The proper planning and preparation go a long way towards making any glamping trip enjoyable, whether for family fun or with friends.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to what you need to bring when going on a glamping trip, but there are some things that everyone should consider before setting out.
Some of these will depend on the type of trip you’re taking. A fully-curated glamping trip requires vastly different planning considerations from RV and tent glamping.
No matter where your destination is – local or far – following these guidelines will help ensure that your experience will be memorable and relaxing.
What is a glamping trip?
A glamping trip is a short-term camping trip where you stay in a tent or an RV but have all of the luxuries and amenities of being at home.
Glamping trips are usually more expensive than staying in a campground, but they are worth it. You can find many glamping companies that offer this style of camping, and they typically provide the following: bell tents with beds and bedding, showers, toilets and sinks, air conditioning, kitchens with sink and counter space.
You love the outdoors and all of the adventures that come with it – but you also love comfort and style. When planning a glamping trip, you bring all of those together: adventure, comfort, and style.
Then there are campers that love this lifestyle and live it regularly – we call them glampers.
Accommodation considerations for your glamping plan.
Determining what accommodations you will have on this trip is the first step, as it will determine everything else.
You can choose to glamp in either an RV, go old-school with a tent, or a fully-catered glamping experience with a host. Each have their advantages and disadvantages.
Glamping on Wheels in an RV or Travel Trailer
Glamping usually means that you’re staying in luxury for an overnight camping trip, but RV or trailer camping may also be considered glamping.
Just because you stay in an RV doesn’t mean you have to set up camp – you can travel from place to place and still get all of the benefits of a glamping experience.
Over the past few years, RV rentals and campervan rentals have become exceedingly popular. These offer an excellent way for those who want to experience the glamping lifestyle on the road without making a huge purchase.
Glamping in a Tent (roughing it)
Going glamping with just a tent is possible and inexpensive. Of all of the options, this probably requires the most preparation.
Campsites often have tables and fire pits for you to work with, but that’s about the extent of it.
Because there’s no shelter of any kind and basic (if any) amenities, this is an experience that requires you to rough it out.
Hosted Luxury Glamping Tents
Hosted glamping tents are purely glamping in style in the traditional sense. These range anywhere from beautifully decorated bell tents to rustic log cabins high up in the mountains of Colorado.
With hosted glamping resorts, you’ll typically get all of the amenities for comfort and style as well.
While enjoying everything a glamping resort has to offer is amazing, it does come with a cost. These resorts tend to be relatively expensive.
Selecting the Best Places to go glamping
Let’s start by narrowing down the places. There are so many options out there, and they can be found in every region of the country.
Whether you want to head north to the Terramor Outdoor Resort in Bar Harbor, Maine, or down south to the Cypress Valley Treehouses in the Texas Hill Country, the world is your oyster when it comes to finding the best place.
With that, are you looking for a long trip that will span a couple of weeks? Or is this a quick weekend trip?
You may be limited in your options when it comes to glamping in your local area. Of course, you can find a traditional campground and bring your glamping amenities with you. It’s all up to you how you want to glamp.
When you’re trying to find the perfect place to stay, you’ll need to go about this process differently than if you were looking for a hotel or Airbnb. This means that while many people are looking for pictures of their potential lodging online, you may have to reach out and call the campground or host directly to ask about some of the amenities and adventures.
The prices will vary depending on what type of glamping accommodations you want, where they are located, and the amenities they offer. This also means that many people will compromise on finding an ideal place because of these limitations.
Amenities for your comfort and style.
At this point, you know what accommodations you’re after, and you’ve narrowed down your list of glamping places to only a handful.
Still can’t make up your mind?
That’s perfectly okay. Now you have to start comparing amenities.
What the Glamping Host Provides
The campground or glamp host usually provides some amenities, but these can vary from location to location. There is no standard, and some excel above others. Never assume the host is providing anything, always check with each host when creating your glamping plan that way you know exactly what you should bring.
Here are a few things we’ve found that most glamping hosts typically provide—
- Sleeping arrangements. You have to sleep at some point, so comfort should be a priority. Consider the bedding, comforters provided, and other sleeping comforts.
- Restrooms. Since there’s a broad spectrum of lavatories when comparing glamping to camping, you have to put bathrooms at the forethought of your glamping trip design. Is there a private shower, or is it shared? Are the restrooms attached (or at least very close) to your sleeping quarters?
- Provided luxury. Without the amenities, it wouldn’t be glamping. What all do the hosts offer? It would be best if you were on the lookout for provided blankets/throws, towels, refrigerators, and prepared campfires, to name a few.
What You Should Bring
Of course, not everything will be provided by the hosts, and that’s okay. This is your opportunity to personalize your glamping trip with a few items of your own. After all, that’s part of the fun in creating a glamping plan — determining what you need to bring to make your glamping trip memorable and enjoyable.
- Awesome audio. As you’re lounging by the campfire and cuddled up with your blanket, you’re going to want some good tunes to vibe to. Don’t forget your Bluetooth speaker for some late-night music.
- Creature comforts. Some hosted glampsites will provide seating around the campfire and inside the accommodations, but you may choose to bring your favorite comfortable camping chair.
- Fill the cooler and the glasses. A glass of wine or other beverage of choice is essential for this trip. Make sure you bring your favorite (and the wine glasses) on this trip. Sometimes hosts will have these for an additional fee but check on that.
Indeed, there are more than just the above you should bring. This would, of course, vary from location to location as well.
Things To Do While Glamping
There’s more to glamping than just sleeping in fancy tents. What is it would you like to do to fill your time? What adventures or activities do you want to try while you’re out? Are there any local exclusivities that you can’t miss?
Activities and Adventures
Are you the adventurous type, or do you like to lounge around and relax? Both options are available when glamping! And with the plethora of outdoor activities to partake in, you’ll want to be prepared before heading out.
If you’re the adventuring type, going on a hike is a must. There’s nothing like being immersed in nature and opening your eyes to see all the wonder around you.
However, for the slower and more refined lifestyle, you might be interested in nightly live music. Some glamping sites will have a few musicians come through to entertain.
Fine Dining and Local Eateries
Food and camping go together like peanut butter and jelly – glamping is no exception.
Some glamping spots include a full catering service or an on-site diner, whereas others don’t offer anything of the sort. Find out what kind of food is included in your package, if any, and then decide if you’ll eat on-site or hit the road to find a local fare.
For example, the Conestoga Ranch in Utah has its Campfire Grill, where you can stay and enjoy a meal without leaving the resort.
When considering where to go for dinner, we encourage our guests not to shy away from exploring some of the local menus.
Get your glamping plan in order!
Glamping is a fun way to camp without all the hassles of carrying camping equipment, setting up tents, and cooking over an open flame. You can enjoy the outdoors while still having access to the comforts you’re accustomed to. However, having a glamping plan will make your trip much better and allow you to glamp in style and comfort.
Hopefully, this provided you some tips on how to design a glamping-style camping trip. At the very least, this provides you with a decent starting point for planning your glamping trip.
We would love to get your thoughts on some of these glamping plan tips or see what ideas you have in the comments below.
