What is Glamping?
“Glamping,” a mashup of the words “glamorous” and “camping,” is exactly what it sounds like–normal camping with a luxurious twist. Glampers get the best of both worlds–an immersive experience in nature without having to sacrifice the comforts and conveniences of civilization.
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Whatever you do, don’t knock glamping until you try it. Some would argue that the luxuries of glamping take away the authenticity of a true wilderness experience, but we beg to differ. Not having to worry about the tiniest details and feeling discomfort from missing conveniences and available accommodations at home allows for more time to truly enjoy your surroundings.
Glamping, though a modernized term, is not a new concept. During wartime in the Roman and Ottoman periods, military tents were luxuriously equipped with furniture, lavish rugs, pillows, cooking stoves, utensils, and all of the necessary fixings for entertaining guests. Tourists have been enjoying glamping setups on hunting trips or other wilderness excursions since the mid-1900s. Tourists visiting the Serengeti, for example, used safari tents that offered comfort to wealthy explorers even in the middle of the plains.
Though traditional camping certainly has its benefits, people have been on a mission to experience nature in luxury for centuries. There is something to be said for the unique experience that a glamping trip provides– you will surely make memories to last a lifetime.
10 Reasons to Give Glamping a Shot This Year
Better Sleep
If you’ve ever gone traditional tent camping, then you probably know how difficult it can be to get good, solid sleep. Sleeping on the ground, an air mattress, or even a sleeping mat is simply not the same as sleeping on a cozy mattress surrounded by pillows and blankets. When you choose glamping versus camping, one of the perks you’ll enjoy is the ability to bring along or rent a yurt tent that comes equipped with real beds. You will find yourself waking up well-rested and ready for an active day full of hiking, fishing, swimming, or sightseeing.
Space
No more cramming into a flimsy tent that you can’t comfortably move around in! Glamping means larger tents–such as bell tents or wall tents with higher ceilings and open floor plans that even the tallest person in your crew can stand up in and walk about comfortably. The point of glamping is to maximize comfort and minimize difficulties associated with ‘roughing it.’ When you have more space, there’s so much room for activities! You can move about freely inside your glamping tent, cooking, relaxing, and visiting with family and friends in a temperature-controlled environment during the early morning and late night. More space means more accommodations, too. You can add in a full living room seating area with a TV if you choose, a bedroom area, a bathroom, and a kitchen complete with appliances. Interior design possibilities are also truly endless, and designing a tent is an uncommon challenge that could be a ton of fun for the whole crew.
Bathroom Accommodations
If you find yourself avoiding traditional camping for fear of having to do your business outdoors, sacrificing cleanliness and hygiene, or–God forbid–having to embark on the dreaded shovel trek, fear no more. Glamping accommodations typically include private bathroom facilities and in the best cases, running water. Some glamping tents can be equipped with toilets, showers, and sinks, like your bathroom at home. Other times, glamping tents can be set up in areas within walking distance from clean, modernized bathhouse facilities that offer communal showers and restrooms. Either way, glamping bathroom accommodations are a relief and a true luxury. If you’ve been primitive camping, then you know this to be painfully true.
Temperature Control
Glamping tents almost always include the capacity for tent stoves. This not only makes cooking significantly easier but also helps to control the temperature inside your glamping tent during cool weather, as well as overnight. Load up your firewood log carrier while the sun is still up, and you won’t even have to worry about leaving your cozy tent in the middle of the night to refuel the fire. Whereas a traditional tent might be made of flimsy, thin material that easily allows heat to escape and cool air to siphon in, glamping tents are typically constructed from thick, durable materials that hold heat in while allowing air to flow comfortably.
What’s more, glamping tents are usually constructed in a domed yurt style or wall tent style. Both of these tent designs allow for high ceilings and tall walls, making room for the heat to slowly rise and escape out of the top of the structure during warm days.
The most luxurious of glamping setups include an electricity connection–meaning that yes, you can indeed connect an air conditioning or heating unit inside your glamping tent if you so choose.
All-Season Availability
Glamping typically offers even greater protection from the elements than primitive tent camping, making it a great option for year-round camping. With glamping comes capabilities for running electricity to your setup, so you can easily plug in a heater for safe, comfortable camping conditions during cold weather. Alternatively, as mentioned before, you can purchase and install a tent stove as a heat source. For the most adventurous of crews who are frustrated by the limitations of seasonal weather changes, glamping is an obvious solution.
Cost Efficiency
When comparing the costs of glamping versus the cost of a beach vacation or international travel, the choice is obvious. Choosing to go on a glamping trip ensures that you will be able to fully enjoy luxurious accommodations, rest and relaxation, gorgeous views, and unique experiences without the burden of a hefty price tag.
Easy, Safe Meal Preparation Ensured
One of many conveniences and comforts that accompany the glamping experience is simple, easy meal prep. Having electricity in your glamping tent means having the freedom to set up a fully equipped kitchen, including a stove, refrigerator, and freezer. Being able to refrigerate and freeze your perishables is a huge benefit of glamping, versus camping where you have no choice but to rely on a high-quality cooler and ice to fend off spoilage.
Add running water to your glamping kitchen setup, and it’ll be like you never left home. The convenience of running water enables you to wash your hands before (and after) handling food, properly clean dishes, and easily wash produce before consuming it. The risk of foodborne illness is significantly lower when you decide to try glamping as compared to choosing primitive tent camping.
Bug-Freedom
No matter how fancy you get with your camping, bugs will be present. Unfortunately, they just come with the territory when spending time outdoors. Instead of having to constantly worry about mosquitoes, flies, and crawlers finding their way into a traditional tent set on the ground with little barrier, you may choose to pitch your wall tent or bell tent on a raised platform to keep it off of the ground altogether. This reduces the chances that bugs make their way indoors, disturbing the peace of your luxury dwelling. On the off chance that bugs do somehow infest your living quarters, the large space allows for plenty of room to sweep and clean.
Quality Time
When you are no longer worried about covering basic needs and conveniences, or having to course correct because the exposure of primitive camping to nature can be so volatile, you can truly be present to spend quality time with your friends and family. Though the unpredictable nature of a primitive camping trip is appealing in its own way, eliminating distractions and maximizing comfort makes for a truly rejuvenating vacation. You will return from a glamping trip having made memories, increased closeness between the members of your crew, and feeling fully rested.
Longer Stays
Because there is so much room and capability for building a comfortable and semi-permanent home inside your glamping tent, glampers tend to stay at their destination spots for much longer than primitive campers. If you do not have to sacrifice showers, cooking, cleanliness, comfort, or electricity, the possibilities are endless. We certainly encourage campers and glampers to unplug when enjoying the great outdoors, but who’s to say that you can’t spend a week without internet, then plug in your portable wifi right inside your glamping tent to work remotely and extend your stay for another week? If we’ve gotta open the laptop, a day of work in the woods beats a week in the office in our book.
Final Thoughts
Coming from someone who grew up primitive tent camping only, and has truly always enjoyed the work that goes into it, glamping is a wonderful relief at times when I just want to relax and rejuvenate in nature. There is something to be said for climbing into a comfortable bed, enjoying a cozy seating area to play games with friends and family, and cooking right inside your tent after the sun goes down. Especially if you are planning to camp for a week or more, glamping is a vacation experience everyone should have at least once.
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