Alternative Camping Holidays
These days, a camping holiday doesn’t have to consist of an endless struggle with leaky tents and broken tent poles. Here are some alternatives that make it possible to enjoy an outdoor holiday in relative comfort and without breaking the bank:
1) The Camping Pod
A camping pod provides the same experience as a traditional small tent but with added security. The pods are constructed from timber and insulated with wool. They are of a curved design and resemble small, wooden, semi-circular shaped igloos. They provide a degree of comfort from the elements without detracting at all from the experience of camping.
Camping pods commonly have a power point and lighting and are secured by lockable French doors. They are usually hired out without any other furnishings or conveniences. Campers are required to bring all their own camping equipment, minus the tent itself. The experience is extremely similar to camping in a small canvas tent but there is the security of the timber structure and the added warmth.
Many camping pod sites like to emphasise the eco-friendly nature of pod camping. Built from renewable materials, the pods are also intended to be aesthetically pleasing and relatively unobtrusive in the environment.
2) Glamping
Glamping or ‘Glam Camping’ has grown in popularity in recent years. As the name implies it is a luxury form of camping: it involves tents, but they are likely to be of a spacious safari variety, frequently they can accommodate six or more adults. The idea is that the ‘glampers’ can have an authentic outdoor camping experience but with enough luxuries to enable them to camp in comfort. Essential to every glamping holiday is a very comfortable bed under sturdy and spacious canvas. After this there are a number of optional luxuries but most glamping tents will include a refrigerator, power points, comfortable seating and even shower and toilet facilities. There are glamping sites to suit every taste. Aside from those that get on with the job of providing comfortable camping, there are others which put the emphasis on the ‘glam’: safari tents decked out in the fashion of high class hotels, or log cabins built as elaborate, fairy-tale tree houses.
The point with most glamping sites is to provide comfortable, often slightly off-beat, and even luxurious accommodation while still retaining the authenticity of camping outdoors. To heighten the ‘glamping’ experience the accommodation will often be in a relatively secluded area or at the most scenic edge of a regular camping site. Find Yurt Glamping.
3) Static Caravans
An alternative to both regular camping, and a less expensive option than the more elite ‘glampers’, is to stay in a ready-provided static caravan.
Static caravans are one of the most popular alternatives to camping in a tent. While many static caravan sites operate on an owner-occupied basis, there are plenty of sites which offer static caravans to let on a nightly, week-end or weekly basis. The static caravans are often found on family-friendly camp sites, with at least two or three bedrooms, a bathroom and shower and a large living area with full kitchen facilities. Often, each static is surrounded with its own enclosed ‘decking’ area which provides a private outdoor space for barbeques or al fresco dining.
This is the perfect choice of accommodation for those who want the independence of a camping holiday with the security of solid accommodation and a few conveniences. It is the perfect option for families with small children. For such families, renting a static caravan can provide a hassle-free introduction to camping holidays.
Whether opting for the camping pod, the glam camping option, or a static caravan, today’s campers are spoilt for a variety of sites and locations. With a bit of experimenting, anyone looking for a comfortable experience of the outdoors should be able to find an affordable and enjoyable holiday.
