My first experience glamping: amazing or not so much?

Let's cut to the chase: I'm not a camper. The only times I've slept in a tent was when I was at a festival and knew I didn't have to do it for more than a couple of nights.

I like my comfort when I travel. A nice bed, a hot water boiler for making tea nearby and the ability to be able to stand up straight without sticking my head through the roof. You know, basic stuff. So I was surprised when Glamping Hub asked me to go glamping with them.
 

What is glamping?

The word “glamping” is a contraction of the expression “glam camping” or “glamorous camping”. While it still happens in the outdoors, the tiny tents have been replaced by luxury tents, yurts, treehouses or other original shapes of accommodation that often boast all kinds of features and look more like regular hotel rooms or even vacation houses.

Glamping grounds are often also more spacious and geared toward people looking for some peace and quiet.

Now, that sounded pretty cool, so I told Glamping Hub I would have a look at their offer and get back to them. Glam camping sounded pretty comfortable, but I first wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into.
 

Glamping at L'Escargot with Glamping Hub

I didn't have to search the Glamping Hub website for long. Turned out they offer stays at a few different glamping sites in Belgium and one of them, L'Escargot in Theux, in the province of Liège has a luxury safari tent with double bed, living room and kitchenette. Check!

I knew where I wanted to go and so last week I drove my newly fixed Travel Mobile (had a little accident the weekend before) deep into the south of Belgium, to Theux.

Upon my arrival, the lovely Tinneke welcomed me and showed me my tent. Tinneke runs L'Escargot together with her husband and keeps a close eye on the comfort of their guests. She's also the one who brings the guests breakfast in the morning if that's something they want or sandwiches for a meal later in the day upon request as well.

But I'm drifting off. She walked me to my luxury tent and I was immediately surprised by how open L'Escargot is. Each glamping tent or camp spot (you can also spend the night with your own tent at L'Escargot) gets 100 to 150m², which is pretty big I think. Not that I'd know anything about what regular campings look like, but this one looked spacious!

And so did my safari tent. It had a table for four, a couch for three with a little table, a kitchenette with two fires, a sink, and kitchen utensils. Towels for drying the dishes were provided, as were bathroom towels.

Above my double bad were two reading lights and next to it was a rather large closet to put away my clothes. On the other side of the tent was an extra “room” with two single beds and more closet space.

I put down my things and decided to go for a walk around before unpacking and getting comfortable. I walked from the back of the glamping grounds, where I found a cool two-person glamping tent, past some people who'd set up their own tents and mobile home and L'Escargot's glamping cottage, to another glamping tent, the playground for kids, the jacuzzi and the bathroom facilities.

Yup, there's a jacuzzi at L'Escargot. And a sauna, and you can ask for a massage. Glamorous camping, much?

My biggest worry about this glamping thing had been toilets and bathrooms. Luckily, I needn't worry. No small shower cabins at L'Escargot, but private shower rooms with ample space, floor heating adjustable shower heads and adjustable water temperature.

Toilets were in another room in the same buildings, to keep things cleanly separated.

So what do you do exactly when you go glamping? I'd already explored the surroundings a bit in the morning so I decided to stay put and get some work done sitting on my own little terrace. Afterward, I rewarded myself with a bit of relaxing on the Lamzac, an inflatable chair which reminds of a bean bag. When it got chilly in the evening, I continued work at the dinner table before crawling onto the couch to watch a webinar.

After a good night's sleep, I was pretty hungry and right as I rolled up my front door (that's how it works in a safari tent), I saw Tinneke approaching with breakfast. Bread straight from the bakery, pastries, ham, cheese, jam, Greek yogurt, a freshly prepared smoothie… It all looked so good and although I knew I was never going to be able to finish this on my own, I did my best!

Tinneke later told me that the breakfast is usually too much for the guests, but that they keep it this way so people can leave a bit for lunch.

While I was having breakfast on my little terrace in the morning sun, the rest of the glamping folk started to wake up as well. As they walked past me toward the bathroom building, we exchanged “good mornings”. I don't know why, but it always puts me in such a good mood when people simply greet me or greet me back.

Sometimes that doesn't always work, like when a place is so big you simply don't feel like saying hello every five minutes, but the size of L'Escargot is such that you are aware of the other guests and can interact if you want to, but don't need to bump into anyone if you don't feel like it.

Bliss.

With a full stomach, well-rested and my tank of fresh air refilled, I drove back home, thinking that this glamping thing was pretty alright.

 

 

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My stay at L'Escargot happened in collaboration with Glamping Hub. The report of my stay contains only my own opinion, as every report I write on Wonderful Wanderings.