Campsites vs Hotels

These days we all have to squeeze every last drop of value out of our hard-earned cash and spending on a holiday is no exception. Even a modest trip is likely to involve major expenditure and with so many of us looking to maximise our money, the question of how we holiday is becoming as important as where we go. Many people are now debating whether they want to plump for the adventure but basic facilities of a camping holiday or the more expensive but guaranteed warmth and comfort of a hotel.

Swimming pool in camping / Photo by admin

With deals on rooms and offers on equipment, both can be highly attractive options for the cost-conscious tripper and both have their advantages. Tents and camping equipment can be expensive but enthusiasts regard the outlay as investment rather than expenditure because good kit can provide a lifetime of faithful service. Hotel rooms will always cost more than campsite fees but in a hotel you know exactly what you’re getting – not least, guaranteed privacy, a weather-proof roof and a warm bed.

Unpredictable

Camping’s number one enemy is, of course, unpredictable weather. We all know that two days of scorching sun can easily be followed by a deluge that no one saw coming. But campers maintain that a bit of bad weather is a small price to pay for fresh air, wonderful scents on the night air and the delights of living close to the land and the wildlife that shares it.

To some, however, ‘close to the land’ just suggests mud and dirt and is less appealing than personal creature comforts. In that case, a warm hotel room with personal bathroom and lashings of hot water will be hard to turn down. On top of that, most hotels now offer satellite TV and an adjacent bar-restaurant that doesn’t require the crossing of a wet and windy field.

Today’s campsites offer good bathroom facilities, it’s true, but they tend to be in a toilet/shower block shared by other guests and you might have to wait your turn to use them.

Highlights

Campers can eat out in pubs and restaurants but many choose not to because cheaper campfire cooking is one of the highlights of a holiday under canvass. Few would argue that coffee, bacon and eggs never smells or tastes as good as it does when it’s cooked outside the tent on a dewy summer morning.

If you’re a city person you’re likely to find hotels to suit all pockets conveniently sited in the very centre of town with minimum travel expense to attractions. Campsites tend to be located out in the countryside where a car is needed to see the local sites and, while it’s perfectly possible to enjoy a camping holiday without a vehicle – hiking or biking, for example – for many modern campers the equipment needed to create that home-from-home is just too much to carry.

Who travels with you may need consideration, too. There are hotels which allow dogs but the majority don’t so if you can’t bear to be separated from your ‘best friend’, you’ll find campsites tend to be more accommodating in that respect.

One thing is for certain; if you’re embarking on the campsite versus hotel debate, it means you’re planning your holiday. Lucky you!

This guest post was written on behalf of North Wales Borderlands by Francesca, a UK based blogger with a passion for travel.

Tags: attractive options, bad weather, camping equipment, camping holiday, campsite fees, creature comforts, deluge, faithful service, lashings, outlay, personal bathroom, satellite tv, service hotel, tripper, unpredictable weather, warm hotel, weather proof, windy field

Category: Travel Tips