Summer is finally here, and it’s high time we shake off that ‘cooped up’ feeling and head out to enjoy the bliss of being outdoors.
If you have been tethered to your desk for months on end, and finally have the chance to spend a little time reconnecting with nature, then you may have already considered going on a camping trip – and camping is definitely a firm favorite in UK summer season.
But there’s another kind of travel experience that a lot of people are now favoring.
Glamping, or glamorous camping, is no longer just a trend but has fast gained traction as the number one travel experience for many, especially when we could all do with a little R&R in the heart of nature.
If you not yet familiar with glamping and would like to know what makes it unique from camping, here’s a look at the main differences between glamping and camping so that you can decide which is best for you.
The basic differences
Camping is a fun outdoor tradition that has been enjoyed for centuries; enjoyed by many, and it involves the use of camping equipment and accessories such as tents, sleeping bags, folding chairs, cookstoves, cooking utensils, and other camping gear.
And while camping certainly has its merits, relinquishing all our creature comforts is certainly an acquired taste, with many of us reluctant to swap our comfortable beds for sleeping bags, and our hot showers for dry shampoo.
This is where glamping comes in. Glamping is camping at its finest, taking the idea of living within nature to a wholly different level of luxury and comfort. Rather than having to deal with setting up a flimsy tent, you can have a specially-made glamping tent equipped with all the comforts and amenities you fancy, and you don’t have to deal with sleeping on the hard, cold ground on a sleeping bag or trying to get comfortably settled in the smallest of spaces.
Camping will always have its own charm, of course, and there are people who absolutely love the feeling of preparing for a rustic weekend away and setting up everything they need for their holiday. But, if you are someone who loves the luxury of a nice and warm bed, wooden floors, wide-screen TV and music, electricity and a fully-appointed kitchen, then you may want to try glamping and see if it doesn’t work better for you.
Which is more convenient?
Truth be told, with glamping, you really don’t have to worry about much. With glamping, you can take advantage of more comfortable surroundings coupled without having to deal with pesky insects, cooking over a propane stove, muddy floors, or uneven grounds.
Camping is fun for some because it allows them to go back to the basics – but, for others who want convenience, especially during their weekend break or holiday, glamping is the more fitting solution. Glamping is arguably more convenient than camping because you can cook with ease, you can take a long, hot shower, you can relax under the stars with a nice drink – and all of this is a load off many campers’ minds.
Which is more versatile?
When it comes to versatility between camping and glamping, it depends on personal preference. For some, camping is more versatile because you have the opportunity to explore as you wish without being tied down to one spot. For others, glamping is more versatile because it allows you to choose between different glamping accommodations, from specially-made glamping tents from manufacturers like www.bondfabrications.co.uk to glamping pods, cabins, and even treehouses. If you want more freedom to just move around, camping is more versatile. But if you want something a little more special in terms of accommodation and the facilities on offer, glamping is more versatile. The choice is really up to you.
Which is Costlier?
Camping is known to be a budget-friendly activity, and those who go camping on a regular basis will be quick to point out how inexpensive a camping holiday can be. Camping doesn’t require much – all you need is a good tent, a place where you can set it up, and some cooking equipment, and you’re good to go. In other words, truly ‘roughing it’ is less expensive than glamping. Glamping will come with more expenses, but it is unlikely to run up the bill like a hotel or a five-star resort.
Glamping offers you value for your money, and it fits the ideal of those people who are willing to pay a bit more to become comfortable and at ease during their outdoor or nature holiday. If relaxing in the luxury and ease offered by glamping is important to you, then glamping is more than worth it.
Glamping, after all, gives you access to real bedding and beds, private shower areas and toilets, Wi-Fi, electricity, kitchen appliances and gadgets, electronic appliances, and most other modern amenities and facilities you can think of, which can even include whirlpool tubs, indoor games – you name it.
Which gives you the ultimate holiday or weekend break experience?
The answer to this is quite simple: it really depends on your situation and preference. Camping is closely associated with being one with nature – what’s more, you have more mobility in the sense that you can pack up your tent and camping gear and move on to the next site as you see fit. It can make you feel a lot closer to the outdoors since all you have between you and nature is a tent and a sleeping bag.
Glamping, whilst also bringing you close to nature, doesn’t come with quite so many chores, and it doesn’t require you to have a textbook understanding of nature. All you need to do is pack your clothes and toiletries and, more often than not, you’re good to go. You don’t have to prepare all that camping equipment and deal with inclement weather in your tiny tent – glamping allows you the convenience of enjoying nature whilst being supremely comfortable.
