MOST people aren’t rushing to go glamping at the coldest time of the year, but I’m not most people.
This January, I took my boys to a cosy cabin and it was the perfect introduction to glamping.
Not only was it cheap as chips, costing less than £50, but we had the three acres of grounds to ourselves and could enjoy lots of family fun as well as plenty of peace and quiet in nature.
We stayed in a deluxe pod at the back of YHA Stratford-upon-Avon, which had its own wet room and kitchenette plus two double beds to sleep four.
You also have full access to the hostel facilities, including a bar, restaurant, self-catering kitchen, TV lounge and games room.
So you have the choice to either hole up in your little holiday home and keep cosy in your cabin or to head over to the converted Grade II listed Georgian mansion to chill out, cook or have a drink.
It really is the best of both worlds as you’ve got your own separate space but plenty of communal facilities just a stone’s throw away.
You can also make the most of family-friendly deals like kids eat for £1 with a paying adult, which is valid for both breakfast and evening meals at most YHA sites which offer food.
If the camping pods are fully booked, there are family rooms inside the main building and bell tents in their own walled garden during the summer months.
But what’s great about the cabins is that they are insulated, have a heater and come complete with their own toilet, so glamping in the winter doesn’t involve freezing in a sleeping bag overnight or trekking to a toilet block in the night if it’s raining or pitch black.
January is a cheap month for a YHA stay as there’s a New Year sale that drops the price down at various hostels around the UK.
If you’re a member or travelling with young people under the age of 26, you automatically get a discount, but often the promo code will take even more money off your stay.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Top 5 Campsites from Pitchup.com Review Awards 2023 ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6354286651112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The first time we visited, we paid the princely sum of £17.25 for our family of four for a night, thanks to a combination of different discounts.
And later the same year, we paid £20.75 for a night of glamping.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D103231%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]More recently, promo prices around £40 a night have been more typical, especially if you choose a midweek stay rather than a Friday or a Saturday night, when costs can be 50 per cent higher due to demand.
I’ve just booked a night away on a Saturday in March for £80 instead of £100, so it’s worth booking before February 3, when the sale ends.
The hostel is about two miles away from Shakespeare’s home town so we often take an amble into Stratford on our arrival day and then head to nearby Warwick Castle for a full day out once we’ve slept over.
It’s a great alternative to booking a night at the castle itself, which can cost quite a bit.
But there’s always loads to do there, including falconry shows, the Zog trail and playground, the Horrible Histories maze and inside the castle itself, telling tales from different centuries, including its role in the Wars of the Roses.
You do need to be aware that if you go in the winter months, there will be fewer shows than in the busy summer season, but there’s still enough to keep all ages entertained, in my experience.
While a night under canvas in freezing temperatures might be a step too far with small children, a night in a log cabin near one of the UK’s top tourist spots could be the perfect winter adventure.
So why wait for warmer weather?
Last year, travel writer Catherine Lofthouse revealed the little-known way to save hundreds on attractions in England.
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has also used Blue Peter Badges to save hundreds of pounds on family days out.
