Russell Hannon - May 15, 2023
Tips for Glampers & Budget Travelers
If you've been following me on Facebook or Twitter (@Russellhannon), you likely know I have a weekly Budget Travel segment on CBC. It has me staying close to home for the summer, as I have to appear live in studio. This suits my travel style as I tend to travel most during the shoulder season when there are fewer travelers, prices are lower, and the temperature is comfortable in most places.
For many, camping is part of the summer travel experience. And with camping season in full swing, it seems fitting to kick off my summer travel series talking about:
- Ways to Camp Free (and super cheap)
- How to snag a campsite in peak camping season
- Budget-friendly tips for "Glampers" (a.k.a.: Glamorous Campers)
- Resources for first-time campers
- Tips for finding campgrounds at the last-minute
CLICK HERE to listen to the interview.
OR
CBC did a fantastic job converting the interview into an article. CLICK HERE for the full article.
When researching campsites
Freeampsites is an app with a map that has pins showing campsites that are FREE to stay at. Each campsite has a brief description and many have guest reviews.
AllStays Camp & RV is an app with maps with 30,000 U.S. and Canadian campgrounds including RV parks, military family camps, and overnight RV parking at Walmarts, casinos. truck stops with amenities and rest areas. You can browse guest reviews and the app has site specific information on pricing, GPS coordinates and utility information including whether each site have a pool, playground, laundry facilities, propane, RV dump stations and pet policies. The maps are downloadable so that you can access them offline. This can come in handy - especially handy when mobile reception is not always reliable in the country.
The local author section of every bookstore likely has books with information about nearby campgrounds and outdoor excursions in addition to local hiking guides and trail maps.
For newbie campers: Parks Canada offers this camping packing checklist to help you pack all the things you'll be glad you have once you're in the bush.
Before you rent a camper or RV, ask yourself if you know someone who owns one. Often, campers and RV's spend most of their time parked in the driveway. By offering a few dollars to borrow one from friends or family, they will often be glad to lend it to you, and the dollars they get in exchange will be a much appreciated bonus.
Happy Camping!
Once feeling unable to afford to travel, Russell Hannon uses lean principles to travel at a fraction of the going rate. He's been featured on CNBC, FOX, America Tonight, CBS, CTV, CBC, the National Post, Around the World Travel TV and nationally broadcast lifestyle and personal finance shows. He is the author of ‘Stop Dreaming Start Traveling: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling More and Spending Less’.
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