Guest Experience by HoneyTrek Selecting structures

BY MIKE & ANNE HOWARD

Images © HoneyTrek

When it comes to types of glamping structures, this industry is spoiled for choice. Wall tents, domes, yurts, pods, tipis, bubbles, treehouses, wagons, train cars, and designs beyond the imagination are ready for order. But which one is best for your camp? Budget, climate, terrain, length of season, personal style, and target audience are all factors to find your match. To help narrow down your options, be it to start or expand your offering, we’re taking our experience from our 11-year glamping journey to break down the main offerings and weigh the pros and cons of each. Please know that this is just an overview and there are many exceptions to the rule. With the right glamping manufacturer and your own ingenuity, virtually any pain point can be solved. With the right setting and style, we’ve had wonderful stays in every structure type listed below, so we hope you find the one(s) for you and make them uniquely your own.

Note on price estimates: With so many variations on a structure’s possible materials, size, configurations, product origin, and overall quality, the cost can vary wildly. But since budget is an important factor in the selection process, we’ve come up with a (rough) average price of each structure type to inform the decision-making process.

Wall Tent at Firelight Camps

WALL TENT:

Also called a safari tent or prospector tent, this rectangular design has been in use for centuries and become the most iconic of glamping. Its straight walls and pitched roof emulate the framework of a simple house and are tightly covered in heavy canvas or a similarly tough material. Zip-down windows are on two or three sides, and fabric doors roll back for extra breeze. Like most glamping structures, a platform is required, which can also serve as a deck.

Pros: Timeless design. Cost effective. Better air circulation.

Cons: Little insulation for sound or cold weather. Roll-up windows and doors can be cumbersome.

Price: ~$4,000 Pros: Iconic design. Spacious, well-suited for groups. Enhanced insulation. Hearty construction can handle snow load and strong wind.

Cons: Obscured or little views. Less natural light.

Price: ~$12,000

Bell Tent at Fort Seward

BELL TENT:

With their short walls and long sloping roof, this circular design is a cross between a tipi and a wall tent. Held up by a central pole and supported by guy lines, this is glamping’s simplest construction. Its youthful look and small footprint make it well suited for young couples and kids. For a nice variation, the “Lotus Belle” is rounded with a dramatic peak and ribbon-like guy lines. Ribbing in the fabric pushes out the walls and ceiling for more usable square footage and an exotic look.

Pros: Easy to set up, tear down, and move around. Takes up minimal storage space in the off-season and acts as good overflow lodging in the high season. Lowest price point for a glamping structure.

Cons: Low-slung roof makes it feel smaller inside. Limited ventilation (mesh-paneled walls help). Front door is often the only view. Commands lower revenue per night. Shorter-life span.

Price: ~$700

Treehouse at Cypress Valley

TREEHOUSES:

Built in the boughs of a mighty tree, this whimsical concept can range from a simple cabin to a veritable mansion in the canopy. It is often accessed by suspension bridges or stairs, and can be multiple stories. Stilts are sometimes added as support or as the foundation for a treehouse-like structure.

Pros: Highly sought-after. Well insulated. Privacy. Commands high nightly rate.

Cons: Costly and time-consuming to build; often requires an engineer. Complicated to run plumbing. Safety concerns.

Price: ~$50,000

DOMES:

Walls gradually round into the roof for a halfsphere construction. Metal rods intersect to create an appealing diamond pattern inside and out. Covered in a mix of opaque and clear materials, the see-through sections double as panoramic windows.

Yurt at Castle Rocks

YURTS:

Invented by the ancient nomads of Central Asia, these wood-and-fabric dwellings (also called ger) are spacious and sturdy. Lattice walls expand 10 to 30 feet in diameter to create a circular living space. Dozens of rafters angle up toward the point of the roof, which is left open for a chimney or a clear dome for sunlight.

Dome at Glamping San Miguel

Pros: Sturdy construction and synthetic covering is more wind and water resistant. High ceilings open up the space and can be adapted for a lofted living area. Expansive views. Trendy.

Cons: Little ventilation and harder to cool naturally. Trendy.

Price: ~$7,000

Vintage Trailers at Luna Mystica

VINTAGE TRAILERS:

A retro house on wheels, hard-sided campers pack in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms in a slender footprint. Some glamping properties completely renovate their trailers for a modern look, others take pride in preserving their mid-century design.

Pros: Prebuilt with basic furnishings. Spaceefficient. Plumbing and duct-work included. Easy to move. Four-season. Nostalgic and approachable, particularly to RVers and inexperienced campers.

Cons: Can be seen as dated or downmarket by some customers. Hard to find in good condition and costly to renovate to modern standards.

Average Price (with renovation): ~$40,000

Wagon at Apostle Islands Area Campground

COVERED WAGONS:

The trailer’s horse-powered predecessor has made a comeback in a variety of forms (sheepherder, gypsy, and covered wagon). Though in North America, covered wagons are leading the charge. Akin to those used by the western pioneers, this wagon bed is topped with metal arches (or hoops) that give the walls and roof its rounded shape and framework for the canvas covering. Pros: Novelty. No platform required, wheels raise structure and act as a platform. Brings historic and cultural value that works particularly well in the West and family-friendly camps.

Cons: Niche. Limited windows for views and ventilation.

Price: ~$25,000

CABINS & TINY HOUSES:

These hard-sided, house-like structures are designed to feel and function like home. Architectural plans are readily available for construction or prefab options can be delivered. Cabins are simpler in design, while tiny houses offer creative solutions to maximize space.

Pros: Long-lasting, four-season ready. Kitchen and bath. Familiar yet fresh.

Cons: Higher price point, house-like construction is less like glamping. Typically needs a more permanent foundation and permitting. Not easy to move.

Tiny House at ANC Tiny Houses

Price: ~$45,000

Mirrored Cube at Theodosius Forest Village

UNIQUE & UNUSUAL:

As long it’s comfortable, stylish, and in nature— anything goes in glamping! It could be the creative reuse of a train car or shipping container, built into the earth like a Hobbit house or fashioned inside a mountain cave, or spring from an architect’s imagination, like a teardrop suspended in the air. When it comes to catching the attention of potential guests and the press, the more creative the better. Plus, it’s good for bookings and the overall industry to push the boundaries of glamping to keep things fresh! Pros: Eye-candy. Memorable. Photogenic. Increased likelihood for media coverage. People pay more for unique experiences.

Cons: Less-approachable, risks form over function, and custom work is more expensive.

Price: Sky is the limit

What structure sounds like your best option? The good news is that you don’t have to choose just one. Starting off with a few types of glamping units is a great way to do some A-B testing and see which structure works best in your environment and gets booked with more frequency. A diverse offering helps appeal to a wider audience and offers returning guests something new. While it can be a tricky to make such a big decision, remember that the structures you pick don’t define your glamping offering. Use your personality, creativity, design sense, and hospitality, so that no matter how many nearby camps have similar structures, the experience you offer is one of a kind.

About Mike & Anne Howard

Traveling for the last 10 years across 63 countries, Mike & Anne are travel experts with a glamping speciality. They launched HoneyTrek.com to chronicle their journey, and have since written National Geographic’s bestselling book Ultimate Journeys for Two and the first guide to glamping in North America, Comfortably Wild. Earning a Lowell Thomas Journalism Award for their book and a seat on the American Glamping Association Board of Advisors, they are committed to the success of the glamping industry. Businesses from budding glampgrounds to established tent manufacturers have partnered with the Howards for their skills as photographers, writers, influencers, and consultants to improve their guest experience and share it with the world. Visit HoneyTrek.com/GlampingExperts