A guide for owners of short-term rental properties: how to create your own booking calendar website?

Short-term rental is a dynamic and profitable industry that absolutely requires efficient management of reservations and property availability. In this field, you either have to be an excellent strategist or use the right tools. Many property owners still use outdated methods, such as a paper reservation calendar, which often leads to errors, negative reviews, and the loss of customers. Contemporary guests focus on convenience and speed – they want to book accommodations online, pay in advance, and be certain about date availability.

The solution to this problem is to implement an online booking system that automates the entire process, from calendar management, through payments, to data synchronization. Additionally, tools such as property management software or rental management software provide full control over your properties, streamlining communication with customers and organizing your work. In this article, we will show you how easy it is to create a website with a booking calendar. Thanks to modern technologies like a channel manager, you no longer have to rely solely on external portals. You can become independent from their high commissions while simultaneously improving service quality and increasing your profits.

Why is it worth having your own website?

Owning a website is no longer a cutting-edge solution but simply a “must-have” in any industry where activities revolve around customer service. One of the main reasons is the ability to become independent from intermediary platforms such as Booking.com or Airbnb, which charge high commissions on every booking. With your own site, integrated with a modern booking system and a bit of creative marketing, you can accept reservations without extra costs, which translates into higher profits and greater control over your offer.

It’s undeniable that a website also helps in building a professional image and customer trust. A property presented in an aesthetic and modern way – with a detailed description, up-to-date photos, and guest reviews – attracts attention and encourages bookings. By implementing tools like property management software, managing your offer becomes more transparent, increasing credibility in the eyes of potential customers. We can easily prove this to ourselves by analyzing our personal feelings when booking properties for private trips.

Another advantage of having your own website is the ability to conduct direct promotions. You are certainly active on social media to build relationships with your guests. You can offer them special discounts if they book through your site, which is impossible when using external platforms. Additionally, you have full control over your reservations – thanks to tools like a channel manager, you can synchronize date availability across different channels, avoiding double bookings.

Your own site also allows you to increase revenue. Yes! By selling additional services such as excursions, breakfasts, handicrafts, or equipment rental. Guests booking directly can be easily encouraged to take advantage of extra options, which is difficult to achieve on intermediary platforms.

You can learn more about effective management in short-term rentals in this article.

What elements should a good website include?

Creating your own website for a short-term rental property can be the key to increasing bookings and profits. For the site to be effective, it needs to include several essential elements that provide users with convenience and a positive experience. Here are the most important ones:

Intuitive design – easy navigation, attractive layout

The first element a user notices is the appearance of the site. Intuitive design is crucial – the website should be simple, clear, and allow for easy navigation. Menus must be intuitive, and all sections clearly visible so that users can quickly find the information they’re looking for, such as room availability, pricing, or location. High-quality photos, an aesthetically pleasing layout, and consistent color schemes create a professional image that attracts customers. Remember that first impressions matter greatly – a professional-looking site is often synonymous with high-quality services.

Online booking system – calendar integration with quick booking options

The most important element that a website for short-term rental property owners should include is an online booking system. This allows users to easily check the availability of the property for their desired dates and make reservations directly through the site. It’s worth integrating the booking calendar with the system to have full control over availability and to enable guests to book in real time. A rental management program or property management software will help automatically update the calendar on the site and synchronize data with other platforms, such as Booking.com or Airbnb, which increases management efficiency.

Responsiveness – adaptation to mobile devices

More and more people are making reservations directly through mobile devices. Therefore, the responsiveness of the website is crucial. The site must be optimized for viewing on various devices – phones, tablets, and computers. Ensuring that users have convenient access to all the site’s features on every device is fundamental to success. In addition, Google favors responsive sites in search results, which can help improve your website’s ranking in search engines.

Detailed presentation of the property – photos, descriptions, amenities, customer reviews

Customers want to know what to expect before making a reservation. A detailed presentation of the property is essential. Well-taken photos that show both the interiors and surroundings of the property should be prominently displayed on the site. Each room or apartment should have a detailed description, including all amenities. Additionally, reviews from previous guests are a great way to build trust and convince potential customers to use your services.

Contact section – form, location map, contact details

A simple, intuitive contact section is another element that should not be missing from your website. A contact form, a location map, and complete contact details (phone number, email address) make it easy to get in touch with the property owner. A Google map showing the property’s exact location helps guests find the place. Customers will appreciate easy access to information, which will influence their decision to book.

Security – SSL certificate, payment protection

Take care of your guests’ data security by installing an SSL certificate. This ensures that your site has a secure connection and that user data, such as personal and payment information, is protected from unauthorized access. Ensuring the security of online payments is crucial for building trust among customers, who want to be certain that transactions are safe.

How to choose the tools for creating a website?

Choosing the right tools for creating a website may seem complicated, but there are many solutions on the market that allow you to build a professional site without advanced technical skills. Here are a few tips:

Overview of website building platforms

There are numerous platforms that enable easy website creation. Popular solutions include WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.

• WordPress: It is the most flexible solution and allows for full site customization. Thanks to the huge number of available plugins (e.g., for booking system integration) and a large community, WordPress is a great choice for those who want full control over their site.
• Wix: This solution offers easy operation and ready-made templates. It’s ideal for people with no website-building experience who want to quickly create a functional site.
• Squarespace: It offers aesthetically pleasing templates and features that can be easily tailored to the needs of short-term rental property owners. It’s a platform that allows for quick and easy website creation, but it’s less flexible than WordPress.
• Canva: Although Canva is mainly known for graphic design tools, it also offers functionality for building simple websites. It’s an ideal solution for those who want to create an elegant, visually appealing site without needing technical expertise. Canva provides ready-made templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it a great option for property owners who need to quickly create a site to promote their offer, albeit with fewer features than more advanced platforms like WordPress.

Recommendations for people without technical experience

If you have no experience in creating websites, we recommend using the WordPress platform, which offers the BedBooking plugin as a reservation calendar for guests. This is a solution tailored for those without technical experience who want to quickly create an aesthetically pleasing website with a functional booking system.

Discussion of costs: free vs. paid options

Most platforms offer both free and paid plans. Free plans often come with limitations, such as no access to advanced features, ads for the platform on your site, or lack of integration with rental management software. It’s worth investing in a paid plan to have full control over your site and its functionality.

How to choose hosting and a domain?

With WordPress, you’ll need hosting to store your website on the internet. Popular options include Bluehost or SiteGround, which offer easy WordPress installation. If you use Wix or Squarespace, hosting is built into the platform, so you don’t have to worry about this aspect. Choosing the right domain (e.g., propertyname.pl) is crucial to make it easier for clients to find your site and remember its address. Thanks to these tools, creating a professional website with a booking calendar becomes easy and accessible to any property owner. If you want to learn about the practical aspects of implementing a booking calendar and other strategic actions on your website, be sure to check out this article: Booking calendar and good marketing as the key to success in short-term rentals.