One major part of any travel arrangement is accommodation. For a successful trip, one has to pre-plan where they will stay during their journey. Two common options for accommodation are camping and staying at a hotel. Each option has its pros and cons and it all trickles down to individual preferences. We identified a few factors that might help with comparing the two. Below is a short description of what we found.
Costs
Automatically, camping is supposed to be cheaper than staying at a hotel. Camping can be as low as half price a hotel room especially when you bring your own gear. However, with the recent increase in camping interests, the camping experience has been enhanced and the costs increased. Neo-camping/glamping involves sleeping outdoors in camping tents but with a mattress and beddings, sometimes electricity and even a self-contained bathroom. Glamping can, therefore, be equal to, or even more expensive than a hotel room. However, we are focusing on old-fashioned camping experiences.
Luxury
Hotel rooms offer more luxury given the extra space, hot showers, room service, TV sets, air conditioning and even laundry services. While camping you will have to make do with a cold ground, bugs, noise etc. By standard comparison, hotel rooms are more luxurious and comfortable than normal camping.
Scenery
Even with a beachfront view, camping offers more vivid and breathtaking views. A view from a hotel room can be great for a photo shoot, but it cannot compare to being part of the view as is in camping. When camping you are one with nature. The sunrise and sunset seeming an arm stretch away. The trees, animals, air and water are all around you, making it more fascinating.
Safety
Hotels are by most standards safer than camps. The main factor being that camps are outdoors. Unless you are in a guarded facility with appointed security, you are more open to attacks from people and wildlife when camping. However, in a hotel, you are automatically protected by the facility. In a hotel, you have the possibility of compensation when a loss occurs within the hotel’s jurisdiction. But when camping, you are solely responsible for your safety and that of your belongings.
Location
Most camping grounds are in remote areas that require good transportation and knowledge of the area. You might have to hike or drive for a while before getting to the site. The site might be miles away from shopping and other facilities so getting products and services might require pre-purchase or improvisation. The advantage of hotel locations is that they are easy to reach, and are often in close proximity to shopping areas. When this is not the case, the hotel may have a tuck shop within its facility instead where you can get supplies whenever needed.
Our final word is that both camping and hoteling have their perks and quirks. It all depends on your preference and financial abilities. However, it is good to have a taste of both worlds so as not to overdo one and miss out on the other.
