We recently came across an article featured on The Huffington Post website, which you can read for yourself here: – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/15/glamping-_n_4941920.html?&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000040. The piece was called The Most Ridiculous Things About Glamping and was written by the New York based journalist Carly Ledbetter.

At Discover Glamping we are always pleased when glamping is covered in the press as it means that more people are introduced to a form of holidaying that they perhaps had never considered or heard about it.  There is one thing regarding the press’s coverage of glamping that makes us sad – when journalists take a negative view of glamping and rip it to shreds in a way that we feel is very unjust.

We wouldn’t be able to say for sure as we don’t know Carly Ledbetter, but based on her article we are thinking that she has never been on a glamping holiday before.  That, right off the bat, is enough to bring into question the whole validity of her article.  She makes some bold assumptions about glamping and the people who love that style of holiday.

Rather than just spew our guts over what we hate about the article with no good reason (much like she did when dismissing glamping as being one of the worst things to come from rich white people) we will highlight several of the points and discuss why we feel she was off the mark entirely.

Right from the start of the article there is a sense that she really doesn’t like glampers for whatever reason as she quotes Andy Lassner (@andylassner) saying “Some horrible things have come from rich white folk but none worse than glamping”  Which sets the negative angle she has chosen to take for this article.

The piece is broken up into 4 mini sections, where she dissects the things she (although she suggests that it is a shared view by using the word we many times) doesn’t like about glamping – the people, the places, the products and the outfits.  So, we will follow suite and look at each part she discussed.

The People

Under the section about the people who glamp, she quotes glamping expert MaryJane Butters as saying that glamping is for anyone who is interested in “unleashing your inner child while wearing a pair of fishing-lure earrings” However, Carly counters that description by suggesting that “we prefer to think of glampers who have trouble deciding between the Ritz and a sleeping bag” and the worst part “Or just chic hipsters in a tricked-out caravan in the woods”

This is the first of many bold assumptions.  She seems to think that just because glampers want to be out in the great outdoors so that they can get closer to nature, while having some of the luxuries of a more comfortable form of accommodation that they “can’t make up their mind” We do feel that Ms Ledbetter may have missed the point of glamping entirely – it is not so much glampers can’t decide between a fancy hotel or camping, but they make the CHOICE to go on a holiday that combines the best of both worlds.  The comment about chic hipsters just feels like an immature, low-blow to us, as if she is presuming that people are only into glamping because it’s trendy to be into glamping.

The Places

Although she doesn’t say much about places where people can glamp, she still uses the same sarcastic and condescending tone.  Using glamping.com as a main reference point she states that the websites “lists incredible places from around the globe and even advertises Mt. Kilimanjaro as an “exclusive glamping destination”…sure” Her words exactly.

Now, we are not debating that glamping.com does mention Mt. Kilimanjaro as an exclusive glamping site and we are not debating that it won’t be the most suitable holiday destination for anyone wishing to give glamping a go, but if the site mentions “incredible places from around the globe” why has she not mentioned any of the other places advertised/reviewed on that site?

Again, it would appear that Ms Ledbetter is just trying to stick the knife in wherever she can.  If she had bothered to take a closer look at the wide variety of glamping sites there are around the world, she would have realised that they are not all on top of one of the highest mountains on the planet.

The Products

Under the section about the products is perhaps where its mentioned her true intention for writing such a biased article.  She condescendingly addresses glampers with “FYI glampers – your tent doesn’t need to cost $9,000, look like a miniature version of your home or a personalised version of ‘you’  Pretty sure outdoor materials are just supposed to be durable, waterproof and easy to carry.”  She then pushes the knife in deeper by suggesting that if glampers consider nice rugs and antiques a vital part of their experience in the great outdoors “We’re judging you”

That’s a nice approach to take when writing an article about something she clearly knows nothing much about!  They are judging people on how they choose to spend their hard earned money and on the type of holiday they CHOOSE to take – brilliant!  We are struggling to see her point really; if anyone could help us understand it better we would be most grateful.  But, what really is the difference between wanting your surroundings to be comfortable and luxurious even when you are out in the middle of nowhere, compared to wanting the comfort of a flashy room in The Ritz?

Although she is making out that there is a difference, there isn’t really.  It’s called – personal choice, personal preference.  Someone may like to camp out in the middle of nowhere with only the basics and essentials, whereas someone else may want to experience the great outdoors with some nice accessories and furnishings – there is nothing wrong with either.

The Outfits

The section about the outfits people supposedly wear on glamping trips is just another immature stab of negativity.  “Sure, you can look adorable on a glamping day trip, but your shoe choice should be based how great they’ll be to wear while hiking in a forest, not because they look like a forest” We are not even sure what this is meant to mean to be perfectly honest.  She seems to think that people who go glamping somehow are all weird, hippy folks.  More to the point, even if that were true, which for the most part it isn’t, what would be the problem if they were weird, hippy folks?  Just more unjustified comments without any sound backing.

The Comments In Response To The Article Suggest We Are Not Alone

It would appear that we were not the only ones that disagreed with Ms Ledbetter and questioned her motives for writing the article and whether she was the right person to talk about it, as she had never experienced it for herself.  Many of the comments echoed our own thoughts.

For instance Judy Shultz said that “It is good clean fun and I’m having a good time.  Better than being into partying or questionable bad lifestyles.  Don’t knock it until you try it”  While Jeremy K shared our opinion on it being a matter of personal taste by saying “While some of the excess that people can go to…are somewhat crazy IMO, is it really all that different from people staying at an expensive hotel compared to budget hotels, except with an outdoors twist?”

Suzanne Freeborn we feel though really hit the nail on the head with her comment stating that the article has nothing to do with what most glampers consider to be glamping and called the article “A snarkfest written by someone who didn’t even mention vintage trailers & how much time & effort go into restoring and outfitting them.  It isn’t done by rich people but hobbyists who put plenty of sweat equity into their projects”

Following on from Suzanne Freeborn (a wise woman) and her sage words, we feel that says it all really.  This article was written probably to fill a space on the website and they chose what they saw as an easy target, even the title alone suggests that.

Instead of pointing out the most ridiculous things about glamping however, we feel that Ms Ledbetter and the Huffington Post (as they chose to publish the piece) have actually highlighted the most ridiculous assumptions that some people make about the glamping and the people who enjoy participating in it.

Obviously, as our readers, you feel as passionately about glamping as we do, so we welcome you to comment on this article and the original Huffington Post one.

Do you feel as we do?  Did the article raise any relevant or sound arguments why glamping should be considered as ridiculous?  Let us know your thoughts and views on this article and maybe other articles you have read or pieces on TV you have seen discussing glamping that maybe show it in an unjust light!