Web Design for Holiday Lets
Every booking through your own site is one you don't pay a platform 15% for.
We built the website for Locksmith Cottage. A holiday let is a small business with one product and a lot of competition on the big booking platforms, and its own website is the only place it controls the whole sale.
What a holiday let website needs
Photos that show the place honestly and well. A clear description of what's there: bedrooms, beds, parking, dogs, Wi-Fi, the things guests email to ask. An availability calendar and a way to book or enquire that works on a phone. Local information that sells the area, not just the cottage. And reviews, pulled from wherever you already have them.
Direct bookings and the platforms
Most owners can't leave the big platforms, and we wouldn't tell you to. But guests who find you there often search your name before booking. If your own site comes up, looks better and offers a small reason to book direct, you keep that booking and the fee. Getting your own site to rank for your name and your area is a modest local SEO job with a clear return.
How we'd do it
Websites for holiday lets: your questions
Is it worth having a website if we're already on Airbnb and Booking.com?
Yes. Most owners can't leave the big platforms, and we wouldn't suggest it. But guests often search your property's name before they book, and repeat guests come back directly. Your own site is the only place you keep the whole booking and the guest's details.
Can guests book and pay directly on our website?
Yes. We can add a booking calendar and secure payments, or connect a channel manager so your availability stays in sync with the platforms and you never double-book.
What do guests want to know before booking?
Bedrooms and bed sizes, parking, whether dogs are welcome, Wi-Fi, the kitchen, accessibility, and what's nearby. Answering these clearly cuts down on emails and helps you show up for searches like "dog-friendly cottage" plus your area.
Has anything changed in the rules for holiday lets?
Yes. The furnished holiday lettings tax regime was abolished from April 2025, and the government has announced plans for a register of short-term lets in England. Fire safety rules also apply to holiday lets. None of that changes your website much, but it's worth speaking to your accountant, and we can add any registration details once a scheme is live.
How do we rank for our area?
With a page that sells the area as well as the property: walks, pubs, beaches, attractions and how to get there. That content helps Google connect your property with searches for holidays in your part of Lincolnshire or wherever you are.
Have you built holiday let websites before?
Yes, including the website for Locksmith Cottage.
Talk to us
Ring 0800 699 0037 or email hello@codesky.co.uk.


