The Appeal of Glamping
Though many people have tried and enjoyed glamping, some people still don’t get the appeal. What is it about glamping that makes it such an attractive holiday option, and who are the people driving this holiday style into mass popularity?
Unlike many traditional styles of holiday, like river cruising, caravanning or a B&B tour, glamping is the preserve of the younger demographics and is especially appealing to millennials who make up nearly half of UK glampers. Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980) count for a quarter of glampers while older and younger groups make up the rest. Whether generation Z get into glamping, following the example of their elders, remains to be seen as they’re not yet at the age where they set the holiday agenda. We expect glamping to appeal to Generation Z because the environmental impacts and agendas of glamping sites are in keeping with their values.
Glamping is a sustainable holiday option because it is low-energy. Many sites use solar and wind power and encourage guests to get in touch with nature during their holiday. Yes, log burners and campfires create some pollution, but in all other aspects, glamping is a green option. This means it appeals to everyone who wants to be more conscious about their environmental impact and reduce their air miles.
Environmental benefits aside, glamping appeals to all sorts of people for many reasons. One notable difference between glamping and camping is that you don’t need a car to go glamping. With things like bedding, towels and cooking gear provided all you need to take is your toiletries and clothes. This is easily done on public transport (though you may need a taxi to get to more remote destinations) so there’s no need to own or rent a car to go glamping. We wouldn’t want to lug all the camping gear for a family holiday on and off a train, but glamping poses no such challenge.
Festival goers all see glamping options at sites and even if they don’t take that option for the festival, they may then have a separate glamping holiday to try it out. Festival glamping can be a bit hit and miss – after all if you’re watching music and doing activities all day you’re not that likely to be bothered about the luxury touches of your accommodation. The experience you get at a dedicated glampsite is a far cry from that at a festival, but festival glamping often plants a seed.
Glamping is also appealing as a compromise between the outdoorsy types and those who need a proper roof and four walls to relax. Shepherds huts and treehouses provide these home comforts and a stable structure in the heart of the outdoors. Glamping is a great way of introducing city types to the country life without asking too much of them. If you’re not sure whether glamping or camping would appeal, these options allow you to test out the lifestyle without spending money on tents or sleeping bags that may never get used again.
Finally, glamping is also fantastic for people with long term health conditions who wouldn’t manage a night under canvas but who don’t want to miss out on the campfire fun and the joy of holidaying in the countryside. People who need access to proper toilet and washing facilities, who need reliably supportive sleeping spaces or who must stay warm may struggle with camping, so glamping meets these needs while still retaining some of the wildness of camping. If you have a bad back or live with chronic pain then glamping is for you.
In short, glamping appeals to a wide variety of people for many reasons; glamping provides something for everyone.
