The only camping I’ll ever do would be glamping and it would have to be pretty darn glam for me to consider it. I did plenty of camping as a kid and young adult and I remember waking up in the woods when I was 27 and thinking, “Okay, that’s it. This is not fun and I will never do it again.” And I never have.
I’ve been backpacking in Wyoming (Wind River Range) and CA (Yosemite) and I enjoyed it. I also did part of the Camino de Santiago where there were hostels or hotels or private rooms to stay at the end of a day. I’d love to do Hadrian’s Wall or part of the GR5 in the French Alps. Right now, however, I’m content to spend time away at our vacation home (Nantucket)–I never get tired of it.
^^^Me too! I did the Camino Frances three years ago. And part of the John Muir Trail a year or so before that. Returning to the Camino is problematic because staying in albergues means sharing a room with other people, shared bath facilities etc. But I can’t think of a better place to socially distance than backpacking in the wilderness.
Since I am now single and was always spoiled by my H doing all the camping setup, I will probably never camp again. I cannot see any pleasure of hauling everything to a campground or woods, setting it all up and then dreading when it all has to come back down, get packed into car and unpacked back at home. I would probably survive on a bag of chips and pack of cookies. I would be too lazy to try to cook and clean it all up.
I certainly appreciate the idea of fabulous views and locations, but the last time I camped was when I was den leader for my son’s Cub Scout pack. He’s 32 so long ago. He is like me; only lasted one year in the Boy Scouts due to not liking living outside. Then I came up with the idea of tech and computer camps on college campuses and he was fine.
Although one summer in college I went to a 6 week archeological field school session in Nevada where we slept in group tents and bathed in the creek. One night we went to a salt desert near hot springs and slept in cots outside in the open desert under the stars - ok, that was great.
We do still have tents and sleeping bags and such stored in the garage.
That sounds absolutely lovely! Camino de Santiago is on my bucket list as well.
I think those who enjoy camping are much better sleepers than me. Maybe it’s because I have never since infancy fallen asleep other than in a bed. Not on a couch, not on the floor, not in a car not in a plane. NEVER. When the bed is uncomfortable at a hotel I barely sleep. Now comfortable beds are a must have ( assuming we ever go to a hotel again) Otherwise I wake up repeatedly vowing never to leave home again. When my husband and I stayed at his brothers house once I lay down on their sorry excuse for a mattress for 20 min and announced we would be leaving and checking into the Westin with a heavenly bed that night.
I am exactly the same. I marvel at the people who can fall asleep anywhere. I also bring my own pillows, except when flying to destination. If the pillows aren’t to my liking, that can keep me up even in the nicest hotels - which is where we almost always stay.
Ok… some of y’all should absolutely never travel with us. 
(Just in case you were wondering.)
View and location are ultimate must haves for us. Plus, if we’re just traveling from Point A to Point B pretty much any hotel with better than a 7/10 rating works, though we shy away from those that are pet friendly due to barking dog experiences.
I’m not sure where I learned to sleep through anything. I’d give credit to college or the military, but I was sleeping outside under the stars occasionally before that.
I do require a Thermarest pad under my sleeping bag now though - since 2006 or so when we discovered them.
Don’t travel with us, especially if H gets his way. He always wants to stay in those ancient creepy roadside motels. I humor him from time to time, but since I always do the planning, I opt for the 2.5 star hotels. The free breakfast is what I usually aim for. That saves this family of pigs a ton of $$$. Too bad that may go away forever now. Wah!
We went camping once. After we got married, we bought a tent and air mattress. We went with my sister & BIL to a nearby lake in Sept. It wound up being almost 100 degrees and humid. H fussed with language not fit for here half the night and then left to sleep in the tailgate of his Jeep. I was left with his puddle of sweat. We never went again. Fine by me. I’m allergic to everything outdoors.
We did sleep in a treehouse once. That was fun. It had a bathroom which is the new must for me. I can’t go a whole night without one. But I am a champion couch sleeper. I sleep way better on a couch than a bed. My mom and grandma are/were the same way.
Not really. They don’t let you serve yourself. Hotel staff served breakfast at a place where I stayed recently.
So many people are allergic to outdoors on this board. It is almost depressing.
^^^ I haven’t thought about this. Will those breakfast buffets go away for awhile? I’m guessing so. Maybe they will arrange some type of breakfast boxes. So many travelers really look for the free breakfast option.
(please don’t respond if you think free breakfast is not something you would take advantage of)
Hotels now have to go options for breakfast or pre-wrapped take and go.
Yes. The breakfast buffets are gone. Breakfast will be served to you. To go or in the dining room. This is what I was told. I will find out next week.
I was also told unnecessary decor will not be in the rooms. Think throw pillows and guidebooks.
Limited attendance allowed in the indoor pool.
I’m not allergic to outdoors. I love the outdoors. I spend much of my day outdoors. Many of our best vacations have involved appreciation of great outdoor locations. Part of the reason we moved to San Diego was because of the outdoors scenery, recreation, dining, and entertainment.
I just prefer to sleep on a bed that I don’t have to carry on my back, and a real bathroom with hot and cold running water. And no bugs.
Also, although free breakfasts are certainly convenient, I miss the fun of finding local breakfast spots. Every now and then I can convince my husband that we can go pay for breakfast. Unfortunately he has decided that since we live in a vacation paradise, we don’t need to travel much anymore.
@Marilyn EXACTLY. Love the outdoors. But not sleeping or bathing there. That’s what 5 star hotels are for. Lol. We were supposed to be at a magnificent one in Lake Louise this summer. Sigh.
I like the outdoors, also, but I prefer to be outdoors walking around a city, having leisurely lunch/dinner at an outdoor cafe and people watchIng. I get invigorated by the energy of cities.
One guy’s trip from Frankfort to Burlington, Vt.
I can sleep fine in a variety of settings but lately my one requirement is that it not be hot. Unfortunately, I’m going through that hot flash phase and nothing is more miserable than waking up hot and sweaty and not being able to cool off. I’m very ready to be done with this and move into the old lady cold everywhere phase (pretty sure that’s what I’ll revert back to since prior to the hot flash thing I’ve always needed to bring a sweater to air conditioned places).
For anyone who as walked the Camino de Santiago, are there parts of the route where you could reliably find nightly private rooms with a bathroom or is it all hostel type lodging?
A friend on Facebook posed a question today: beach or mountains? I had to ponder that, because both are not appealing. Finally I answered: neither, give me a city. That’s also why camping doesn’t appeal to me. Neither does hiking. I don’t hike at home. Why would I want to go somewhere to hike?