How to Upgrade to a Glampsite in 4 Steps

Glamping is more than just a trend on Instagram, it’s also a great way to attract guests to your land. And nothing says glamping (i.e. glamorous camping) quite like a selection of ready-to-go glampsites that guests can rent. Interested in earning more as a host? Keep reading to learn how you can upgrade your campsites to the glampsites guests will love.

Interested in hosting with Hipcamp? Lean more here.

How much more can I earn with a glampsite?

Great question. As with anything, your location will play a big part in determining how much you should charge. But on average, we find that campsites range in price anywhere from $10-$40 per night, while glampsites can easily start at $75 per night— and go all the way up to $250 for the best ones.

Creating a glampsite is much easier than you might think, and here we’ll give you the rundown of what you need to get started. While basic glampsites can be as simple as luxury tents or yurts, there are a few tricks of the trade for adding in the extras that will keep people excited about your space (and justify the higher price tag). Ready to earn more with glampsites? Let’s get started!

Step 1: Build or buy a glamp shelter

Like we said, glampsites don’t have to be complicated. In fact, a lot of people get started just by setting up a luxury tent— something a bit bigger with space to stand up and room for a bed. These tents are often pretty easy to build or buy, and your guests will be charmed by the idea of sleeping outdoors in a real bed. Some other options include yurts, tiny cabins, teepees, treehouses, and cob houses. To get more ideas, check out our list of easy structures you can build for under $500.

Step 2: Add luxury amenities

What really sets the glampsites apart from the campsites is that little bit of luxury. While this might sound like a big undertaking, it’s actually really easy (and inexpensive!) to make your guests more comfortable by adding in a few extras. Some ideas we like include: bed linens, simple electricity, throw rugs, chairs, and luggage racks. Not that you need all of these things, but anything you can do to take some of the “roughing it” out of camping is great— and again, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Pull an old rug out of its retirement in the attic and give it a scrub before tossing it on the floor of your new glampsite. Buy an inexpensive battery-operated lantern and hang it from the ceiling. Make the bedding extra cozy with a few additional pillows. Your guests will love it— and you’ll be able to charge more for the luxury you’re providing.

If you’re really looking to take your glampsite to the next level, here are a few more things you might consider adding:

• Wood stove
• Outdoor fire pit
• Landscaping around your glamp structure
• Outdoor kitchen
• Outdoor shower
• Hammocks
• Outdoor lounge furniture

Step 3: Decorate your glampsite

Beyond the amenities, glampsites should also have a certain charm— which is something you can easily accomplish with a few key pieces of decor. First, choose a look for your glampsite. We tend to favor chic and rustic designs, but the most important thing is to pick a theme and stick to it. If you’re creating a cozy cabin, wood furniture and flannel blankets are always a great choice. If you favor a more light and natural look, hang some framed botanical drawings on the wall and use fluffy white bed linens.

Some other ideas that can jazz up your glampsite include: curtains, potted plants, a mini library, vintage items, or even just a few framed paintings or prints.

Step 4: Above and beyond hosting ideas

Ultimately, the more you put into your glampsites, the more you’ll get out of them. Nothing makes guests more excited than beautiful outdoor spaces with all the comforts of home. And if you can give them that, they’ll never want to leave.

You can go above and beyond as a host by offering extra services to guests staying in glampsites— like breakfast in bed, unlimited coffee and tea, fresh fruit (or dairy if you have a farm!), and anything else you might think of to take their experience to the next level.

And don’t forget to take into account any unique qualities specific to your land— and how you might go about sharing them with guests. Maybe you have a fresh water tap that comes directly from a nearby stream, or a few friendly goats that enjoy visitors. Whatever it is, these little details will really serve to make your land memorable, and a destination that people keep coming back to.

Curious to know exactly how much more you can earn with a glampsite? Find out here.