Building the Best Website for Short Term Rentals: Expert Insights & Tips

Your domain name is the foundation of your online presence. It should be short, easy to remember, and relevant to your rental business. A good rule of thumb is to include a keyword related to your industry, such as bikerentals, gearhire, or adventureequipment. Your domain name plays a key role in branding and discoverability, especially if you’re aiming to build the best website for short term rentals.

For new businesses or those without an existing website, choosing a domain name that reflects your rental offerings and location can help customers find you easily. Established businesses can use their business name as the domain to maintain branding consistency across all platforms, but they should still check for availability and ensure it’s easy for customers to remember and find. Whether you’re starting fresh or refining your online presence, your domain name should make a strong first impression.

Before committing to a name, you’ll need to check if it’s available. You can use domain registrars like:

• Namecheap (namecheap.com)
• GoDaddy (godaddy.com)
• Google Domains (domains.google)
• Bluehost (bluehost.com)

Simply enter your desired domain name into their search bar, and they’ll show you whether it’s available, along with alternatives if your first choice is taken.

Once you find an available domain name, you can purchase it through the registrar. Prices typically range from $10 to $20 per year, depending on the extension (.com, .co.uk, .net, etc.).

Top Tip: Some website hosting providers offer a free domain for the first year if you purchase a hosting plan with them. If you want to keep everything in one place, you can register your domain directly through your hosting provider.

What to Do If Your Domain Isn’t Available

If your preferred domain is taken, don’t worry! Here’s what you can do:

• Get creative: Add a location or service-specific keyword (like “BikeRentalsLondon.com”).
• Try a different extension: If .com is unavailable, you could go for options like .co, .net, or even .rentals.
• Use a domain generator: Tools like Namecheap or Lean Domain Search can help find available domains based on your keywords.

Now that you have your domain, you need a hosting provider to store your website files and make them accessible online. Choosing the right hosting is crucial to building the best website for short term rentals, as slow loading times or downtime can frustrate potential customers and hurt your business.

1. Fast loading speeds (essential for customer experience and SEO)
2. Good uptime (99.9% or higher) to avoid downtime
3. SSL certificates (for secure transactions)
4. Scalability (so your site can handle growth)

Some reliable hosting options include:

• SiteGround – Great for speed and customer support
• Bluehost – Budget-friendly and beginner-friendly
• Kinsta – Premium, high-performance hosting
• WP Engine – Optimised for WordPress users

If you’re using WordPress, you might want managed WordPress hosting, which includes automatic updates and security features to keep your site running smoothly.

Top Tip: Check whether your chosen website platform includes hosting or requires a separate hosting provider. Some platforms, like Wix and Squarespace, come with built-in hosting, while others, like WordPress, need external hosting.

Choosing the best website builder for short term rentals is crucial to making sure your site is user-friendly and scalable. It determines how easy it is to build, update, and manage your site. If you’re not a web developer, you’ll want a platform that’s easy to use while still offering the essential features to run an online rental business.

With the right setup, you can build the best website for short term rentals, allowing customers to book easily while keeping your operations smooth. Here are four easy-to-use website platforms:

WordPress is the backbone of more than 43% of websites worldwide, making it one of the most widely used content management systems. It’s perfect if you want full control over your site and plan to scale your business.

• Highly customisable with thousands of themes
• Rental-specific plugins like Bookly or Amelia for online bookings
• WooCommerce integration for secure payments and inventory management
• Requires hosting setup, but great for long-term growth

If you choose WordPress, pair it with a good hosting provider like SiteGround or Bluehost for the best performance.

Wix is great if you want a simple, drag-and-drop website builder that’s easy to use without coding.

• Intuitive editor with simple drag-and-drop elements
• Built-in booking features for rentals
• SEO-friendly with tools to improve visibility
• Less flexible than WordPress but great for quick setup

Wix is ideal if you need a visually appealing, user-friendly website that works out of the box.

Squarespace offers sleek, professional templates with built-in booking and payment integrations.

• Beautiful, ready-made templates – ideal for brand-focused businesses
• Booking and e-commerce integrations for rental payments
• All-in-one platform with hosting included
• Less customisable than WordPress but easier to use

If you want a polished, stylish rental website without technical hassle, Squarespace is a great choice.

Shopify is a powerful e-commerce platform that also works well for rental businesses, especially if you use it as a POS system.

• Website builder with drag-and-drop design, no coding required
• Seamless POS integration for in-store and online rentals
• Built-in payment processing with Shopify Payments
• Secure hosting is included, so no separate hosting is needed

If you run a rental shop and need a POS system that syncs with your website, Shopify is a solid option.

A well-designed website builds trust with customers and makes the booking process seamless. Look at the best websites for short term rentals in your industry and take note of their design, layout, and features. These businesses have likely refined their websites based on customer behaviour and industry best practices, making them great examples to follow.

When selecting a theme or template, ensure it includes:

• Clear navigation: A well-structured menu that allows visitors to find what they need quickly
• Visually engaging layouts: Templates that highlight key information while making space for your branding and images
• Call-to-action (CTA) placement: Prominent “Book Now” or “Reserve” buttons to encourage conversions
• Mobile responsiveness: A design that works seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and smartphones
• SEO-friendly structure: Clean, fast-loading pages that help improve search rankings

Your theme options will depend on the platform you’ve chosen:

• WordPress: Browse ThemeForest for rental business themes
• Wix: Explore Wix’s built-in template library for industry-specific designs
• Squarespace: Check out Squarespace’s pre-designed templates, many of which include booking features
• Shopify: Visit the Shopify Theme Store or look at third-party providers for rental-friendly themes

A well-chosen theme ensures your site is professional, user-friendly, and optimised for bookings. By following the structure of successful rental websites, you’ll be well on your way to building the best website for short term rentals in your industry.

Important Info: Website themes typically cost anywhere from $0 to $300. Some platforms offer free themes, while premium themes generally range from $50 to $200 as a one-time purchase. Subscription-based website builders may include themes in their monthly plans, which can range from $16 to $159 per month.

A well-structured website ensures a smooth customer experience and increases bookings. To build the best website for short term rentals, focus on clarity, ease of navigation, and strong visual elements that guide visitors toward making a booking.

Essential pages for your rental equipment website include:

• Home Page: Introduce your rental offerings and highlight what makes your business stand out.
• Rental Catalogue: Organising your short-term rental listings with clear descriptions and pricing will make it easier for customers to understand your rental offerings.
• Pricing & Booking: Ensure pricing is transparent and easy to find. A clear “Book a Rental” button should be visible in the navigation bar and throughout the site.
• FAQ Page: Answer common questions about rental terms, deposits, and policies to reduce customer inquiries.
• Contact Page: Include phone, email, location, and a contact form for easy communication.

Good design isn’t just about looks; it’s about making it easy for customers to book. Here are some simple ways to make your website more user-friendly and increase conversions.

• Make the “Book a Rental” button impossible to miss: Place it in the navigation bar and repeat it on key pages so customers can book from anywhere on the site.

• Use high-quality images for every rental item: Customers want to see exactly what they’re renting, so ensure each listing has multiple clear photos.

• Keep the layout simple and mobile-friendly: Most bookings will come from mobile devices, so make sure your site is easy to navigate on smaller screens.

• Use compelling call-to-actions (CTAs): Guide visitors with phrases like “Reserve Your Gear Now” or “Check Availability” to encourage bookings.

A well-designed website makes booking effortless for customers and helps establish trust in your rental business. Once your layout is set, the next step is embedding a booking widget that connects to your rental software, ensuring a seamless reservation process.

If you’re aiming for the best direct booking website for short-term rentals, integrating a booking widget can streamline the reservation process. A widget is a small tool that is embedded directly into your website, allowing customers to check availability and book instantly. Unlike a traditional contact form, where customers enter details and wait for a response, a widget provides a seamless, real-time experience, enabling immediate bookings without manual handling. This makes the reservation process faster and more efficient for both you and your customers.

When choosing a booking widget, look for one that:

• Syncs with your inventory in real-time so customers only see available rentals
• Accepts secure online payments to make transactions quick and hassle-free
• Sends automated booking confirmations to keep customers informed
• Includes digital waivers to save time for staff in-store and help with liability

Many rental management software solutions, like Hubtiger, offer booking widgets that can be embedded directly into your website. This ensures all reservations, payments, and waivers are managed in one place, making your rental operations more efficient.

With Hubtiger’s software, customers can review and sign the rental waiver digitally at the end of the booking process. This ensures they understand the rental terms before confirming their reservation, reducing confusion and protecting your business. It also saves your staff time in-store by eliminating the need for paper waivers.

Adding a booking widget to your website makes it easier for customers to rent from you while saving time on admin work. With a strong layout and an easy booking process, your site is well on its way to being the best website for short term rentals in your industry.

Optimising your site for search engine optimisation (SEO) is key to ranking on the best short-term rental sites and increasing visibility for your business. SEO is the process of improving your website so that it appears higher in Google search results when customers look for rental services. The better your SEO, the more potential customers will visit your site, helping you build the best website for short term rentals. Here is how you can optimise for SEO: 

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when searching for rental services. To find the best ones, use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Semrush to see what customers are searching for. Add these keywords naturally to page titles, descriptions, and headings to improve your chances of ranking higher.

Regularly updating your website with blog posts, guides, and industry insights helps improve your SEO. Search engines prioritise websites that provide fresh, helpful content. Consider writing about:

• Rental tips (e.g., “How to Choose the Right Ski Equipment for Your Trip”)
• Destination guides (e.g., “Best Cycling Routes in London”)
• Maintenance advice (e.g., “How to Keep Your Rental Bike in Top Condition”)

Creating useful, keyword-rich content not only helps with SEO but also positions your business as an expert in the rental industry.

Alt text (alternative text) is primarily for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers, but it also helps search engines understand what an image is about. Adding descriptive alt text (e.g., “red mountain bike available for hire in London”) improves accessibility and can help your images appear in Google Image Search, bringing in more visitors.

Answering common customer questions not only improves user experience but also helps your site show up for relevant search queries. To find commonly asked questions:

• Check Google’s “People also ask” section for rental-related searches.
• Use Answer The Public to find questions based on a specific keyword.
• Look at competitor websites and their FAQ pages.
• Ask your own customers what they typically want to know before booking.

Page speed matters for SEO because Google prioritises websites that load quickly. A slow website can frustrate users, increasing “bounce rates” (when people leave your site quickly), which signals to Google that your site isn’t user-friendly. Improve page speed by:

• Choosing a good hosting provider that offers fast load times.
• Compressing images so they load faster without sacrificing quality.
• Reducing unnecessary plugins or scripts that slow down your site.

Up to 61.5% of global search traffic and 63% of search traffic in the United States comes from mobile devices. Since Google uses mobile-first indexing, it primarily ranks websites based on their mobile performance. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it could rank lower in search results. To improve mobile usability, make sure your site:

• Uses a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes.
• Has buttons and text that are easy to tap and read on mobile devices.
• Loads quickly on smartphones and tablets by optimising images and reducing large page elements.

Important Info: SEO takes time, but even small improvements can help more customers find your rental business online. By focusing on keywords, content creation, website speed, and mobile usability, you’ll make your site more discoverable and one step closer to becoming the best website for short term rentals.

Before launching your website, set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your website’s performance. These tools provide valuable insights into how customers find and interact with your site, allowing you to make data-driven improvements. By monitoring traffic and search rankings, you can refine your strategy to ensure you’re building the best website for short term rentals.

1. Go to Google Analytics and create an account.
2. Add your website as a property and generate your tracking code.
3. Install the tracking code on your website. You can do this:
   • Directly in your website’s CMS (e.g., WordPress, Wix, Shopify)
   • Via Google Tag Manager (recommended for easier management and is explained below)
4. Set up key events to track actions like bookings, contact form submissions, or completed checkouts.

Once Google Analytics is set up, you’ll gain valuable insights into how visitors engage with your site, helping you identify areas for improvement to make your website for short-term rentals more effective and tailored to your audience.

Google Tag Manager (GTM) is a free tool that simplifies how you add and manage tracking codes (also called “tags”) on your website without editing code manually. Instead of adding separate tracking scripts for Analytics, ads, or other tools, GTM allows you to control them all from one dashboard. Here’s why you should use Google Tag Manager: 

• Easier tracking management: Add and update tracking codes without needing a developer.
• Faster website performance: Loads tracking tags efficiently, preventing slowdowns.
• More flexibility: Set up triggers to track specific actions (e.g., when someone clicks the “Book Now” button).

1. Go to Google Tag Manager and create an account.
2. Add your website as a new container and get the Tag Manager code.
3. Install the Tag Manager code on your website (similar to the Analytics tracking code).
4. Inside Google Tag Manager, create a new tag for Google Analytics and set it to fire on all pages.
5. Publish the changes, and now Analytics is tracking your website without needing to edit your site’s code directly.

Using Google Tag Manager ensures your tracking remains organised, scalable, and easy to adjust as your business grows, helping you optimise the best website for short term rentals.

Google Search Console allows you to track how well your website is performing in search results. It helps you monitor which pages Google has indexed, identify SEO issues, and improve your site’s visibility. Begin by visiting Google Search Console and create an account or sign in.

This method is best if you want a stable verification that remains even if you make website changes.

Where to get the code?

• In Google Search Console, choose DNS verification as your method.
• Google will generate a TXT record (a short code) for you.

How to add it?

1. Log into your domain provider (where you bought your domain, like GoDaddy, SiteGround, or Namecheap).
2. Find DNS settings or Manage DNS.
3. Look for an option to add a new TXT record and paste the code from Google.
4. Save your changes, go back to Google Search Console, and click Verify (it may take a few minutes to update).

By setting up Google Search Console, you ensure your site is fully optimised for search visibility, giving your rental business a better chance to rank higher in Google results for short term rentals.

This method works well if you have access to your website’s root directory (the main folder where your site files are stored).

Where to get the file?

Google will give you a small HTML file to download.

How do I upload it?

1. Log into your website hosting provider (like Bluehost or SiteGround) and go to the File Manager or FTP access.
2. Find the public_html folder (this is your root directory).
3. Upload the HTML file to this folder.
4. Return to Google Search Console and click Verify.

Where to get the tag?

In Google Search Console, choose Google Tag Manager as your method.

How to add it?

1. Log into Google Tag Manager and open your website’s container.
2. Create a new tag > Select Custom HTML > Paste the code from Google Search Console.
3. Set the trigger to “All Pages”, save the tag, and publish the changes.
4. Return to Google Search Console and click Verify.

Submit an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website to help Google index them properly.

How to find your sitemap?

Most platforms automatically create a sitemap for you:

• WordPress: Install the Yoast SEO plugin to generate a sitemap.
• Wix & Shopify: Your sitemap is usually at yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml.

How do I submit it?

1. In Google Search Console, go to Sitemaps in the left menu.
2. Enter your sitemap URL (e.g., yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml) and click Submit.

Final Checks on Search Console

Check for any indexing errors, mobile usability issues, or security alerts.

• Look for pages that aren’t indexed and request manual indexing if needed.
• Fix mobile usability problems like small text or buttons too close together.
• Ensure your site is secure with an SSL certificate (HTTPS) to avoid security warnings.

Setting up these tools before launch ensures you can track visitor data, improve your search rankings, and refine your marketing strategy from day one. By consistently monitoring your analytics, you’ll be able to optimise your strategy and continue improving the best website for short term rentals in your industry.

Before going live, run a final test to make sure your website is fully functional and gives customers a smooth experience. A well-tested site prevents frustrating issues that could cost you bookings. You want your site to rank among the best short-term rental sites by ensuring it is easy to find and user-friendly.

• Mobile responsiveness: Check how your website looks on different devices by right-clicking anywhere on your site and selecting “Inspect,” then using the device toggle to switch between mobile, tablet, and desktop views to ensure everything resizes correctly.
• Booking process: Make a test booking from start to finish to ensure rental items and dates can be selected without issues, prices update correctly, and the checkout process is smooth and hassle-free.
• Payment system: Complete a test payment using different payment options (credit card, PayPal, etc.) to confirm transactions go through correctly.
• Page speed test: A slow website can put off potential customers, so use Google PageSpeed Insights to check your load speed, and if it takes longer than three seconds, try compressing images, removing unnecessary plugins, or upgrading your hosting plan.
• SEO and security check: Ensure your pages have meta titles and descriptions for search engines, and make sure your site has an SSL certificate (HTTPS) to protect customer data.

Your website is ready to launch!

Now that you have the best website for short term rentals, it’s time to get it in front of potential customers and start taking bookings. Knowing where to list short term rentals outside of your website can increase your visibility and attract customers. Here’s what you can do to help promote your website:

• List your business on Google My Business to appear in local searches and Google Maps.
• Encourage customer reviews to build credibility and improve search rankings.
• Share high-quality images and videos on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to attract more customers.
• Run promotions like a first-time booking discount or referral incentives to drive new bookings.
• Use Google Ads to target people searching for rental services in your area.
• Partner with affiliates such as hotels, B&Bs, and travel companies to reach more customers.
• Use a booking widget to make reservations seamless, and embed it on partner websites if your rental software allows.

A strong promotion strategy ensures your best website for short term rentals gets the visibility it deserves. By combining SEO, social media, and local partnerships, you’ll attract more customers and grow your rental business faster.

Building the best website for short term rentals is just the beginning. Here are a few tips to take it to the next level and ensure it stands out.

• Keep It Simple: Your website should be easy to navigate. A clean, simple design with clear menus makes booking effortless for your customers.

• High-Quality Images: Customers trust businesses that show off their products with sharp, high-resolution images. Make sure your rental gear looks as good as it performs.

• Speed Matters: A slow website can turn people away. Improve your load time by compressing images, choosing fast hosting, and removing unnecessary plugins.

• Clear Descriptions: Customers need to understand exactly what they’re renting. Include details like what’s included, rental durations, and payment methods for a hassle-free experience.

• Price Transparency: No one likes hidden fees. Make your pricing clear and upfront, so customers can make quick decisions without surprises.

• Show Off Customer Reviews: Social proof goes a long way. Display customer reviews and testimonials to build trust and help customers feel confident in their booking.

• Secure Your Website: Ensure your website has SSL encryption for secure transactions and offers trusted payment methods like Stripe or PayPal.

• Keep Content Fresh: A website should never be “set and forget.” Regularly update your rental listings, SEO content, and customer reviews to keep your site fresh.
• List Your Website on Short Term Rental Platforms: Consider listing your rentals as an experience on popular platforms like TripAdvisor, Airbnb, and Booking.com to increase visibility and attract more bookings.

Building a website is just the first step toward growing your rental business. To truly succeed, you need the right tools to manage bookings, payments, and customer interactions efficiently. Hubtiger’s rental software integrates seamlessly with your website, offering a booking widget, digital waivers, and affiliate partnership options with local businesses. By simplifying everything from inventory management to payment processing, Hubtiger makes running your business easier, increasing bookings and helping you grow faster.

We hope you found this blog on the best website for short term rentals helpful. If you’re ready to take your rental business to the next level, book a demo, start a free trial, or watch our demo on demand to see how Hubtiger can support your growth.