Know a Reluctant Glamper? Part 2
Welcome back to our troubleshooting guide to dealing with reluctant glampers. A lot of people who have never been glamping think it’s the same as camping, and if they have had a bad experience, or they’ve heard horror stories from a friend that can put them off entirely. We’re here with solutions to these obstacles that will ensure you have a happy glamping trip this summer.
- It’ll be dirty, I don’t like the countryside, there’s mud everywhere!
Glamping isn’t the same as camping, that’s why it has a different name. In the summer the mud is well and truly dried out and you won’t have to sit on the ground. Nearly every glamping pod or tent comes with chairs to sit in, and everywhere is fully cleaned in between guests, so you won’t be turning up to a Glastonbury style mud bath. Wellies are optional, but during the spring and summer all you’ll need is a decent pair of trainers or low-heeled boots for the wetter days.
- I don’t want to be eating hot dogs all weekend, and that’s what you do when you’re camping.
Well, part of the fun of glamping (and camping) is cooking your own food on a fire or barbecue, but there are lots of glampsites with fully equipped kitchens so you can make whatever you fancy. Takeaways and meals out are also an option, so if you really don’t want to be cooking then eat out instead. Making a sandwich lunch or picnic is a doddle while you’re glamping, or you can buy pre-made sandwiches and picnic foods from a shop.
- I’ll stink of campfire and I hate the smell.
Not all glamping sites allow open fires, so if it’s a big issue then find a site that doesn’t permit fires. Just because a site does allow fires, that doesn’t mean you have to light one, and when you’re out in the fresh air the smell will blow away quickly anyway.
- It’ll rain all the time and we’ll be really bored and wet.
OK, we can’t do anything about the weather and having a domestic holiday always means being aware of the weather, even if you’re staying in a hotel. Glampsites often have awnings on your tent or hut, so you can still sit outside if it’s raining. The big difference between camping and glamping is the space, and while you might not want to sit in a 2-man tent all day if it’s raining, if you’re staying in a yurt or a tepee you’ll have bags of space to use inside if the weather is bad.
Take games, books and a laptop with you so you can entertain yourself on those wet days, and embrace the opportunity to get back to basics – it’s a holiday not a whole lifestyle change.
- The kids will just argue all the time without loads of activities to keep them busy.
Kids are going to argue wherever you are – you could be staying in the Presidential suite at The Ritz and siblings would still find something to bicker about. You might be pleasantly surprised at how much the sense of freedom changes their behaviour and we have yet to meet a kid who didn’t like playing. Those who don’t enjoy getting dirty and playing in the woods can bring toys and games to play with, just as they would if you were staying in a hotel or self-catering cottage.
- I’ve been camping before and I hated it. Why would I want to go again?
Aha, you’ve been camping, not glamping. They’re not the same thing, and if your camping experience was at a festival, or a really basic campsite with poor facilities then no wonder you hated it. Glamping takes all the grit out of camping and elevates it to a much more enjoyable, luxurious experience. You may have hated your first camping trip, but that doesn’t mean this glamping trip will be anything like that.
- There’ll be spiders and flies and insects, I don’t want to wake up covered in bugs!
Yes, there will be insects, but no more than you’d experience if you spent the afternoon in a pub garden. There might even be fewer wasps than in a beer garden, so don’t let that put you off. Insect repellent and citronella candles can help keep bugs away, and you can always shake out your bedding to check for cheeky spiders before you turn in for the night.
We hope this has helped you convince the reluctant glamper in your life, and that you have an enjoyable break in 2021.
