Quick answer
Before sending a message, guests want to know 7 things: the nightly rate, how many people the room sleeps, real photos of each room, the location and how to get there, amenities, check-in/check-out, deposit and cancellation policies, and how to book. A homestay website that covers all 7 cuts down on repeated messages and helps you win direct bookings alongside booking platforms.
Key takeaways
- List the nightly rate for weekdays and weekends, with a note on holiday surcharges.
- Each room type needs its own capacity, bed type and real photos.
- The deposit and cancellation policy must be stated before a guest transfers any money.
- The room inquiry form only needs arrival date, departure date, number of guests and phone number. Reply on WhatsApp as fast as you can.
Why does a homestay need a website when it is on Booking and Airbnb?
Booking platforms help new guests find you, but every booking costs a commission and it is hard to stay in touch with past guests. A website is where returning guests, referred guests and people who saw your Facebook Page can book directly with you.
A website doesn't replace booking platforms. It complements them, and it only works if it answers the questions guests usually message you about.
7 things guests want to see before asking about a room
| Information | How to present it |
|---|---|
| 1. Nightly rate | Weekday and weekend rates; note holiday surcharges and extra-guest fees |
| 2. Capacity | Maximum guests, bed types, whether an extra mattress can be added |
| 3. Real photos of each room | Bedroom, bathroom and view, taken in daylight, no stock photos from the internet |
| 4. Location and how to get there | Distance to the center, whether cars can get there or only motorbikes, a directions button |
| 5. Amenities | Kitchen, BBQ, parking, hot water, heating or air conditioning, wifi |
| 6. Policies | Check-in/check-out times, deposit amount, cancellation terms, children, pets |
| 7. How to book | An arrival date, departure date and guest count form, plus WhatsApp and call buttons |
How should the rooms page be laid out?
- One block per room type: room name, photos, capacity, bed type, nightly rate.
- An “Ask about this room” button right under each room type, with the room name pre-filled in the form.
- If you rent the whole property to groups, give it its own section with total capacity and the whole-property rate.
- State what the rate includes: breakfast, drinking water, transfers. This avoids confusion at payment.
Policies: write them clearly to avoid disputes
Most misunderstandings between homestay owners and guests come from deposits and cancellations. Write the policies in short, specific sentences, and repeat them when you confirm a booking on WhatsApp.
- Check-in and check-out times; whether early check-in or late check-out is possible and what it costs.
- The deposit amount to hold a room and the deadline for sending it.
- How far ahead a guest must cancel to get the deposit back, and what happens with last-minute cancellations.
- Rules on children, pets, smoking and quiet hours.
Room inquiries: form or WhatsApp?
Offer both. A form lets guests send everything in one go (arrival date, departure date, number of guests), while WhatsApp is good for quick conversation and sending photos. A homestay website usually just takes requests so the owner can confirm availability. If you need an automatic room calendar or online payments, that is a separate system.
Checklist before putting a homestay website online
- Open it on a phone: you immediately see the best photo, the starting rate and the room inquiry button.
- Every room type has photos, capacity and a rate.
- The deposit and cancellation policies are somewhere easy to see, not only in the footer.
- Submit a test inquiry and confirm that it arrives on WhatsApp or email.
- Address and phone number match Google Maps and your booking platforms.
- Someone updates rates for seasons and holidays.
How much does a homestay website cost?
A homestay website that presents rooms, amenities and policies and takes room inquiries doesn't have to be a big project. Nextchain.site builds it on a monthly plan from $29, with no setup fee, including design, hosting and updates to rates and photos within the number of edits in your plan. You can use a free address like your-brand.nextchain.site or connect your own domain.
