By Cole Van Lue

What is glamping? Truth be told, I don’t know. In fact, I had never heard of “glamping” until someone in my marketing class mentioned it. In this post, we are going to learn about glamping, together. Hopefully by the end of this post we both have a better understanding of this new phenomenon. At least, I think its new?

Obviously, glamping is a combination of the words “glam” and “camping”. But what makes this form of camping so “glamourous”? As someone who doesn’t know what glamping actually is, I would assume it is high end camping, which is the totally goes against the concept of camping in the first place. Camping to me is all about taking the necessities (food, water, shelter) and escaping the civilized world to find a place that brings you closer to nature. You don’t have to be in the middle of the wilderness, a state park will do. When I think of glamping, I assume it is sleeping in your $500,000 RV with a few trees around you. Am I right? Probably not, but we are both about to find out.

Glamping, according to glamping.com, is where “stunning nature meets modern luxury”. Apparently, glamping is all about cultural immersion, broadening your horizons, and deeper engagement with your surroundings as you enjoy an “upscale approach to sleeping under the stars”. So, I was wrong, sort of.

It appears, as you’ll see in the pictures on this post, that you will in fact sleep in some sort of hut or “tent” if you choose to glamp. These structures are something you wouldn’t find in a typical state or national park, but rather something you might find at a tropical resort. While some of the glamping structures are just luxurious tents, others appear to be full blown homes or condos. It seems like glamping has a wide definition.

From the pictures we see here, I would honestly consider glamping if I was wanting to go on a trip to the mountains or somewhere tropical. However, I wouldn’t want to go glamping at my closest state park, as that would be extremely extra and just downright weird. It seems as though it is most popular to go glamping at places where you would normally stay at resorts, such as Bali or the Hot Springs in Colorado.

On glamping.com, you will also find that glampers are infatuated with villas. Personally, I would stay at a villa for a romantic getaway or a once in a lifetime trip. For glampers, it is just another way to “experience the outdoors”.

Is glamping really camping? It’s hard to say for sure. Most people would say camping is where you stay overnight in a tent or camper. When I think of camping, I think of mosquito bites and freezing cold mornings. I think of cooking hotdogs and falling asleep to the sounds of the campfire. If we sleep in an RV or a villa that just so happens to be surrounded by some nature, are we really camping?

I think it is important for everyone to get out and explore the natural world. Some people really don’t like camping, and that’s okay. A perfect option would be glamping, as it appears it can still give you an outdoor experience without having to use a sleeping bag at night. Some of us really like traditional camping, and “glamping” would be something we would do if we are wanting a vacation that is more focused on the destination itself, not just being out in the wilderness.

After learning a little about glamping, I may give it a try. Afterall, who wouldn’t want to stay in a luxurious hut in Bali. Is it really camping? Maybe not. But in the end, its all about getting out and exploring the world.