Create a hotel website: top tools, costs & tips (2026)

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Top 3 website tools for hotels

• 1 Most flexible solution

  

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  8.3

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  Excellent

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• 2 Great design templates

  

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  8.2

  2026

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• 3 Ideal for beginners

  

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  7.2

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You can create your own hotel website in two main ways — by building it yourself using a website builder or WordPress, or by having it created professionally.

This guide covers both options and includes tool recommendations suitable for hotels, guesthouses, inns and holiday resorts.

You’ll learn what costs to expect, what matters when it comes to planning, design and booking systems — and which legal and data protection aspects you should keep in mind. You’ll also find examples for inspiration and clear tips on how to structure your website content.

• Top website builders
• Get a web design quote

In this article

• Introduction
• Website builder
• Web designer
• Costs
• Planning
• Legal
• Conclusion
• Questions & answers

At a glance

• Methods: You can either create your hotel website yourself or have it designed by professionals. Tools like website builders or WordPress are also suitable for beginners.
• Especially important: Make sure your property and services are presented clearly and attractively, use authentic photos, offer clear contact options and, if relevant, information for job applicants — and don’t overlook legal requirements.
• Costs: Do-it-yourself website builders start at around £5 per month. A custom-made website from a professional typically starts at about £2,000.

Your website is more than a digital noticeboard — it’s your reception desk online. It gives guests an authentic first impression of your place even before they arrive. Compared with booking platforms, your own site gives you full control over content, design and how you communicate.

Typical goals:

• Present your hotel in a stylish, individual way
• Enable direct bookings and reduce commission costs
• Promote events, your restaurant or spa services
• Publish news or job openings
• Create a direct line to guests

A dedicated website helps you reach exactly the kind of guests who fit your hotel — without relying on large booking platforms.

“Texts, images and features shouldn’t just look professional — above all, they should feel authentic and match your property.”

Dirk Metzmacher

Well-designed hotel websites

You can use the following hotel websites as inspiration for your own homepage. I’ve included both successful do-it-yourself examples and professionally designed sites.

Take your time to see which content and features matter most to you — and which design style fits your hotel best.

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  A video greets guests as soon as the page loads. Overall, this template is very image-focused, making it ideal for showcasing a hotel with strong visual content. Go to Wix*

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  A slideshow presents first impressions of the hotel. The way features such as rooms, bar and surroundings are introduced feels modern and well organised. Go to Wix*

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  A dark, very elegant design. A dedicated photo gallery provides a clear overview of all key areas of the hotel. Go to Squarespace*

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  A very clean hotel website design where large images of the rooms take centre stage, while still leaving room to present events, the city and local culture. Go to Squarespace*

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  This hotel website design wasn’t originally created for hotels but for boutiques. With just a few adjustments, it can easily be turned into a suitable hotel web design. Go to IONOS

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  Originally designed for real estate, this template can be easily adapted to hotel needs. Apartments are simply replaced with rooms and presented accordingly. Go to IONOS

Hotel website must-haves

Alongside an attractive design, the right functions matter most. Your site should be informative, intuitive and welcoming — and meet guests where they are: looking for information, offers or their next booking.

Key features:

• Booking system: With calendar and payment options
• Photo galleries: For rooms, surroundings and extras
• Multiple languages: If you welcome international guests
• Directions: With Google Maps
• Reviews or storytelling: A way to show reviews or share your own stories

Ways to build a restaurant website

Creating a hotel website yourself isn’t rocket science these days — especially with website builders or WordPress. It’s cost-effective and flexible. Working with professionals, on the other hand, gives you the benefit of a tailored design and solid technical setup.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through both approaches — with practical recommendations, tested tools, realistic costs and my best tips from experience.

Creating a hotel website yourself is easier than many people expect — and usually much more affordable than hiring an agency. Modern website builders and WordPress, in particular, offer plenty of creative freedom, even if you have no coding skills.

Important: You should feel comfortable using a computer, have a bit of patience, and be willing to learn how the chosen system works. If that’s the case, there’s nothing standing in the way of your own hotel website.

How to build a hotel website with a website builder

You can think of a website builder as a Lego set made up of different blocks.

You start by choosing a base — often called a template or theme — and then add whatever you need in the hotel website builder. This mainly means extra features you switch on as add-ons and that are useful for a hotel website. That may sound a bit technical, but with modern website builders it’s usually straightforward.

And the best part: you typically pay per month not much more than the cost of a breakfast buffet.

In practice, only a few steps are needed to build a hotel homepage in a modular way. First, you choose a design foundation that fits your hotel. Second, you add extra functions for your hotel website, such as a guestbook or a booking system. Finally — and this is the part that tends to take more time — you gather your texts and photos and add them to the site.

Guide:

1. Choose a website builder tool from the overview further down
2. Pick a suitable design template/theme for your hotel website
3. Customise the site to match your preferences
4. Add images and written content
5. Publish your website

Pros and cons of a website builder

• Easy to get started — no coding skills required
• Professionally designed templates can deliver polished results
• No large upfront investment, with affordable monthly plans
• Free plans or trial versions to test things out
• Can be expanded with add-ons such as an online shop or blog
• A support team can help if you run into problems

• Can reach its limits with more complex websites
• Basic plans often come with a limited set of features
• You’re tied to one tool

For hotels, a website builder is often a practical first choice. These systems are beginner-friendly and can be used flexibly.

Suitable templates and the most important standard functions are available from all the tools presented here.

Top pick (9.4 of 10): WordPress

IONOS’s newer WordPress hosting aims to combine the simplicity of a website builder with the advantages of WordPress, the world’s most widely used website system. With its built-in AI setup, it can feel almost as easy as a website builder.

That can make it suitable for beginners who don’t have much experience building websites. The setup assistant guides you step by step through installing WordPress and suggests a practical selection of themes and plugins.

One key difference here is the built-in AI assistant, which can generate an initial WordPress website for you. It helps you take care of the most important settings quickly and find a suitable template. Automatic updates and daily backups can also provide extra peace of mind.

Another plus is customer support, available 24/7, including phone support rather than relying only on chat or email.

Pricing for IONOS WordPress hosting starts at around £1 per month for the first six months, then around £5 per month afterwards. A domain and an email mailbox are included in this price.

Pros of IONOS WordPress hosting

• WordPress installed securely in one click
• AI assistant for building your website
• A professional-looking design within minutes
• Designs well optimised for mobile phones
• All the benefits of WordPress as the world’s most widely used website CMS
• Flexible to extend with plugins
• Blogs or online shops possible
• Switching hosting provider later is possible

Cons of IONOS WordPress hosting

• Less design freedom than drag-and-drop website builders
• The wide range of features can still feel overwhelming for beginners, despite the guided setup

Pricing

• “Start” plan: from £3/month for the first 6 months, then £5/month
• “Grow” plan: from £1/month for the first 6 months, then £10/month
• All plans include your own domain and an email address

Here you can find our detailed IONOS WordPress hosting review.

Whether it’s a tech-savvy friend, a freelancer you find online or a specialised agency — there are many ways to have a professional hotel website built. But how do you tell who will actually do a good job? And what will it cost in the end?

I tested different tools and web design services — from affordable builder-based services with support through to full-service agencies. My focus was on design quality, technical implementation and good value for money.

You’ll find all results and recommendations in this guide — specifically for hotels, guesthouses and hosts.

Before you hire someone, think about this

If you hand your hotel website over to professionals, good preparation pays off. The clearer you communicate your goals and preferences, the smoother the collaboration will be — and the more convincing the result.

What to consider:

• Purpose: What should the website achieve (e.g. bookings, brand image, information)?
• Target groups: Who do you want to reach (leisure guests, business travellers, groups)?
• Key content: What needs to be included (rooms, prices, restaurant, area, events)?
• Existing materials: Do you already have texts, photos or a logo?
• Required functions: What do you need (booking tool, languages, newsletter)?
• Look and feel: How should the site come across visually (modern, rustic, minimalist)?
• Budget: How much can you spend?
• Go-live date: Is there a specific date the site needs to be online?

Practical tips:

• Create a brief: Put your requirements in writing — from design style to functions such as a booking tool or photo gallery.
• Plan regular check-ins: Ask to see progress along the way and give feedback early.
• Prepare materials: Organise texts, photos, logos and any design guidelines in good time.
• Plan deadlines realistically: Build in a buffer — hotels often have unexpected issues to deal with.
• Discuss the budget openly: Clear agreements on costs and payment terms help avoid unpleasant surprises.
• Get the offer in writing: A detailed written quote protects both sides from misunderstandings.

Top pick (9.1 of 10): Netfame

In our comparison, Netfame stood out as a particularly capable option, combining bespoke premium design and WordPress expertise. The agency says it has delivered more than 1,000 websites across a wide range of industries. Transparent pricing was a key factor in its top position.

Many of its projects are showcased in Netfame’s portfolio and come across as modern and cleanly built. Each client receives a bespoke website design.

Another important point is its focus on WordPress as the technical foundation. Using the world’s most widely used website CMS helps keep your website easy to extend over time, and it usually means you can make content changes yourself without much trouble.

Netfame also states that its work meets GDPR / UK GDPR requirements, helping to reduce legal risk for a business website.

On-page SEO optimisation is included in the base package to support search visibility on Google.

Optional add-ons such as logo and brand design, copywriting and professional photography round out the package. Overall, Netfame combines design, build and advice in a full-service WordPress setup.

Strengths of Netfame

• Bespoke premium design
• Many positive references and completed projects
• Transparent pricing
• Professional WordPress implementation
• GDPR / UK GDPR-aligned setup
• On-page optimisation for Google

Weaknesses of Netfame

• Additional costs for services such as logo design or professional photography

Pricing

• Landing page (1 landing page + legal pages and contact) — £2,990
• Mini website (5 pages) — £3,990
• Basic website (10 pages) — £4,990
• Premium website (15 pages) — £5,990
• VIP website (25 pages) — £7,990

Save £300 with Netfame

Mention the discount code “WEBSITEADVISOR300” in your project enquiry and receive a £300 credit.

• Get a Web Design Quote
• Visit the Netfame website

The cost of your hotel website depends largely on its scope and your expectations. As a general rule, the simpler the setup, the lower the price.

For many hotels, a classic website with a homepage, room overview, image gallery, contact options and possibly a small booking tool is perfectly sufficient. You can often create this type of site yourself using a website builder for just a few pounds per month.

Costs increase if you need features such as an integrated booking system with online payments, multiple languages, automated room management or a dedicated blog for news and events. Custom design work or professional search engine optimisation (SEO) will also raise the price.

Can I build it for free?

Yes, there are tools that allow you to build a website for free. However, be aware that these solutions often come with clear limitations — such as advertising banners, an awkward subdomain (for example, my-hotel.toolname123.co.uk) and missing features like a dedicated email inbox.

For a professional appearance, it’s usually worth choosing a paid plan — monthly costs remain manageable.

In the overview below, you can see which costs are realistic — depending on whether you build the site yourself or hire professionals.

Website costs at a glance

Overview: This table gives you a first idea of the minimum costs you’re likely to face:

You initially create your website for potential hotel guests. But it can do much more than that: it can act as a jobs page, an events hub and an information base for business partners.

To begin with, I recommend focusing on one core topic: guests who are looking for somewhere to stay.

Provide all essential information such as location, facilities and room prices, along with booking options. Over time, you can expand your hotel website and address additional audiences with the right content for each.

For example, you can add a section that covers conferences, weddings and meetings — with an events planner, or dedicated pages for meeting-room availability and catering options. Later, you can also speak to potential partners by including relevant business information.

How to plan the content for your website

Plan done? Register your domain name!

As mentioned earlier, many website builders offer a free entry plan — but with some noticeable limitations. One of the most important ones affects your website address.

With free versions, you usually only get a so-called subdomain, for example:

Example: examplehotel.toolname.com

For a professional hotel presence, you should definitely secure your own domain — for instance:

Example: www.examplehotel.co.uk

A custom domain looks far more credible and is easier for guests to remember. This applies to small guesthouses just as much as to larger hotels or holiday resorts.

It also allows you to use a professional email address — such as:

Example: contact@examplehotel.co.uk

By the way: I’ve put together a step-by-step guide to registering a domain, including more detailed advice on choosing a good domain name.

Always include legal details and privacy policy

If you run a hotel website, you need to comply with applicable data protection rules. This includes, among other things, a complete legal notice, a compliant privacy policy and a cookie banner if you use cookies.

These elements are legally required — and failing to provide them can lead to warnings or penalties that may become costly.

Tip: To get your legal pages right, start with the ICO’s free privacy notice generator (UK GDPR) and make sure your “Company information” is complete.

More legal requirements to know

Beyond the legal notice and privacy policy, additional legal requirements may apply depending on the features of your website — for example, if you integrate an online booking system with payment functions or store guests’ personal data. Don’t worry, though: with some preparation, this can usually be handled without much difficulty.

Here’s an overview of the most important general points for legally compliant websites:

¹ Under UK GDPR, whether you need a DPO depends on what you do with personal data (e.g. large-scale processing or sensitive data), not simply the number of employees.

How to create a hotel website (guide):

You can either build your hotel website yourself using a website builder or WordPress — or have it designed by professionals. In both cases, you’ll need a solid concept, suitable content and your own domain. You’ll find everything you need to know in this guide.