Do You Know Your Glamping Etiquette?

Or … how to avoid embarrassing situations when enjoying some comfy camping!

We’ve all heard of ‘camping etiquette’, but have you heard of ‘glamping etiquette’?

When we’re in our ‘holiday mind set’, sometimes it’s easy to forget you have neighbours and are living (briefly) on someone else’s land …

Here’s a Ten Point Checklist so you don’t ‘fall foul’ – ignorance, in this case, is not bliss!

Terms of endearment … time and time again, glamping guests simply don’t read the terms and conditions of the site they’re visiting.

While none of us like reading through them, the T&Cs will usually answer many questions you have about the site.

Bring a printed version of your booking confirmation … as we’re all addicted to our smart phones, we tend to take it for granted there’ll be a mobile signal, and you can refer to your confirmation on the small screen.

Actually, given the remote location of some sites, there isn’t a signal and …. well, you can imagine the rest!

So always bring a printed version of your booking with you, just in case.

Houston, we have a problem … if it’s during reception hours, report a problem to the owners/managers.

Unless it is an emergency (in which case, dial 999), if a problem occurs out of hours, then it can probably wait until morning in most cases.

Four legged friends … make sure you pick up after your dog and keep him or her on a lead. Check where you can and can’t walk the dog both on the site and in the nearby area.

It’s a squeeze … If you’ve booked your accommodation for two adults and two kids, don’t go thinking you can squeeze another person in unnoticed … it will be!

Party on, dude … but only if the site allows music or parties. More and more sites aren’t allowing music at all. Check the site’s ‘party’ policy before you book if you want to celebrate. The key thing is to be considerate when it comes to noise, as nobody likes a thoughtless glamper. Ever.

Arrivals and departures … if a site states departure by 10.00am then stick to it. Start packing the night before if this will save time.

The site will have a limited amount of time to get ready for their next guests; after all, you wouldn’t like it if you were kept waiting because someone outstayed their welcome.

Likewise check arrival times – some sites only allow arrivals during certain hours, after which you can’t actually access the site at all …

Everybody needs good neighbours … while you might have your own cabin or tent, it is polite to introduce yourself to your neighbours and socialise a little. By the same token, if a neighbour is clearly not one for mixing, allow them to hide away once you’ve said hello – they might just want some ‘down time’.

Fanning the flames … some sites permit campfires and if they don’t, then there’s usually a very good reason.

Always ensure your campfire is out before you go to bed.

If you’re on a campsite where you can order timber etc, don’t use any other products to burn, such as leaflets or branches - just use the timber provided. Don’t light your campfire when it’s in a dangerous position or where it will damage property. You are likely to incur a rather hefty charge!

Leading the way … a handy guide to waymarked paths.

If the footpath is on private land, always check with the owners where you can and can’t walk.

Waymarked footpath – usually marked by yellow arrows, suitable for walkers only.

Waymarked bridleway – usually marked by blue arrows, suitable for walkers, horse-riders, cyclists.

Restricted byways – usually marked by purple arrows, suitable for walkers, horse-riders, cyclists, horse-drawn vehicles.

Byways – usually marked by red arrows, suitable for all of the above plus motor vehicles.

So there you have it … ten easy steps to being a good glamper. It’s not rocket science and if you are a seasoned camper, all of the above will be familiar to you. If in any doubt, ask the site owners, who will only be too happy to advise.