Websites for homestays and guest houses
Guests choose a homestay for the people, the food and the place as much as the room. I build small, warm websites for homestays and guest houses that show what staying with you is like, explain exactly how to find you and let guests book with you directly.
What a homestay site needs
- Each room in real photos
- The family and the food
- Directions to your gate
- House rules, kindly put
- Direct booking on WhatsApp
Not a small hotel
A homestay competes with hotels by being personal. The website should feel like that: photos of your home, your garden and your kitchen, a few words from the family, the meals you cook and what guests do with their days. A guest who reads that has already half decided.
It also has to be practical. Room photos and sizes, whether bathrooms are shared, heating or hot water, Wi-Fi, parking, meal times, check-in times and house rules should all be there, so there are no surprises on arrival.
What I build for homestays
Rooms
Each room with photos, beds, bathroom, view and a starting rate.
Food
What you cook, meal plans and dietary needs you can manage.
Directions
From the nearest town, with landmarks, the last turn and a map pin on your gate.
Things to do
Walks, sights and local experiences you can arrange, by season.
House rules
Check-in, quiet hours, ID, cancellations and payments, said kindly.
Booking
WhatsApp with the dates and room filled in, and email for guests who prefer it.
On the map and on Google
Many homestay guests search the map once they're in the area. A Google Business Profile with the right lodging category, photos and an exact pin helps them find you, and reviews from past guests do your selling. A review card in the room, or a link sent the day after check-out, keeps them coming.
For more on winning bookings away from commission-charging platforms, read my guide on getting more direct bookings.
Questions homestay owners ask me
Is a website worth it for a few rooms?
A small one usually is. Even two or three direct bookings a season can cover its cost, and guests who find you on a booking site often look for your own page before deciding. It doesn't need to be big: a single page can be enough.
Should I show my registration?
If your homestay is registered with the tourism department or a local authority, yes, show the registration on the site. It reassures guests, and some booking platforms ask for it too.
How do guests find a homestay in a small village?
Exact directions matter more than anything. Name the nearest landmark, describe the last turn, give the drive time from the nearest town and put the pin on your gate on Google Maps. Many guests arrive after dark.
Want guests to find your homestay directly?
Tell me about your home, your rooms and where guests come from now. I'll suggest a small site that brings them straight to you.