2024 – The Year of the Calmcation
Ever since the pandemic, glamping has been a popular choice, really taking off in the brief periods of respite between full lockdowns when it was an option that was compatible with social distancing and outdoor leisure and then really taking off as we moved back to normalcy. This boon in popularity in the thick of the pandemic has garnered it many fans, some of whom have become dedicated glampers.
This has been supported by the rise in people building garden structures that served as a home office or retreat during lockdowns and which now provides an income stream as an AirBnB, as well as the increase in people swapping the bricks and mortar life for van life. The live-in van is a glamping-on-wheels option that people are also turning to for holidays where they can connect with nature on campsites but have the trappings of modern life like hot running water and a proper bed.
An opposing trend (dubbed “revenge travel”) saw people going on list-ticking sprees, keen to maximise their holiday time by seeing and doing as many things as possible. While we can see the appeal of catching up on lost time, many people have found that being constantly on the go and fitting in as many experiences and sights as they can actually ruins their time off. Feeling disconnected from their destinations and despondent about the quality of their leisure time, lots of people are now turning to the “calm-cation”.
A calm-cation is a getaway where the aim is to maximise the time spent in repose, relaxing among nature with the must-see lists torn up and thrown away. Think lie-ins, long reads and authentic connections to the natural world.
The things that make a calm-cation destination appealing, according to research carried out by Campspot, are waterfront locations, stunning views and decent internet connections. We’d argue that actually for many calm-cationers the third option can be a negative point if the desire is to disconnect from the busyness of everyday life and restore a sense of balance. With that said, we know how much people love to send holiday photos to family and friends or post on social media so there is a call for wifi even in the wild.
The connection with the natural world is also an important aspect of a calm-cation, and being barefoot outdoors (known as “earthing”) is said to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and even help with insomnia and mood disorders. It’s all well and good having beautiful scenery from a hotel bedroom window where there’s super-fast broadband and room service on tap, but it’s another thing to be immersed in, and physically connected to those surroundings.
Waterfront locations are popular because of the calming effect of being around large bodies of water. It could be the seafront, a lake or a slow flowing river but the simple presence of water helps calm our nervous systems – a lot of research has been conducted into the physiological effects of water and it’s a combination of the colour, the noise of gently lapping waves and the immersive effect on every sense that makes water so grounding.
Glamping seems to go from strength to strength and that’s because it is a sustainable, flexible style of holidaying that can cater for a range of needs. No two glampsites are the same so whether you’re up for a week of white water rafting while sleeping in a tipi, or a long weekend in a safari tent reading your way through a stack of novels in your hot tub, there is something to suit everyone.
