I’m Kayla. I host two small places: a cozy bungalow in Boise and a woodsy cabin near McCall. I wanted fewer fees, more control, and a site I could share on Instagram and with repeat guests. So I tried four “Airbnb website builder” routes, for real, with my own money. Some were fast and simple. Some needed a little nerd brain. All of them taught me something.
You know what? I didn’t expect to enjoy this. But I did. Mostly.
Quick note before we start
- This is first-hand. I set these up myself.
- I cared about three things: speed, trust, and no double bookings.
- Real examples included. I’ll name names and share settings I used.
Before diving in, I also skimmed the latest rankings over at Website Builder Awards, which gave me a quick pulse on which tools other hosts swear by.
Curious about every tiny setting I tweaked and the screenshots that didn’t fit here? I wrote a full behind-the-scenes breakdown on Website Builder Awards that you can read right here.
Try #1: Lodgify — I had a working site in a weekend
I tested Lodgify first because I wanted something done fast. I made coffee, put on a podcast, and got to work.
- Setup I did: I picked a simple theme, added both listings, connected my Stripe account, and mapped my domain (mine is short and easy to say on the phone).
- Airbnb connection: I used their Airbnb API so my calendar stayed in sync. No double-booking nightmares.
- Real settings I used: 2-night minimum, 10 a.m. checkout, 12% tax, $80 cleaning fee, and a $35 pet fee. I turned on auto-messages so guests got check-in info two days before arrival.
What happened: A guest from Seattle booked the cabin for a long weekend within 48 hours. She told me she liked that the site had clear photos and an easy “Book Now” button. We both skipped platform fees, which felt nice.
What I liked:
- Fast setup. I wasn’t stuck fiddling all week.
- The calendar sync worked. That’s huge.
- The site looked clean on mobile. My cousin booked on her phone just to test it.
Need extra social proof? I skimmed the recent Lodgify reviews on Capterra and noticed many hosts echoing the same “fast setup” praise I felt.
What bugged me:
- Design felt a bit boxed-in. I wanted more flair on the homepage.
- The blog was basic. I like writing short local guides, and it felt cramped.
- Photo compression was… okay. Not bad. Not great.
Bottom line: If you need a site by Sunday night and you’ve got a busy week, this works. It’s like a good pre-made sandwich—maybe not fancy, but it hits the spot.
Try #2: Squarespace + OwnerRez — Looks pro, but bring your patience
Then I went custom. I used Squarespace for design and OwnerRez for the booking engine and rules. This took longer, but the control was worth it.
How I built it:
- Pages: Home, Bungalow, Cabin, About, FAQ, House Rules, and a “Where to Eat” guide.
- Booking: I embedded the OwnerRez booking widget in a code block. It pulled my rates, fees, and availability.
- Payments: Stripe and PayPal. Both worked. Apple Pay worked on iPhone, which my guests loved.
- Rules: OwnerRez let me build a very clear rental agreement. Guests e-signed it. I also set a security deposit hold. That saved me once when a lamp took a tumble.
A real bump in the road:
- My first draft loaded slow on mobile. I ran a speed test and got a meh score. I swapped my big hero video for a crisp photo and compressed images. It got faster right away.
What I liked:
- Design control. I got to match my brand colors and add a simple logo.
- Strong rules. The rental agreement and security deposit gave me peace of mind.
- Great automations. My door code goes out on its own at 9 a.m. on check-in day.
What tested my patience:
- Styling the embedded widget took time. I had to tweak fonts and buttons so it felt native.
- If code scares you, this combo can feel fussy.
Bottom line: If you like things “just so,” this path is powerful. It felt like building a tiny hotel site, not just a listing page.
Try #3: Smoobu’s Included Website — Simple, honest, and kind of perfect for one place
I wanted something lighter for the Boise bungalow only. Smoobu includes a basic site with their plan, so I gave it a spin.
What I did:
- I added photos, text, amenities, fees, and my domain.
- I used their booking system and let guests pay with Stripe or PayPal.
- I didn’t use the full channel manager this time—just iCal sync to keep Airbnb aligned.
Real result:
- Two direct bookings in July came from my Google Business Profile link to this site. One guest paid with PayPal. Easy.
What I liked:
- Setup was fast. I finished in an afternoon.
- Everything I needed was there. Nothing extra to fight with.
What I wished for:
- The SEO fields were basic. It worked, but I couldn’t nerd out.
- No real blog. I want to write little city guides without wrestling the layout.
Bottom line: This is great if you’ve got one listing and a short to-do list. It’s the “no drama” option.
Running more of a traditional B&B? I recently shared an honest review of the three bed-and-breakfast sites I spun up, and you can peek at that in this write-up.
Try #4: Uplisting’s Direct Booking Link — My secret weapon for last-minute
For same-day bookings, I needed speed. Uplisting gave me a clean direct booking site with a short URL. I slapped it in my Instagram bio and on my email signature.
What I set:
- Connected Stripe. Turned on 3D Secure when possible.
- Instant Book on. Same-day allowed if the unit was clean.
- I made a code for repeat guests: RETURN10.
Real test:
- During a big concert weekend, someone booked the bungalow from their phone in less than two minutes. They checked in three hours later. Zero fuss.
What I liked:
- It’s fast and stable. It just works.
- The calendar shows the real deal since it talks to Airbnb through the channel manager.
What I didn’t:
- Design options are limited. It won’t wow anyone.
- Not great for Google search. It’s more a link you share, not a site to rank.
Bottom line: Keep this in your pocket for rush bookings and social traffic. It’s clutch.
So… which one should you use?
- One listing, short on time: Smoobu site or Uplisting direct link.
- Two to five listings, want control with speed: Lodgify.
- Design picky, need strong rules and deposits: Squarespace + OwnerRez.
If you’re like me, you may mix tools. My main site is Squarespace + OwnerRez. For “we need a place tonight” folks, I keep the Uplisting link handy. If I had to pick only one for most hosts, I’d say Lodgify, because it’s a fair balance.
For an even broader comparison charting the pros, cons, and costs of every major vacation-rental website platform, I keep this living guide updated: The best website builders for vacation rentals (what I actually use).
Real-world tips I wish I knew sooner
- Test taxes with tiny $1 dummy bookings. Make sure city and state add up right.
- Write your house rules like you’re texting a friend. Clear wins. Cute loses.
- Keep your photo sizes under control. Big files make phones cry.
- Add a simple Accessibility note. Even if your place has stairs, be clear and kind.
- Put your Google Business Profile link on your site and your site link on your Profile. Circle of trust.
- Give guests a “Local Picks” page. List coffee, pizza, a walk with a view. People love easy.
- If you host near Portland’s west side (think Hillsboro), your visitors may be looking for evening entertainment ideas—before I put together my own list I cross-referenced the local nightlife roundup at Skip the Games Hillsboro so I could recommend up-to-date spots; the guide is refreshed often and helps you point guests toward safe, reputable late-night venues.
- Consider adding a real-time chat widget on your site so potential guests can ask quick questions before they book—something like Instant Chat can be embedded in minutes and gives travelers immediate answers, boosting confidence and conversion rates.
My verdict (and a tiny confession)
I thought building a site would be a chore. It wasn’t. It felt like setting the table before dinner—tiny details, but they make the night feel good.
If you hate tech,