a mistake in the calendar could mean we have no alternative room or second cottage to offer guests. That’s why having a single, always-up-to-date source of availability information gives us, above all, a sense of control.

On a daily basis, we mainly use the booking calendar – we have everything on our phones, so when talking to potential guests, we can simply glance at available dates and prices. This makes our work much easier during peak season, when we receive many inquiries in a short period of time. We also use a channel manager that synchronizes our availability with Booking.com, the booking system on our website, and the Statistics module. This allows us to quickly check available dates, organize reservations, monitor occupancy, and track the property’s performance.

We spend less time manually re-entering information and keeping track of several calendars at once, and more time interacting with guests and developing the cottage itself.

How do you plan to grow Domek Pod Jemiołami without losing its intimate character?

J&D Fischer: We want to gradually improve the place and make it more attractive even outside the peak season, but without turning it into a large resort. The most important thing for us is to preserve privacy, closeness to nature, and the feeling that guests truly have this space all to themselves.

So we see development not just as adding new elements. It’s also about better service, more efficient booking management, refined communication, and a growing understanding of what our guests are looking for.

If you’d like to experience the atmosphere of the lake district and get to know Domek Pod Jemiołami, visit the website: https://domekpodjemiolami.pl/

Also check out our social media profiles, where the owners share views of the lake, daily life at the cottage, and information about available dates: Facebook, Instagram.