Cottage scams rise as Finns book last-minute Midsummer stays

Finns can still find available cottages for Midsummer, though the best options are already taken, according to Lomarenka, a Finnish cottage rental service.

The company reports a quieter start to this year’s season, with bookings down several percent compared to last June. Eva Kohonen, Lomarenka’s CEO, attributes the slowdown to broader economic uncertainty, noting that while media report early signs of growth, this has yet to translate into holiday planning.

Scams have become more common, particularly on social media and large marketplaces, where fraudsters use images of other people’s cottages or advertise non-existent properties. Kohonen advises booking through reputable, business-registered providers that offer cancellation protection and consumer safeguards.

“If it sounds too good to be true—extremely cheap, excellent quality, and still available for Midsummer—it probably is,” she said.

Kohonen also notes a shift toward last-minute bookings, with more people delaying decisions until just before their trip. While some reserve cottages up to a year in advance, an increasing number now finalize plans at the last moment. Demand is expected to pick up in July, aligning with Finland’s peak holiday period.