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Updated 4 days ago on . Most recent reply
Best option for creating a direct booking website?
I've been looking at purchasing another STR that is currently run as one. The current owner does very well with it but mentioned he uses Hostaway. I am not sure I am at the level to require PMS, this will be my 6th property, but the direct booking is something I'd like to expand into. Hostaway offers this feature but you also pay for their platform.
Is there any user friendly direct booking sites out there that don't incorporate some type of PMS fee structure? Something that will allow it to be a one stop shop for all 6 properties or does each property need its own direct booking site?
Most Popular Reply
You should check out Houfy.com, I have been using this site since their inception and it has gotten better every year. It is a free booking site, free for owners and guests. There are add-on options that you pay for, but I do not use any of them. You can build your own website on there if that is something you want, but I have found no need for that. My Houfy listings are all I need to send to my inquiring guests, with all the information they need. Houfy does offer cancellation insurance to guests that book and that is handled through them and not anything the owner deals with. They also offer damage protection for a fee.
I can take credit cards for payment through STRIPE on Houfy, and I charge a credit card fee because I am charged the credit card fee, but I also give my guests the option to pay me directly with check, venmo or zelle, without the extra fee.
I have 4 listings and out of the 48 reservations I have received this year, 38 are direct bookings through Houfy. I do lower my nightly rate a bit on Houfy and the guest does not have to pay any booking fee, so it is an incentive to book with me directly.
Most of my direct bookings come from repeat guests or guest that inquire through local facebook groups, local listing sites and those that know about Houfy.
It is definitely worth checking out.