Top 22 Tips for the Perfect Family Glamping Trip!
Glamping let's your family experience nature and the great outdoors all with the comforts of being in a hotel.
What is glamping?
Glamping is a term that refers to “glamorous camping.”
It’s a type of camping that offers a far more luxurious and comfortable experience than traditional camping. Glamping usually involves staying in accomodations like RVs, safari tents, tiny homes, cabins, and yurts.
Most glamping sites offer many amenities to make guest stays more comfortable. Amenities often include things like clean linens, electricity, clean bathrooms, heaters, air conditioning, and on-site activities
In recent years, glamping has definitely become more and more popular among outdoor-loving families looking to create special memories together without the hassle of pitching a tent and sleeping on a hard ground.
And while glamping requires far less gear and equipment than traditional camping, it still requires a good amount of planning to ensure your family has everything they need while they are out in the middle of nature.
In this post, you’ll get 22 super helpful tips for a successful glamping getaway with your family. From tips to help you during the planning process to tips that guarantee a great time at the glamping site, this guide will surely help you take the stress out of this outdoor, family adventure.
Oh! And stick around until the end because I’ll share with you some more wonderful outdoor adventure for you and your family to experience in California.
Top 22 Tips for Unforgettable Family Glamping
Without further ado, here are the 20 things you should keep in mind when planning and enjoying your family glamping adventure!
1) Choose a camping site thats located in your preferred type of environment
Here are somethings to consider:
- Do you want a clamping glamping site in a more remote location or would you like to be in close proximity to a town?
- Are there other things outside the glamping site to explore? You might want to see what else is in the area.
- Is the site in a dessert? By a beach? Along a river? In the middle of the woods? Pick the scenery you like best.
2) Choose a site that has amenities suits your family’s needs.
Not all sites offer the same amenities, so be sure to research a glamp site’s amenities before booking to guarantee you have what you need once you get there?
Glamp sites might offer amenities like:
- Coolers
- Heaters and/or air conditioning
- Private or shared bathrooms
- Heated blankets
- Free breakfasts or complimentary coffee/tea
- Flashlight, lanterns and/or headlamps
- Complimentary toiletries
- Activities and entertainment like yoga, live music, guided hikes, corn hole, and bocce ball
- Swimming pool and/or hot tub
- Outdoor kitchens and BBQ grills
- Dish washing stations
- Campfire valets to start your campfire for you
- Cooking kits that have everything you need for prepping an outdoor meal
- Hammocks and lounge chairs
3) Find out what on-site services the glamp site offers
In additional to the basic amenities that glamp sites offer their guest, sometimes sites offer additional services that guests can take advantage of with an added price. These types of services are meant to add even more convenience and ease to your family glamping experience, so definitely look into them to see if they would benefit your family’s needs.
Some services might include things like:
- S’more making kids
- Campfire valets to start your fire for you
- Cooking kits that contain all the things you need to cook your meals on site
- Bedding and linen rentals
4) Check the bathroom and shower situation
Make sure you know the bathroom situations before booking your glamp site so that you and your family will have the most comfortable glamping experience.
5) Plan your meals and grocery shop ahead of time.
Make sure you plan out your meals before going on your trip and that way you know exactly what meals you’ll need to prep ahead of time, what groceries you’ll need to buy before the trip, and possibly even what meals you will eat in town.
Some things to think about:
- How many meals and snacks will you be eating on this trip?
- Does the glamping site include complimentary breakfasts?
- What easy, low-prep snack can you bring?
- Is there a town nearby that has restaurants to eat at and markets to buy food at?
- Does the glamping site have an on-site restaurant or market?
- Do you want to cook a full meal OR simply warm up pre-made meals at the glamping site?
6) Make meals as easy as possible with low-hassle food.
To keep things as easy as possible, keep meals simple and easy. Meals that require the least work to make and require the least amount of dishes to wash are going to be your best bet.
Here are some easy suggestions for glamping meals:
- Premade pasta caseroles that you can easily heat up on the campfire or BBQ grill
- Hot dogs and hamburgers
- Sandwiches. You can serve these cold or wrap them in tin foil to warm over the campfire
- Premade breakfast burrito can be eaten at any time of day
- Premade sloppy joes
- Premade kebobs
- Salad mixes for side dishes
- Simple desserts like premade cookies, brownies, and, of course, s’mores
7) Bring a colorful, water-resistant table cloth
Just make sure that the surface of your table cloth is water-resistant. This way you can easily wipe off the morning dew, light rain, or any spills.
8) Check out other things to do just outside the glamp site
Some activities that might be available to you could include:
- kayaking
- stand-up paddle boarding
- hiking
- biking
- river tubing
- beaches
- star-gazing at night
- local nature tours
9) Schedule in some down time
Often times parents try to make the most out of their family vacations by keeping a jam-packed itinerary or activities and things to see. With glamping, however, you’ll want to make sure your family gets plenty of down time.
- Down time allows your kids to rest and recharge their batteries after lots of activities.
- It allows for a much more relaxed atmosphere and better moods.
- It gives you the opportunity to be flexible. In moments of down time, it allows you to do things spontaneously, which is fun!
- It gives your family a great chance to have some stillness and enjoy the natural surroundings around you.
10) Pack other entertainment for evening and downtime
- Uno
- playing cards
- books
- coloring books
- notebook for drawing and writing
- crayons/colored pencils
- travel board games
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11) Pack some special bedtime toys for a comfortable nights sleep
Sleeping somewhere unfamiliar can be uncomfortable for some younger kids, especially when they’re sleeping in the middle of nature. There might be sounds leaves rustling, rivers running, and insects chirping that can be unsettling for the youngest members of your family.
That’s why it can be really helpful to pack along a specially bedtime toy or blanket. It brings some thing familiar and cozy into a sleeping environment that is really different from their own bedroom.
12) Bring a battery-operated night light.
This is especially true for kids who might be afraid of the dark and need just a little bit of light to help them fall asleep at night.
Since you will be out in the middle of the great outdoors, glamping sites get quite dark after the sun sets. Battery-operated night lights are pretty inexpensive, light weight, portable, and offer just enough light in your tent to make things more comfortable for children.
13) Talk to your kids ahead of time about the sounds they might hear during the night.
Some common sounds you might hear a night include:
- crickets
- owls
- trees and leave rustling
- running water from the river
- crashing waves of an ocean
- other glampers walking past you glamp site.
14) Bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper
If you are glamping in a cavas tent, you will hear many sounds throughout the night. From animals to insect, and water to footsteps, you will likely experience many noises throughout the night.
This means that if you’re a light sleeper who is sensitive no noise, it would be a good idea to bring some earplugs to help you get a better, more restful night sleep.
15) Bring LED, battery-operated string lights
Hanging fairly light along the entrance of your cabin or stringing them up inside your tent is a subtle, yet special way to make your family’s glamping experience magical.
Plus, having twinkly lights up around your tent makes it a lot easier to find your site at night, when there is little to no light.
16) Bring grown up food like wine, vegetable crudite, and charcuterie
What other way to spend some much deserved downtime that with a bottle of your favorite wine and grown-up snacks.
Here are some ideas on what to bring for late night snack.
- red wine (no need for chilling)
- wine key (to open your bottle)
- your favorite cheese
- charcuterie
- cut-up vegetables
- fruits
- chocolate
- crackers
- baguette
- nuts
17) Set clear rules and expectations for behavior so that everyone stays safe and respectful around the glamping site
At glamping sites you will likely be sharing community spaces with other people. Also, your tent, RV, cabin, and yurt might be close to other families. This is why it’s important to set clear rules and expectations for behavior at the glamp site.
Some rules to consider are:
- Stay mindful how quiet hours. Check with your glamp site about when quiet hours are as each site is different.
- Clean up after yourself. If you accidentally drop a piece of trash, you are responsible for picking it up at throwing it away.
- Don’t run through another family’s glamp site.
- If there are on-site activities available like bocce ball or corn hole, wait your turn or ask to join in on the fun.
- Don’t leave your designated glamping site without telling an adult first.
18) Don’t forget the first aid kit!
- flexible bandages
- antibiotic ointment
- bug spray
- itch relief spray/cream/ointment
- hand sanitizer
- ice pack
- sunscreen
- tweezers
- ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- epi pen
- prescription medicines
- nail clippers
- rubbing alcohol
- cotton balls
- cotton swabs
19) Practice the principle of “Leave No Trace”
The “Leave No Trace” principle is a set of outdoor ethics that encourages people to enjoy nature while also minimizing impacts on nature. These principles are:
- Plan ahead and prepare in order to lessen waste and the need for rescue services
- Travel and camp on established, durable surfaces to prevent any damage to the ecosystems.
- Dispose of waste properly. Put trash where its supposed to go and and store food safely.
- Leave what you find. Leave rocks, sticks, plants and insects alone to avoid disturbing habitats.
- Minimize campfire impact. Use fire rings and be aware of fire safety.
- Respect wild life. Observe wildlife from a distance and do not feed animals
- Be considerate of other visitors. Keep noise levels down and leave space for others to enjoy.
20) Check to see if bedding and linens are an included amenity.
21) Pack sturdy, comfortable, closed-toed shoes.
Whenever you’re out glamping, it’s always a good idea to skip open-toed sandals, and pack sturdy, closed-toed shoes instead. This is true even for hot weather since you’ll likely be doing a lot of outdoor activities in the middle of nature.
The ground will likely be uneven, hiking trails can be dusty, and there might be fun logs to balance on. In all these instances, having comfortable, closed-toed, will help protect your family’s feet and also provide more stability.
22) Check the weather ahead of time and prepare accordingly
Nothing ruins a family getaway like being unprepared for the weather. What this said, always make sure to check the weather before packing for your glamping trip.
- Wet/moist weather: water resistant outer shells, rain jackets, rain boots
- Hot weather: shorts, tank tops, light fabric, sweatshirts for the cooler night
- Mild weather: jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and clothing you can layer
- For hot weather, make sure your site has air-conditioning and/or fans to keep you cool in the heat.
- For cold weather, make sure your site has things like heaters, heated blankets, hight-quality sleeping bags, down comforters, wool blankets to keep you warm on cold nights.
In Conclusion
Family Glamping: the perfect blend of luxury and the great outdoors
Going on a glamping trip is, without a doubt, a really great way for families to reconnect with each other while enjoying the wonders of nature. And what’s best about glamping is that even though you might be staying in the middle of nature, families can still enjoying the luxury of comfortable and plush accommodations. No pitching tents and no sleeping on the hard ground!
And, with the top 22 tips you found in this article, you can feel confident that your next family glamping adventure is filled with unforgettable memories and lots of good fun.
There are so many different ways to glamp. However, regardless of whether you chose to stay in a tent, a yurt, RV, or cabin, glamping is truly a unique way to escape the the business of family life, slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the beauty of nature, all with convenience of a comfortable hotel.
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