A luxurious way to enjoy nature: Glamping gains popularity in Kitchener
The warmer weather is a sure sign that the camping season is in full swing but for those who want to camp in comfort, glamping is becoming an attractive option and you won’t have to go far to try it out.
Those wanting to experience camping with glamorous twist can go to the camping resort at Bingemans in Kitchener.
Their glamping option is a 160 square foot space that used to be a shipping container.
This is the deck of one of the luxury containers at Bingemans seen on May 26, 2023. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)
“Shipping containers that have really been up cycled and retrofitted,” said Michelle Playfair, the general manager at Bingemans told CTV News. “A tiny home away from home. Something new and different.”
It’s fit for those who want a taste of the great outdoors while still having access to many amenities like a bed that pulls out to a queen sized one, a full fridge and freezer, a stove and microwave and a three-piece bathroom. They also provide cutlery, cookware and towels.
“For those that aren’t necessarily your seasoned to campers – it’s an opportunity to get out in nature,” Playfair said.
Inside one of the luxury containers at Bingemans seen on May 26, 2023. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)
Playfair said glamping has gained popularity in recent years especially post-pandmeic. Last year, Bingemans had one luxury container set up and it was about 95 per cent booked during the camping season. This year, they’ve installed two more that are still in construction but will be ready for public use in June.
“There’s really nowhere else certainly regionally that offers this experience,” Playfair said.
The luxury containers go for around $200 to $240 dollars per night. Bingemans also offers more basic shipping container options with less amenities, log cabins, and regular camp spaces.
LUXURY RVS ALSO GAINING POPULARITY
For those who want to take their glamping gear on the road with them, staff at Leisure Days in Ayr said luxury RVs and campers are selling fast.
“They're mobile. So you can go to one site one weekend. You can tour Canada, check out nice restaurants across Canada,” said Mike Jurj, a sales representative at Leisure Days.
Inside a luxury RV at Leisure Days in Ayr. (CTV News/Karis Mapp)
Jurj said they now sell about 400 units a year and most of the time, glamorous upgrades are key selling points. He said that wasn’t the case, five or ten years ago – but many love to camp in style.
“Solar panels, TVs, fireplaces, Wi-Fi, and all kinds of stuff like that. So it’s just natural as time goes on. You almost don’t have a choice but to buy something with one of those nicer upgrades,” Jurj said.
Luxury RVs can range anywhere from $30,000 to upwards of $100,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.