You’ve probably heard of “glamping”, a word that’s a combination of “camping” and “glamour”. Glampers can enjoy the closeness to nature that camping offers, while still experiencing the glamour of a luxury vacation. For the average person, glamping could involve inflatable mattresses, shared bathroom facilities, and lukewarm white wine. For the super-wealthy, though, glamping is a flawlessly luxurious experience that rivals the finest hotels in the world.
Glamping in Medellin is Trending Over the Last Few Years
The glamping industry as a whole has been taking off over the last few years, especially among ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals. Loosely defined, these are people who have a net worth of $30 million or more. Because of the perfect year-round weather and beautiful scenery, glamping in Medellin has also become extremely trendy in recent years. Among this demographic, there’s a growing demand for getaways that are located in the most rare and beautiful wilderness settings, but that also offer all the comforts of a high-end resort – or at least the comforts of home.
For the super-rich, though, the comforts of home involve a very high standard of living. Instead of typical glamping amenities like hammocks or horseback rides, these glamp-sites could have heated floors, a full menu of helicopter-themed activities, private dining from a personal chef, private butlers, roll-top copper baths, and more. You won’t find any lukewarm wine here, unless it’s a recently decanted red that’s been adjusted to the perfect temperature.
Another key difference is the level of requests that guests make of the hosts. When you’re paying thousands of dollars per night, that entitles you to a bit more than buying some extra sausages or a bundle of firewood. According to one Managing Director at a luxury travel agency, one guest requested that his safari camp be stocked with Irn-Bru, a carbonated beverage that’s popular in Scotland. Then began the challenge – find the drink in Africa, then transport it by boat, train, and car to the lodge.
This might seem like a high-maintenance client, but that simply comes with the territory. Essentially, you get what you pay for, and these guests happen to pay a great deal of money. It’s reasonable to avoid asking for special accommodations if you’re paying $75/night at a basic glamp-site, but these clients are paying more like $2,000 to $5,000 or more per night, per person. This being the case, the hosts are more than willing to bend over backwards for their guests. They don’t just offer top-of-the-line facilities; they also offer a completely personalized experience, in which every detail is absolutely perfect.
In some cases, the hosts have to get creative about accommodating these demands. One host recounted the time a guest didn’t want their kids to spend the entire trip on their game consoles. While this could have easily turned into a nightmare, the host came up with a winning solution – invite an award-winning Kenyan producer to help the kids shoot a wildlife documentary. The substitute worked like a charm, and both the parents and the children were thrilled with their vacation.
Glamping offers Premium Services
Another glamp-site manager at a private island in Asia will always remember the time a Premier League footballer stayed at their tented retreat. All was going well, until he realized that he’d forgotten his favorite aftershave. Since there was clearly no substitute on the island, a staff member was sent to the mainland via speedboat, and from there went to the capital; this was the only place where the aftershave was likely to be sold. Against all odds, the aftershave was found, the several-hour trip was made back to the island, and the footballer was able to enjoy the rest of the vacation smelling just the way he liked. This is the type of service you can expect from Medellin Tours as well!
To someone who isn’t ultra-rich, these requests may sound ridiculous – and maybe they are. However, the amount of money they’re paying for these experiences is also ridiculous, so it all evens out. The people who are responsible for fulfilling these types of requests know that this is simply part of the job, and they’re dedicated to making sure that every whim is catered to with efficiency and grace.
While things like favorite beverages or aftershaves can seem like petty indulgences, there’s another luxury that UHNW individuals are after: privacy. In many instances, they travel to places that are in high demand. So what’s to prevent them from ending up in the background of some social media influencer’s photos? The solution is easy: buy out the entire property. This could increase the cost from a few thousand to tens of thousands per night, but the payoff is well worth the cost for these particular guests.
For glampers who are famous as well as ultra-rich, discretion is especially important. If the wrong photo or video gets leaked, their entire vacation could be ruined by paparazzi or intrusive fans. It isn’t just a matter of maintaining privacy as a matter of course; it’s actually necessary in order to have an uninterrupted vacation. Some famous guests even require strict NDAs to be signed as a condition of their stay.
Mobile Glamping Resorts VS Permanent Glamping Resorts
If the fear of interruption is a real concern, mobile camps might be the best option. These pop-up glamping sites come with every imaginable amenity, plus their own energy sources, facilities, and staff. One such mobile camp operates in Tanzania’s Grumeti Game Reserve, and includes a tented spa, private chefs, and a pool – plus exclusive views of the legendary Serengeti stampede, also known as the “Great Migration”. How much does an experience like this cost? Prices start at just under $2,400 per night, per person, and guests consider their stays to be well worth the cost.
These wildly opulent glamping sites are available all over the world, including developing countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Even people who aren’t technically UHNW individuals can join in on the action, with some glamp-sites costing a few hundred per night instead of a few thousand. Glamping is growing in popularity as well as glamour every year, and no matter what your budget is, you’ll probably be able to find a place where you can have the vacation of a lifetime. But of course, it certainly doesn’t hurt if you happen to have an unlimited budget for your next glamping trip.
