Vacations are supposed to lower your blood pressure — not raise it when the credit card bill arrives.
Yet somehow, resorts and cruises have mastered the art of charging you thousands of dollars to wait in lines, share space with strangers, and follow a schedule you didn’t create.
Camping? Camping quietly laughs at all of that.
Let’s Talk Money (Because Camping Always Wins)
A resort vacation often starts with:
• A “great deal” that isn’t • A list of fees you didn’t read • A sinking feeling at checkout
Cruises are no better. You pay to board… then pay again to eat, drink, tip, upgrade, and breathe near a window.
Camping is refreshingly honest:
• You pay for your site • You bring your food • No one hands you a bill every time you blink
Your wallet doesn’t need a vacation after a camping trip.
No Crowds. No Elevators. No Buffet Line Olympics.
Resorts and cruises love crowds. Elevators full of strangers. Pools with more elbows than water. Buffets that look like a competitive sport.
Camping offers:
• Your own space • Fresh air instead of recycled air • Zero awkward elevator eye contact
You don’t need a wristband. Or a schedule. Or a plan to escape the pool area.
Safety Without the Fine Print
Cruises are basically floating cities. If something goes sideways, you’re… still floating. With thousands of people. Together.
Camping keeps things simple:
• You know where you are • You know who’s around you • You can leave whenever you want
No emergency drills. No muster stations. No wondering why the boat suddenly stopped moving.
You’re on Your Schedule — Not “Excursion Time”
On a cruise, someone blows a metaphorical whistle and tells you where to be next.
On a resort, you rush to “get your money’s worth” because that pool chair isn’t going to claim itself.
Camping says:
• Sleep in • Eat when you’re hungry • Do nothing without guilt
The only schedule is sunset.
Food You Actually Like (At Normal Prices)
Resorts and cruises are experts at charging gourmet prices for food that’s… fine.
Camping lets you eat:
• Exactly what you like • When you like • For grocery-store prices
Bonus: no dress code. Pajamas are perfectly acceptable dinner attire.
Fewer Surprises, More Control
With camping:
• No canceled ports • No overbooked excursions • No “Sorry, that’s not included” moments
You’re in control. If plans change, you change them. No customer service desk required.
Cold River Campground: All the Good Parts, None of the Chaos
At Cold River Campground, you get a peaceful, family-owned campground in Maine surrounded by trees, open space, and room to breathe — without crowds, pressure, or resort pricing.
No megaphones.
No hidden fees.
Just camping the way it’s supposed to feel.
The Best Part? You Go Home Happy — Not Broke
Camping vacations tend to end with:
• Better sleep • Lower stress • A credit card that’s still speaking to you
It turns out you don’t need luxury to relax. You need space, freedom, and fewer people telling you what time dinner is. Camping checks all three boxes.