I have to start off by saying that glamping just might be one of the worst words ever invented. Despite my disdain for the word, however, I can’t deny my love for this travel trend, mainly because it combines two of my favourite things: the great outdoors and a comfortable bed. Even though glamping is usually associated with tricked out safari tents, the trend has grown to include airstream trailers, tree houses, geodomes, and even teepees. There are so many options available now for the glamping enthusiast that it would be impossible to round up all the awesome glamping accommodations out there; so instead, here are my picks for what I think are the top ten coolest glamping honeymoons:
For the Art Lovers: El Cosmico (pictured above)
Location: Marfa, TX
Price: $65/night (safari tents); $80/night (Teepee); $110 -$150/night (trailer)
Marfa may have less than 2000 residents, but this tiny town has a big reputation in the art world and is something of a mecca for the modern art lover. For honeymooners coming to Marfa to check out Prada Marfa, the Donald Judd sculptures, and the Marfa lights, a stay at El Cosmico is a must. Something of a tourist attraction itself, El Cosmico offers three types of accommodations – safari tents, Sioux teepees, and refurbished vintage trailers – as well as year round workshops, retreats, and cultural events.
For the Architecture and Design Nerds: Tree Hotel
Location: Harads, Sweden
Price: $669 – $700 (for 2 people per night)
Leave it to the Scandinavians to make camping an architecturally interesting activity. Designed by some of Scandinavia’s leading architects, the Treehotel was created as a “place where nature, ecological values, comfort and modern design are combined for an exciting adventure”. In addition to the 5 beautifully designed rooms (the blue cone is not pictured above), the nearby tree sauna ensures that all guests have a truly relaxing stay.
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Price: $150 – $265/per night
If nature really isn’t your thing, but you still love the novelty of camping, then the Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town is the perfect glamping destination for you. Centrally located on Long St., the Grand Daddy’s rooftop airstream trailer park provides all the kitsch you desire without any of the roughing it part. And with the Sky Bar conveniently located right next to the trailers, you never even have to leave the roof (although I highly recommend that you do).
Location: Skinnskatteberg, Sweden
Price: from $60/per person per night
For those looking for an experience that’s more akin to camping, but with just slightly more comfort, there’s Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge. Billing itself as “Sweden’s most primitive hotel”, guests stay in forest huts with with 2 hard beds, sheepskin rugs, and a wood-burning fireplace. It might not be luxurious, but it does look cozy!
For the Winter Enthusiasts: White Pod
Location: Les Giettes, Switzerland
Price: $387 – $635/per night
Have you ever dreamed of sleeping in an igloo? Well if winter is your thing, the Whitepod hotel in Switzerland can make all your cold weather dreams come true in comfort and style. These geodesic domes come with views of lake Geneva, wood-burning stoves, soft carpets, and large beds with luxury linens; making them the perfect place to put up your feet after a long day of skiing. I hate winter and even I want to stay here.
Location: Issaquah, WA
Price: $120 – $215/per night
Does a honeymoon up in the trees sound romantic to you? If it does, then you’ll want to consider Treehouse Point in Washington state. With five cozy fully furnished tree houses to choose from (Trillium is my favourite), it’s the perfect romantic hideaway for you and your love.
Location: Greenough, MT
Price: From $1075/per night (includes all meals)
As one of America’s top glamping resorts, I couldn’t do a glamping round up without including Paws Up, now could I? If you want a luxurious glamping experience in the truest sense of the word then Paws Up is the place for you. With a camp butler, heated washroom floors, and king sized feather beds, this is glamorous camping at its finest. And to make the experience at Paws Up truly decadent, a visit to the tented Spa Town is a must.
Location: Qualicum Bay, B.C.
Price: $155 – $225/per night
These sphere shaped accommodations suspended in the trees of the B.C. rainforest aren’t for everyone, especially those prone to motion sickness (they rock and sway in the breeze), but for the more free spirited honeymooners, they are a truly unique experience in themselves.
For the Road Trippers: VW Surfari
Location: from $100/daily
Price: Los Angeles, CA
Couples looking to hit the open road and camp along the way can kill two birds with one stone by renting one of the VW Surfari refurbished camper buses. At $100 a day for accommodation and transportation, it’s a great option for adventurous honeymooners on a budget.
Location: Addo National Park, South Africa
Price: $686/per person per night
If you’re looking to go all out on your glamping honeymoon and really splurge, then you need to pack your bags, head to Africa where glamping originated in the 1900′s, and book a stay at the Gorah Elephant Camp in Addo National Park. This resort is 5 star luxury and while it doesn’t come cheap, the experience is said to be out of this world; with elephants roaming past your tent, how can it not be?
Title image credit: Car Scoop
GLAMPING.COM, the industry authority on all things glamping for the discerning experiential traveler, is a highly curated collection of glamping properties around the globe. GLAMPING.COM believes in extraordinary travel – destinations that offer unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. With over 800 glamping sites on six continents, the company’s mission is to empower people to try this form of experiential travel with hand-selected, personally vetted properties. Find inspiration on www.glamping.com and Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @glampingdotcom.
