Hosting Resources
Practical guides to help you build a thriving campsite listing on Camps PH — from your very first application to long-term hosting success.
Getting Started as a Host
Hosting on Camps PH is open to individuals, families, and businesses who own or have legal authority over a campsite in the Philippines. Before your listing goes live, you will complete a short application and identity verification process.
What You Need Before Applying
- Valid Philippine government-issued ID (PhilSys, passport, driver's license, SSS/GSIS card)
- Proof of property authority — land title, lease agreement, or barangay clearance
- Bank account, GCash number, or Maya account for payout disbursement
- At least 3 clear photos of your campsite (more is better)
- A rough idea of your nightly rate and maximum guest capacity
Creating a Great Listing
Your listing is your storefront. Campers decide in seconds whether to book — a clear, honest, and detailed listing converts browsers into guests and sets the right expectations from the start.
Write a title that describes the experience, not just the place
Your title is the first thing campers read. Lead with what makes your site special: the terrain, the view, the vibe.
Weak: "Campsite in Rizal"
Strong: "Lakeside Glamping with Mountain Views in Tanay, Rizal"
Keep it under 60 characters so it displays fully on mobile. Avoid all-caps and excessive punctuation.
Write an honest, thorough description
Structure your description in three parts:
- The experience — what it feels like to camp here. Describe the landscape, sounds, atmosphere, and the best time of year to visit.
- The space — number of tent pitches or glamping units, area in square meters, shade, ground surface (grass, soil, gravel), fire pit location, bathroom and toilet facilities, and any structures (kubo, pavilion, shower room).
- The practicalities — parking, nearest town, estimated travel time from Metro Manila or the nearest city, how to reach you, phone signal quality, and any rules guests must follow.
Be honest about limitations. If the trail in is muddy after rain, say so. Guests who arrive with the right expectations leave better reviews.
List every amenity accurately
Only tick amenities that are genuinely available. Common amenities campers filter for include:
- Flush toilets vs. pit toilets vs. composting toilets
- Hot shower vs. cold shower vs. none
- Drinking water (piped, filtration, or bring your own)
- Electricity or solar charging points
- Fire pit (wood provided or bring your own)
- BBQ grill, cooking area, or outdoor kitchen
- Parking (number of vehicles, fee or free)
- Wi-Fi (and the honest download speed)
- Tent rental, sleeping bag rental, camping gear
- Pet-friendly or child-friendly designation
Set clear house rules
House rules protect your property and set the tone for guest behavior. Be specific and place them in your listing so guests agree before booking. Common rules to consider:
- Quiet hours (e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM)
- No glass bottles near the fire pit
- Leave No Trace — pack out all waste
- No single-use plastics (eco-campsite designation)
- Maximum number of guests allowed per booking
- Check-in and check-out times
- Pets: allowed breeds/sizes, must be leashed
- No open fires outside designated fire pit
Pricing Your Campsite
Setting the right price helps you stay competitive, attract consistent bookings, and earn fairly for the experience you provide. There is no single correct price — it depends on your amenities, location, and the demand in your area.
Pricing Tips
- Check what comparable campsites in your region charge on Camps PH before setting your opening rate.
- New listings often benefit from a slightly lower introductory rate for the first 10–15 bookings to build reviews quickly.
- Raise prices gradually as your rating improves — a 4.8-star campsite can command a premium.
- Offer a weekly discount (e.g., 15% off for 5+ nights) to attract longer stays and reduce turnover costs.
- Remember: the price guests see includes the Camps PH service fee. Your payout is your listed price minus the 10% platform commission.
Photography Tips
Photos are the single most important factor in whether a camper books your site. Great photos do not require a professional camera — a modern smartphone and good light are enough.
Shoot in golden hour light
The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset produce warm, soft light that makes any campsite look inviting. Avoid harsh midday sun — it creates deep shadows and washes out colors. If golden hour is not possible, shoot on an overcast day for even, diffused light.
Cover every important area
Your photo set should include all of the following:
- Wide establishing shot of the entire campsite showing scale
- Tent pitching area (set up a tent in at least one shot)
- View from the campsite — the mountain, lake, or forest backdrop
- Fire pit and outdoor cooking area
- Toilet and bathroom facilities (clean and honest — guests will check)
- Parking area and entrance road
- Any unique features: waterfall, river, viewdeck, kubo, hammock area
- Night shot with campfire or string lights if available
Stage the scene naturally
Set up a tent, a camp chair, and a lantern before photographing. A staged but natural scene helps campers visualize their stay. Avoid overly styled or cluttered arrangements. Make sure trash and equipment not belonging to the experience are out of frame.
Technical requirements and dos & don'ts
Upload requirements:
- Minimum 10 photos recommended; maximum 30 per listing
- Minimum resolution: 1200 × 800 px (landscape orientation preferred)
- Supported formats: JPG, PNG, WEBP
- Maximum file size: 10 MB per photo
Do:
- Use the grid rule of thirds for composition
- Enable HDR on your smartphone for landscape shots
- Edit for brightness and contrast lightly — enhance, do not mislead
Do not:
- Use photos that misrepresent the actual condition or size of the site
- Apply heavy filters that drastically alter colors or lighting
- Include screenshots, flyers, or text overlays as listing photos
- Upload photos of other campsites or stock imagery
Managing Bookings & Your Availability Calendar
Your availability calendar is the engine of your hosting business. Keeping it accurate prevents double bookings, reduces cancellations, and builds the trust that earns you repeat guests.
Instant booking vs. request-to-book
Instant booking allows campers to confirm immediately without waiting for your approval. Listings with instant booking enabled appear higher in search results and receive significantly more bookings. Recommended for hosts who are confident in their availability and house rules.
Request-to-book sends you a booking request that you must accept or decline within 24 hours. Use this if your campsite has variable access conditions (e.g., road closures during typhoon season) or if you want to screen group sizes before confirming.
Keeping your calendar up to date
Block off dates in your host dashboard any time the campsite is unavailable: family use, maintenance, typhoon closures, or local barangay events. Unblocking a date that was never actually available and then cancelling a confirmed booking harms your rating and may result in penalties.
- Use the monthly calendar view to block multi-day closures quickly.
- Set your preparation time (e.g., 1 day between bookings) so the system automatically blocks cleanup days.
- Set a minimum and maximum stay length to control booking patterns (e.g., minimum 2 nights on weekends).
- Update your calendar immediately after a walk-in booking or a booking made outside the platform.
Communicating with guests
All host-guest communication happens through the Camps PH messaging system. This protects both parties and keeps a record in case of disputes.
- Respond to all messages within 24 hours — your response rate is visible on your public profile.
- Send a check-in message 48 hours before arrival with directions, gate codes, and any last-minute conditions.
- Send a check-out reminder the morning of departure with reminders about waste disposal and Leave No Trace practices.
- Never share personal contact details (phone, social media) in messages before a booking is confirmed.
Handling cancellations
Choose a cancellation policy in your host dashboard. Camps PH offers three standard policies:
- Flexible: Full refund if cancelled 48 hours before check-in. Attracts more bookings; lower cancellation risk for guests.
- Moderate: Full refund if cancelled 5 days before check-in; 50% refund within 5 days. Best balance for most hosts.
- Strict: 50% refund if cancelled 7 or more days before check-in; no refund within 7 days. Suitable for high-demand sites or peak season.
If you need to cancel a confirmed booking as a host, do so only in genuine emergencies. Host-initiated cancellations impact your ranking and may result in your listing being temporarily suspended.
Payouts & Platform Commission
Camps PH charges a 10% platform commission on each booking. You keep 90% of every transaction. Payouts are released automatically after the guest's check-in date.
GCash payouts
Enter the mobile number registered to your GCash wallet in your host dashboard. Payouts are sent as GCash transfers. Ensure your GCash account is fully verified (KYC-complete) to receive transfers above GCash's wallet limits.
GCash payouts are typically instant to near-instant once processed on our end. You will receive an SMS notification from GCash when funds arrive.
Maya payouts
Enter the mobile number or email address associated with your Maya (formerly PayMaya) account. Maya payouts are processed to your Maya wallet balance, which you can cash out or use directly.
Ensure your Maya account is upgraded to Maya Personal or Maya Business for higher transaction limits applicable to hosting payouts.
Bank transfer payouts
Provide your bank name, account name, and account number. We support all major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, Metrobank, PNB, Landbank, DBP, UnionBank, and RCBC. Bank transfers are processed via InstaPay or PESONet depending on amount and timing.
Important: The account name on your bank account must match the name on your verified Camps PH host profile. Mismatched names will cause payout delays.
Tax obligations for hosts
Income earned through Camps PH is subject to Philippine income tax. You are responsible for declaring your hosting income to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Camps PH will issue payout summaries to help with your tax computations. If you earn above the VAT threshold (currently ₱3,000,000 in annual gross receipts), you may also be required to register for VAT.
We recommend consulting a licensed accountant or tax professional for advice specific to your situation. Camps PH does not provide tax advice.
Handling Reviews
Reviews are the foundation of trust on Camps PH. A strong review record drives bookings, earns you top placement in search results, and unlocks "Verified Host" status over time.
How the review system works
After each completed stay, both the guest and the host can leave a review. Reviews are published simultaneously after both parties submit, or after a 14-day window closes — whichever comes first. This prevents one party from adjusting their review based on what the other wrote.
Guests rate their stay across five dimensions: accuracy, cleanliness, communication, location, and value. Your overall star rating is the average of all completed stays.
Encouraging guests to leave reviews
The single most effective way to get more reviews is to send a warm, personal check-out message thanking the guest for their stay and letting them know you have already reviewed them. Most guests will reciprocate.
- Send your review of the guest promptly after check-out — it signals that you are an engaged host.
- In your check-out message, mention that their feedback helps future campers make informed decisions.
- Never offer incentives (discounts, freebies) in exchange for reviews — this violates our policies.
Responding to negative reviews
You can post a public response to any guest review. Your response is visible to all future campers — use it constructively, not defensively.
- Thank the guest for their feedback, even if the review was harsh.
- Acknowledge any legitimate concerns and briefly describe what you have done or will do to address them.
- Do not argue, name-call, or post personal information about the guest.
- Keep your response concise — future guests are more interested in what you did about the problem than in a long back-and-forth.
A thoughtful response to a 2-star review often reassures prospective guests more than no response at all.
Disputing a review
Camps PH only removes reviews that violate our content policy — for example, reviews containing hate speech, fabricated content, or information that was never part of the guest's stay. Negative but honest feedback cannot be removed simply because it is unfavorable. To dispute a review you believe violates policy, use the flag option in your host dashboard within 14 days of publication.
Safety Standards
Every campsite on Camps PH must meet baseline safety standards. These protect your guests, protect you, and protect the reputation of responsible camping in the Philippines.
Minimum site safety requirements
- At least one accessible first aid kit kept on site and replenished after each use.
- A designated assembly point that guests are briefed on at check-in.
- Fire extinguisher within 10 meters of any cooking or fire area.
- Clear signage marking tent zones, water sources, toilet blocks, and the exit route.
- A list of the nearest hospital, barangay health center, and police station posted at the campsite entrance or communicated to guests at check-in. Each campsite page on Camps PH links to local emergency services. The national emergency hotline is 911. For location-specific emergency contacts, see the emergency contacts page.
- Safe drinking water supply clearly labeled, or explicit instruction to guests to bring their own.
- Rubbish collection and disposal arrangement consistent with Leave No Trace principles.
Fire safety
- Fire pits must be sited at least 3 meters from tents, structures, and dry vegetation.
- Always keep a bucket of water or sand next to any active fire pit.
- Enforce a strict "never leave fire unattended" rule with guests.
- Provide guests with instructions on how to fully extinguish a fire before sleeping or leaving the pit area.
- During PAGASA-declared dry season or fire danger periods, consider prohibiting open fires and providing alternative cooking arrangements.
Weather and natural hazard preparedness
- Monitor PAGASA weather bulletins and PHIVOLCS advisories during typhoon season (June–November) and volcanic activity periods.
- Establish a clear protocol for notifying booked guests of mandatory evacuations or site closures — communicate via the Camps PH messaging system as early as possible.
- Identify and communicate flood-prone and landslide-risk areas within or near your campsite. Do not allow tent pitching in these zones.
- If your campsite is in a municipality with a Local Government Unit (LGU) disaster risk reduction plan, familiarize yourself with it and share relevant parts with your guests.
Responsible hosting and Leave No Trace
Camps PH is built on the principle that camping should leave the land better than we found it. As a host, you are the steward of your natural environment. Visit our full Responsible Hosting guidelines for detailed practices on waste management, wildlife interaction, water source protection, and eco-certification pathways available to Camps PH hosts.
Ready to List Your Campsite?
Join the Camps PH host community and earn income from your outdoor space — while sharing the Philippines' natural beauty with campers who will treasure it.