Resort websites that sell the whole stay
I build websites for resorts that show guests what staying with you is actually like: the cottages and villas, the setting, the food, the activities and the packages that bundle them together. Then I make sure the resort is found on Google by people planning a getaway, a celebration or a retreat.
What a resort site needs
- Stays, experiences and packages
- Photos of the setting, every season
- Weddings and events with their own route
- Clear directions to a remote location
- Meal plans and what's included
Guests buy the experience, then the room
Someone choosing a resort is usually choosing a few days away, not just a bed. They want to picture the morning: breakfast with a view, a walk, a swim, an activity for the children, a quiet evening. The website's job is to let them see it, in honest photos and specific words, before they ever think about the room rate.
That changes the order of the site. The home page leads with the setting and what there is to do, the packages come next, and the rooms follow. Every section ends with an easy way to ask about dates, because a guest who has just pictured themselves there is the guest most likely to message you.
Resorts also sell to more than one kind of guest. Couples, families, corporate groups and wedding parties each need different information, and a good resort site gives each of them a clear path instead of one long page that tries to serve everyone.
What I build into a resort website
Stays
Cottages, villas, tents or rooms, each with real photos, who it suits, the view and what's inside.
Experiences
Activities, walks, adventure, the pool, kids' areas and wellness, each with timings, age limits and whether it costs extra.
Packages
Stay, meals and activities bundled into packages with the length in the name and everything that's included listed plainly.
Weddings and events
Venues, capacities, catering and accommodation for guests, with an enquiry that asks for the date and the size of the party.
Getting here
Road conditions, the nearest airport and station, transfer options and what to expect on the last stretch of the drive.
Food
The restaurant, meal plans, dietary options and anything special, like local dishes or meals cooked over a fire.
Resort services in detail
Each part of the work has its own page.
Does your website show what a stay feels like?
Send me your current site and a few of your best photos. I'll tell you how I'd lay out the stays, experiences and packages.
Seasons and closures
Many resorts change with the seasons: snow in one, green meadows in another, a closed period in between. The site should show the season guests are booking for, which usually means swapping the main photos and packages a few months ahead rather than on the day.
If you close for part of the year, say so clearly and say when you reopen. Guests who are planning ahead still want to enquire, and a site that keeps taking enquiries during the closure fills the first weeks of the new season.
Guides for resort owners
Also worth reading: my pages for hotels and event and wedding venues.
Questions resort owners ask me
How is a resort website different from a hotel website?
A hotel guest mostly wants a good room in the right place. A resort guest is choosing an experience: what they will do, eat and see for several days. So a resort site gives as much space to activities, packages and the setting as it does to rooms, and often sells weddings, retreats and day visits as well.
Should I sell packages or room nights?
Usually both. Packages that bundle the stay with meals and activities are easier for a guest to compare and book, while room nights suit guests who want to plan their own days. I set the site up so each package has its own page and the rooms can still be booked on their own.
Can the site handle wedding and event enquiries separately?
Yes. Event enquiries need different questions: the date, the number of guests, the type of event and the budget. A separate events page with its own enquiry route keeps those leads apart from room bookings, so they reach the right person quickly.
My resort closes for part of the year. What happens to the site then?
Keep it running. Guests plan months ahead, so your closed season is often when next season's bookings come in. The site should say clearly when you reopen and take enquiries for those dates, and your Google listing should show the closure with special hours rather than looking abandoned.
Want guests to picture their stay before they book?
Tell me about your resort, the guests you want more of and how they book now. I'll suggest what the site should lead with and give you the price.