Glamping, camping with all kinds of luxuries
The tents. Inflatable mattresses and mats. The sleeping bags. The canteens and the stove. The series of objects and accessories that are needed to go camping can be lengthened according to season, location and period of stay . Outdoor activity meets an escape from the urban environment, but this is not for everyone. Many continue to reward comfort and avoid camping. For them, there is now a solution: glamping.
“It is the combination of three parameters: direct contact with nature, comfort and unique accommodation ”, he explains to Traveler.es, Rubén Martínez, one of the co-founders of Glamping Hub . Whether you choose the beach or the mountains, this company has about 30,000 hosts spread across 70 countries . The project was promoted by the Sevillian David Troy seven years ago and has become the leading company in this sector. The platform, with offices in Seville and Denver, offers a “ luxury rural tourism and nature trips”.
Glamping has resurfaced: a luxury remote rural tent, cabin or accommodation for any time of the year
Glamping Hub has more than 400 accommodations scattered in Spain . They are a sustainable alternative to discover charming places that are off the traditional tourist circuit . They all have a common premise etched in fire: comfort is never sacrificed . Thus, there is the possibility of staying in a luxury safari tent in Puerto Real (Cádiz) with insulated wooden floor. Includes kitchen and living room. And is wifi connection available . According to the description, "the place is surrounded by mountains and exuberant wildlife that can be explored on foot, by bicycle or on horseback." You can also rent a tree house with a Jacuzzi near the Coruña town of Outes . It is an innovative rural accommodation. A weekend refuge to disconnect while connecting with the native fauna and flora.
The accommodations are varied: from train cars to barns rehabilitated although the list is extensive and contains domes, tipis, yurts and even castles . “The most demanded option is the tree houses but they are usually expensive. The vintage caravans converted and the safari tents they are also very popular,” says Martínez. The latter are the classic example of the philosophy of glamping . The decoration and coquetry make these spaces very “instagrammable”, but they also fulfill the purpose of practicality and adapt to trips as a couple, with friends or with the family.
Pet-friendly Cabin near Bellingham, Washington
One of Martínez's favorite places is in Santa Maria de Olot (Barcelona) . Your hosts have a mongolian yurt in the middle of a vineyard . Because glamping, he explains, “is not just accommodation but the search for experiences”. Continuing with another of the premises of this company, the tranquility of the remote natural landscapes combined with activities such as hiking, visits to wineries and their corresponding tastings, walks through fruit orchards, picnics, fishing or adventure sports . In addition, many accommodations are close to historical places so you can complement the stay with cultural visits . The possibilities multiply and it is possible to go on a gastronomic route during the day and spend the night under the stars.
Yurt hidden in a forest near Bristol, Vermont
AN EXPERIENCE ON THE RISE
Tourism has suffered from the pandemic derived from covid-19. As cruise ships are canceled and air connections are limited and hotels try to recover from the economic blow, glamping is in full swing . "The hotel occupancy rate is between 20% and 40%, while in glamping it is close to 100%", Martínez underlines.
There is a paradigm shift when it comes to travel . Local tourism is growing and currently seeks to avoid crowds and common spaces. The increase of rental of motorhomes and rural houses during last summer was already indicative. Getaways to the countryside gain followers . In this context, Glamping Hub seeks to cement an activity that remains unknown in Spain. In the United Kingdom or the United States, where 70% of the company's users and income come from, the trend has already been consolidated. Women are the ones who most frequently decide on this type of trip. “ 68% of our users are women and they are mainly between 28 and 44 years old”.
"Spain and the rest of Europe are now finding out what glamping is," says Martínez, who highlights the potential of our country in this market. After the lockdown, the possibility of escaping to nature with all the comforts becomes an option . The sophistication of camping is already a reality.
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