Every campsite owner knows the scene. It is 4pm on a Friday, three families are trying to check in, someone wants to pay their electric bill, and a gentleman at the back is asking if you have any 13kg propane left.
Portal Essentials solves this by moving the "have you got any gas?" conversation online — before the guest even arrives.
What is Portal Essentials?
Portal Essentials is a new feature that adds a self-service shop to your customer portal. When a guest logs in to view their booking, they now see a Site Essentials tab where they can browse your products and place an order.
Orders are linked to their booking and arrival date. Your staff sees them on the Portal Orders dashboard — grouped by date and pitch — so they know exactly what to prepare and where to deliver it.
How It Works
1. Automatic Pre-Arrival Emails
Two days before check-in (configurable), guests receive a branded "Prepare for Your Stay" email. It includes a link directly to the portal shop. The timing is deliberate — far enough ahead that you can prepare stock, close enough that the trip feels real and they are thinking about what they need.
2. Guest Browses and Orders
The portal shop shows your current in-stock products: gas cylinders by type and size, kindling bundles, Elsan Blue, firelighters, and whatever else you sell. Guests add items to a cart, choose their booking, and checkout.
3. Payment Flexibility
You choose the payment model that suits your site:
- Pay Now — Stripe checkout, money in your account before they arrive
- Add to Account — added to their next invoice, great for seasonal customers
- Both — let the guest choose at checkout
4. Staff Prep List
Your team opens the Portal Orders page and sees everything grouped by arrival date. "Sarah Johnson, Pitch 14, arriving Friday: 1× Propane 13kg, 1× Kindling Bundle." They prepare it, mark it ready, and move on.
Occupancy
78%
+4% vs last period
Revenue
£2,480
+12% vs last period
Outstanding
£340
-8% vs last period
Daily Occupancy
Switch time periods above — stats and chart animate instantly
Why This Matters for Small Campsites
This is not enterprise software solving enterprise problems. This is a feature built for the site owner who is also the receptionist, the groundkeeper, and the gas delivery person.
- Less reception traffic — Guests have what they need before they ask
- Guaranteed revenue — Pre-orders mean pre-payment. No "I will come back later" that never happens
- Better stock planning — Know what is needed before the weekend rush
- Guest satisfaction — Arriving to a ready pitch with supplies waiting feels premium
Explore Our Campsite Demo
See how holiday parks and campsites manage bookings, pitches, and guests effortlessly.
Getting Started
Portal Essentials is available now. Enable it in Settings → Billing → Shop, toggle "Enable Portal Essentials", and choose your payment mode. Your existing product catalog from Site Essentials is used automatically — no need to add products twice.
If you already have the Site Essentials feature enabled with products in your shop, your portal customers can start ordering today.
💳 Checkout via PayCamp Payments
Portal Essentials orders can be paid via PayCamp Payments (no merchant account needed) or charged to the guest's account for settlement later. Either way, payment is tracked automatically.
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Explore Our Campsite Demo
See how holiday parks and campsites manage bookings, pitches, and guests effortlessly.