What is Glamping? 5 Ways They Differ From Eco-Lodges
Glamping is a sort of tenting. Nonetheless, it has purposely transitioned to accommodate those that wouldn’t be snug in a standard tenting setting. The concept behind that is to permit vacationers to get as near Mom Nature as doable with out dropping the comfortable ambiance of a lodge.
Many naturalists wander away to distant locations to expertise glamping, however they’re usually stunned as a result of the expertise will not be what they anticipated. Vacationers can not differentiate between the numerous camping-related actions and experiences, so they are going to confuse glamping for eco-lodge experiences or eco resorts and really feel confused.
Such confusion is pure, however understanding the fundamentals is important to keep away from disappointment. Here’s a detailed information about glamping, the way it differs from eco-lodges and extra:
What’s glamping?
Glamping (aka glamorous tenting) is an out of doors lodging that merges the luxurious of a cultured lodge with the rusticity of tenting. It’s a high-end tent expertise the place friends can get near Mom Nature whereas preserving a homely and cozy ambiance. Listed here are all of the methods glamping is different from camping.
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What are eco-lodges?
Eco-lodges are lodging in undisturbed, distant pure areas the place each development and operation have the bottom influence doable on the atmosphere. They aren’t solely a part of the local people, however they’re energetic members in defending nature and culturally delicate areas.
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5 variations between eco-lodges and glamping
It’s straightforward to confuse glamping and eco-lodges as a result of they search the identical goal: offering a run-in with Mom Nature with out dropping a grasp on consolation.
Nonetheless, glamping and staying at an eco-lodge are drastically totally different as a result of they provide a contrasting expertise. Glamping focuses on offering luxurious lodging to naturalists, whereas eco-lodges are dedicated to sustainable consolation as a substitute.
Some basic items separate the 2, however let’s do not forget that a glamping website may be an eco-lodge and vice versa. Some spots don’t fall in both class, whereas others could fall in each. Here’s a fast comparability of the 2:
Model of Lodging
Probably the most seen distinction between glamping and the eco-lodge is the lodging model. Eco-lodges are designed to supply a nature-immersive expertise, whereas glamping prefers consolation but nonetheless gives some proximity to nature.
Most glamping lodging are tents modified to be sturdier and extra sensible. They’re usually designed to be semi-permanent luxurious lodging and are a mixture of conventional cabins and tents. Glampers can take pleasure in amenities like electrical energy, plumbing, and AC.
The essential kinds of glamping lodging embrace:
Eco-lodges prioritize sustainability. So, whereas they could present an enormous hut or a comfy cabin constructed with eco-friendly materials, friends could discover a totally different degree of consolation as a result of even important utilities could also be designed to have a decrease footprint. Fundamental kinds of eco-lodges embrace:
Stage of Consolation
Glampsites and eco-lodges are snug, however one would possibly prime the opposite because of the model of consolation and primary facilities supplied. Usually, glamping websites are perceived as extra snug as a result of they include hotel-worthy luxurious facilities, whereas eco-lodges (besides possibly luxury eco-lodges) can’t examine.
Most glamping websites are designed to supply a hotel-level expertise as soon as you compromise in. Even yurts and canvas-style lodging at glampsites provide facilities one wouldn’t anticipate finding within the open air.
In comparison with that, most eco-lodges provide primary facilities, however friends won’t get such an opulent expertise relying on their ecofriendliness. The concept behind an eco-lodge is to permit friends to grow to be one with nature by giving again to nature, so most eco-lodges provide lodging that may not threat the atmosphere.
Sustainability
Glamp websites sometimes provide electrical energy, ensuite bogs with plumbing, king-sized beds, luxurious bedding, AC/central heating, and even connoisseur eating experiences and spa amenities. And plenty of consider glamping spots are at all times sustainable, however that’s unfaithful.
It’s straightforward to confuse sustainable lodging for a glampsite, as a result of their development has a minimal influence on the atmosphere. But, they’ll nonetheless function lower than eco-friendly.
Glamping can solely be known as sustainable, like eco-lodges, if it states explicitly that their facilities and primary amenities are designed to not hurt the planet.
For instance, Orca Island Cabins in Seward, Alaska, could seem like easy yurts. They’re near nature and set in a distant location. They might seem like any glamping website, however they’re extra. There may be solely restricted electrical energy out there on the island, and that’s sourced from solar energy. The lavatory has a compost rest room to scale back waste. Simply to call a number of eco-friendly measures they took.
Accessibility
Accessibility is mostly lowered in wilderness areas, however many glampsites and eco-lodges transcend limitations to supply an all-inclusive expertise. The accessibility of an eco-lodge or a glampsite varies from place to put, however sometimes, it’s a lot simpler to succeed in a glampsite.
It’s rather more frequent for a glampsite to be accessible as a result of it’s designed to supply an opulent and cozy expertise. Whereas eco-lodges are homely and cozy, they are often treehouses or located on a distant island that may solely be reached by small water taxis or hydroplanes.
Solely a few eco-lodges are accessible as a result of they might provide a extra rustic expertise. Therefore, they can not present wheelchair accessibility for ADA-compliant rooms as a result of they lack the sources. One instance is Antbear Lodge in South Africa.
Price
The worth of staying at a high-end glamping website or a mystical eco-lodge sometimes varies from place to put. Nonetheless, eco-lodges typically are cheaper as a result of they accommodate friends with primary facilities.
Glamping websites value extra as a result of they provide high-end facilities like air con, central heating, and different amenities that value extra. Most eco-lodges lack electrical energy and use sustainable energy, so they don’t cost friends with the price of electrical energy and different expenditures.
Which is best: Glamping or Eco-lodges?
The expertise fully depends upon the friends.
Most individuals who keep at eco-lodges are eco-tourists. Eco-lodges are catered to supply a uncooked and untouched expertise, so these hoping for an immersive expertise will discover eco-lodges extra appropriate.
Glamping caters to those that don’t wish to cope with staying out within the open. Such friends worth consolation and luxurious, so they won’t thoughts being distanced from a uncooked expertise.
In the end, it’s fully as much as the traveler to determine what sort of expertise they need. If you’re a nature lover who doesn’t thoughts a number of mosquito bites, staying at an eco-lodge will make you cheerful. Should you like nature and wish to be zen with it, however critters bug you out or choose an opulent expertise, it would be best to go glamping.
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Emese Maczko is a journey blogger behind Eco Lodges Wherever. Having explored a number of locations round Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the UK, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a eager understanding of numerous cultures and an appreciation for the fantastic thing about every vacation spot she visits. She advocates for sustainable journey and ecotourism.