“Nowadays just about every activity can be pre-packed and polished – raw experiences diluted to dipping a toe in lukewarm water.”
-Glamping is not camping by Ian Belcher
Listen, I’m all about getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors. Nothing makes me happier than getting away from the crowds, out of the car, off the road, out of cell service range, far from city noise, in the fresh air, and back to the basics (“Basics” of course, defined by me, include food and wine.)
Turning it all off and getting outside can be a rare experience these days.
But I’ll be the first to admit; it takes one tiny spider in too close of proximity to freak me out and leave me feeling itchy for the rest of the day. As well as, not all of us are completely competent when it comes to camping, so for the novices (like myself) or city slickers 😉 , it can be a bit more challenging and time-consuming.
Glamping can be a gateway to camping, or perhaps just as much into nature as some may want to venture. (Who am I to judge?)
I will be the first to take advantage of making camping easier and spiffing it up a bit! And that is why GLAMPING has become my latest obsession! (If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve undoubtedly noticed.)
Glamourous camping also know as glamping, can be many different things, including, staying in luxury tents, revamped airstreamers, yurts, cabins, teepees, treehouses, wagons, and train cars, to name a few.
Glamping is for those who love the outdoors but don’t necessarily want to leave the luxuries of home (sounds great, right?) While camping takes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you, glamping is designed to make you comfortable in the elements. No long hikes while hauling a heavy backpack necessary.
The Perks to Glamping
- Running water (usually)
- Climate control (fan, mister, ac, fire, etc)
- Beds with real mattresses
- Showers and toilets (many times shared)
- Electricity (to some extent)
- Dining options
- No preparation
- No take down
- It’s easy
- It’s romantic
Review of Moab Under Canvas
Pulling into Moab Under Canvas you park right next to the reception tent and check in. Then they grab your suitcases from your car and escort you via golf cart to your tent. It’s very organized and very similar to staying at a resort.
Tents are either the standard safari tent in which you share the bathroom/shower facilities or the luxury tent in which you have your own private shower/bathroom. We choose to forego the private attached bathroom because the price increase was a bit too much. Our tent came equipped with a queen size bed, a dresser, a lantern, a fireplace, misters, and chairs.
They mentioned at most we’d ever have to wait for the shared bathroom would be 15 minutes. We were lucky and never had to wait. The bathrooms were a long fancy porta-potty with three rooms on each side. Towels available in the nearby tent.
In the 24-hour reception tent, there’s coffee, tea, and hot water available all the time. For dinner, they supplied hot dogs & all the fixings for s’mores to cook by a large fire pit with seating for about ten people. Breakfast is available to be delivered to the reception tent for an extra charge from one of the restaurants in town. You can find games and cards in the tent to play throughout the night or just hang out and mingle. At any time you can find a receptionist in the registration tent where you can ask questions, charge your phone, etc. The service was top notch!
The property was lit well enough to navigate at all hours of the night but still dark enough to not distract from the amazingly bright sky full of stars.
Waking up in the morning we were able to see our incredible surroundings in broad daylight; From camp, you can see parts of Arches National Park and have a breathtaking 360-panoramic view.
I feel its only fair to give both the good and the bad on anything, so here’s some things to keep in mind when choosing glamping over camping
The Disadvantages of Glamping
- The cost
- Not as remote as camping
- No sense of accomplishment of doing it yourself
- Basically in a hotel without all the amenities
Having done both, I can honestly say there is such a sense of accomplishment when you’ve set up the tent and made your home for the night, finishing off with roasting s’mores over the fire you built (that you’re so desperately trying to keep lit throughout the night). It’s a lot more work, but can be more rewarding.
Nothing makes you feel more outdoorsy than having to a pop a squat in the woods with only your lantern while trying to ignore the bush moving next to you. In Africa, they referred to this as “bush toilet” and deemed us “bush girls.”
Camping gives me a greater appreciation for the amenities we have at home, and makes me more aware of our carbon footprint. Things that unfortunately can be easily ignored otherwise.
So, when it come’s to glamping vs. camping, one may suit your personality type better, or if you’re like me, there’s a time and a place for each!
