The first time I heard the term “glamping,” I was working for an outdoor recreation magazine dedicated to real roughing it, and—I’ll admit it—I scoffed at the idea.
Why pay for a fancy canvas tent and catered s’mores when I could pitch my trusty backpacking tent on public lands for free? Why, exactly, would anyone be interested in that? A lot of reasons, as I’ve come to discover since then.
Glamping isn’t exactly camping, but that’s the whole point. More nature-focused than any hotel room, but more comfortable than snoozing on a sleeping pad on the ground, glamping resorts provide their own experience. Maybe you’re interested in tent camping, but want to ease into it first. Maybe you’re used to tent camping and wouldn’t mind a little extra pampering for once. Maybe you just like being close to the great outdoors, but with a flush toilet nearby. In all those cases, glamping could be just the thing for you. Whether you’ve never tried glamping before or just want to know more about this relatively new pastime, consider this your complete guide.
What is glamping?
The origins of the word “glamping” come from “glamourous” plus “camping.” The term is a broad catch-all for many different types of magical and unique accommodations. In general, glamping means staying somewhere with close access to nature, but with more creature comforts than a traditional campground.
What makes glamping different from camping?
When you go tent camping at a traditional campground, you set up your own tent and sleeping materials and often do your own cooking on a camp stove, grill, or campfire. Your tent won’t have any climate-control technology or Wi-Fi. Bathroom facilities might have running water and flush toilets, or they might be outhouses or nothing at all. The great outdoors will be right outside your tent door, and you’ll pay a modest price (Campsites can range from about $50 per night to free, though most commercial campgrounds charge roughly $10-20 per night).
When you’re glamping, on the other hand, your shelter will be set up for you, usually outfitted with a bed and other furniture. It might have heating, air conditioning, electricity, and Wi-Fi. And you’ll often have access to on-site restaurants, s’mores around a communal campfire, and/or included cocktails or wine. Bathrooms range from outhouses to communal bathhouses to luxurious private facilities stocked with organic bath products. With all these amenities, glamping costs a lot more than tent camping—sometimes as much as a luxury hotel room.
RV camping blurs the line between these two disciplines. In fact, some glamping resorts put you up in RVs. In this case, the only real difference is whether or not you provide the RV, how much you pay per night, and what other amenities are available at the resort.
What types of glamping accommodations are there?
Glamping encompasses a wide variety of shelter types. The first one that probably comes to mind is a canvas tent. These come in various shapes and sizes, from Native American-style tipis to safari tents to other creative geometries. The tents tend to be large, accommodating entire families with multiple beds and other furniture. They’re often placed on wooden platforms with patios or decks.
Continue reading “Glamping 101: Everything You Need to Know to Start Glamping” from our friends at Territory Supply here.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
