Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

The Best Glamping Experiences: Sleep in a Dome, Yurt or Teepee

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It’s no big secret that I’ve always been drawn to unique accommodations, the quirkier the better in my opinion. Run-of-the-mill hotels are not really my thing, which is why I’ve been using vacation rental services ever since I started traveling on my own. They offer personality in spades, more often than not they’re cheaper than a traditional hotel, and nothing brings the Type A planner in me greater joy than sifting through properties for hours upon end in search of the perfect fit for our travel style.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Which is why when I was recently introduced to glamping, I spent hours perusing rentals all over the world. Do I want to sleep in a yurt in South Africa? How about a tree house in the Pacific Northwest? Or maybe a teepee on the Mediterranean coast? I’ll take one of each for $200 (a night), please, Alex! And the cool thing is that with this service, you can do all of it—and plenty more.

This year, SVV and I are hoping to do some extensive national park travel in celebration of the centennial, and I scoured the web for a few of my favorite glamping spots within our own U.S. parks (as well as a few abroad, too). Here are a few of my favorites:

Luxury Yurt in Central California

Back when I was writing the Frommer’s California guides, I fell in love with the Cayucos area near Pismo Beach, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. And I’ll be honest: Staying in a yurt has long been on SVV’s and my bucket list (can you believe this is one type of lodging we’ve yet to check off?!). So staying in a yurt beneath the towering oaks of Southern California—with access to yoga, wine tastings, a hot tub and more!—sounds like the recipe for a dreamy weekend to me indeed.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 2-4

Tri-Level Tree House in Asheville

SVV and I have been eyeing this property as a potential trip for my upcoming birthday (to replicate my 30th when we met up with several Semester at Sea pals in Asheville for the holiday weekend). In a dream scenario to ring in 33, I’d love to hit the road with several of my food-loving Nashville friends and hole up in this Blue Ridge Mountain getaway for a weekend of cooking, drinking and camaraderie (OK, and a lot of social media snaps).

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 16

Teepee in France

I had a teepee as a kid that my mom let me take out into the backyard or set up in the playroom to “camp,” so being able to sleep in a full-size teepee sounds like a childhood dream fulfilled. The fact that this one is located in the Brittany province of northwestern France only adds fuel to my wanderlust.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 4

Airstream in BC

If SVV and I ever pay off our house—or rather, ever stop working on said house and accumulating piles of debt as a result—mark our words that we will be buying an Airstream trailer. Until then, I’ll satiate that longing by heading up to Canada and checking into this Aistream stay, complete with a deck and hot tub (you can’t beat that!).

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 4

Camper Van in the American West

That iconic two-month road trip of the Western states that SVV and I took back in the summer of 2011 was that singular experience we just can’t stop talking about, even five years later. And while not everyone may be as lucky as me to have in-laws with a camping trailer, the good news is that you can rent a Mercedes campervan—with pick up and drop off in Palm Springs—and imitate our own epic journey, perfect for families or adventurous couples like us.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 2-4 people

Beachfront Safari Tent in Spain

My very first guidebook gig was in Spain, and as Spanish is the only other language I (sort of) speak, I’m always looking for a reason to return. This luxury tent stay just south of Barcelona that opens out onto the beach of the Mediterranean coast is all the excuse I need.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 6

Stone Villa in Tahoe

I’ve spent plenty of time in cabins around Lake Tahoe—in fact, we were part of a cabin share during my winters as a Californian—but I have never seen as cool a property in the Sierra Nevadas as this one. It’s enough to have me researching airfare back to Reno, stat.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.
Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 14 people

Snow Yurt in Bozeman

If you’re new to these parts, you may not yet know about my obsession with Montana, but let’s just say that it tops my list of favorite U.S. states. And how cool to be able to stay in a yurt that’s not only in Montana but also has ski-in, ski-out access? It makes the whole apres thing a whole heck of a lot easier, and with bunk beds, it’s the ideal rental to accommodate a squad of snow-loving pals, too. (I don’t know about your squad but my squad would love to cozy up in that yurt as we pass the bottle of bourbon around the snug space until it runs dry.) Bonus: You’ll be just an hour and a half outside of Yellowstone if you need a day trip.

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 6-8 people

Tree House in Hawaii

Hawaii is the one tropical honeymoon destination I’d never consider overrated, and what better way to kick off a new marriage (or other occasion for a romantic getaway) than stealing away to this secluded tree house deep within the fern forest of the Big Island just outside of Volcanoes National Park. (SVV, I hope you’re taking notes for our 10th wedding anniversary; it will be here before you know it, old man.)

Glamping Hub: stay in a teepee, yurt, treehouse or RV with this unique vacation rental service.

Sleeps: 2

Now it’s your time to dream and scheme your best glamping travel. I’m interested to hear what kind of property you’d stay in if given the chance. Would it be a dome, an eco-pod or maybe even a cave?

 


 

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The Best Glamping Experiences Around the World

COMMENTS
  • February 4, 2016

    One of my best winter adventures was backpacking into a yurt on snowshoes, during a snow storm, with about 3 feet of fresh powder that left us sinking to our knees. It was in the single-digit temperatures and our hair was turning to icicles. Our group stayed for 2 nights, in and out of the snow and the warm yurt, loving our pristine location. Then we packed everything up and snowshoed back down the mountain.

    It was glorious. 🙂

    xox

    • February 5, 2016

      That sounds like a dream! We’re tentatively planning a ski trip with friends to Montana in December (due to SVV working at a CPA firm, that’s really the only month we can feasibly ski) and I’d love to stay in the above yurt in Bozeman with all our pals!

  • February 5, 2016

    This is a brilliant resource, thanks Kristin. I just looked up the AirStream on Pender Island as we live in Vancouver – we’re going to go this summer. My little dude will be so excited…and so will my husband. Happy Friday 🙂

    • February 7, 2016

      That sounds like an excellent summer trip! You’ll have to let me know how it is! Scott and I dream of buying an Airstream someday but I’ve yet to actually sleep in one.

  • February 5, 2016

    Hey you can stay in a primitive yurt on the North Rim, but only during winter after you hike across canyon. So many options for RV rentals makes it easy, but not cheap, to see the USA. I dream of a treehouse stay in South Africa.

    • February 7, 2016

      I’d also be fine staying in a fifth wheel on the North Rim, too 😉 But yes, treehouse in South Africa does sound like a dream come true!

      • February 7, 2016

        Either could be arranged. Count me in on the treehouse.

  • February 5, 2016

    You know what… I would probably stay in all the locations you just mentioned – yurts, eco-pods, domes, caves – but how awesome would it be to sleep in an igloo? 🙂

    • February 7, 2016

      An igloo would be very cool (har de har har)! 😉

  • February 6, 2016

    I want to go to them all! And I want you to come to BC. Would you hurry up and book that please? 🙂

    • February 7, 2016

      I want to come, too! Whistler is calling my name. Can I steal away to your house for the weekend if I ever make it that far? 😉

      • February 8, 2016

        OF COURSE. But you knew that. 🙂

  • February 6, 2016
    Mister Sister

    Ok I want to do all of these but THE TREEHOUSE IN ASHEVILLE!?! Next Luna family Christmas?????

    • February 7, 2016

      I am totally down with that! We could even combine it with the Clareys given that it sleeps 16 😉

  • February 7, 2016

    A tree house! I want to sleep in a tree house! The best for me so far has been a 100% ecological cabana on Tulum Playa, in Mexico. I’d open the door in the morning, take a step from the porch as was right there, on the beach. It was AMAZING. And all night long, I could hear the sound of waves!

    • February 7, 2016

      Anything on the beach is a resounding YES from me! Like you, nothing makes me happier than falling asleep and waking up to peace and quiet and the sound of the waves.

  • February 7, 2016
    Jeje

    Never even heard of “glamping”! But, well, sign me up! It looks so cool!

    • February 7, 2016

      I bet your dogs would LOVE it!

  • February 7, 2016

    Sign me up for all of them! I am hoping to do some of these in the near future, it looks to be so much more fun than a standard hotel!

    • February 7, 2016

      You are on the perfect trip to do some of these, as many are off the beaten path! Dying to actually stay in a few of them in person. Just think about the Instagram potential 😉

  • February 8, 2016

    I slept in a yurt in North Dakota!

    • February 11, 2016

      Jealous, jealous, JEALOUS! What part? I’ve only really dipped into North Dakota briefly on our road trip of the West.

  • February 9, 2016

    I’d love to live in a yurt! I’ve always wanted one. What a perfect writing lair. Maybe I have Magnolian DNA in my blood. At the very least, there has to be some nomad in there somewhere. There’s just something about a tent/tipi/yurt. My favorite way to vacation is glamping. So much fun when the kids were little. I must make an effort to do it again with the grandkids!

    • February 11, 2016

      Right? Let’s have a writers’ retreat in Mongolia!

      • February 12, 2016

        I laughed so hard when I re-read my comment. I see I spelled Mongolian and Magnolian. Must be a mysterious, nomadic area of the south. ROFL.

        • March 17, 2016

          A Magnolian yurt in Mongolia sounds amazing! =)

  • February 11, 2016

    I want to stay in each of those… actually, I could live in those! I have always wanted to stay in a Yurt. There some on the lake about an hour from where I live. I will definitely have to do that this summer now!

    • March 17, 2016

      I actually did research on how much it costs to build a yurt—the answer is between $30,000 and $50,000. So if I ever sell my Victorian, I’m going to economical route and building a yurt as my next home! =)

  • February 11, 2016

    Have you seen the new Pendleton Airstream? They did a Limited Edition for the National Parks 100 years. O.M.G. Want it!

    Less glampy, but there are some cool mountain huts in Colorado and I’ve always wanted to stay in a fire tower,too!

    • March 17, 2016

      Um I have not and now I am off to Google it…and see where I can stay in one in a national park nearby 😉

  • February 13, 2016

    So many fun and inspiring ideas here! One day we will stay in a tree house (I mean, with two boys, we have to!). My mom has an Airstream, and we love hanging out in it. I want one, too.

    • March 17, 2016

      Obviously you have to! That’s so cool that your mom has an Airstream—do you guys ever take it out on trips with her? My in-laws have upgraded their camping trailer since we left CA five years ago and I’m dreaming about the day we can kick off another epic road trip from Sacramento =)

      • March 17, 2016

        Yes! We make an annual “camping trip” with her Airstream–they stay in the Airstream and we usually stay in a cabin next door. She and her husband use it all the time here in CA and up the coast to WA or east to CO. In fact, my boys are going to sleep in it this weekend (it makes a fun little house while parked in my mom’s yard). You guys could rent one and take it on that next epic road trip from here, but of course buying one would be so much better. 🙂

  • February 18, 2016

    This looks incredibly bad ass! I’ll have to check out the California one as a fancy staycation 🙂

    • March 17, 2016

      Let me know if you find a cool one, as I’m always looking for a fun place to go on our return trips to CA to see my in-laws!

  • July 19, 2018
    Ayo

    This is amazing. I just stumbled onto a gold mine. I want to go to all these places and I never knew such things existed. Thank you. I love the internet.

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