FAQ for Paradise Point Glamping – by Lyn Johnson
Thank you so much for considering coming to camp with us at Paradise Point. Please read the FAQs carefully before booking so you know exactly what to expect.
Q: What is your cancellation policy
100% of prepayments are refundable when canceled 60 days before arrival or earlier. 50% of prepayments are refundable when canceled 14 days before arrival or earlier. 0% of prepayments are refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the booking. I encourage you to buy trip cancelation insurance to cover you in the event you have to make a last minute cancelation due to ill health, family emergency or ANY OTHER REASON. There are many vendors and it is not expensive.
Cancelation due to weather:
Our tent is completely waterproof. If rain is expected, we are unfortunately unable to cancel your reservation. You can come and spend time relaxing inside the cozy tent. If a hurricane is predicted, and you/we feel that it would be unsafe for you to camp, please contact us and we will assess the situation. If we decide that you should not come and camp due to the danger, we will give you a credit that can be used in the future. So once again, we encourage you to get a trip cancelation policy if you are concerned about potentially losing the money you paid for the glamping tent.
Trip insurance must normally be purchased within 24 hours of booking. Note that most trip insurance companies do not provide insurance for fear of travel due to the corona virus. Trip insurance will cover hurricanes, but ONLY if the trip insurance was purchased BEFORE a state of emergency is declared.
Thank you for understanding that we will have to adhere strictly to this policy.
By booking you agree that you have read and accepted our rental agreement and policies.
Q: What about damages and liability?
A Security Deposit of $500 will be held on your credit card as part of the booking and will be released 6 days after your visit once our team has checked that there are no damages and the tent has been left in good condition. When you come and camp here on our private property, you come at your own risk. If you damage something, you will be responsible to repair it at your own expense. We, the Johnson family and our business The Institute, will not be held responsible if you or your property are damaged in any way when you are camping here.
Q: Will there be BUGS?
There will be bugs as we live in the woods. This is still camping, even though it is more glamorous. The tent has mesh fly sheets on all the doors and windows, so if these are kept closed, mosquitoes and other bugs should be kept out of the tent, but some may get in when the door is open. We have built a screened in kitchen below the platform of the tent, and this will be a perfect place to sit in the evening if it gets “buggy”.
Mosquitos: As far as mosquitoes are concerned, we sit outside all summer and they don’t bother us, but we encourage you to bring your own mosquito repellant, especially if you are sensitive to mosquito bites.
Cicadas, katydids and crickets call at night, so please bring earplugs for a better night’s sleep.
The tent, enclosed half bathroom (loo) and outside shower area will be thoroughly cleaned before you arrive, but you may still see bugs at some point during your stay. There are 400 million insects per acre of land in the United States! That means we have billions of bugs on our property. So there is a high chance that you will see some while camping. So if seeing a bug freaks you out, then maybe glamping is not for you!
· Wildlife: We have seen a few snakes on our property over the last few years. They are highly unlikely to come near the platform as they are afraid of people, but when you are walking in the woods it is always a good idea to keep your eyes open. You will definitely see squirrels and may see chipmunks, or even white-tailed deer. The birdlife is incredible, so get ready to be woken to the sound of birdsong.
Q: Is there Heating and Cooling?
· Spring and Summer: Where we live in Signal Mountain it is 10 degrees cooler in summer than down in Chattanooga due to the elevation, so the weather is seldom stiflingly hot. We have a dehumidifier running all the time and will provide a fan for use in the tent during the summer months, especially for nighttime. In the middle of the day the tent will be warm, but that is the time to be outside enjoying the beautiful, big deck and the stunning woods.
· Fall and Winter: The tent remains cozy when the weather cools down as it is designed and built for elk hunting. We have lots of warm blankets on the bed and the sofa bed. The half bathroom is not heated, so you will have to keep your trips to the loo short- no reading books! And the shower is outside, so although the water will be hot, you may be standing outside in the cold if you book to come camping in October or November. But just think of the view of the fall leaves above your head as you shower! What an experience!
Q: What is "Glamping" versus Camping?
The word “Glamping” was first used by Mary Jane Butters in 2004 when Mary started a glamping camp of tent cabins on her property. Since Mary Jane opened her camp, many others have started their own glamping ventures. They range from very basic, rustic campsites, to very glamorous camps such as the Resort at Paws in Montana where you can stay in a tent cabin for $1,500 a night! And of course Glamping at Paradise Point where you can choose your own “glamping experience” and décor! I haven’t seen this offering anywhere else, have you?! So as you are “glamping” and not camping, you will have a very comfortable bed, and some other luxuries such as hot water and electricity.
Even though I will be doing all I can to make this as comfortable as possible, you are still sleeping in a tent. (And of course this is part of the fun!) But it does require you to step outside the tent to go to the bathroom at night. The bathroom is right outside the tent, is enclosed and has a flushing toilet. (All very civilized!) You will shower under the stars, cook over the fire or in the small, outdoor kitchenette (details below). So this is simple living and not like going to the Ritz Carlton!
Q: Will I enjoy glamping?
Glamping is ideal for people wanting a new experience, for those who have loved camping in the past but want some more creature comforts, and those who want to spend time enjoying nature. Glamping is perfect for people who want a vacation but don’t want to stay in a hotel. And for those who want to visit Chattanooga while staying in novel accommodation.
Q: Do you allow Pets?
We don’t allow pets as our property is not fenced in. Under certain conditions we may allow one dog to visit but this needs to be discussed with us beforehand.
Q: Are children welcome?
We think Paradise Point is perfect for couples to come away for a break. Older children are welcome to come and camp but the campsite is NOT SUITABLE for children 5 and under due to the height of the platform above the ground and the way the railings are constructed. Children are included in the head count. Our tent is ideal for 2 or 3 people. We have a king bed, a twin daybed and a trundle bed that can be used. Please choose the Adult/Child Glamping Experiece when you check out so that we can add child oriented books, etc to the tent.
Q: How old do I need to be to book?
You must be at least 21 years old to book.
Q: What time is check in and check out?
Check in is anytime after 4.00 PM and checkout is at 11.00 AM. We recommend arriving in the daytime so you can get settled in while it is light.
Q: Can I smoke?
There is to be NO SMOKING inside the tent or on the platform! This is a very strict rule. Smoking is discouraged on the property due to the fire hazard, but if it is absolutely necessary for you to smoke, it is allowed outside only. Please bring a container for storing your cigarette butts. Do not throw them on the ground or in the firepit.
Q: What about noise?
We are out in the woods, so you will feel very private, but the sounds do carry. So please don’t play loud music, especially at night as we don’t want to upset our neighbors.
Q: Do sites have WIFI?
We encourage our guests to unplug while here, but we do have wifi at the site if you need it.
Q: What is in the tent?
We have a king size bed, a twin sized daybed with a twin sized trundle bed underneath it. There is a coffee table and a long bench at the foot of the bed. Our inside table and 4 stools are designed to use when the weather is not good, as we encourage our guests to sit outside at our beautiful wicker table.
We have a screened in kitchen/dining area under the platform of the tent which in perfect for preparing meals.
Our firepit is perfect for making barbeque and s’mores, and there are benches around the fire. We also have a lovely hammock in the trees. You can check out the photos on our website to get more of an idea of what the tent looks like. I don’t want to tell you everything as it is fun to have good surprises, right?
Q: Do you provide meals/food?
We will provide a very light, continental style breakfast. We will not be able to accommodate any allergies, so please bring your own breakfast items if you are unable to eat wheat based food, such as toast and muffins. Tea and coffee will be provided (a generous number of Keurig pods per person per day, but not an unlimited supply for coffee addicts!) There is a coffee machine for big coffee drinkers, who are invited to bring their own coffee. Sugar, sweetener and a small jug of milk will be provided too.
There is an excellent grocery store called Pruett’s Market 15 minutes from us. Southern Star provides delicious home-cooked meals, so you may want to pick up some before you come to Paradise Point. Signal Mountain has a few good restaurants and some of the normal take-out places. All these details will be available in the binder in the tent.
Q: What is provided in your kitchen?
We have an electric kettle, a Keurig coffer maker and small fridge inside the tent for milk, a few drinks and some fresh items. We have a screened in kitchen under the tent platform with a fridge, double plate gas cooker, microwave, toaster and electric tea kettle. We have a few pots and a frying pan that can be used on the gas stovetop. Serving dishes are provided and basic kitchen utensils. There are mugs, plates, bowls and silverware for 4 people.
Q: What about water?
There is a sink in the kitchen and one next to the shower. Our water is good to drink, and we will also put some filtered water in the fridge.
Q: How do I Check in?
Once you have checked in and nearer the time, we will send you the gate information. We will meet you to show you the tent, but if you prefer to not have any contact with us, we can discuss these details in advance and you can let yourself in.
Obviously our tent doesn’t lock, so if you are concerned about valuables we recommend you leave them in the car. The tent is on our property and is incredibly safe.
Q: What should I pack?
I provide one bath towel and one hand towel per person listed on the reservation. I do not provide beach/pool towels if you plan to go river rafting, kayaking, etc.
Bedding is provided for all the beds.
The bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper and hand soap. Shampoo and conditioner is provided with the Luxury Package.
Bring comfortable shoes for walking to your site and in the woods.
A light raincoat in case of rain showers, even in the summer.
If you purchased firewood make sure to bring fire making items like a lighter, fire starter, newspaper etc.
Bug spray to use at night when sitting around the fire.
Sunscreen
Flashlight for when you walk to and from your car. We do have lights on the stairs, in the bathroom and of course in the tent.
I strongly recommend that you pack very lightly and use your car to hold most of your items. There are no cupboards in the tent, so just bring a small bag of items inside. Remember you are camping! This is not a hotel!
Q: How do you get to your property?
Once you turn off Highway 127 or Taft Highway as it is known, you will be on a narrow country road. Please drive slowly, especially when you see the property that has chickens wandering on the side of the road. These folks also own pigs and at times I have had to slow down to avoid hitting them! (Our property doesn’t resemble that of some of our neighbors, so please don’t panic!)
Keep driving for 1.5 miles, past the farm with the beautiful cows grazing in the field (these cows are so cute, I often stop to say hello to them.) Admire my neighbors’ lovely pond and then stop at the cluster of mailboxes on the left hand side at the end of the road. You are now at Paradise Point. I will send you instructions for how to get in once you have booked.
By booking you agree that you have read and accepted our rental agreement and policies.
Phew, that was a lot of information! Please let me know if you have any questions. I am very happy to help.
We look forward to having you come and camp with us at Paradise Point!
Blessings,
Lyn Johnson