Motorcycle touring: Why I prefer camping to hotels

The video begins with the creator touring the Alps and reflecting on a recent Facebook post about the scarcity of bikers who camp. They share that the post garnered significant attention, prompting this video to explain their preference for camping during multi-week motorcycle trips.

The creator contrasts two trips to Nordkapp. The first, in 2016, involved solo camping for seven weeks with no fixed itinerary, prioritizing wild camping and immersing in nature. The second, leading a group, involved staying in hotels nightly. Despite similar routes, the hotel experience felt distinctly different, reinforcing the unique value of camping.

Before delving into the reasons, the creator emphasizes that the video is not a condemnation of hotels or an assertion of camping's superiority or 'authenticity'. Instead, it aims to explain the personal benefits and transformative aspects of camping for motorcycle travel.

Hotels encourage efficiency, leading to a routine of riding, checking in, dining, sleeping, and riding again. Camping, conversely, demands active engagement with finding a spot, setting up camp, cooking, and packing, making the campsite experience an integral part of the daily adventure and slowing down the overall journey.

The creator argues that modern life equates comfort with enjoyment, but some of their happiest and most memorable moments have involved discomfort, like cooking in the rain or waking up cold. These experiences, though not comfortable, are deeply satisfying and stand out more than forgettable comfortable hotel stays. A little hardship can make good moments more valuable.

Hotels separate you from the environment, whereas camping immerses you in it. It heightens awareness of natural elements like temperature changes, wind, and the sounds of nature. Living within the landscape, rather than merely observing it, brings a sense of calm and allows the weather to dictate the pace of the trip, fostering adaptability.

Camping requires problem-solving and adaptation, from finding sleep spots to cooking and managing wet gear. These small challenges, often removed by modern conveniences, build self-confidence and remind individuals of their capabilities. It teaches that one needs far less than imagined to be content.

Comfort creep is the phenomenon where luxuries gradually become necessities (e.g., heated seats, hotel Wi-Fi, air conditioning). Camping interrupts this process, resetting standards and reminding the traveler that basic needs—a warm sleeping bag, dry tent, simple food, and a beautiful waking environment—are sufficient for contentment, questioning the need for excessive amenities.

The creator addresses common objections to camping, such as discomfort and labor, acknowledging them but arguing that effort can make experiences more meaningful. They reiterate that camping is not chosen for cost or because hotels are bad, but because it fundamentally changes the travel experience, turning every evening into an adventure, reconnecting with nature, creating lasting memories, and reminding them that happiness comes from embracing life's discomforts, making the journey richer and more transformative.