WHAT IS GLAMPING? (A GUIDE TO LUXURY CAMPING)
Glamping has become one of those increasingly popular travel industry buzzwords over the past few years.
Combining the words “glamour” and “camping,” it’s a trend that has taken off as the rise of mass tourism has led more people to embrace the eco-friendly ethos of Responsible Travel.
But what is glamping? How does it differ from traditional camping? And why is it becoming such a popular form of travel now?
The catchy name might be relatively new, but the concept of glamping (a.k.a. luxury camping) has actually been around for hundreds of years.
When Kings Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France met for the diplomatic summit known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, there were 2,800 tents set up in northern France.
Many were palatial, set with lavish feasts and flowing fountains of wine. Around the same time, the Ottoman sultans were known their ostentatious tents, which were lavishly decorated by an army of artists.
The tradition became more common in the early 1900s, when it became fashionable for rich American and European travelers to go on safari in Africa.
These wealthy wanderers didn’t want to give up all the creature comforts of home. So safari camps began offering upscale options such as beds, en suite bathrooms, private verandas, and gourmet cuisine served atop fine lace tablecloths.
These days, glamping offers myriad different options to suit any traveler’s taste and budget. For those who love the great outdoors, but prefer not to give up all the comforts of home, it’s an incredible alternative to “roughing it.”
Here we’ll look at the definition of glamping, some of the many different styles of lodging available, and highlight 10 of the best glamping resorts in the world.
Combining the words “glamour” and “camping,” it’s a trend that has taken off as the rise of mass tourism has led more people to embrace the eco-friendly ethos of Responsible Travel.
But what is glamping? How does it differ from traditional camping? And why is it becoming such a popular form of travel now?
The catchy name might be relatively new, but the concept of glamping (a.k.a. luxury camping) has actually been around for hundreds of years.
When Kings Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France met for the diplomatic summit known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, there were 2,800 tents set up in northern France.
Many were palatial, set with lavish feasts and flowing fountains of wine. Around the same time, the Ottoman sultans were known their ostentatious tents, which were lavishly decorated by an army of artists.
The tradition became more common in the early 1900s, when it became fashionable for rich American and European travelers to go on safari in Africa.
These wealthy wanderers didn’t want to give up all the creature comforts of home. So safari camps began offering upscale options such as beds, en suite bathrooms, private verandas, and gourmet cuisine served atop fine lace tablecloths.
These days, glamping offers myriad different options to suit any traveler’s taste and budget. For those who love the great outdoors, but prefer not to give up all the comforts of home, it’s an incredible alternative to “roughing it.”
Here we’ll look at the definition of glamping, some of the many different styles of lodging available, and highlight 10 of the best glamping resorts in the world.
THE DEFINITION OF GLAMPING
According to the Oxford Dictionary, glamping is “A form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.” The word was first used in the United Kingdom in 2005, but wasn’t added to the dictionary until 2016.It’s also known by other names, including luxury camping or boutique camping. But regardless of what you call it, the gist is that it offers travelers an opportunity to be out in the wild without having to carry and put up their own tents, sleep on the ground, or stumble to the bathroom in the dark.
There are, of course, other major differences between glamping and traditional camping. Most glamping accommodations include beds, electricity, en-suite bathrooms (with showers), resort-style toiletries, coffeemakers, and sometimes even full kitchens. You can still cook s’mores on the open fire, but usually there’s a restaurant on-site serving more upscale cuisine.
These days, glamping accommodations have become even more luxuriously lavish, with posh amenities such as flat-screen TVs, pillow-top mattresses, jetted tubs, heated slate floors, and personal butlers available.
GLAMPING TENTS & OTHER LODGING
From glampers and tipis to cabins, yurts, and treehouses, there are dozens of types of accommodations available for those seeking a mixture of rustic luxury and unspoiled nature. Here’s a look at a few of the more popular and interesting ones:
GLAMPERS
Glamping tents are arguably the oldest, most traditional type of lodging. If you’ve never seen one in person, safari tents are a far cry from the tiny little pup tents of your Boy Scout/Girl Scout days. They’re usually as big as a hotel room (if not bigger), with space for beds, nightstands, a dresser and more. Many have wood floors, electricity, WiFi, and various other luxury amenities. View the most gorgeous glampers from Tentickle Luxury Tents.
Glamping tents are arguably the oldest, most traditional type of lodging. If you’ve never seen one in person, safari tents are a far cry from the tiny little pup tents of your Boy Scout/Girl Scout days. They’re usually as big as a hotel room (if not bigger), with space for beds, nightstands, a dresser and more. Many have wood floors, electricity, WiFi, and various other luxury amenities. View the most gorgeous glampers from Tentickle Luxury Tents.
YURTS
Yurts have been used in Central Asia (particularly in Mongolian culture) for more than 3000 years. Traditional yurts have an expanding wooden circular frame and a cover made from felt, canvas or other material, designed to be set up or broken down quickly. Modern yurts may be much fancier: We stayed in one in Panama that was bigger than my first apartment!
Yurts have been used in Central Asia (particularly in Mongolian culture) for more than 3000 years. Traditional yurts have an expanding wooden circular frame and a cover made from felt, canvas or other material, designed to be set up or broken down quickly. Modern yurts may be much fancier: We stayed in one in Panama that was bigger than my first apartment!
CABINS & COTTAGES
If you’ve ever stayed in state or national parks, chances are you’ve spent some time in a cabin or cottage. Most are cozy, quaint, and surrounded by natural beauty. But of course there are cabins available that are as luxurious as your budget can afford. One advantage of this type of accommodation is that you can usually find options large enough to hold families of any size.
If you’ve ever stayed in state or national parks, chances are you’ve spent some time in a cabin or cottage. Most are cozy, quaint, and surrounded by natural beauty. But of course there are cabins available that are as luxurious as your budget can afford. One advantage of this type of accommodation is that you can usually find options large enough to hold families of any size.
TIPIS
Similar to yurts, the tipi (or teepee) is a conical tent primarily used by the nomadic Native American tribes of the Great Plains. They’re traditionally constructed of animal skins and wooden poles, with two adjustable smoke flaps that allow for making campfires inside. The deceptively simple construction makes tipis warm in winter, cool in summer, dry during heavy rains, and easily transportable.
Similar to yurts, the tipi (or teepee) is a conical tent primarily used by the nomadic Native American tribes of the Great Plains. They’re traditionally constructed of animal skins and wooden poles, with two adjustable smoke flaps that allow for making campfires inside. The deceptively simple construction makes tipis warm in winter, cool in summer, dry during heavy rains, and easily transportable.
TREEHOUSES
With the success of TV shows like Treehouse Masters, this childhood favorite has grown increasingly popular for grown-ups. When done well, treehouses offer an incredible sense of immersing yourself in nature while minimizing your negative impact on the environment. Plus, sleeping up in a tree surrounded by forest is just really cool, no matter how old you are!
With the success of TV shows like Treehouse Masters, this childhood favorite has grown increasingly popular for grown-ups. When done well, treehouses offer an incredible sense of immersing yourself in nature while minimizing your negative impact on the environment. Plus, sleeping up in a tree surrounded by forest is just really cool, no matter how old you are!
CUBES & PODS
Thanks to the rapidly growing “tiny house” trend, more and more people are finding ways to maximize the benefits of minimalism. Cubes and pods are one result: They’re quick and relatively easy to assemble, affordable don’t take up much space, and provide a sense of immersion in the environment. We saw lots of these on AirBnB during our recent trip to Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
Thanks to the rapidly growing “tiny house” trend, more and more people are finding ways to maximize the benefits of minimalism. Cubes and pods are one result: They’re quick and relatively easy to assemble, affordable don’t take up much space, and provide a sense of immersion in the environment. We saw lots of these on AirBnB during our recent trip to Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
AIRSTREAMS & TRAILERS
I grew up spending a good portion of my summers in a 2-bedroom trailer overlooking Georgia’s Lake Hartwell. That sense of nostalgia, combined with their inherent portability, has likely contributed to the rising popularity of Airstreams and trailers in the glamping community. We saw a lot of these available for rent (fairly cheaply) in Scotland as well.
I grew up spending a good portion of my summers in a 2-bedroom trailer overlooking Georgia’s Lake Hartwell. That sense of nostalgia, combined with their inherent portability, has likely contributed to the rising popularity of Airstreams and trailers in the glamping community. We saw a lot of these available for rent (fairly cheaply) in Scotland as well.
GEODOMES
One of the newest types of Glamping lodging, geodesic domes were patented in 1954 by American architect Buckminster Fuller. The engineering of the dome makes it extremely strong and stable, allowing for the greatest volume of space within the least surface area. This makes Geodomes a great option for housing in places with extremely high winds, such as Chilean Patagonia and Arctic Finland.
One of the newest types of Glamping lodging, geodesic domes were patented in 1954 by American architect Buckminster Fuller. The engineering of the dome makes it extremely strong and stable, allowing for the greatest volume of space within the least surface area. This makes Geodomes a great option for housing in places with extremely high winds, such as Chilean Patagonia and Arctic Finland.
WAGONS & SHEPHERD’S HUTS
From the wilds of Australia and New Zealand to the Wild West of the U.S., wagons seem to evoke imagery of early frontier exploration. In the UK and France, shepherd’s huts were used for some five centuries. So perhaps it’s no surprise that the back-to-the-land Glamping movement has adopted these two traditional structures as an innovative approach to low-impact accommodation.
From the wilds of Australia and New Zealand to the Wild West of the U.S., wagons seem to evoke imagery of early frontier exploration. In the UK and France, shepherd’s huts were used for some five centuries. So perhaps it’s no surprise that the back-to-the-land Glamping movement has adopted these two traditional structures as an innovative approach to low-impact accommodation.
UNUSUAL GLAMPING STYLES
You know the old Field of Dreams quote, “If you build it, they will come”? That seems especially true in the Glamping world, where the more unusual the accommodation, the better. Recent years have seen lodging opportunities becoming available in caves, underwater pods, ice hotels, and reconfigured planes, trains, and automobiles. What will they think of next?
Article source: https://dontditchtheluxurybushbaby.tumblr.com/post/187278953526/what-is-glamping-a-guide-to-luxury-camping
You know the old Field of Dreams quote, “If you build it, they will come”? That seems especially true in the Glamping world, where the more unusual the accommodation, the better. Recent years have seen lodging opportunities becoming available in caves, underwater pods, ice hotels, and reconfigured planes, trains, and automobiles. What will they think of next?
Article source: https://dontditchtheluxurybushbaby.tumblr.com/post/187278953526/what-is-glamping-a-guide-to-luxury-camping
Comments
Post a Comment