Glamping... you've got to be kidding me

**shortstack** · 06-29-2009, 08:53 AM

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31510511/?GT1=43001

$2,850 to spend a night in a tent? You betcha

Want to sleep under five stars? These glam resorts take camping to a luxurious level

"Glamping" –- or glamorous camping –- is becoming all the rage throughout North America and across the globe, and some outfitters are capitalizing on the trend in a big, big way. They're figuring out how to offer all the amenities of five-star hotels in the great outdoors, and they're dreaming up all-inclusive travel packages that include eco-adventures, spa treatments and gourmet meals prepared by chefs.
Check out some of the most upscale glamping spots here, along with a few really nice ones that aren't TOO expensive for good measure!

**fernykins** · 06-29-2009, 10:25 AM

I'm sorry they all sound nice but is that really what people spend their money on. I don't think I would.
Fern

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-29-2009, 01:52 PM

Thank you for the article. Lots of great ideas and links.

**nodmicks** · 06-29-2009, 01:55 PM

I think it would be neat to stay at those places but no way would I pay even close to that!

**geckoace** · 06-29-2009, 02:12 PM

wow some of those places were beautiful... too rich for me..but if i could afford it who knows

**Newsnerd68** · 06-29-2009, 02:16 PM

This is somewhat like a hotel that recently opened here that drives me crazy. It's called Great Wolf Lodge and among the things they tout about this resort is that kids can have a great time "camping" inside and they have what sounds like a planetarium-type ceiling deal that "makes you feel like you are camping under the North Carolina sky." Uh, they are in NC, go outside and you really will be under the actual sky. It also touts their INDOOR waterpark where it's always 85 degrees. It's 85 degrees about 8 months out of the year here. For the love of all that's holy, TAKE THE KIDS OUTSIDE!!!
*ehem* This place is ridiculously expensive. My soon-to-be brother-in-law and sister in law took our nephew there recently, and the thing he said the most about it: It was cool sleeping in a hotel. It could have been an econolodge and he wouldn't have cared.

Some people love this place, but I just don't get it.

*end of rant - thanks for listening

)

**geckoace** · 06-29-2009, 02:25 PM

newsnerd great wolf is a chain that i have seen all over... alot of them have indoor water parks and bill themselves as a destination rather than a hotel LOL.

i remember the first time i took my son to stay in a hotel he was thrilled that the desk chair spun around and that the mirror was low enough he could watch himself spin.....he did this til bedtime doesnt take much

**shortstack** · 06-29-2009, 02:29 PM

Glad you could find something useful linked to the article

Andrea

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Thank you for the article. Lots of great ideas and links.

**imagine** · 06-29-2009, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Newsnerd68

This is somewhat like a hotel that recently opened here that drives me crazy. It's called Great Wolf Lodge and among the things they tout about this resort is that kids can have a great time "camping" inside and they have what sounds like a planetarium-type ceiling deal that "makes you feel like you are camping under the North Carolina sky." Uh, they are in NC, go outside and you really will be under the actual sky. It also touts their INDOOR waterpark where it's always 85 degrees. It's 85 degrees about 8 months out of the year here. For the love of all that's holy, TAKE THE KIDS OUTSIDE!!!
*ehem* This place is ridiculously expensive. My soon-to-be brother-in-law and sister in law took our nephew there recently, and the thing he said the most about it: It was cool sleeping in a hotel. It could have been an econolodge and he wouldn't have cared.

Some people love this place, but I just don't get it.

*end of rant - thanks for listening

)

There are several Great Wolf Lodges and the colder climates probably love the 85 all the time water park. Especially when the temps. are in the negative numbers.

Here is a link to the places Great Wolf lodges are

http://www.greatwolf.com/ If the link doesn't work here are the places
# Concord, NC
# Grand Mound, WA
# Grapevine, TX
# Kansas City, KS
# Mason, OH
# Niagara Falls, Canada
# Pocono Mountains, PA
# Sandusky, OH
# Sheboygan, WI (Blue Harbor)
# Traverse City, MI
# Williamsburg, VA
# Wisconsin Dells, WI

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 06-29-2009, 03:57 PM

That seems like a massive waste of money... I guess if you've got it to blow??? I couldn't spend that even if I had a million $$!!

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-29-2009, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by shortstack

Glad you could find something useful linked to the article

Andrea

The related article with the 10 tips has links to all kinds of state and national parks that rent cabins or tents. There are a lot of places we would like to go that are just too far to drive with all our gear, and the kids are an absolute nightmare in hotels. I didn't know this option even existed, so it's definitely something we will be investigating further.

Also, the camping recipe book mentioned on the second page of the tips article looks awesome. I added it to my Chapters wishlist and will be throwing it in the cart with my next book order.

**frugalwarrior** · 06-29-2009, 05:39 PM

Seriously. Wouldn't P.T. Barnum love this one. For $2800. I can rent a house for a couple of months and they don't even provide 4 walls so it rain??. I guess I'd rather buy a used pop-up camper.

**pollypurebred39** · 06-30-2009, 03:35 AM

Out of all of them I liked the Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia, Northern Asia It seemed far removed from camping to me, which is proably why it appealed to me. It didn't seem all that pricey either in comparison to the others, but next to camping it's proably is outragous.

I'm not sure why people like that roughing experience (I have many friends that do), but I'm guessing there are people who like it well enough but would not even consider it without the perks, that must be who these glamping trips are for, but like I said the Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia, Northern Asia sounds just lovely to me. I'd pack my bags tonight for that one if we had the money.