Builders and alternatives
Boostly Website Review and Alternatives for Glamping
An outside view of Boostly websites, who they suit, and what else a glamping owner can choose.
If you run a glamping site and someone has mentioned Boostly, you probably want an outside view before you spend any money. Boostly sells direct booking websites and support to short-term rental hosts. It is a serious option for some owners, and more than a small glamping business needs for others.
In short, Boostly looks strongest for hosts who run several properties through a property management system (PMS) and want help and coaching alongside the site. If you have a few pods, huts or a campsite and mainly want your own site taking bookings, simpler alternatives can do the job. The rest of this guide explains why.
What a Boostly website offers
Boostly describes itself as a direct booking platform for holiday lets. Its pitch is that you can stop depending on Airbnb and the other booking sites and own the relationship with your guests.
From its own site, the offer has three main parts.
- A done-for-you website designed to turn guests into repeat bookings.
- Guest follow-up automation, so past guests are encouraged to book again.
- Expert coaching, so you actually carry out the plan.
It also says it connects into your PMS. Hospitable’s help pages describe a plugin called Boostly Connect, a WordPress plugin that links a Hospitable account to your direct booking website. Capterra describes Boostly as a way to create direct booking websites using built-in templates and guest review plug-ins.
That is more than a website. It is a website, a marketing routine and some mentoring in one package.
What Boostly costs
We couldn’t find a price on Boostly’s own pages, so the honest answer is to ask them for a quote.
One thing worth knowing is a claim made in a forum thread on OwnerRez. A poster there says Boostly guarantees to get you to 65% direct bookings within 12 months, or you get your money back. That is one person’s account, so read the terms yourself before relying on it. And whatever a provider promises, check what counts as a direct booking and how the refund works.
Who a Boostly website is best for
It suits hosts with a PMS who want a managed direct booking setup and are happy to follow a coaching programme. Boostly’s own copy talks about helping thousands of hosts and about getting a share of bookings direct, so it is aimed at people who treat hosting as a growth business.
It may be more than you need if any of these apply.
- you run a small number of units, such as three pods on a farm or a single shepherd’s hut
- you don’t use a PMS and don’t plan to
- you would rather keep things simple and spend less time on marketing programmes
None of that is a criticism. It is a question of fit. A business with 20 properties across several channels has different needs from a couple running a hut in a meadow.
Alternatives to Boostly for glamping owners
The main alternatives are a website builder, a PMS-linked website, a web designer who builds for glamping, or staying on listing sites alone. Here is how they compare.
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Canopy & Stars, CoolStays, Airbnb and similar listings | Getting found by guests with no build work | Commission on every booking |
| Website builders such as Wix or Squarespace | Doing it yourself on a small budget | Time, and limits on booking tools and search visibility |
| A site that comes with your PMS | Owners already on a PMS | Usually less control over design and content |
| A direct booking platform such as Boostly | Multi-property hosts wanting coaching and marketing support | Cost and fit for small sites, which you should ask about |
| A web designer who knows glamping | Owners who want a tailored site and search visibility | Choosing someone who understands your guests |
A DIY builder is a perfectly good start if you enjoy it and have the time. Reddit users in one thread also point to PMS tools with built-in website features as a cheap route, so those are worth a look if you already pay for a PMS.
Listing sites don’t stop guests looking for you directly
Even when a guest finds you on Canopy & Stars, CoolStays or Airbnb, they often search for your own site afterwards. They hope for a better deal, or they know you keep more of the money that way.
This is why a good website still matters alongside your listings. It does not replace them. It catches the guests who go looking for you, and lets them book without commission.
A listing finds you the guest. Your own website is where they come back to book.
What a good glamping direct booking site needs
Whichever route you pick, the basics are the same. Guests mostly browse on their phones, so the site must load fast and be easy to use on a small screen.
Our own work gives one example. Millie the Hut, a shepherd’s hut and Shack near Presteigne, has a booking page that puts an availability calendar, a short enquiry form and a seasonal rate card on one page. The site brought 42 direct bookings in its first year, saving the owners over £3,000 in commission. We built it, so we are biased, but it shows what a simple, focused site can do for a small business.
How to choose
Start with what you have and what you want. If you run many properties through a PMS and want hands-on coaching, a platform like Boostly is worth a quote. If you run a few units and want a straightforward site that takes bookings and shows up on Google, a builder or a designer who knows the sector will usually be enough.
Either way, get two or three quotes, ask for the full cost and compare it with the commission you pay now. Sync calendars with your other channels so you avoid double bookings.
Boostly details accurate as of October 2026.
FAQs
Is a Boostly website worth it for a glamping site?
It depends on how you run things. Boostly is built around short-term rental hosts who use a property management system and want a done-for-you site plus coaching. If you have a few pods or huts and want a simple site with a booking calendar, a lighter option may cover what you need.
How much does a Boostly website cost?
We couldn’t find a price on Boostly’s own pages, so you would need to ask them for a quote. Compare it with what you now lose in commission, and with simpler options. Our own sites start from £19 a month, with fuller plans on our pricing page.
What are the alternatives to Boostly?
The main routes are a website builder such as Wix or Squarespace, a website that comes with your property management system, a web designer who builds for glamping, or staying on listing sites like Canopy & Stars alone. Each trades cost, effort and control differently.
Do I need a property management system to get direct bookings?
No. Many glamping owners with a handful of units take direct bookings through a booking system embedded on their own site, with an availability calendar that syncs with sites like Airbnb, Booking.com, Canopy & Stars and CoolStays. A PMS becomes more useful as unit numbers and channels grow.
Find out what your site needs
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