Top 5 Glamping Must-Haves

Shopping Travel

If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature without sacrificing comfort and luxury, then glamping is an activity you would not want to miss. The way people travel has changed over the years. Gone are the days when structured, one-size-fits-all vacations are the norm. It is not enough to just witness nature’s beauty – travellers now want to live in it. And with glamping, you can do so in utmost comfort and style.

Just like any other camping trip, there are a number of things you need to bring with you for a successful glamping trip.

  1. Air Bed – True glampers do not use sleeping bags. A queen-sized air mattress or air bed is a sure way to sleep comfortably. Make sure that you also bring your favorite pillows and blankets.

 

  1. Teepee or Safari Tents – If the holiday park you will stay in does not offer the use of yurt or safari tents, you can bring your own. Safari tents are larger than the average camping tents and they are better insulated against the cold.

 

  1. Inflatable hot tub – There is nothing else that spells luxury than relaxing in an inflatable hot tub while enjoying the beauty of your surroundings. Just make sure though that you set up the spa on an even surface, and near a water source.

 

  1. Complete camp kitchen – True lamping does not mean eating burnt meals cooked over campfires. You can enjoy hot, well-made glamping meals by bringing along a portable electric stove. This also works if you are staying in campgrounds where bonfires are not allowed or if you are camping during the dry, summer season.

 

  1. Portable power source – In order to enjoy creature comforts, you need electricity. This can come from portable power sources such as camping generators or solar panels. These types of gear can power air compressors to inflate your hot tub and air bed; power your electric stove, electric fans or heaters; power water heaters for showering; and keeping campsite lights on at night.

Enjoying nature can be taken one level higher in the comfort scale. And with these 5 must haves with you, there is no denying you would have the best glamping experience with friends or family.

Continue Reading

Water treatment: Staying hydrated whilst out in the sticks

Health & Fitness

It would be fair to say that camping has become more commercial than ever over recent years, with “official” campsites springing up all over the place. Let’s not shy away from the facts here; these official sites have improved the industry no-end and made camping feel somewhat more secure for the novice.

parrot-drinking-fountain-water-5

However, while some people will prefer to hit a site which has everything readymade for them, others are traditionalists. JD Dukes is one such individual, and he recently commented on some of the difficulties he’s stumbled upon in relation to discovering safe water to consume. Sure, if you’re just heading out for a day or two it’s not a problem, but head into the backcountry for a few more days and suddenly you’ve got to survive. Suffice to say, running water is one of the primary requirements.

Bearing this in mind, we have summarized some of the best ways in which to stay hydrated whilst out in the sticks. We’ve condensed it into a FAQ-type guide, in a bid to pinpoint the best ways to obtain safe, running water for camping expeditions.

Where should you gather water?

We’ve already talked a lot about flowing water and without question, this should be your top choice. The obvious examples are streams and rivers and the reason we are so in favor of running water is that it makes it very difficult for algae or microorganisms to flow.

Of course, flowing water is not always going to be readily available. In these instances, your second choice should be something that’s still without a lot of sediment build-up. If you do opt for this approach, try and get the water from as far away from the shore as possible as this is where less microorganisms will have built up.

What are the best ways to gather this water?

The message so far should have been loud and clear; make sure you turn to clear water whenever possible.

You should be looking to gather water from the surface, as it goes without saying that this is going to be further away from the sediment at the bottom of the source. Additionally, use of a prefilter can be invaluable and can stop any large debris from coming into play. If you don’t have a specialized piece of this camping equipment, try and improvise with something like a bandana.

What are the dangers you should look out for?

Unfortunately, at least out in the wild, dangers will always exist when it comes to collecting water. If you think you have found a water source, there are several questions you should ask yourself before proceeding to use it.

If the water has been sourced from near animals, there’s a much higher chance of contamination for obvious reasons. Additionally, the animals don’t have to be there now – make sure you look for evidence that some may have been there in the past.

Similarly, any source which seems to have already been tampered with by humans should be questioned. The more traffic an area has received, the more chance there is of contamination.

Other dangers include any brown scum or foam in the water, or even dirty snow which poses obvious questions.

Continue Reading

Protect Your RV and Extend Its Lifetime

Auto

Protect your RV, as you spent too much money on it for it not to live a full life
Photo by CC user Motorhomes on Wikimedia Commona

If you own an RV, what are you doing to make sure it lasts as long as possible?

Some RV owners go out of their way to take care of their prized possessions, while others certainly could do better when it comes to caring for a sizable investment in their lives.

That said storing your RV in a safe and secure place when not using it is your best option.

Yes, you likely have a number of questions as to how to go about this, but it is actually not all that difficult to find the right storage scenario.

So, if you’re looking to protect your RV and extend its lifetime, are you ready to do your research?

Research the Options Available

When it comes to finding the solution in where to locate RV storage near me, keep these tips in mind:

     

  1. Security – First and foremost, you want a secure place to store your RV when it is not in use. Yes, you certainly have the option of storing it on your property, but keep in mind that such vehicles take up a fair amount of space. As a result, if you have a smaller home, you could find yourself a little bit crunched with a big RV on the property in the driveway or backyard. As you look at different providers to store your RV at, check to see how secure the locations are. The last thing in the world you want is placing your RV in a locale where crime might be an issue. You also do not want it in a location where there is a huge amount of traffic, making it hard to get in and out of with your vehicle. Just as road accidents for cars and trucks can prove a big headache for their owners, RV owners do not want to find their prized vehicles damaged due to an accident. One of the ways to get a better handle on how secure such RV storage spots can be is using the Internet. In today’s digital age, more and more consumers use the worldwide web to talk about anything and everything. With that being the case, you can get some good consumer feedback on what RV storage spots come highly recommended and which ones are advisable to stay away from;

    2.  

  2. Pricing – Given the fact money is tight for many people, you are probably looking at how best to save on an RV storage spot. By doing your research (a lot of which can be done online), you can weed out which storage providers are just looking out for themselves and which ones offer fair deals. Make sure you understand all the fine print in any agreement you consider going with. The last thing you want to have happen is miss something in your contract, only to end up with a bill bigger than you originally had planned for;

    3.  

  3. Weather – Last but certainly not least, you are likely wondering (perhaps even concerned) about storing your RV outside without any protection from Mother Nature. It is important to remember that RV’s are built to be durable, especially when it comes to all the weather conditions that can come their way. While you could store your RV in an inside storage unit, keep in mind that you will pay more for such an arrangement. Another option is having it outside, yet undercover. This at least protects it to some degree from inclement weather, especially snow, ice, hail etc. No matter where you end up storing your RV, weather will get to it over time, so do your best to keep it in good shape. Making sure the paint is not peeling away, replacing worn tires, staying on top of all fluids under the hood etc. are all important upkeep priorities.

 

Whether you are young or old, an RV could be your ride to many years of happiness and seeing the countryside.

That said taking care of the major investment is something you never take for granted.

If the time has come to find the proper storage situation for your RV, do your research both online and offline, looking to drive on over for the best spot.

Continue Reading