I have a confession to make: Up till a short while ago I was not the biggest fan of camping. However, I did appreciate the value of spending time in nature, and it’s undeniably fun for my kids, so I decided suck it up and try to make the best of it – while of course coming up with some DIY glamping tips to amp up the comfort.

As you can imagine, I’ve embraced the recent trend toward glamping with open arms.

Glamping involves camping with your favourite creature comforts so it feels less like roughing it and more like the comfortable and pampered break you deserve.

Although 5-star glamping resorts do exist in some areas, this hasn’t really taken off much on our island. However, you can bring the same upscale feel to any camping trip with some DIY glamping tips. This might not be the type of glamping you see in movies, but a few nice additions can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of the experience.

1. Choose your campsite carefully

Since this is glamping and not camping, you’re going to want to choose a campsite that has a toilet, showers, and electricity. Even though you’ll probably want to “unplug” from work emails, you might need to plug in a fan heater or charge your phone for emergency calls, and I’m sure I don’t need to explain why the toilet and showers are useful! Remember to bring an extension cord so you can plug in all your devices!

2. A spacious tent

I’ve seen some people online advise against it, but I think a large tent is totally worth the effort. Yes, it might take a little longer to set up initially, but I’d rather go camping for three nights or more and enjoy all the comforts, and my kids feel the same way. It’s always a good idea to go bigger than you think, like a 6-person tent if you’re going with four people, and look for the kind that you’ll be able to stand up inside the whole way around.
To be honest, I was feeling antsy about buying a HUGE (see for yourself!) tent for us as first-timers, but my husband insisted, and boy am I glad he did! We had torrential rain the first time we camped, and 6 of us with all our bags, tables, chairs and food fit comfortably inside until it was all over.

3. Comfy bedding

Nothing says “roughing it” quite like sleeping on a flimsy sleeping bag on the cold, hard ground. It wouldn’t be glamping without a luxurious bed to rest your weary head after a fun day outdoors, so dress up a blow-up mattress – I recommend the pump variety – with an insulation layer, some soft sheets from home, and a blankets or a quilt or comforter. Personally, I am happy with blankets and a sleeping bag. Don’t forget to add plenty of pillows! 

4. Ample lighting

It’s going to get dark at night, so you’ll definitely need lighting – but the typical flashlight isn’t going to cut it when you’re glamping. Get yourself some lights and plug them in. As an addition, flameless candles are great because there’s no danger of starting a fire, and you can place a bunch of them around your tent for a neat effect. LED fairy lights also look amazing against the night sky and create a great ambience. 

5. Cook with a gas stove

Almost every image of camping involves a campfire, and times spent huddled around a campfire will stick in your children’s memories for many years to come. I think toasting some marshmallows once or twice over the fire is fun, but it’s hard work to cook every meal that way, which is why I always bring a gas stove. What should you cook? Even when you’re glamping, it’s best to keep your meals simple – but that doesn’t mean they can’t be delicious! Aim for recipes with minimal prep or ones you can prep for at home.
We also bought a dutch oven for our last camping trip and cooked plenty in it too. I’ll make sure to share more when we’ve got more use out of it.

6. Bring hot water bottles

If you want to keep warm while you’re camping, hot water bottles are hard to beat. They can help you stay toasty for hours on end, and will be especially useful at night when it gets colder in your tent. Just fill your bottles with hot water and slip them under the blankets before bed and you’ll stay warm!

Camping doesn’t have to mean making huge sacrifices when it comes to personal comfort. After you try these DIY glamping tips, you might even find yourself looking forward to your next camping trip!