We had a couple of friends who took their families "glamping" a few weeks ago. They extolled the virtues of lower costs and the fabulous service, and even invited parts of our family to come stay with them for a couple of nights. This was not the first time we were invited to "glamping", and it still left a bitter aftertaste once we were about to leave.

But all in all. I get camping, where you can pitch your tent in a forest or on a meadow and enjoy the stars, and then (scouting wise) leave no impression other than imprints on the grass that will soon fade. For me, tent camping where you stay a few nights and then make sure you leave nothing negative behind is fairly benign. Except that not all bodies will tolerate camping conditions. And then there are those people who will absolutely pollute their surrondings and leave all the trash for the conscientious to pick up.

But is "glamping" really a thrifty or even environmentally friendly vacationing?