The Problem with Booking & Co.
What Your Holiday Rental Website Needs
Availability Calendar
Guests can instantly see when your holiday rental is available. Synchronisation with Booking, Airbnb, and other platforms is possible.
Online Booking System
Direct booking with deposit or prepayment. Automatic confirmation by email. No commission, full control.
Professional Photo Gallery
Large, high-quality images of your property. Virtual tours available. First impressions count!
Local Area Tips
Day trips, restaurants, beaches — show your guests what the North Sea coast has to offer. Add value, boost bookings.
Guest Reviews
Real reviews from real guests. Build trust and make booking decisions easier.
Local SEO
Get found for searches like "holiday rental Carolinensiel" or "North Sea apartment dog-friendly". Organic bookings without advertising costs.
With your own website:
- 0% commission on direct bookings
- All guest data belongs to you
- Direct contact with your guests
- Returning guests always book directly
- Independence from platform rules
Platforms + Own Website = Maximum
We don't recommend leaving Booking & Co. entirely. Use the platforms for reach and new guests — but redirect them to your own website for the next booking.
A simple flyer in the holiday rental with your website address is often enough: "Book directly next time and save 10%!"
Many of our clients achieve 30-50% direct bookings within one year.
Transparent Pricing
An investment that pays for itself quickly.
Complete Holiday Rental Website
- Responsive design for all devices
- Availability calendar with booking request
- Professional photo gallery with lightbox
- Amenities & pricing overview
- SEO optimisation for local search
- SSL certificate & GDPR-compliant
Optional: Fully automated booking system with online payment from +€890
Hinweis: Die genannten Preise sind Richtwerte für eine komplett neue Website und dienen zur ersten Orientierung. Der tatsächliche Preis hängt von Ihren individuellen Anforderungen ab — Seitenanzahl, Funktionsumfang, vorhandene Inhalte und mehr. Im kostenlosen Erstgespräch klären wir gemeinsam Ihre Wünsche und erstellen Ihnen ein verbindliches Angebot. Keine Überraschungen, versprochen.
FAQ: Websites for Holiday Rentals
Is it worth having my own website alongside Booking.com and Airbnb?
Absolutely, and for several reasons. Booking.com and Airbnb charge between 15 and 18 percent commission per booking. With annual revenue of €30,000, that's €4,500 to €5,400 going to the platforms. With your own website, guests can book directly with you commission-free. Our experience shows that rental owners with a professional website generate 30 to 50 percent of their bookings directly within one year. In the example above, that means savings of €1,350 to €2,700 annually. On top of that, you get all guest data for repeat customer marketing, have direct contact without a platform middleman, and are independent of the constantly changing rules of booking portals.
How much does a holiday rental website with a booking system cost?
Our holiday rental websites start from €1,890 one-time. This base price includes an appealing design that presents your property in the best light, a professional photo gallery with lightbox functionality, an availability calendar with booking request via email, a clear amenities and pricing table, local area tips for your guests, SEO optimisation for local searches like "holiday rental Carolinensiel", as well as SSL encryption and GDPR-compliant implementation. For fully automated direct bookings with online payment, there is an additional cost of approximately €890. This system allows guests to book and pay a deposit instantly, and the availability calendar updates automatically. We're happy to advise you on which option makes the most sense for your situation.
Can the availability calendar sync with Booking and Airbnb?
Yes, synchronisation is possible and important to avoid double bookings. We use the iCal standard, which all major booking platforms support. The process is simple: when a booking comes in through your website, the availability calendar is updated and the data is automatically transmitted to Booking.com, Airbnb, and other portals. It works the other way around too. This gives you a unified, up-to-date availability calendar across all channels. For multiple holiday rentals, the system can manage several calendars simultaneously. We handle the complete synchronisation setup for you.
How do I get returning guests to book directly through my website?
It's easier than you think and very effective. The best strategy: place a flyer or a nice card in your holiday rental with the message "Book directly next time and save 10%!". Add your website address and a QR code. Many guests appreciate the price advantage and the more personal booking experience. Other methods: send a personal email after departure thanking them and pointing to your website. Use your guest data for a newsletter with seasonal offers. Offer exclusive extras on your website like a free upgrade for direct bookings. Create a loyalty programme. After one year, most of our clients have built up a significant share of direct bookings.
Do holiday rental websites get found on Google?
Yes, and this is one of the biggest advantages of having your own website. We optimise every holiday rental website specifically for local search queries. This means: when someone searches for "holiday rental Carolinensiel with dog" or "North Sea apartment with sea view", your website should appear as high as possible. To achieve this, we focus on technical SEO fundamentals like fast loading times and mobile optimisation, create optimised content with the right keywords for your region and target audience, implement structured data for rich snippets in search results, and set up your Google Business Profile. Organic bookings through Google are particularly valuable as they don't incur ongoing costs unlike advertising. Many of our clients receive regular enquiries directly through Google after a few months.
Can I update my holiday rental website myself?
Yes, all our websites come with a user-friendly content management system. You can independently adjust prices for different seasons, upload or replace photos, add or change amenities, update local area tips, and edit texts. The interface is intuitive and requires no technical knowledge. After launch, we train you personally in using the system. For the availability calendar and booking system, there is also a simple interface where you can confirm, cancel, or manually enter bookings. If you ever get stuck or want larger changes, our support is available by email and phone.
Less Commission, More Profit
Let's discuss how you can keep more of your earnings with your own website.
Marketing Your Private North Sea Holiday Rental
Private North Sea Holiday Rental: Book Direct Instead of Booking
More and more holidaymakers specifically search for private North Sea holiday rental or North Sea apartment from owner. They want direct contact with the host, personal tips, and fair prices without platform surcharges. With your own website, you get found for exactly these searches. Your North Sea holiday home appears on Google when travellers seek private charm instead of anonymous hotel chains.
The trend for holiday rental right on the North Sea is unbroken. Guests appreciate the proximity to the beach, the sound of the waves, and the authentic North Sea atmosphere. With a professional website, you can highlight exactly these advantages of your property: How far is it really to the water? Is there a sea view? Is a beach chair included? On your website, you answer these questions in detail with beautiful photos.
North Sea Holiday Homes with Dogs
North Sea holiday rentals with dogs are one of the most searched categories overall. Dog owners know: not every host allows pets, and finding a suitable property is often tedious. If your holiday rental is dog-friendly, you have a real goldmine here. With your own website, you can specifically target this audience.
We optimise your website for keywords like North Sea holiday homes with dogs and create a dedicated landing page for dog owners. There you can showcase: fenced garden? Dog beach nearby? Dog bowl and treat box as a welcome gift? These details make the difference and lead to more bookings. Check out our holiday rental website examples .
Less Commission, More Profit
The major booking platforms have revolutionised the holiday rental market and make it easy for hosts to reach guests. But this convenience comes at a price: commissions of 15 to 18 percent per booking quickly add up to significant amounts. With annual rental revenue of €30,000, €4,500 to €5,400 goes to the platforms alone. Money you can reclaim with your own website.
A professional holiday rental website doesn't replace the platforms — it complements them sensibly. You continue to use Booking.com and Airbnb for acquiring new guests, but encourage them to book directly next time. A flyer in the holiday rental, a personal message after the stay, or a small price advantage for direct booking is often enough. Our experience shows: within one year, most hosts achieve 30 to 50 percent direct bookings and save thousands of euros in commissions.
Impress Guests with Professional Presentation
Your own website lets you present your holiday rental exactly the way you want — without platform restrictions. Large, high-resolution photo galleries show every corner of your property. Virtual 360-degree tours let potential guests walk through the rooms before booking. Detailed descriptions of your amenities and surroundings build anticipation for the holiday.
Especially on the North Sea coast, guests expect specific information: How far is it to the beach? Is there a beach chair? Are dogs allowed? What attractions are nearby? On your own website, you can answer all these questions in detail and thus attract the right guests from the outset.
Winning and Retaining Repeat Guests
The biggest advantage of your own website is direct contact with your guests. With platform bookings, you often only receive an anonymised email address. With your own website, all guest data belongs to you: email addresses for newsletters, postal addresses for Christmas greetings. This is how you build real relationships and turn one-time guests into regulars.
Check out our holiday rental website references , or contact us for a free consultation. With our price calculator you can get an initial cost estimate.