A guest house or self-catering website has one job: help a traveller picture themselves there and then make it easy to ask or book. Use this checklist to see whether yours does that. It works for guest houses, B&Bs, cottages and holiday apartments alike.
At the top of the page
- A clear headline. What it is, where it is and how many it sleeps, for example “Self-catering cottage in Hermanus, sleeps 4”.
- Your best photo. The view, the room or the garden, large and sharp.
- One obvious next step. A WhatsApp button, a call button or “Check availability”, visible without scrolling.
Photos and amenities
- A photo gallery that covers every room, the outdoor areas and the view.
- A clear amenity list. Wi-Fi, parking, kitchen, braai, linen, pet policy and anything guests ask about.
- Check-in and check-out times, and a short summary of the house rules.
Rates and booking information
- Your rates or a starting-from price, with any seasonal differences.
- How to book. A simple enquiry form, a WhatsApp message or a link to your Airbnb or Booking.com listing.
- Your cancellation and deposit policy, in plain words.
Location
- An embedded map and your town or suburb.
- A short “getting here” section, with the distance to the beach, town or main attractions.
- Nearby things to do, so guests can picture the trip.
Trust
- Your best guest reviews and your rating, near the top.
- Your Airbnb or Booking.com links, so guests can read more reviews.
- Who you are. A short line about the host or owner.
The technical bits
- Mobile first. It must look right and load fast on a phone.
- Local SEO. Page titles and descriptions with your town and accommodation type, schema markup and a sitemap.
- A Google Business Profile linked to the site.
- A short FAQ that answers the questions you keep getting.
Want it done for you?
The items above are all part of our Airbnb booking website, live in as little as 48 hours from R999 once-off or R399 a month.