Websites for lodges and guest houses
For lodges, guest houses, B&Bs and tour operators who want travellers to find them directly and enquire or book without a middleman.
A lodge or guest house website should show rooms, rates, photos, location and availability clearly enough that a traveller can decide and enquire in one visit. Its commercial purpose is direct bookings: booking platforms charge the property a commission on each stay, and a direct booking does not carry that cost.
What travellers look for
- Photos of the actual rooms, bathrooms and grounds
- Rates, and what is included: breakfast, Wi-Fi, parking, airport or border transfers
- Exactly where you are, and how to get there
- What there is to do nearby
- Whether you are open and have space on their dates
- A way to ask a question and get an answer the same day
What we build in
- A page per room type, with photos, capacity and rate
- An enquiry or booking form that asks for dates and guests
- WhatsApp and call buttons that work from abroad, with the country code
- A map, directions and distances from the nearest town, airport or border post
- An activities page for the area
- Fast loading for visitors on roaming data
Commission adds up
Booking platforms bring guests you would not otherwise reach, and most properties should stay listed. But each booking through them costs a commission. One industry guide puts Booking.com's global average at around 15%, within a range of 10% to 25% (MotoPress); your own rate is in your partner agreement.
Many travellers find a property on a platform and then search for its name. If your own site appears, loads fast and makes booking easy, some of those stays come to you directly.
Enquiry form or live booking
| Enquiry website | Website with online booking | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Guest sends dates; you confirm by email or WhatsApp | Guest sees availability and books; you receive a confirmed reservation |
| Suits | Smaller properties that answer quickly | Properties with many rooms or many foreign guests |
| Starting price | N$2,629.99 | N$4,669.99, or scoped as a system |
| Read more | Business website | Booking and web systems |
Open an example before you decide
We have built fictional example sites for a guest house, a lodge, a hotel and a safari operator, so you can see the structure on your own phone. They are demonstrations, not client work.
Common questions
Should we leave the booking platforms?
Usually not. They reach travellers who have never heard of you. A good website works alongside them and wins back the guests who look you up by name.
Can guests pay a deposit online?
Yes, through a payment gateway that accepts foreign cards. The gateway's fees are separate and shown in your scope.
Can the site be in more than one language?
Yes. Tell us which languages your guests use and we scope the translation and the language switch.
We have poor signal at the lodge. Can we still manage the site?
Yes. The site is hosted elsewhere and stays online regardless. Enquiries can be sent to email and WhatsApp so you see them whenever you have signal.
Tell us the problem. We will tell you what it takes to fix it.
Send a message, call, or use the form. You get a written scope and a price before any work starts, and there is no charge for the first conversation.