Get started by: Creating a website → | Getting a domain →
Creating a vacation rental website is essential for property owners looking to maximize their direct bookings and reduce reliance on third-party platforms OTAs (online travel agencies) like AirBNB and VRBO. By cutting out the middleman, you and your guests can save money and you also avoid issues surrounding disputes on OTAs.
Whether you are a single property owner, run a bed and breakfast with several rooms, villa with multiple apartments or a small hotel, investing in a business website is crucial for boosting your direct bookings. This guide will walk you through the key components of building a website for your vacation rental to help you attract more visitors, showcase your property beautifully and provide an easy booking experience for your guests.
Ready to create your vacation rental website? Get started with an AI website builder today.
What is a vacation rental website?
A vacation rental website is an online platform that showcases a property or properties available for rent, similar to a hotel booking website. It includes key information such as location, amenities, pricing and availability and allows guests to make direct bookings. These types of websites are typically owned and managed by individual property owners or small rental management companies.
How to make a vacation rental website in 10 steps
01. Create a vacation rental brand
Before you start building your vacation rental website, it’s important to establish a strong brand that effectively represents your vacation rental. Consider the unique features of your property, the experience you want to offer guests and the overall message you wish to convey. This includes:
Choosing a brand name: Pick a name that is easy to remember, relevant to your property and unique. It should also be available as a domain name.If you need help coming up with ideas, try business name generators for inspiration.
Identifying your target audience: Determine the type of guests you want to attract and tailor your branding and messaging accordingly.
Defining your unique selling points: Highlight what sets your vacation rental apart from others in the area, whether it’s location, amenities or special features.
Creating a logo: Design a logo that reflects your brand and can be used on your website, social media and marketing materials.
Learn how to create a logo for your vacation rental business and get started with the Wix logo maker.
02. Pick a domain name and host
Your domain name is your online identity, serving as the digital face of your vacation rental. It represents your property in the vast online marketplace. When selecting a domain name, choose one that reflects your rental's unique charm and is easy to remember and spell. This helps potential guests find and remember your listing, enhancing your online visibility and attracting more bookings.
Choose a great domain name by following these tips:
Keep it short and memorable.
Steer clear of numbers, hyphens or tricky spellings.
Opt for a domain extension that fits your location or industry, like .com, .rentals or .vacation.
Do a domain name search to check if it’s available and doesn’t conflict with any trademarks.
First time creating a domain? Learn more about what is a domain and its role in your vacation rental website appearance.
Reliable hosting is the foundation of a successful vacation rental listing. By using a trustworthy hosting website, you can make sure your digital doors are always open and inviting, allowing guests to book your property anytime. Here are some key considerations when selecting a hosting platform:
Server speed: Guarantee fast loading times for your website
Uptime guarantees: High uptime percentages minimize website downtime and maintain site reliability.
Security features: Website security measures protect your website privacy and visitor data.
Scalability options: Allows your website to grow and handle increased traffic over time.
Tip: When you build a website with Wix, you’ll get free website hosting.
03. Choose a website builder and template
Next, you’ll need a website builder that offers website templates designed specifically for your industry. Choose a platform that’s easy to use and provides all the tools you need to create a professional-looking site. Wix offers many options, including apartments and hostels website templates with built-in features such as booking forms and property galleries. Look for a template that complements your property's style and ambiance, reflecting the experience you offer guests.
Consider the following web design tips:
Keep it simple: Avoid cluttered layouts and overwhelming graphics. Keep things clean and easy to navigate.
Use high-quality images: Showcase your property with stunning photography that highlights its best features.
Include clear calls-to-action (CTAs): Make it easy for visitors to book by including visible CTAs throughout your site.
Utilize negative space: Leave room around important elements of your website, drawing attention to them and creating a more visually appealing website layout.
04. Design your vacation rental website
Now comes the fun part - designing your website. Use your brand elements and selected template to create a visually appealing, user-friendly site. To capture your unique vacation rental brand and personalize your website design, consider the following:
Change the color palette: Customize your website color scheme to match your rental's vibe. Avoid irritating and tacky colors; opt for calm and inviting tones to create a pleasant experience for potential guests.
Pick a font: Choose typography that is easy to read and aligns with your branding. If your rental conveys professionalism, go for a classic and clean font. For a more playful and creative atmosphere, consider using a unique and modern font.
05. Add key pages and navigation
Your vacation rental website should include several essential web pages that provide visitors with all the information they need to book your property. Create a clear site navigation menu that makes it easy for visitors to explore your website and find the information they need.
Use the list of pages when planning your vacation rental website:
Homepage: Highlight the essence of your property and brand with a captivating overview. Offer potential guests a warm and inviting introduction, providing a glimpse into the unique and special experience your vacation rental offers. Include special offers to attract and engage guests, providing them with exciting incentives to book their stay.
About page: Share the rich story behind your vacation rental, diving into its history, architectural features and what makes it stand out. Discuss your journey, the inspiration behind creating this haven and how it has evolved over time. Connect personally with guests by letting them see the passion, dedication and care you have invested in every detail of your property.
Property listings: Showcase your properties in detail, with engaging and vivid descriptions, stunning high-resolution photos, transparent pricing, availability calendars and straightforward booking options. Highlight unique amenities and nearby attractions to make each listing appealing. Make it easy and intuitive for guests to explore and choose the ideal stay that meets their needs and expectations.
Booking page: Offer a seamless and hassle-free booking experience with an intuitive and friendly user interface. Allow guests to book directly and securely, with transparent pricing, any available discounts and detailed payment options. Provide reassurance with a secure payment gateway and excellent customer support, ensuring guests feel confident and stress-free while planning their trip.
Contact page: Provide essential and easily accessible contact details for inquiries and assistance. Make it straightforward for guests to reach out via multiple channels, including business email, business phone or an online form. Consider adding a live chat option for immediate support, enhancing guest satisfaction and engagement.
Terms and conditions page: Clearly outline and define comprehensive booking terms and conditions, covering all aspects such as cancellation policies, payment details, house rules and any special requirements. Equip guests with all necessary information before they reserve, ensuring transparency and understanding to avoid any misunderstandings.
Reviews page: Encourage guests to read and leave detailed reviews about their stay, sharing their experiences and highlighting memorable moments. Positive feedback can significantly influence potential guests, providing social proof and boosting confidence in your rental. Display testimonials prominently and consider responding to reviews to show appreciation and dedication to guest satisfaction.
Blog page: Create a blog to share valuable insights, tips and updates about the vacation rental industry or your specific destination. Drive traffic to your site and improve search engine rankings with informative and engaging content. Discuss local events, travel trends and provide practical advice to help guests make the most of their stay, establishing your site as a trusted resource.
06. List your vacation rental properties
Once you have created your vacation rental website and designed essential pages, it's time to list your vacation rental properties. Be sure to add all the important information so your guests get a good feel of your property and know exactly what kind of accommodation you offer.
Consider including the following elements in each listing:
Property name: Choose a catchy and memorable name that reflects the essence of your property and brand.
Property description: Provide a clear and detailed overview of your rental, highlighting its best features, unique amenities and what makes it an exceptional stay for guests.
Location: Include specific and accurate location details to help guests understand the neighborhood, nearby attractions and how to get there.
Capacity: Specify the number of guests your property can accommodate, including available bedrooms and other sleeping arrangements.
High-resolution photos: Use professional photography to showcase every aspect of your property accurately. Consider investing in drone or 360-degree photos to provide a comprehensive view and give guests a better feel for the property. Use a photo resizer tool to optimize the photos for different platforms.
Pricing and availability: Be transparent with your pricing, including any additional fees or taxes. Provide an up-to-date calendar to show availability and allow guests to book directly through your website.
Unique amenities: Highlight special features such as a pool, hot tub, beach access or stunning views that make your rental stand out from others in the area.
Nearby attractions: Mention popular local attractions, activities and restaurants that are easily accessible from your rental. This can help guests plan their stay and add value to their experience.
Booking options: Make it easy for guests to reserve their stay with clear online scheduling options and a seamless checkout process.
Guest reviews: Display previous guest reviews to provide social proof and build trust with potential guests. Encourage guests to leave reviews after their stay for future visitors to see.
House rules: Clearly outline any important house rules or policies to ensure guests have a pleasant and safe stay. Quiet hours, smoking and pets are some examples of things you might want to mention.
Cancellation policy: Clearly state your cancellation policy to avoid any misunderstandings with guests. Consider offering flexible options during uncertain times or peak travel seasons.
07. Integrate booking and payment functionality
To create a seamless booking experience for your guests, it's essential to integrate booking and online payment processing functionality into your vacation rental website. This will allow guests to easily reserve their stay and make payments directly on your site, reducing the risk of any errors or delays.
Consider using a reliable and secure online booking system that offers features such as:
Availability calendars: Display real-time availability for each property, making it easy for guests to see when the rental is available.
Online reservations: Allow guests to book their stay with just a few clicks, without having to leave your website.
Secure payment processing: Use a trusted payment gateway to process transactions securely and protect guest data.
Guest profiles: Create guest profiles to store important information and make the booking process more efficient for returning guests.
Automated email confirmations and reminders: Send automated emails confirming reservations, reminding guests of upcoming stays or requesting reviews after check-out.
08. Start a blog (optional)
Starting a blog can give your vacation rental website a personal touch, establish your authority in the industry and most importantly, it will help guests to find your website through search engines. A blog allows you to share helpful and engaging content with potential guests, drive traffic to your site and improve search engine rankings.
Consider writing about topics such as:
Local attractions: Share information about popular tourist spots, hidden gems and upcoming events in your area. This can help attract visitors who are searching for information about your destination.
Travel tips: Provide practical advice on things like packing essentials, transportation options or budget-friendly activities. This can help guests plan their trips and make the most of their stay.
Design inspiration: Showcase unique design elements of your property or provide tips on how to decorate a vacation rental. This can help give potential guests an idea of what to expect and attract them to your rental.
Industry updates: Share news and updates about the vacation rental industry, such as new trends, regulations or marketing tips.
Guest experiences: Feature guest reviews or stories from past visitors to show the positive experiences others have had at your property. This can also help build credibility and trust with potential guests.
09. Optimize your site for SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital for improving your vacation rental website visibility and attracting organic traffic. By implementing SEO features, you can increase your website ranking on search engine result pages, driving more potential guests to your vacation rental.
Consider the following best practices:
Start with keyword research: Identify the keywords potential guests use when searching for vacation rentals in your area. Understand local search trends and weave these keywords into your website content, titles and meta descriptions to boost visibility.
Create quality content: Share valuable insights or travel tips regularly on your site. Use relevant keywords naturally to keep the content engaging and reader-friendly.
Build backlinks: Forge connections with websites and local businesses, like tourism boards or travel bloggers, to earn backlinks. These links can enhance your search engine rankings and online credibility.
Utilize local directories: List your vacation rental on popular local directories like Google My Business, TripAdvisor and Yelp. This increases your online presence and helps guests find authentic reviews and detailed information.
Design mobile-friendly: Make sure your website is mobile-friendly with clean layouts and easy navigation. Quick load times are crucial as many travelers book trips via smartphones.
Improve page speed: Optimize your website's loading speed to improve user experience and search rankings. Use tools for image compression, browser caching and reduce server response times for better performance.
10. Market your vacation rental website
Creating an attractive and user-friendly vacation rental website is only half the battle; you also need to promote it effectively to attract guests. By engaging with your audience through different channels, you can increase visibility and drive more traffic to your site, ensuring it reaches its full potential.
Consider the following marketing strategies:
Use social media marketing: Share photos, videos and updates about your vacation rental on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Consider using hashtags and location tags to reach a wider audience.
Collaborate with influencers: Partner with travel bloggers or influencers in your niche and offer them a complimentary stay in exchange for promotion on their channels.
Email marketing: Collect email addresses from guests who have stayed at your property or expressed interest in booking. Use email marketing tools to send out newsletters, promotions or personalized offers.
Invest in paid advertising: Consider using paid advertising options like Google AdWords, Facebook Ads or Instagram Ads to target potential customers and increase website traffic.
Partner with local businesses: Forge partnerships with local businesses such as restaurants, tour companies or car rental agencies. Offer special discounts or packages for their customers who also book a stay at your vacation rental.
Vacation rental website examples
If you need inspiration and website ideas for your vacation rental site, check out these examples of successful vacation rental websites built on Wix. They showcase how you can use different features and design elements to create a unique and professional website for your vacation rental property.
The Gardeness
The Gardeness website is a testament to exquisite design, featuring high-quality images that immediately captivate visitors and convey the serene, wellness-focused ethos of the brand. Its clean, modern layout is both visually appealing and functional, ensuring that users can navigate the site effortlessly. Strategically placed calls-to-action that encourage further exploration and facilitate easy booking. The overall aesthetic exudes tranquility, perfectly mirroring the holistic well-being focus of The Gardeness.
New Mexico Tipis
The New Mexico Tipis website draws visitors in with its design aesthetic, featuring high-quality images, a clean layout and rustic color scheme that beautifully reflects its unique glamping offerings. The intuitive navigation allows users to easily explore the site, with strategically placed calls-to-action that guide them toward booking. Separate pages dedicated to local attractions and policies offer thorough insights, ensuring that essential information is readily available. The well-designed product pages offer detailed descriptions and high-quality pictures of the accommodations alongside clearly laid out fees.
Seaside 4212
The Seaside 4212 website impresses with its clean and modern design, perfectly capturing the essence of a tranquil beachfront getaway. The homepage features a convenient map for easy location reference, ensuring potential visitors can readily visualize their destination. Seamless booking integration is achieved through Wix Hotels, simplifying the reservation process for users. High-quality images and detailed descriptions of the beachfront condo enhance the site's appeal, showcasing the luxurious amenities and breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico. A dedicated reviews page offers authentic feedback and experiences from previous guests, further enhancing the condo's credibility and appeal. Together, these elements convey a sense of relaxation and luxury, aligning with the brand's commitment to providing an exceptional vacation experience on the Alabama coastline.
Why do you need a vacation rental website for your business?
Having a vacation rental website allows property owners to take control of their bookings, reduce reliance on third-party platforms and provide a personalized experience for potential guests.
By having your own website, you gain the following benefits:
Boost direct bookings: By having your own website, you can attract more potential guests and encourage them to book directly with you instead of through third-party platforms. This not only saves you money on booking fees but also provides a more personal and direct connection with your guests.
Increase visibility: With the rise of online bookings, having an online presence is essential for any business. Having a professional website allows you to showcase your property and make it more visible to potential guests who are searching for accommodations.
Build trust: A professional website gives your vacation rental business credibility and builds trust with potential guests. It also allows you to display reviews from previous guests, increasing the likelihood of future bookings.
Stand out from competitors: Having a well-designed and user-friendly website can help you stand out from competitors in your area. It allows you to showcase unique features and amenities of your property, giving potential guests more reasons to choose your vacation rental.
Control over the booking process: With a vacation rental website, you have complete control over the booking process. You can set your own policies, manage availability and rates and communicate directly with guests to ensure a smooth booking experience.
How to make a vacation rental website FAQ
Do I need to have technical knowledge to create a vacation rental website?
While some technical knowledge can be helpful, it is not necessary to create a vacation rental website. There are many no code website builders and templates available that make it easy for anyone to design and launch their own website without coding experience.