Instant Book: guests book and are confirmed straight away; their card is charged 14 days before the stay (or at booking if the stay is sooner). Most bookings come this way, and it's what travellers expect.
Request to Book: guests send a request with a short message about themselves, and you accept or decline. They're only charged if you accept. A request you don't answer expires (usually after 24 hours, sooner if the stay is close).

You choose for your whole property, and a site can be different.

Can some guests be made to request even if I use Instant Book?

Yes, automatically:

A booking with pets at a "pets by arrangement" site becomes a request.
A guest with low ratings from hosts (an average of 2 or less from at least 2 reviews) always has to request, and you decide.

Can I stop people booking on the day?

Yes. With Instant Book you choose the latest time for a same-day booking (midnight, 11pm, 10pm… midday). After that time, guests can only book from tomorrow. You can also choose "24 hours before arrival" to require a day's notice. Keep in mind that lots of travellers book on the day, so a later cut-off usually means more bookings.

Can I set a check-out time?

Yes: what time guests need to leave. Choose 10am, 11am, midday, 3pm, 5pm or 6pm. Some hosts are happy for guests to stay parked for the day.

How long can guests stay?

You can set a minimum number of nights (up to 14) in Calendar & prices. There's no maximum-nights setting yet, so put your limit in your description. If someone books longer than suits you, message them before you cancel. For longer stays, check with your council first so it doesn't become a permanent stay.

Calendar, prices & seasons

How do I set my price?

Each site has a usual price per night (between $25 and $999). You can add:

a Friday & Saturday night price
spaces (how many vehicles at once)
minimum nights
which nights you're usually open (every day, Friday–Sunday nights, or days you choose)

Find it all under Calendar & prices for each site.

What are seasons?

A season changes your price, spaces, minimum nights, or opening for a period:

Months (e.g. higher prices December to February)
Recurring dates every year
One-off dates (e.g. an event)
NZ holiday presets: Christmas to New Year (24 Dec – 2 Jan), summer holidays (20 Dec – 31 Jan), Waitangi Day, Easter, ANZAC Day, King's Birthday, Matariki, Labour Weekend

The most specific season wins.

Can I close particular days?

Yes. Tap days on the calendar to close them (or open them, or change the price). For long spans, a season is easier.

If I change my price, what happens to existing bookings?

Nothing. Guests who've already booked pay the price at the time they booked.

What should I charge?

It's completely up to you: hosts set their own price. To help, the price suggestion on each site shows:

a range and a suggested price, from similar places on Campable nearby (within 150 km, widening if needed), weighted by how alike they are and how often they're booked
where there's enough data, "ways to earn more" (e.g. what adding a shower is worth)

As a rule of thumb, it's better to offer more and charge a fair price for it than to be the cheapest.

Why can't I charge less than $25?

The minimum is $25 a night so every booking covers card fees and our costs. It applies to the usual price, the weekend price, season prices and single-day prices. If you want more bookings, add value (a free extra, a shower, local tips) rather than dropping the price.

What are last-minute deals?

An optional way to fill empty nights. See Marketing.

Add-ons & extras

What are add-ons?

Extras guests can add when they book, like:

a bag of firewood
fresh eggs or veges
a farm tour or a fishing trip
a voucher for your café, cellar door or shop

You set the price. Campable's commission on add-ons is 15%, the same as on extra-person charges.

Can I offer something free?

Yes. A free extra ("Free glass of wine on arrival", "Fresh eggs in season") costs you no commission and shows as a badge on your listing. It's a great way to stand out.

What happens after the stay?

We ask the guest, "Did you receive it?", for each add-on. If they say no, Campable may refund the guest for it. So only offer what you can reliably deliver, and say if something depends on the season.

Where do I set up add-ons?

On your listing page in My Properties, under Add-ons.

Arrivals

How do guests find me?

There are three layers:

Getting there (public). The nearest town, the road in, and any easy-to-miss turn-off, so guests can plan.
Arrival instructions (private). The exact entrance, gate codes, tracks to use or avoid, where to check in, arrival times, and who to call if they're lost.
Each site's last step (private). How to find that particular spot once they're on your property.

The private parts, and your arrival video, are only sent to guests with a confirmed booking.

Is my gate code ever public?

Never. Gate codes and private directions only go to confirmed guests, in their booking confirmation. Don't put them in your description or in Getting there.

How precise is my location on the map?

Your pin: during setup you place it where guests should drive to (often the gate, not the letterbox).
Public listing map: shows an approximate area, not your exact spot.
Confirmed guests: get the exact details.

What about guests arriving late?

Say in your arrival instructions what time guests should arrive by and who to contact if they're running late. Our guest etiquette asks everyone to arrive before dark unless they've agreed otherwise with you.

Cancellations

What if a guest cancels?

Each night is counted separately, by its own date:

6 or more days before the night: the guest gets a full refund, less the card fee. You keep nothing.
1–5 days before: the guest gets 50% back (after the card fee). You keep the other 50%, less commission.
On the day: no refund. You keep your full share.

Is it different over Christmas and New Year?

Yes. For nights from 24 December to 2 January:

Cancelling 1–13 days before gets the guest 20% back; you keep 80% (less commission).
14 or more days before, the usual full refund (less the card fee) applies.
On the day, nothing back.

The 20% is deliberate: it encourages a guest who can't come to cancel, so you can re-let the night.

What if I need to cancel?

Go to My Hosting → Guest bookings, choose the booking, and cancel. The guest always gets 100% back, and Campable absorbs the card fee. Please try hard not to cancel close to the date, because guests may struggle to find somewhere else. If you must, message them as early as you can.

What about exceptional circumstances?

If a guest has a genuine emergency, they can contact us, and we may agree a full or partial refund.

Reviews

How do reviews work?

Reviews are two-way:

Guests review your place, and you can post one public reply to each review (up to 1,000 characters). You can edit a reply for 48 hours.
You review your guests after their stay. You rate them overall, on leaving the site clean, following your rules, and communication. You can add a private note to Campable and an optional public comment.

What's "double-blind"?

Neither side sees the other's review until both are in, or 14 days after check-out, whichever comes first. That way, reviews are honest and nobody writes theirs in reaction to the other.

What happens if a guest gets poor reviews from hosts?

A guest averaging 2 or less from at least 2 host reviews has to request every stay, even at Instant Book places. The host always decides. Low ratings and private notes are also flagged to Campable.

How can I get more good reviews?

Keep your listing accurate, send a friendly message before arrival, and make sure guests know where to park. That's what reviews mention most. A quick reminder at check-out to leave a review helps too.

Marketing

What marketing terms do I agree to?

There are three commitments in the host terms, each with its own tick box:

Creator stays (required)
Photos and videos (required; see Photos & video)
Last-minute deals (optional)

New hosts accept them in setup. Existing hosts need to accept by 31 March 2027. After that, listings of hosts who haven't accepted are paused until they do. You can review them any time under Marketing in your hosting menu.

How do promotional vouchers work?

Campable runs voucher campaigns to bring you guests. Campable covers the cost of promotional vouchers; you're paid in full, as if no voucher had been used. Voucher bookings show on your statements as "paid by Campable".

What are creator stays?

Now and then we'll ask if a Campable-approved content creator (for example, a YouTuber) can stay free so they can feature your place:

It's never more than 2 free nights a year, and only on dates you accept.
Peak season (24 Dec – 2 Jan) and already-booked nights are excluded.
You can always say no to dates that don't suit.

What are last-minute deals?

An optional discount of 10% to 25% on nights that are still empty 24 or 48 hours beforehand:

It's off unless you turn it on, and you can change it or turn it off any time.
Guests see the lower price, and Campable's fee is worked out on the lower price.
You pay nothing extra.

What's my share link and QR code?

Each listing has its own share link and QR code. Use them on your website, socials, business cards, or a sign at your gate. Bookings made through your link are normal Campable bookings, and normal commission applies.

Can Campable feature my place?

We love featuring great listings in collections and on social media. Ask us to look over your listing; we're happy to suggest improvements.

Google Maps listing

Can Campable help me appear on Google Maps?

Yes. Lots of campers search Google Maps for somewhere to stay. From your listing page, the Google listing panel walks you through getting a Google Business Profile for your campsite.

Who owns the Google listing?

You do. Where Campable helps create or claim it, you're the owner and Campable is added as a manager, so we can keep it tidy and up to date. If you stop hosting, Campable will remove itself as a manager within 7 business days, and the listing stays yours.

What website does the Google listing show?

Always your Campable listing page (campable.com/stays/your-place), so people who find you on Google can check dates and book straight away.

I already have a Google Business Profile for my farm or business. What then?

Keep it. We'll suggest adding "Camping available — book through Campable" with your Campable link. If your campsite is part of another business (a vineyard, café or club), it usually belongs on that business's existing listing rather than a new one.

Will my phone number be on Google?

Only if you choose to add one. It will be public, so only add a number you're happy for campers to call.

Pathfinders

What's a Campable Pathfinder?

Pathfinders are local people who find great places to camp, and help hosts set up and check their listings. We're starting in Northland. Listings a Pathfinder has checked can show a "Checked by a Campable Pathfinder" badge.

Can I ask for help from a Pathfinder?

Yes. From your listing page, ask for help (for example, with photos, your listing, or a site check), and we'll match you with a Pathfinder where one is available.

What do I agree to if a Pathfinder sets up my listing?

If a Pathfinder lists or helps set up your property, you agree to host them free for up to 4 nights a year while they're your Pathfinder (up to 24 months):

only on dates you accept
peak season (24 Dec – 2 Jan) and already-booked nights excluded

You accept this before your listing is published.

Does it cost me anything else?

No. Pathfinders are rewarded by Campable, out of Campable's own share. Your commission doesn't change.

Can a Pathfinder publish my listing?

No. Only you can:

accept the host terms
connect your bank account
add your IRD number
press Publish

The Pathfinder hands over to you by email, or passes you the phone to sign in.

Back to all host FAQs · Still stuck? Message us in your Campable thread or email support@campable.com.

Happy hosting!

The Campable Team