This upscale, stylish take on what is traditionally a very budget-conscious way to holiday is becoming increasingly popular as modern travellers focus more on unique experiences with luxurious touches than just your run-of-the-mill hotel or resort experience.
Glamping has all the hallmarks of traditional camping – the wilderness, isolation and sleeping under the stars, minus uncomfortable camping mattresses, eating beans from a can and a lack of showers.
Basically, glamping is camping for the jet set and if you’re keen to see it at its best you need to get yourself to one of the following hot glamping destinations:
Longitude 131, Northern Territory, Australia.
Longitude 131 accommodates its guests in elevated luxury tents which boast features such as air-conditioning, mini bars and BOSE sound systems.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, British Columbia, Canada.
Offers remote-controlled propane wood- stoves, antique dressers and tea tables, heirloom china and silver accessories and wireless internet access in their ‘tents’.
Paperbark Camp, New South Wales, Australia.
Glamps it up with candle-lit dinners and ‘in-tent’ massages.
But if you’re truly a budget traveller in every sense of the word and these glamping options exceed your budget, it doesn’t mean you can’t add some style to your next camping adventure. For some DIY glamping, don’t forget to pack a few little luxuries along with your tent and fold-out chair.
My picks for the little extras that can turn your camping into glamping would include:
Champagne (no surprises there) – adds a bit of glamour to any situation.
Sun lounges – not your usual camping gear but for something that doesn’t take up much more room in the car than a fold-out chair they add a resort-like feel to your modest camping trip.
Gourmet camping recipes – camp fire cooking can extend far beyond baked beans without a great deal more effort. Try camp recipes for meals such as Mostaccioli with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts.
What are your thoughts and ideas on adding glamour to your camping experience?