7 Pages Every Short Term Rental Direct Booking Website Needs
If you're thinking about building or refreshing a direct booking website for your short term rental, you already know the goal: to increase bookings while reducing reliance on OTAs, and create a guest experience that starts long before your visitors arrive. Here’s the truth most hosts miss though: beautiful photos and a great property aren’t enough.
The real difference? A website that’s designed around how guests make decisions.
Your direct booking site is your 24/7 salesperson. It’s also your trust builder and booking assistant—all in one. When done right, it fills your calendar with direct bookings while you sleep.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential pages every STR direct booking website needs and how to make each one work harder to convert clicks into stays.
Things we’ll cover:
What your homepage needs to do in the first 5 seconds
How to turn property listings into booking magnets
Why your About page isn’t about you (and what to do instead)
One simple page that boosts SEO and the guest experience
Whether you're just launching or leveling up, this guide will help you build a short-term rental website that books more directly.
1. Homepage
The gateway to a high-converting short term rental direct booking website
Think of your homepage as your digital front door. Within seconds, visitors decide whether your property feels like the right fit. It’s your welcome mat, and the very first step of the guest journey.
A high-converting homepage should:
Quickly show the vibe and the experience guests can expect. (especially if you have multiple listings)
Build trust. Use guest reviews with return-guest stats or a Why Guests Come Back section
Create an emotional connection with vibe-rich visuals and copy (e.g., family-friendly lake getaway, cozy cabin retreat, etc.)
Guide visitors to the next step with clear calls to action throughout: view properties, reserve now, or contact.
Pro tip: The goal here is to intrigue potential guests and make them say Ooh, I want to stay here. So avoid overloading with amenities or features; focus instead on establishing credibility and guide them toward learning more.
2. Property Page(s)
Sell the experience, not the specs
If you have one property only, this will be your main landing page. If you have several, treat it like a property catalog, where each listing acts as its own product. You can group listings by location or size to help guests quickly find the right fit.
Every property should have its own dedicated page because:
Google can index it individually (SEO boost)
Guests can explore that specific property in depth (getting them closer to yes)
Instead of listing every amenity, highlight 2–3 key features that matter most to your target guests. Think: a hot tub with a view, walking distance to the brewery trail, or bunk room for kids. Use storytelling to describe the vibe: "Unwind in a cedar soaking tub after a day of hiking" is much better than “1 full bathroom with hot tub.”
Include:
Professional, vibe-rich photos so guests can imagine themselves there
1–3 guest reviews per property
A prominent, easy-to-find booking button
Pro tip: Treat every property page like a standalone sales page for your STR direct booking website. Use past guest reviews and feedback to highlight what was most important to them; chances are, your future guests will care about those same things and will look for these too.
3. About Page
Build trust without making it about you
While hotels absolutely have their place, many travelers turn to short term rentals because they crave something more personal and meaningful than what big chain hotels typically offer. They’re craving spaces with a story, where every detail feels intentional; not a standard-issue room that could be anywhere.
This page is your chance to make that emotional connection from the very first click.
Here’s how to structure it:
Share your why: maybe your property was created as a family escape from city life or a nature-first retreat inspired by your own travels. Bring that story into the spotlight.
Highlight the thought behind your stays, like designing the layout for the best sunset views or stocking a curated local coffee sampler to greet guests.
If you do want to introduce the founder or team, do it with intention. For example: “Our founder chose this location because it was the kind of place he wanted to bring his kids every summer.”
Pro tip: Lead with the story behind the stay, not your bio. Guests want to feel why you created this space for them, so they feel confident choosing you.
4. Booking Page
The final click that fills your calendar
All roads lead here. This one’s simple, yet critical–everything eventually funnels your guest to this moment. If anything causes friction, you risk losing the booking and the revenue.
Your booking page should link directly to your PMS software or booking engine, with a process that’s seamless from mobile to desktop. Most PMS platforms will generate a default booking page. That’s fine–when you’ve done the upfront work on your other pages, the guest is already sold by the time they arrive here. They just want an easy way to reserve.
Make sure:
The right link connects to the right property
The booking process is seamless on mobile and desktop
You’ve tested the entire guest flow from start to finish
Pro tip: Test your booking links monthly. A broken “Book Your Stay” button is silent revenue loss. Make sure your booking CTA appears on every page of your site; guests should never have to wonder where to click next.
5. Experience Page
Show up before they’re ready to book
Many guests start trip planning by searching for the destination, not a specific property. They search for things to do, places to eat, itinerary ideas, or the best neighborhoods to stay in. This is your chance to meet them early in the search and start building trust long before they’re ready to book.
A strong experience page pays off over time. By investing in content that answers the questions your future guests are already Googling, you position your brand earlier in their decision-making journey. The earlier you show up with helpful, local guidance, the more likely they are to remember you and book with you directly when they’re ready.
Here’s what to include:
Local attractions, restaurants, trails–the places you actually recommend to friends
Special add-ons that elevate the stay like private chefs or massage therapy
Insider perks like early check-in for returning guests or partnered experiences with local restaurants
Travel tips such as what to pack, seasonal highlights, or local events
Pro tip: This page is an SEO workhorse. It can help you rank for location-based searches like Best cabins near [Your Destination] or Romantic getaway in [Region Name], bringing in organic traffic from travelers actively planning their trip to your area.
6. Contact & FAQ Page
This page might seem like a formality, but it’s more than that; it’s a chance to build trust and gather insights that help you serve your guests better.
Part one: Reduce friction before booking
A thoughtful FAQ answers the questions guests usually have before they feel ready to book. Even if some details also appear in your PMS checkout flow, surfacing them earlier reassures guests and removes hesitation.
Common examples include:
Can I bring my pet?
Is the property family-friendly or set up for kids?
Is it accessible for strollers or wheelchairs?
How close are you to [nearest airport / major attractions / local town]?
What’s the parking situation?
Is Wi-Fi available and reliable?
Part two: Gather insights for personalization
Your contact form gives you the chance to ask a few intentional questions that help you tailor welcome touches, plan personalized recommendations, and spot patterns that shape your marketing.
Consider asking:
Are you celebrating something special?
Where are you visiting from?
What brings you to [destination]?
Are you looking for relaxation, adventure, or a little of both?
By designing both your FAQ and contact form with intention, you not only reduce booking friction but also open the door to curating a more personal guest experience while gathering insights that make your marketing more effective.
Pro tip: Think of your FAQ as reassurance and your contact form as research. One removes doubt, the other adds depth. Together, they make your site feel reliable and personal; and give you the insights to design experiences guests rave about and return to.
7. Policies Page
Don’t list house rules and call it a day; this is a chance to make sure expectations are clear before a booking is made. When guests know the guidelines in advance, it prevents surprises for them and protects you as the host. The result: smoother stays and fewer headaches on both sides.
Part One: Make Policies Easy to Find
Whether you create a standalone page or include a footer link to the policies in your PMS, the key is accessibility. Guests shouldn’t have to dig for cancellation terms or check-in details; surfacing them early builds trust and removes friction.
Part Two: Keep the Tone Guest-Friendly
Policies don’t have to sound harsh. Frame them in the same welcoming voice you use throughout your site: “We kindly ask guests to respect quiet hours after 10 PM so everyone can enjoy a peaceful stay.”
Pro tip: Clear, visible policies reduce hesitation before booking and reduce headaches after. Whether they live on your site or link out to your PMS, the easier they are to find and understand, the more confident a guest feels clicking Reserve.
BONUS: Blog or Resource Library
Not required on day one, but once your core pages are in place, a blog or resource hub can become a powerful driver of direct bookings. It works in the background, attracting the right guests through search while building trust and authority for your brand.
Capture search traffic
Share travel tips or insider local insights that make you a trusted guide
Answer common guest questions in more depth than an FAQ
Build organic traffic with long-tail keywords tied to your destination
The bigger payoff
A blog is a long-term strategy. Each post is a new door into your direct booking website, bringing future guests to you before they ever see an OTA listing. And because it runs quietly in the background, it frees you up to focus on the lifestyle and business goals that matter most.
Pro tip: Think evergreen. Posts like Best Time to Visit [Destination] or Top 5 Restaurants Near [Your Property] continue working for you year after year, making your direct booking site a marketing engine on autopilot.
Final Thoughts
Your short term rental direct booking website is your brand, your sales funnel, and your welcome mat all in one. Every page should work together to move a guest from curiosity to confirmation.
Quick checklist for a high-converting site
Loads quickly and works seamlessly on mobile (most travel bookings happen there)
Clear navigation and strong CTAs (reserve now, view availability, etc.)
SEO-friendly copy that feels human, not robotic
Guest reviews placed where they add credibility
Professional photos that capture the vibe, not only the space
Cohesive branding that reflects the quality of your guest experience
Focus on the essentials (Homepage, Property, About, Booking, Experience, Contact, and Policies) and your site becomes a complete journey that welcomes, reassures, and converts.
Pro tip: Treat your website like your best employee. It informs, inspires, and sells—even while you’re off the clock.
Not sure where to start?
DM me on Instagram @madm.co — I’ll help you figure out your best next step and share practical ways to make your direct booking website stronger.