What is the difference between Cabin and Cottage? Materials: Cabins are always made of wood. Cottages can be made of a variety of materials such as wood, brick, stones, etc. Look: Cabins look more crude and unfinished compared to cottages. Cottages look more sophisticated than cabins. Locations: Cabins are usually located in remote and wooded areas. Cottages are usually located in waterfronts (in the Canadian and American sense of the word). In the British sense of the word, cottages are often found in the countryside. Facilities: Cabins may not have modern facilities. Cottages are usually equipped with facilities like electricity and water.

Cottage is like a home with all the comforts like running water, sewer and electricity. Cabin is more rustic having less amenities and more basic living. You may not have a toilet but only an outhouse and maybe no electricity.

Randy basically covered it. Think of a cottage as a small, cozy, enclosed space that feels really homy. For marketing purposes, people who rent vacation homes might try to advertise a cottage as a cabin to try to create a more outdoorsy esthetic or selling point.