The importance of a good night’s sleep….
If you ask a non-camper what it is that puts them off, it’s nearly always the thought of a cold night on lumpy ground. It doesn’t have to be like this! In fact, the opposite can be the case.
Make a good night’s sleep one of your top priorities and go for comfort and warmth above all. Wake up each morning ready to enjoy the day to the full.
There are so many options to choose from and it’s really a personal decision dependent on 2 main criteria… Static? Or out and about camping?
If your accommodation is open to the public season long then your will guests will expect and comment well on a sturdy and stylish off the ground bed with a decent mattress.
Many people go for ornate cast iron vintage beds. Where these can be beautiful, I always find them a bit incongruous in a glamping setup and prefer personally to go for a more organic option like bamboo or rustic wood.
For a mattress probably best to go for foam as inflatable can be a bit unreliable and nothing will get you marked down more than your guests getting a bad night’s sleep.
As this is for paying guests you are probably best using standard home bedding and keep it well aired as often as possible as there will always be a certain amount of condensation.
If yours is a mobile glamping set up then of course your choices will be dictated by space in the car, top box or trailer.
I think a double height double inflatable mattress makes a great solution. It packs down small and offers a great night’s sleep. If you are not a fan of the foot pump you can choose one that inflates from a 12 Volt lighter socket in your car plugs in to your 240 volts inverter.
If you don’t have an inverter and on a campsite, then you should be able to find a socket At the facilities and carry it back to camp inflated. Perhaps lying around on it outdoors in the sun for a while before installing it in place.
For bedding when out and about camping I like to use made for purpose. I used to take quilt from the bed but found on really rainy holidays (of which I’ve had plenty) it could get damp and take a long time to dry whereas a purpose built sleeping bag is designed to dry off quickly.
Also purpose-built sleeping bags back down much smaller and when packing the car can be stuffed into any available space. Don’t forget to give them a good shake and puff up before using as this can double their insulation value. I have a daily routine , if it’s not raining, I air bedding on a line every morning, this makes it feel fresh and nice everyday throughout the holiday.
To cover the bed I use a printed ‘world’ fabrics these can be really beautiful and cheap to find online. My favourite is a tree of life print with warm oranges and reds it fits really well in my bell tent. It has real impact on the design of my interior and only cost me £10, I’ve had it 10 years now So really good value for money.
I hope you found this useful. Goodnight… sleep well.