Camping or hotel: why more and more guests are choosing nature

However, the rules of the game in tourism have changed significantly. Today's modern travellers are no longer looking only for classic packages, standardised service and a convenient place to sleep. The need for authentic experiences has taken centre stage. People want a break from screens, overloaded schedules and a strictly structured daily routine, while hotels, however luxurious, often come with their own set of rules, from fixed meal times to crowded pools.

In this context, camping has experienced a complete renaissance. It is no longer a side alternative for those looking to travel on the cheap, nor does it come down to laboriously pitching a tent in the dark. Today, a campsite has become synonymous with an entirely different philosophy of travel and the luxury of a new generation.

The greatest advantage of a campsite is that it gives you back control over your time. Imagine a morning that begins with coffee on your own terrace, in the middle of a pine forest. No alarms and no rush, and you are just steps from the sea, in surroundings that naturally encourage you to slow down.

A campsite gives you what has become hardest to find in today's fast-paced world: complete freedom of movement and time. It is a return to simplicity, but without compromising on comfort. At the end of the day, it is a holiday tailored exclusively to your rules, not the rules of a hotel's house policy.

That is exactly why more and more guests, when choosing between a campsite and a hotel, no longer think only about comfort. They start thinking about what they want their holiday to look like and, more importantly, how they want to feel on it. And very often, they find the answer in nature.

The holiday formula used to be simple: you travel somewhere, check into a hotel, close the door of your room and "disappear" for a few days. For a long time, that simple change of address was quite enough to reset from the daily routine. Today, things are a little different.

The pace of modern life has brought us plenty of practical conveniences, but it has also worn us out along the way. Our days are cluttered with screens, constant notifications and deadlines that never stop coming. A change of location within four hotel walls is no longer enough to quiet that noise.

That is why recent years have seen a huge surge in the popularity of outdoor tourism. Camping, coastal hiking, cycling through the forest or simply spending the whole day outdoors are no longer hobbies reserved for adventurers. They have become ways to reconnect with what we naturally need: peace, space and quiet.

The campsite-or-hotel dilemma is really a choice between authentic spontaneity, which has become a true rarity these days, and impeccably packaged yet often sterile comfort.

At a campsite, you don't get that passive feeling of merely staying somewhere temporarily, like a guest on someone else's turf. There, you feel at home within seconds and blend into your surroundings. Instead of rushing from one location to another, at a campsite you actually slow down and start enjoying the moment, without pressure, without a schedule and at your own pace. That is the difference modern guests are looking for today, and they recognise it faster than ever before.

It would be unfair to say that hotels have no advantages. Precisely because of their consistency, they were the first choice for a great number of travellers for a long time. When you book a hotel, you know in advance what you are getting: standardised service, a clearly defined level of quality and a sense of security that means a lot to many, especially when travelling for a shorter time or wanting a completely carefree holiday.

Hotel accommodation offers what the modern guest often seeks: the privacy of your own room, reliable service, fast WiFi, restaurants and additional facilities such as wellness or spa areas, all organised in one place. You don't have to think about the details because someone else has already thought of them for you. For many, that very convenience represents luxury.

But over time, another question arises: is comfort always enough?

Although a hotel offers a high level of comfort, it often subtly separates us from the destination itself. We spend a large part of the holiday within its walls - in the room, the restaurant, by the pool or on the hotel terrace. Everything is carefully arranged, but precisely because of that, we sometimes remain somewhat isolated from the place we came to visit. Instead of feeling the local rhythm, we often stay within a space that could just as easily be anywhere in the world.

There is also the question of the experience itself. A hotel holiday is often very similar whether you are in Rovinj, Lisbon or Athens. The standard exists precisely to be familiar and safe, but sometimes that very uniformity means the destination remains in the background.

Moreover, during the peak of the tourist season, hotel prices often reach their maximum. It is not uncommon for a guest to pay considerably more than planned for an average hotel room, without getting an experience they will remember for a long time - just another tidy room with a view.

And perhaps what many only notice once they arrive: in a hotel, there is a rhythm that is not their own. Breakfast time, check-in time, check-out time, rules for using the facilities - everything is organised so the system runs flawlessly. That is practical, but it sometimes leaves the impression that even on holiday we are adapting to someone else's schedule. That is exactly why many people today are looking for something different. Not less comfort, but more freedom.

When choosing between a campsite and a hotel, it is clear that the latter symbolises comfort and predictability, while the former brings us something completely different: freedom. That is the word guests mention more and more often today when talking about their ideal holiday. The freedom to wake up without an alarm. To start the day not with a schedule but with a feeling; to decide whether to spend the morning at the beach, at the market or on a walk by the sea in that very moment, not the evening before. A campsite provides all of this almost naturally.

Mornings at a campsite look completely different. You are woken by crickets, a light breeze and the scent of pine trees. Instead of taking the lift down to breakfast, you sit on your own terrace with a coffee in hand while the day slowly unfolds before you. Already in that first hour of the holiday, the difference is felt. You are in no hurry, because you are not bound by anyone's schedule.

That is what makes camping special. It does not place you in a predefined framework, but allows you to create your own rhythm. You can spend the whole day by the sea, go on a spontaneous trip to a nearby town, or simply stay in the shade and do nothing. And all of those decisions are equally right. Interestingly, many guests first feel they are truly on holiday precisely at a campsite. They plan less, look at the clock less and think less about obligations.

At the same time, modern premium campsites have long since changed the perception of camping as the "cheaper option". Today, a campsite is no longer a budget compromise but very often the smarter choice. Guests get an equally high-quality, and often richer, experience than classic hotel accommodation - with a sense of space, privacy and connection with nature that is hard to compare with any other form of holiday.

For families, the difference is even more pronounced. At a campsite, children have what they often lack the most: freedom of movement. They can be outside, explore, ride bikes, play and spend their days outdoors, while parents get what matters most: peace of mind. They don't have to constantly think about the limited space of a hotel room or how to organise every hour of the day. And then there is that invisible part of camping that is hard to describe but everyone remembers. Dinners under the open sky and long conversations on the terrace. That shared spirit that arises spontaneously when people share the same space, the same sunset and the same feeling that, at least for a few days, they have slowed down. None of this is a luxury that can be booked as an extra; it is an experience that a campsite creates naturally, and a hotel cannot buy it.

One of the most common reasons people used to hesitate about camping was very simple: they wanted nature, but they did not want to give up comfort.

Few people today want a "return to nature" that involves an uncomfortable mattress, improvised conditions and the feeling of having to sacrifice comfort on holiday. Today's travellers want the best of both worlds: the authenticity of nature and the quality of accommodation they are used to. Glamping was born precisely out of that need. And it is no coincidence that it has become one of the fastest-growing trends in tourism in recent years.

Glamping is essentially the answer to the modern question: can a holiday in nature be just as comfortable as a hotel? The answer is yes.

Imagine accommodation surrounded by greenery, a few steps from the sea, but with a top-quality bed, a private bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen and a terrace where the day ends with a glass of wine. Imagine having the privacy of your own space, but without the feeling of being enclosed between four walls. That is why mobile homes, modernly furnished holiday homes and premium accommodation units have become so popular among guests who might never have considered a campsite before.

Located in the immediate vicinity of Rovinj, surrounded by pine forest and the sea, Porton (https://www.porton.hr/smjestaj) shows how a contemporary campsite can offer everything we expect from a first-class holiday, without giving up comfort. Here, nature is not a backdrop but part of the experience. And comfort is not an add-on, but the standard.

Perhaps that is exactly why glamping has become the ideal choice for all those who have been saying for years: "I love nature, but I also love a comfortable bed."

When it comes to camping in Europe, Istria has for years ranked among the destinations guests do not choose by chance. The reason is not only its well-developed camping infrastructure, nor the fact that this is a region that has understood the needs of camping guests for decades. What sets Istria apart is its ability to offer different types of travellers the same experience: a sense of relaxation that begins almost immediately upon arrival. Whether someone comes for a family holiday, an active weekend, gastronomy or the simple need to spend a few days by the sea, Istria manages to offer exactly the balance that modern travellers increasingly seek.

A large part of that appeal lies in the landscape itself. The Istrian coast is known for its authenticity: there is no overwhelming overdevelopment, no sense of overcrowding so common in many Mediterranean destinations. Instead, pine forests, rocky beaches and coves that retain a feeling of naturalness dominate here. The sea is clean and clear, with that characteristic blue colour that makes every glance towards the horizon feel calming. That is exactly why camping in Istria is not merely accommodation by the coast; it means truly living in nature, where the sea is part of everyday life, not just a view from afar.

Beyond the natural setting, Istria offers guests another dimension of holiday that gives it special value: gastronomy. Few regions in Europe manage to combine Mediterranean lightness and continental depth of flavour in such a small area. Here, the day can start with coffee by the sea, continue with lunch in a tavern in the interior and end with dinner over a glass of local wine on one of Rovinj's terraces. Truffles, olive oils, fresh fish, homemade pasta and wines such as Malvazija and Teran are not a tourist add-on, but part of everyday life. That is why many guests come to Istria not only for the sea, but for the complete experience of Mediterranean living.

An important reason for its popularity is certainly its accessibility. Istria is within easy reach of a large part of the European market. Guests from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Italy need only a few hours' drive to reach the destination, which gives it a great advantage at a time when more and more people want a holiday that is simple to organise. No long flight, no complicated logistics, no days of planning. A few hours are enough, and everyday life is replaced by a completely different rhythm.

Within Istria itself, Rovinj holds a special place. Many call it the most romantic town on the Adriatic, but its appeal is not only aesthetic. Rovinj has that rare ability to be lively and peaceful, dynamic and relaxed at the same time. Its old town centre, narrow stone streets and colourful facades create a recognisable visual identity, but what keeps guests coming back is the atmosphere. That is exactly why Rovinj works perfectly as a camping holiday destination. It offers the attractions, culture and energy of a town, but without a sense of haste. Guests can spend the day exploring its streets, enjoying local gastronomy and events, and then return to the peace of nature, among the pines and by the sea. The possibility of experiencing both the town and complete tranquillity in a single day is one of the greatest assets of this part of Istria.

For camping guests, this is especially important. Today's travellers do not want to choose between attractions and nature, between comfort and authenticity. They want both. They want a location that lets them start the day with a swim, explore the destination during the day, and return to their own peace in the evening. That is exactly why Rovinj and its surroundings are increasingly becoming the first choice of those looking for more than a classic summer holiday.

Istria has found its strength in this. It does not sell just accommodation or just a sea view. It offers a way of holidaying aligned with what today's guest truly seeks: space, quality, authenticity and the feeling that every day spent here is well used. And Rovinj gives that story its final, special touch - the experience that makes people return not just to a place, but to the feeling they had there.