What other campsite owners are doing
The survey shows that there isn’t just one way in which campsite owners deal with reservations. Many entrepreneurs choose an approach that suits their location and working method.
For example, you can see that:
- some sites only accept reservations during the high season
- other sites make some pitches bookable and keep some available for spontaneous arrivals
- others offer fully online bookings to make their planning clearer and more organized.
Smaller motorhome sites in particular often choose a gradual approach. They start by making a few pitches bookable, see how that works, and then possibly expand later.
This flexibility is important for many entrepreneurs. After all, you remain in control of how you run your site.
Motorhomers are increasingly planning ahead
This trend is also reflected in the figures. In 2025, the number of sites on Campercontact where motorhome owners can book in advance grew from around 250 to 1,000. During the same period, the number of bookings increased by more than 400%.
This mainly shows that motorhomers are planning ahead more and more often. Especially when they are making longer trips, they like to have certainty about their next overnight stop.
This does not mean that spontaneous arrivals are disappearing. But for a growing group of travellers, booking in advance is becoming an important factor when choosing a site.
Differences between countries
It is interesting to note that the use of reservations differs greatly from country to country.
In some countries, booking in advance has already become very common:
- France: around 60% of campsites can be booked in advance
- The Netherlands: around 40%
- Scandinavia: around 70%
In Germany, this is currently still around 20%.
Because motorhomers often travel through multiple countries, they are becoming more and more used to having this clarity in advance. As a result, they increasingly expect it in more places.
What does ‘directly bookable’ actually mean?
By ‘directly bookable’, we mean that a motorhomer can reserve a pitch online and receive an immediate confirmation. Of course, this is subject to the availability and conditions that you set yourself.
For example, you decide:
- when bookings are possible
- how many pitches you make available
- for which periods this applies
- what rates you charge
So you always remain in control. Many sites start small and then see how it goes.
Fewer individual inquiries, more clarity
For many campsite owners, allowing reservations in advance brings peace of mind.
Bookable sites are more often chosen by motorhomers who genuinely intend to stay overnight. As a result, pitches tend to fill up earlier and there are fewer separate phone calls or emails asking about availability.
The result is often:
- a higher occupancy rate
- fewer administrative questions
- more clarity regarding arrivals
And all of this without creating extra work for you on site.
Do you already have a booking system?
Are you already using a booking or management system? If so, there’s a good chance that Campercontact already has an integration with it. In many cases, bookability can be easily integrated into your existing workflow.
If an integration isn’t available yet, we’d be happy to explore together how we can make it work.
You don’t have a booking system at all? That’s no problem either. Campercontact offers a complete system with availability management and automatic confirmations. You only use it for bookings that come in via Campercontact.
Clear costs
The costs are simple and transparent.
Campercontact charges a commission of 10% to 15% on the actual overnight stay. There are no fixed costs, no installation costs and no licences.
You only pay when a guest actually stays with you.
You can always start small
Being bookable in advance is not a requirement. Many campsite owners choose to start small and see how it works for their site.
It is primarily a way to respond to how a growing number of motorhomers already travel and plan their trips today.
Still unsure? Then it might be worth simply exploring what could be possible for your site.
More than just an overnight stay
More and more sites are discovering that online booking are not only useful for overnight stays. Through the same booking, you can also offer additional activities or experiences that make your site unique.
Think, for example, of a wine tasting, a dinner at the campsite, a guided tour of the estate or a walk with alpacas. Motorhomers are often specifically looking for these kinds of local experiences. By offering them directly during the reservation process, you make it easier for guests to join and generate extra income for your site.
For many campsite owners, this turns out to be a great way to make their site even more personal and encourage guests to stay longer. Sometimes, this even leads to an activity that motorhomers come back for.
