Growing up we went camping from time to time. It was a lovely family activity – getting back to nature, sitting around the fire, drinking condensed milk coffee (or sherry on cold nights) and looking at the stars until we went to the tent. I love it, but I will be honest: I also love a warm, comfy bed in a bug-free room. Preferably with an en-suite. Fortunately there are many alternatives to camping with a similar feel to it, with something for everyone from the survivalist to the pampered. I would argue that all of these belong on this page. Just because I don’t sleep in a tent on slowly-deflating bed, doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the camping experience.

Let’s get into the different alternatives:

Camping – back to basics with a tent with poles and ropes

• Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Set up camp at the La Leona Ranger station at the park entry.
• Denali National Park, Alaska, USA. Several camp sites – at some you can also set up your caravan or RV. Based on the photos, I’d pick either Igloo Creek or Teklanika River Campground.
• Tartaruga Camping in Zakynthos, Greece. Set up a tent, or stay in a caravan or RV.
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California, USA. With about 15 open campsites, you can grab your tent or roll in with your caravan or RV. At some sites you can even opt for a cabin if you wish.
• Glentanner Park in the Aoraki Mount Cook region, New Zealand. You can choose from several rooms ranging from motel-room to dormitory size. However, if you see the camp site views, you might consider unfolding that air mattress and getting the air compressor (unless you want to do it on lung capacity alone).
• Jasper National Park, Canada. You would definitely be in the mood for camping if you look at the photos of this park; or at least I was. With seven different campgrounds, you can pick which scenic view you want to wake up to.

Glamping – camp in luxury in a already set-up tent

• Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Stay in one of the luxury camp sites (like the Cottar’s 1920’s Safari Camp), or set up your own tent in the private camp sites (you can also rent all the equipment there).
• Mounts Bay Meadow Glamping at St. Michael’s Mount in England, UK. Enjoy your stay in Cornwall in one of three Glamping pod sites – Scenic Bay, Coastal Gaze or Mount Lookout.
• Otro mundo Eco glamping near Sierra de Segura, Spain. Nestled in nature but still close enough to town that you can explore the local culture.
• Paperbark Camp, Australia. If you are looking to get out of the city (in this case, probably Sydney), you can choose to stay in ‘African inspired canvas safari tents’ in Jervis Bay. With the basic option being a Deluxe tent, you will definitely have a glamourous camping holiday.
• Stay in a Bubble Lodge.

Explore the Bubble Lodge shortlist

Yurts, cabins or treehouses – when you prefer a slightly sturdier alternative

• Garden Route National Park, South Africa. Options ranging from pitched tents to luxury cabins. My pick: the Forest Huts or Harkerville Treetop Chalet.
• EcoCamp Patagonia, Chile. Pick your level of comfort in the eco-friendly dome hotel. Stay here when you complete no. 38 on my bucket list.
• Miyajima Island, Japan. There are both cabins and tent sites available at the Tsutsumigaura Inlet.
• Hossa National Park, Finland. They have a wide range of facilities, from lean-to shelters to caravan sites and rental cabins. Personally, I would prefer the rental cabins. An added benefit is that this is Finland, so you will find saunas everywhere. If that is your kind of thing.
• The Isle of Arran, Scotland. With everything from campgrounds, like Lochranza Caravan and Campgrounds, to beautiful cottages (here is a whole list of them) – you will definitely find a perfect place to stay on this enchanting island.

Roughing it – going in the opposite way of luxury, with things like cowboy, bivy or hammock camping

• Waldseilgarten Höllschlucht, Germany. This is far out of my comfort zone, but if you want to sleep in a tent hanging from the tree tops or a suspended ledge from a cliff wall, this is your place!