Only recently has the glamping trend – glamorous camping – made it to the states. It has really been within the last ten years. What began as an international appeal has grown to a phenomenon of glampers looking to combine the great outdoors with the luxury of a hotel or resort. Both independent facilities and the global hospitality industry are cashing in on this experience. Although the prices vary amongst the locations, you can be sure to pay a premium to have a concierge at the campground. And if your five star fireside experience is all inclusive of an adventure, expect the dollar amount to be even higher.
Accommodations range anywhere from tents and tree houses to cabins and teepees. But these aren’t your typical tents. Usually referred to as tent houses, these living quarters might be made of canvas, but the similarities stop there. Inside you’ll find king-sized beds with high quality linens, en suites equipped with handmade soaps and balcony views of forests and coves rather than buildings and cars.
Each vacation destination puts its own spin on the “glamour” part of glamping. You might find amenities such as restaurants, swimming and lounging pools, and a spa. Taking it up a notch, room service and guided tours might be added to the list of luxuries.
With that being said, there are a few things you won’t find on your trip. Your access to technology will be limited. After all, you are seeking a getting-back-to-nature experience. But you won’t be completely in the dark ages. While televisions in your tent or teepee will be few and far between, some locations offer iPad docks in your “room” and have wi-fi available in the common areas. However, whatever technology you feel you are “lacking” is more than made up for in the form of relaxation or adventure on your glamorous camping trip.
Tree house penthouses
Sitting along the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, the Tenthouse Suites at Rock Water Secret Cover Resort seem to levitate along the Malaspina Strait. High above the rocky cliffs on the edge of the forest, these are not your run of the mill tents. Connected by a 1,500-foot boardwalk, each suite offers amenities you would expect from a four star hotel, but available in a secluded, outdoor environment. For starters, how many tents have you stayed in that have radiant heated floors? Not to mention each suite also has; a hydro-therapy tub with a view, a rain forest shower, a propane fireplace, shoji screens and a private veranda with comfortable outdoor furniture. Although the lodges and cabins at Rock Water Resort are family friendly, the Tenthouse Suites are designed for a couples’ getaway.
The coastal location of the resort allows for myriad of water activities including kayaking, diving and fishing. If you’d rather stay closer to shore, hiking and mountain biking may be more your speed. One of the many benefits of glamping, the resorts provide you with the right equipment to take on any activity you choose. There is no need to pack fishing gear or biking helmets. Rock Water Resort puts them at your disposal. Something else you don’t have to pack - provisions.
An onsite restaurant offers a fare much better than anything you can prepare over an open flame. Offering a true glamping experience, the Tenthouse Suites at Rock Water Secret Cover Resort are a rare find nestled within the forest in Canada. RockWaterSecretCoveResort.com
Upscale Provisions
Located in the Australian bush – the undeveloped and rural part of the Down Under landscape – Paperbark Camp gives visitors a chance to unwind and unplug. Enjoying nature as intended, you’ll not find electronic device hubs in the canvas, safari style tents. Instead of falling asleep the sound of the hum of electricity, you’ll drift off to the sounds of Australian wildlife, safely above the ground of course. Paperbark offers three different safari tent accommodations; king deluxe, deluxe and original. Glamping is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest – choose the king deluxe, known as the “King Parrot.” Complete with two king and two twin-sized beds, King Parrot is great for a two-person intimate getaway or a family gathering. Each tent has polished hardwood flooring and an indoor en suite with double vanity and sunken bath.
If you can pull yourself away from your luxurious accommodations, Paperbark offers the finest of dining at The Gunyah Restaurant with a menu that changes daily, enjoy a Peruvian style lamb rump with taro pur.e on Monday, and come back Wednesday for Confit pork belly with corn coriander pur.e. And just as the safari tents sit high above the ground allowing you to enjoy the sea breeze, the Gunyah allows for a similar unique experience amongst the gum trees. PaperbarkCamp.com.au
Jungle jaunt
A trip to Northern Thailand and a stay at the Four Seasons Tented Camp is what you’ve been looking for in a once in a lifetime glamping opportunity. Designed for active adults and teens, your trip to the Tented Camp Golden Triangle is all-inclusive – including an elephant ride through the jungle.
First things first, before you make your jungle trek, you need a good night’s rest. You can choose from a deluxe or superior tent depending on who joined you on your trip. Each of the 15 accommodations at the Tented Camp include a full bath and an outdoor rain shower. If you choose the deluxe tent, you are in for a treat on your balcony – there is a hot tub.
Once you have slept well, and perhaps had a relaxing evening in your balcony hot tub, it’s time to be an early riser. The Four Seasons Tented Camp has a variety of activities to make your jungle safari complete. Start your day with an adventure. An experience unlike any other, take a bareback elephant trek to watch the sun rise over the Laos Mountains. When you return, a post-elephant massage is just what you need. The spa located at the camp offers a variety of facial and body treatments, including massage. Enjoy a traditional Thai massage either at the spa or in your tent. According to Thai legend, this massage was practiced in temples in the second and third centuries. “It combines Oriental pressure point stimulation and stretching with gentle rocking to relieve muscle tension; it helps improve circulation and flexibility to invigorate the nervous system.” FourSeasons.com