Blog
Campsite know-how
Direct bookings, pricing, marketing and the day-to-day of a busy season. Written by the team behind Pillowcase, drawing on twenty years of running sites ourselves.
Operations
Late arrivals and self check-in without the stress
Guests turn up after reception closes, and always will. How to set up a calm, simple self check-in so a 9pm arrival feels welcoming and your evening stays your own.
Jack
Operations
Cancellation and deposit policies that feel fair to everyone
How to set a deposit and cancellation policy that protects your income without scaring off guests, with practical examples, wording tips and the mistakes to avoid.
Operations
Campfires and fire pits: getting the rules right
A campfire sells more pitches than almost any other amenity, and causes more disputes when the rules are vague. How to offer them properly, safely and without the 11pm knock on your door.
Operations
The amenity upgrades that actually pay for themselves
Not every capital project earns its keep. Which upgrades genuinely lift bookings and prices, which are just nice to have, and how to tell the difference before you spend.
Analytics
What your booking data is trying to tell you
Peak season is winding down and the numbers are all there. Which ones are worth a proper look before the details fade, and what to actually do about each.
Direct bookings
Listing sites and your own booking page: getting the balance right
Listing sites find you new guests and your own page keeps them. How to run both channels without double bookings, and where the commission maths lands.
Marketing
SEO basics for campsite websites
How campers actually find campsites on Google, the pages your website needs, and the free fixes that beat any agency retainer for a small site.
Marketing
How to get more campsite reviews (and what to do with the bad ones)
Reviews decide which campsite gets the booking. The timing that earns them, the platforms that matter, and a calm playbook for the bad ones.
Marketing
Making the most of the shoulder season
April, May, September and October are where a campsite's growth actually lives. Practical ways to fill the quiet months without discounting your way to a loss.
Guest experience
Pre-arrival emails guests actually read
The three emails every booking should trigger, what belongs in each, and how the right pre-arrival message empties your phone line in July.
Operations
Pitch types: how to structure what you sell
Too few pitch types and you undersell your best spots. Too many and nobody, including your booking system, can keep track. How to find the structure that fits your field.
Marketing
Campsite photography that actually sells pitches
Guests book the picture before they book the pitch. How to shoot your site on a phone, which shots convert, and the gallery mistakes that quietly cost bookings.
Operations
Planning next season starts in December
The five decisions to make while the site is quiet, from prices and pitch changes to the one capital project you will actually finish before Easter.
Product
How to choose a campsite booking system
The questions that actually separate booking systems, the pricing traps to read twice, and why the demo should always include your most awkward booking.
Operations
Closing your campsite for winter, the complete checklist
A calm, methodical shutdown in October saves you weeks of firefighting in March. The full checklist we use, from draining water lines to the paperwork people forget.
Pricing
Seasonal pricing for campsites: a practical guide
A summer Saturday and a wet Tuesday in March are not the same product, so they should not be the same price. How to structure seasons, set fair rates and avoid the classic mistakes.
Direct bookings
Why direct bookings matter more than ever for your campsite
Listing sites bring guests, but they take a cut of every stay and keep the relationship. Here is why building your own direct booking channel is the single best investment a campsite can make.