The Ultimate Guide on What to Take Glamping

July 21, 2020

Glamping is always a great experience. You get to be with nature while having many of the comforts of home. In this glamping guide we take you through the different options available as well as all the things needed for glamping.

Different Types of Glamping

Are you looking for mountain glamping or beach glamping? Are you looking to fly to another country or just take a quick drive? Like most things in life, glamping comes in a lot of different flavors, each with its own unique experience.

DIY Glamping

DIY glamping is going to take more work than the others, but not only will it save you money, it’s also hard to beat the simplicity of cooking all of your meals outside and roasting marshmallows in a fire pit. Instead of a small camping mat, you’ll be sleeping on an airbed with a comforter, with some cozy furnishings you brought from home.

Yurt Glamping

Yurts are traditionally temporary structures used by nomadic cultures who move with the seasons. However, these days, it’s not hard to find stationary yurts, built on a beautiful piece of land with an incredible view. Some even come equipped with a private bathroom, kitchenette, and heat source. They are typically quite roomy and may have both a bedroom area and sitting area.

Treehouse Glamping

If you were born in the time of Swiss Family Robinson, chances are pretty high that you’ve dreamed of living in your own treehouse, complete with a swinging bridge and dumb waiter. The nostalgia of a childhood spent climbing trees runs deep in all of us, making treehouse glamping the most romantic of them all. Treehouse accommodations are diverse: ranging from lux with all the amenities to a basic platform structure with a bed.

Restored Trailer Glamping

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a restored 1960’s Airstream, we’re here to make your dreams come true. The globe is now full of small, well curated Airstream glamping resorts. Restored trailer glamping typically brings the added bonus of staying in a fully contained vessel complete with a bathroom, kitchen, dining table, and sofa. And before you get grossed out, remember that these rigs are hooked up to sewage, not much different from using a traditional bathroom at a hotel.

Dome Glamping

Think views of the open stars with a hint of luxury. Geodesic domes have become very popular in the recent past and you can now find them to rent all over the world. Domes most often offer private bathrooms, luxurious amenities and sometimes even come with their own spiral slide inside.

Safari Style Tent Glamping

Perhaps the style by which glamping was first popularized, safari style tent glamping offers all the nature camping brings you. However, you don’t have to schlep your own tent and prep for weeks ahead of time. Nor do you have to spend hours setting up camp on a Friday night. Some offer reprieve from buzzing mosquitoes, cozy outdoor seating areas, fire pits, and did we mention, beds?!

Things to Take Glamping

Having a bed while you’re ‘camping’ might not actually be the best part about glamping. The best part might in fact be that you’re not limited in what you can bring.

Yes, it’s true that unplugging from life may also mean leaving your hair straightener and makeup behind, but in case that’s not how you roll, fear not, you can bring it all with you! No matter how full you want to pack the car, there are some essentials that you’ll want to make sure are on your glamping checklist.

And if you’re looking for the perfect bag for glamping, check out Pillowpak, weighing in at only 25 ounces, with a 55 liter capacity, machine washable, and can be easily rolled up and stored away, it’s a one-of-a-kind pack.

What to Wear Glamping

Having comfortable outdoor clothing is going to be the name of the glamping clothes game. Think comfortable pants and shirts made out of performance fabrics that will wick away moisture and dry quickly, wool socks that will keep you comfortable in hot or cold conditions, and sturdy, comfortable shoes that you can both hike and lounge around in.

Toiletries and Personal Care

You’ll have access to a bathroom and shower, so bring whatever must-haves you need. The one thing to keep in mind here is that many glamping set ups aren’t connected to traditional sewage systems. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re using products that are biodegradable and Eco-friendly.

You might find that taking a pause to enjoy nature is a great time to also pause your normal beauty routine. But if you have a face wash and serum regimen that just can’t take a break, bring them along. You’ll likely be spending lots of time outside, so be sure you bring your favorite sunscreen and insect repellent too.

Adventure Gear & Gadgets

Unless you’re setting up your own DIY glamping site, there isn’t much gear you need to pack, but there are a few extra things needed for glamping.

Insulated Cooler: Chances are you’re going to want to do some hard core chilling and you may not have access to a refrigerator; bringing along a soft sided insulated cooler bag will do the trick. Whether you just keep it on the porch of your camp or carry it to a beach somewhere, investing in a cooler bag is going to serve you well for many, many years to come.

Zone Bug Repeller: Not a necessity but depending on where you are, it might be the difference between happy hour outside and in. There are many options out there, we are fans of Thermacell repellent - no more spraying toxic chemicals on your body.

Multi-use Insulated Cup: one mug that you can use to keep your coffee warm in the morning and your cocktail cold in the evening, preferably in your favorite color that will put a smile on your face every time you drink out of it.

Power Bank: It’s almost always a good idea to have one of these on hand. It’s likely that you’ll be able to do all your charging in your tent/cabin/trailer but if you’re going out on day excursions, you may want the piece of mind of having an extra burst of power.

Paddleboard/Kayak/Bikes: Buying all the toys can add up to a large dent in the wallet, but after you’ve tried them all, choose your favorite and take the plunge. Finding your favorite outdoor activities will also help you narrow down your glamping destinations.

Food and Drink to Take Glamping

Does the resort you’re staying at offer complimentary coffee or are you going to need to bring your own? Will you have access to meals and snacks? All glamping sites are set up differently, so inquire what the amenities will be. If you’ll be on your own for the most part, here are our recommendations:

Coffee: Bring a basic pour over coffee filter or french press, with your fave ground coffee beans. Inquire to make sure your glamping spot will give you access to boiling water.

Water: Make sure the water where you’re staying is potable and if not, either bring a water bottle filter or bottled water with you.

Happy Hour Bebidas: Make sure to throw a six pack of your favorite beverage into your soft cooler bag.

Snacks: Even if the glamping site you’re staying at offers food, grab some easy nutrient packed snacks and bars as well. And while you’re at it, grab some dark chocolate almond bark, keeping in mind food allergies of course.

Easy Meals: If you’re staying at a glamping spot with a kitchen setup, preparing easy, contained meals is the goal. Because washing dishes can be a challenge, you’re going to want to cook meals that aren’t going to leave your pots and pans too crusty. Plan for meals like BBQ burgers, easy pasta dishes, and thrown together salads. Prepping ahead of time will go a long way; only bring what you know you’re absolutely going to use.

Finding the Best Glamping Sites

As the popularity of glamping has increased, a myriad of great websites have emerged to help connect folks to the best glamping spots around the world.

Glamping Hub - An inspirational resource for all things glamping, this site represents over 30,000 glamping accommodations that span across 115 countries. Defined by their motto “Embrace Uniqueness”, you’re sure to find something perfectly suited.

Glamping.com - The largest source of glamping information in the world, you can find a treasure trove of content, along with glamping sites from all over the world. From airstreams to yurts, and pods to teepees, you will find it all under one umbrella.

Hip Camp - Though it encompasses the spectrum of camping, Hip Camp is a great place to find hip and unique glamping sites across all 50 states.

Under Canvas - With 7 unique destinations sprinkled around the southwestern part of the United States, Under Canvas also offers “pop up camps” and is currently expanding their offering. The beauty is that once you know you like one of their resorts, you can book others with confidence.

Tentrr - With their own house designed glamping tents set up on private pieces of land, Tentrr connects campers with basic glamping accommodations all over the United States.

Glamping in a Nutshell

Glamping is all about getting out there, being in the moment, immersing yourself in nature, and experiencing life. It’s about challenging yourself to push out of your comfort zone and jump off a 20 foot rock into the river or body surf in the ocean.

It’s about unplugging from day to day life and plugging into yourself, free of your typical daily responsibilities. And you’ll be able to do all of that without sacrificing a bit of comfort. We hope this glamping guide has been useful and you now know the important things to consider for glamping. Enjoy your trip!