What constitutes glamping vs. camping is an often debated topic among outdoor enthusiasts. “Let’s talk about the most cited differences in opinion and get to the bottom of this controversy,” reads a posting at RVLifestyle.com
A portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping,” it’s not exactly clear who or why the term “glamping” was even invented. Wikipedia claims that the word first appeared in the United Kingdom in 2005. It was then added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016.
But the concept of glamping has certainly been around much longer. Reports of 16th century Scottish Earl of Atholl had luxurious tents constructed in the Highlands so he could travel with glamorous amenities from his palace.
What’s in a Name?
Roughing it?
So perhaps the glamping term was devised by advertisers as a way to promote camping activities for people who didn’t like camping. After all, some people love to spend nights outdoors but happen to have a spouse or family who does not. Glamping might have been the way those campers could compromise to get that desired time outdoors.
Today though, the glamping term is used a lot to serve a different purpose. It has become a label to describe people who don’t adhere to more traditional methods of “roughing it” outdoors. The word has even become polarizing in some circles. Many consider being called a glamper an insult. This is especially true for those who consider themselves camping purists, who rely on only the basics to connect them with nature.
So what lies at the core of this argument? What are the various factors that determine the differences between glamping vs. camping? With perspectives from riveting comments on a post on the RV Lifestyle Facebook group, let’s dig into this.
How luxurious can it be?
The Oxford definition of glamping reads “A form of camping that involves accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.” Okay, so according to the dictionary, glamping is a type of camping. Then let’s look at the definition of camping!
See the complete RVLifestyle posting here.
