What gets in the way for a B&B or holiday cottage
A commission on every stay
Platforms bring travellers, but take their share of every booking, including returning guests.
Travellers check before booking
They saw you on a platform, then type your name into Google. If they find no site with booking, they go back and book there.
Fear of double bookings
Opening a second booking channel is scary if the calendars do not talk to each other.
International guests
Part of your travellers read another language: a single-language site loses those direct bookings.
How it works with Voxtya
- From your Google listing. Address, photos of the house and guest reviews are taken from your Google listing at creation.
- One page per room or cottage. With the Bookings service in lodging mode, each room type has its capacity, description, photos and an indicative nightly price. You set check-in and check-out times, and minimum and maximum nights.
- Synced calendars. Each room’s calendar exports in iCal format to your platforms, and you import theirs (up to 5 per room type, refreshed every hour): a date booked elsewhere is blocked on your site.
- In English and French. The site exists in both languages; you proofread the translation of your texts.
- Your reviews and practical answers. Your Google reviews show (source and sorting stated). An FAQ, a map and the contact form answer questions before arrival.
In practice
| With Voxtya | Website only (€29/month) | Website + Bookings (€49/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms, photos, reviews, map, FAQ | Yes | Yes |
| Second language | Yes | Yes |
| Direct stay booking | Link to your current tool | Yes, no commission |
| iCal sync with platforms | No | Yes, every hour |
| Online payment | No | No (stays confirmed without prepayment) |
Example: a returning guest, booked direct
A couple stayed with you last year through a platform. This year, they search for your name on Google, land on your site, find the “Garden view” room again and book three nights in June, direct. You receive the request, confirm it, and the exported calendar blocks those dates on your platforms at their next refresh.
No commission on that stay, and you have your guests’ contact details. The site takes no online payment: any deposit you ask for is paid the way it is today.
Before you start: the complete guide
Must-have pages, rules to know, avoiding double bookings: our guide to building a B&B or holiday cottage website covers every point. For booking on its own, see the B&B booking software.
How much it costs
Website
€29/month
€23/month billed annually
Website + Bookings
€49/month
€39/month billed annually
No commission, no commitment, 30-day free trial, cancel in 1 click. All 6 services in the Suite: €119/month. All prices: Pricing page.
30 days free
Website · B&B and holiday cottage
Rooms and photos, commission-free direct booking, calendar synced with your platforms.
Read and try next
- How to build a B&B or guest house website for more direct bookings
- How to get more Google reviews for your hotel or B&B
- How to respond to Booking.com reviews: rules and 10 reply examples
- Free Google visibility check
- Voxtya for a B&B or holiday cottage
- Booking software for a B&B or holiday cottage
- Google reviews for a B&B or holiday cottage