One thing that the pandemic has led to is that more and more travelers prefer spending their vacations far away from big cities, hotels, and crowds of people. And what better way to do that than camping? This word however is an umbrella notion for so many types of accommodation of different levels of comfort. Here’s our overview of how you can choose to camp, and you’re certain to find something to your liking!
Survival camping
If we list camping options in the order of increasing comfort, the first in the list would definitely be the so-called bivouacking – sleeping in the wild without a tent. The only things you need are a mat, sleeping bag, and a good weather forecast to make sure there is no rain.
One of the main benefits of this way of living is that it can be allowed in some places where putting up a tent is forbidden. Check out the rules of the area where you’re going and see if there are caveats in the camping ban for sleeping without a tent from dusk till dawn. Another great thing about this type of sleeping is that you don’t have to carry a heavy tent and find a place to put it up – you can do it almost anywhere! Besides, “a 1000 star hotel” is a great experience if you want to enjoy the view of the night, sunrise and sunset sky.
The drawbacks are obvious – it can start to rain or it can get cold, or there can be dangerous wildlife around. So if you’re not in a survival situation, research well before you go and think twice if your experience and equipment is up to the challenge!
Tent camping in the wild
Camping in the wild with a tent is definitely a step-up from bivouacking – you are not weather-dependent and are safer from the cold and the animals. However, this accommodation also requires research as different countries have different camping rules. For example, in Scandinavian countries, you have a right to camp on any public land, but in most European countries it’s not the case – you have to obtain land owner’s permission or look for special wild camping grounds. If you’re in an emergency situation and can’t get to a dedicated camping place in time, it’s usually OK to pitch a tent from dusk till dawn.
In any case, you mustn’t leave anything behind – don’t start a fire, take a shovel for your toilet business, and of course take all the garbage with you. For wild camping, it’s better to get a tent of a “sneaky” color – dark green for example. Less attention you get the better, there’s no security around to watch after your belongings!
Tent camping in a camping ground
Camping grounds are a popular type of cheap accommodation that can be found not only in hiking regions but also on the outskirts of big cities. Usually, you pay for a tent place and for every person in this tent. For this money, you get a pitch of flat land and access to public facilities. These can differ from camping to camping, but you can expect at least a toilet and running water. More comfortable campings would also provide showers, a kitchen, washing machines, etc.
For those who like cheap accommodation with some minimum comfort, this can be ideal, but unlike wild camping, you won’t feel so connected to nature – there can be a lot of people around, and campings are usually close to roads and towns. On the other hand, hanging out in the camping kitchen can be a nice way to meet like-minded tourists!
Campervan camping
Do you like the idea of meeting like-minded travelers during your stay at the camping ground, but you are not ready to sleep in a tent and wait till the camping kitchen is free in order to cook your dinner? Then campervan is the right option for you!
A good campervan allows you to be flexible and free while providing you with a comfortable place to sleep and a kitchen to cook your everyday meals. Besides, you have plenty of storage space for all your supplies.
However, there are a couple of essential things to keep in mind:
- Make sure you know how to drive a campervan! Driving a campervan is not the same as driving a regular car due to its superior size. You need to be confident that you have a good understanding of the size of the campervan and turning its radius. If you are not – better opt for the regular car + tent!
- The most comfortable solution is to park your campervan on camping grounds for the night. Yes, you need to book a slot, but as a reward, you get to socialize and use the shower! If you decide to spend the night outside of the camping grounds, make sure sleeping in a campervan is allowed there in the first place. It’s also a good idea to check if the parking spot is level – otherwise, you ‘re going to wake up with your face against the wall!
Comfort camping
We are now reaching the most comfortable camping accommodations ever! Glamping and wooden house. These are the good options for those who are only starting to explore the world of camping or want to go on a special holiday different from the usual hotels and rented apartments.
Let us look closer at these two options:
- Glamping stands for “glamorous camping” and is a mixture of staying in nature and being luxurious. If you book glamping accommodation on a camping ground, you will get a pre-pitched spacious tent that will most likely have its own kitchen inside, real beds, and sometimes even a toilet! Glamping tents usually have very modern, even futuristic design. They are a great option for those who look for an unusual, but still comfortable camping experience.
- A wooden house is just what it is – a wooden house. Usually camping grounds offer slots for cars + tends, campervans, and also have several very small and comfy wooden houses for rent. This is a good option if the weather is too bad to sleep in a tent because of constant rains or if you simply want to sleep on a real bed and have your own shower.
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