3 Tips : Enhancing your vacation with Glamping

I'm a giddy travler. Just like a child, but with the benefit of adult patience. I'm a pointer, an "ooooh"-er, a grinner, a snooper, a linger-er, and sometimes a bit of a crier. Everything matters. Everything is noticed. Everything is appreciated. I wasn't always this way. There are trips I can hardly remember, and one's where I was left feeling like the time flew by and I didn't get the experience I had wanted.

If you travel but don't feel as enchanted with your adventures as you'd hoped to, I have a few helpful tips. It's easy to feel like you haven't gotten the most out of your time away and let's face it, travel is expensive. No one wants to feel like they've missed out on opportunities to expand their horizons.

Tip 1 : Get to know your destination BEFORE you get there :

This is such an essential step in setting you up for vacation success. I like to read Trip Advisor for a few hours (it just goes on and on), check out maps of the area and see what's within driving distance for day trips if I'm staying in a specific spot for more than a few days. Don't be afraid to use social media to get tips from locals and regulars. I got so much good advice when I asked for it on Instagram and Twitter on our recent visit to Vancouver. Plan options for every day you will be away, just in case the weather fails to co-operate or something is closed. Being flexible is just as important as being prepared. If you come with some knowledge of your destination, you'll find yourself feeling at ease in a shorter amount of time. After all, isn't that why you needed a vacation in the first place?

Tip 2: Accommodations aren't just a place to crash at night. Get creative!

We have definitely spent many trips, big and small, crashing in unpleasant hotel rooms just because we either didn't plan ahead, or were trying to save money by skimping on a place to sleep. What I've discovered is that your home(s) away from home are just part of the adventure that comes with traveling! Be creative, because there are a LOT of choices out there, and many of them are the same price or cheaper than what you'd be paying at a chain hotel or resort with stinky carpets and those gross scratchy bedcovers. Imagine spending the night in any of the places shown in this post. All are available to book through glampinghub.com - and aren't they incredible? How could you forget a night spent in a magical handmade caravan, listening to crickets chirp while you rest on a plush bed under a canvas tent, or sitting beneath twinkling lights in an antique filled barn loft. You don't have to visit an exotic location to find a memorable place to stay. There are lots of glamping choices in Canada and the United States too!

Tip 3: Appreciate the differences in your natural surroundings.

There is nothing that makes you feel more refreshed than time spent in the great outdoors. Expand your definition of the world around you. Notice the changes your senses pick up. Does the air smell different, feel lighter, fuller. What does a sunrise look like from a new point on earth that you've never seen before. Immerse yourself in your surroundings by checking out the area's parks and preserves and what they have to offer visitors. A little trip off course might make all the difference in how you connect with the places you visit. Whenever you can, stay right in the heart of the action, or better yet - bring your home with you and rent a camper for a night or two. That sounds like a memorable getaway to me!

Glamping destinations pictured - all available at www.glampinghub.com : Luxury Tents in British Columbia, Canada // Eco Dome in Sierra del Segura, Spain // Classic Airstream in Byron Bay, Australia // Tree House Lodge in Cambodia // Charming Barn Loft in West Virginia Woods, U.S. // Beautiful Hand Crafted Roulottes in Scotland