Captain Caravan in Gapyeong nails the basics that most glamping sites skip: spotless caravans, genuinely warm service, and no fake "vibes." Sometimes hospitality is just doing the fundamentals right.
♦︎ Property type: Caravan/Glamping
♦︎ Address: 776-22 Cheonggun-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
♦︎ Room types: Family unit / Couple unit / UK Swift caravan / German Hobby caravan, etc.
Hi, this is ONDA — we're here to build a better tomorrow for the hospitality industry. This time, I'm sharing a caravan & glamping spot near Seoul that I loved so much after visiting (on my own dime) as an ONDA partner. It's called Captain Caravan in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do. I bravely (!) tacked on leave after the Chuseok holiday and got some real healing time with my wife. She said it was the coziest caravan we've stayed at yet.
Captain Caravan features twelve roadworthy caravans and impeccably maintained glamping facilities. Of all the outdoor properties I've visited, this one ranks at the top for cleanliness. Naver reviews echo the same: "spotless," "friendly staff."
When a staff member was setting up firewood for us, a guest next door asked, "Are you ex-military? You're so efficient and clear — I was feeling tired, but you just gave me energy." The hospitality was that good. You might think, "Come on, doesn't every property do cleanliness and courtesy?" — but no. Just like the restaurant owners on Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant, plenty of operators fail at basics. Basics aren't easy.
Cleanliness of rooms and shared spaces is our top focus. We're a lodging business — it's the baseline. Being an outdoor facility makes it harder. We inspect bathrooms and showers dozens of times a day when we're busy.
Cleanliness and courtesy are table stakes. To differentiate and build loyalty, you need something more. So how does Captain Caravan — which saw sales jump over 30% year-on-year in 2020 — actually operate?
Q. How did you get into caravans and glamping?
I love extreme activities. Around summer 2016, my son said he wanted to camp with me, so I bought a tent and gear for our first trip. The first time, I struggled for two hours and still couldn't set up the tent. The owner helped us out. We stayed about a week. At first it was uncomfortable — no AC, weird food we made ourselves. But I started falling for nature. Sitting in the forest, chilling in a chair, doing fire meditation at night. We ended up camping every weekend.
Q. So a hobby turned into a business?
I traveled abroad a lot. In places like the U.S. and Canada, caravan culture is huge. I rented one, drove around, and got hooked. Then people around me suggested I try running one. I decided to do it — but I wanted real differentiation.
Q. What set you apart?
One of our regulars is a classical musician in their early 30s. We run twelve caravans, each one unique, and all roadworthy — real caravans you can drive. This guest stays in a different caravan every visit to try them out. People looking to buy their own caravan also visit multiple times to test different models.
Guest expectations are higher now. It's crucial to have proper facilities and service. I wanted guests to feel like they're camping in their own caravan — so we carefully arranged equipment and flow.
Q. What are you doing to keep improving the space?
We reinvest gradually and consistently. The decks and railings next to the caravans have evolved a lot. We've torn down and rebuilt glamping tents multiple times to find the best angles and layouts. We keep working to reduce inconveniences and make the space prettier. After four years, we're also replacing aging caravans one by one.
Q. What are the pain points of running an outdoor facility?
Every season is hard in its own way. Summer means constant pool water quality checks. Weeds grow fast — one slip and they're everywhere. Winter's coming now, so we have to prep heating systems in advance.
Especially, we have caravans from different makers, so models, sizes, and operating systems all differ. When something breaks, external repairs are insanely expensive. I had to learn hands-on how to fix each one. It was really tough at first. I overcame each challenge and got to where I am now. Could I have done it if I thought of it purely as "work"? I try to enjoy it — that reduced the stress a lot.
Q. What's the hardest part of running this place?
As a service business, the best guests are courteous people. Sometimes you get the opposite. We need until 3 PM to prep for new arrivals — we notify everyone in advance. But some guests show up at 1 PM, and when we say check-in isn't available yet, they leave online reviews saying "the owner was rude" — ignoring all context. Others smoke in no-smoking areas, or make noise late at night and bother other guests. I have guests sign a policy agreement at check-in. I warn them if needed, and if they really cross the line, I ask them to leave. That's the only way to protect other guests' rest. Of course we're not perfect either, but I just wish people would respect basic manners. This is a shared natural space.
ONDA: I think a lot of ONDA partners can relate.
Q. How did you discover ONDA?
Honestly, I had no idea how to run this when I started. I didn't even know what Yanolja or Yeogi Eottae were. I thought marketing was just posting on Naver. Another campground owner introduced me to ONDA. I realized reservation management is just as important as marketing. I consulted with the ONDA team a lot early on — they helped me so much.
Q. What do you like most about using ONDA?
Anyone in hospitality will relate. You have dozens of booking channels. You can't manage them all manually — it's a headache. If you get a double-booking, you lose your mind fixing it. ONDA is the perfect system for people like us. When new sales channels launch, ONDA recommends and connects them for us — it's amazing. Simply put, ONDA is Captain Caravan's business partner.
Q. Any inconveniences you've had?
I really don't have complaints about ONDA. But once — last year, maybe? — the pricing input UI changed suddenly, and it was a bit confusing. But I called my account manager, adapted to the new features, and it was fine.
ONDA: We'll keep improving the UI and manuals to make your experience smoother.
Q. Lastly, what's your dream?
I want to build a small resort. Not a big building at a tourist hotspot. A cozy resort in nature where people can relax and heal.
That's Captain Caravan, one of our ONDA partners. What stood out: they stick to the basics and leverage Captain Caravan's unique strengths to keep guests coming back.
I stayed in a caravan this time, but I'd love to try the glamping next. Something not in the interview but worth noting: they run a small on-site store to address the 15-minute drive to the nearest supermarket, and they clearly explain guest etiquette on arrival — both really thoughtful touches.
I'll wrap up with a photo of the caravan we stayed in and a toast with my wife. Thanks for reading!
