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How to Get More Direct Campsite Bookings and Rely Less on OTAs

To get more direct bookings, make booking on your own website effortless, give guests a clear reason to come back to you directly, and use OTAs for discovery rather than as your only channel. Add an online booking button to your site, capture guest details, and remind past guests to rebook direct — every direct booking avoids commission and keeps the customer relationship with you.

Why do direct bookings matter?

A direct booking is one you keep in full: no commission, and the guest’s details stay with you for future marketing. OTAs are great at finding new customers, but once a guest has stayed, paying commission again to win them back is money handed away.

Make your own site the easiest place to book

Many campsites lose direct bookings simply because their website cannot take one. A clear "Book now" button leading to a real-time, mobile-friendly booking flow removes the friction. You can see a live booking flow in the demo.

Turn OTA guests into direct repeat customers

When an OTA sends you a guest, give them a great stay and a gentle nudge to book direct next time — a welcome card, a QR code at reception, or a follow-up email. Over a season, those repeat-direct bookings add up.

Simple tactics that increase direct bookings

Add a booking link to your Google Business Profile and social bios, display a QR code on site, collect emails at check-in, and email past guests before their usual season. None of these are expensive, and each one shifts bookings off commission.

Frequently asked questions

How can a campsite get more direct bookings?

Make your own website easy to book on with a real-time booking button, capture guest details, and remind past guests to rebook direct. Use OTAs to find new customers, then convert repeat stays to commission-free direct bookings.

Why are direct bookings better than OTA bookings?

Direct bookings carry no commission and keep the guest relationship with you, so you can market to them again. OTA bookings are useful for reaching new customers but cost a percentage of every booking.

How do I convert OTA guests into direct bookings?

Give them an excellent stay and a clear prompt to book direct next time — a welcome card, an on-site QR code, or a follow-up email — so their next booking comes through your own commission-free system.

Do I need a website to take direct bookings?

You need somewhere guests can book in real time, which is usually your website with an embedded booking system. Even a simple site with a clear booking button can capture direct, commission-free bookings 24/7.

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    Treehouses & Wagons

    One-off units that do not fit a standard pitch type, each with its own photographs, rules and price, in the same diary as everything else.

    A painted gypsy wagon on grass with a timber treehouse in an oak behind
    • Any unusual unit sold as its own type
    • Own photographs, capacity and pricing
    • Minimum stays set per unit
    • Sits in one diary with pitches and pods

    Geodesic Domes

    Premium domes booked as individual units, with the higher pricing, deposits and turnaround time a high-value stay needs.

    A geodesic glamping dome on a frosty hillside in winter light
    • Sold as a named unit with its own gallery
    • Deposits on higher-value stays
    • Hot tub and heating extras priced per stay
    • Cleaning window protected automatically

    Safari Tents

    Large canvas lodges sold like a holiday home, with weekly or short-break pricing, deposits and their own changeover rules.

    A canvas safari lodge tent on a raised platform with a covered veranda
    • Weekly lets in peak, short breaks off season
    • Deposit up front, balance before arrival
    • Fixed changeover days where you want them
    • Extras such as hampers and firewood

    Yurts

    Each yurt is booked by name with its own photographs, sleeping capacity and price, alongside everything else on your site.

    A canvas yurt with a chimney flue on a timber deck in a meadow
    • Booked by name, not as a generic unit
    • Own gallery, capacity and description
    • Minimum stays and changeover days per yurt
    • Turnaround time protected between guests

    Seasonal Pitches

    Pitches let for the whole season and held out of the nightly diary, so they can never be sold twice, with the holder and their payments kept on file.

    A row of seasonal touring caravans with awnings, patios and planters
    • Held for a full or part season in the same diary
    • Never offered to a nightly guest by mistake
    • Deposit taken now, balance collected automatically
    • Holder details kept ready for next year’s renewal

    Hardstanding Pitches

    All-weather gravel and concrete bays that stay usable when the grass will not, sold by the night with their own pricing and rules.

    A touring caravan on a gravel hardstanding pitch with an electric hook-up bollard
    • Sold as their own pitch type, priced separately
    • Electric hook-up, awnings and extra cars charged as extras
    • Own seasonal rates and minimum stays
    • Still bookable when wet weather closes the grass

    Holiday Cottages

    Take bookings for self-catering accommodation from your own website.

    Holiday cottage at the campsite
    • Create cottage types and pricing plans
    • Manage availability and changeover dates
    • Booking rules, stay lengths and arrivals
    • Add pets, extras and optional services

    Shepherd's Huts

    Manage luxury shepherd hut stays with flexible pricing and direct online bookings.

    Shepherd's huts at the campsite
    • Create hut types and seasonal pricing
    • Manage availability and booking windows
    • Booking rules, stay lengths and arrivals
    • Add hot tubs, firewood and optional extras

    Bell Tents

    Manage seasonal bell tent bookings with flexible pricing and availability controls.

    Three cream bell tents with festoon lights at dusk
    • Create bell tent types and seasonal pricing
    • Manage availability and booking windows
    • Booking rules, stay lengths and arrivals
    • Add hot tubs, breakfast packs and extras

    Glamping Pods

    Manage luxury pod bookings with flexible pricing and availability.

    Glamping pods at the campsite
    • Create pod types and seasonal pricing
    • Manage availability and maintenance dates
    • Set occupancy, arrivals and stay lengths
    • Add hot tubs, breakfast packs and extras

    Static Caravans

    Take direct bookings for static caravans from your own website.

    Static caravans at the campsite
    • Create caravan types and seasonal pricing
    • Manage availability and maintenance periods
    • Set changeover days and stay lengths
    • Add pets, linen packs and optional extras

    Motorhome Bays

    Perfect for overnight stopovers and dedicated motorhome areas.

    Motorhome bays at the campsite
    • Create motorhome bays and pricing plans
    • Manage availability and booking limits
    • Set arrival times and stay durations
    • Connect electric hook-ups and extras

    Touring Pitches

    Manage touring caravan pitches with flexible pricing and booking controls.

    Green dome tent pitched under a tree beside a lake at dusk
    • Create touring pitch types and seasonal pricing
    • Manage arrivals, departures and availability
    • Set booking rules, stay lengths and arrivals
    • Connect hook-ups, awnings and extras

    Tent Pitches

    Flexible pitch types, seasonal pricing and live availability for traditional camping.

    Green dome tent pitched under a tree beside a lake at dusk
    • Create pitch types and set prices by season
    • Manage availability and stop sell dates
    • Set booking rules, stay lengths and arrivals
    • Connect facilities, hook-ups and extras

    Tent Pitches.

    Manage every tent pitch from one simple system.

    Tent pitch booking screen showing pitch selection and availability

    Pitch Overview

    • Create pitch types and set prices by season
    • Manage availability and stop sell dates
    • BookingBooking Rules, Stay Lengths & Arrivals
    • Connect electric hook-ups, facilities and extras