For gîte & holiday rental owners
Websites for gîte & holiday rental owners in France
Tired of handing 15–20 % of every booking to the big platforms? A direct, bilingual, well-ranked website lets you take bookings without the middleman. I build these sites — and since I run holiday lets myself, I know exactly what makes guests book.
What drives direct bookings
Direct booking, on your own site
An availability calendar that is actually up to date, plus an enquiry form or an online deposit. A guest should never have to email you to find out whether a week is free.
An English version, written
Not a translation widget: two written versions, each with its own address and hreflang tags. That is what puts you in front of someone searching “holiday rental Normandy” as well as “gîte dans l’Orne”.
Photos that sell
Large, fast, mobile-first — your guests are comparing three properties on a phone.
Local and tourism SEO
Pages built around what travellers actually type: your area, nearby attractions, and the features that make people choose — pool, dog-friendly, walking distance to the village.
Your channel manager, connected
Smoobu, Lodgify, Beds24: if you use one, your calendar stays in sync with the platforms. One calendar to manage, not two.
I run holiday lets too
So we speak the same language — occupancy, seasonality, reviews, commission. A rental website is not judged on visitor numbers, but on nights booked direct.
What it costs
By quote, after a free first chat. The number of properties, the booking flow and the amount of content decide the price. You receive an itemised proposal, so you can see exactly what you are paying for — and what you can leave out for now.
Frequently asked
Direct bookings: the honest answers
Not listed here? Just ask — I reply within 48 hours.
Will I really get direct bookings?
Not overnight. What works: putting your website address everywhere — confirmation emails, welcome book, signage, social profiles, your Google listing — and giving guests a reason to book direct, such as a slightly better rate or a small extra. The site is the tool; showing it is the habit.
Can I keep Airbnb and Booking.com?
Of course, and it is usually wise at first. The goal is not to leave the platforms, it is to stop paying commission on guests who already know you.
I use a channel manager. Does that work?
Yes. Smoobu, Lodgify, Beds24 and similar tools connect to the site so your calendar stays in sync. You keep one calendar, not two.
Do I need the site in French as well?
Almost always, yes — and it is the same project. Both versions are written properly, each with its own URL and hreflang tags, so French and English guests each find the right page in search.
Read on
Take back control of your bookings
Tell me about your rental: how many properties, which season matters most, which platforms you use today. I will tell you what a direct site can realistically win back.
Reply within 48 h · Itemised quote · No commitment