Have you been glamping yet? I recently had my first experience with this glamorous style of camping. I have to say I was smitten. My family and I went to visit Yellowstone National Park for the weekend, and we stayed at Yellowstone Under Canvas in Montana (just outside the park).

This glampsite is made up of a collection of safari tents and tipis. The safari tents come with king size beds with down comforters and other furniture to complete the bedroom suite just like you would find in a hotel. It also comes with a wood burning stove, and the more luxurious tents are on raised wooden platforms. The bathrooms are the most luxurious I’ve ever seen at a campsite. They are heated wooden structures with legitimate toilets, showers, and sinks complete with soap and running hot water. Upon entering the complex, guests are greeted at the reception tent which functions just as a hotel lobby and front desk with complimentary hot beverages and helpful staff. From the reception tent, guests are conveyed to their reserved tent via golf cart. In the evening there is a central campfire the staff lights for the guests to gather around and enjoy together.

So what makes glamping such an attractive form of accommodation? It provides many amenities and conveniences of a hotel but out under the stars. Many families go camping to get back in touch with nature and enjoy the great outdoors. Glamping allows travelers to do this without the hassle of buying and packing camping gear. Also, there’s no vacation time lost driving around to find a campsite or setting up cumbersome tents or hooking up campers. It’s also convenient to leave the making and putting out of campfires to the professionals. Unlike glampsites, not many campgrounds (if any) come with electrical outlets or towels and extra blankets.

While glampsites are typically set up to run like a hotel, guests must remember that they are actually camping. This means there are still mosquitos and other bugs to deal with. There are no safes or locks on the tents (at least not at Yellowstone Under Canvas) so valuables should remain in locked vehicles (or left at home). Also there is most likely no access to television or wifi. (But isn’t the point of camping to get away from all those devices?)

I think what I enjoyed most about my glamping experience was sitting around the campfire conversing with people from around the world while taking in the amazing view of the blanket of stars above. If you’ve given up camping for the conveniences of hotels, I strongly encourage you to give glamping a try, and get back in touch with the great outdoors.