If you run a holiday let in Scotland (or anywhere in the UK, really), you’ll know how quickly managing bookings can turn into a bit of a headache. Between juggling different platforms, keeping calendars up to date, chasing payments and trying to keep your website looking professional, it can start to feel like you’re spending more time on admin than actually welcoming guests.
I’ve worked with quite a few holiday let businesses over the years, building websites on Squarespace and Shopify, and one question that always comes up is:
“What booking system should I use?”
There are loads of options out there, but one I come back to time and again, both because it works well for my clients and because it’s genuinely straightforward to deal with, is Bookster.
A Bit About Bookster
Bookster started back in 2009 as a simple way to add a “Book Now” button to rental websites. It’s grown a lot since then and now offers a full set of tools to help holiday let owners manage bookings, payments, calendars and marketing, all in one place.
What I like most about Bookster is that they don’t try to do everything. They focus on what matters for short-term let businesses — the practical things that make day-to-day management easier.
You can:
- Create and manage your own website
- Take bookings directly
- Accept payments securely
- Sync your calendar across different platforms
- Keep all your property information organised
- Manage everything from one dashboard
Why I recommend Bookster to clients
When I’m building a website for a holiday let business, one of the biggest things we need to get right is the booking integration. There’s nothing worse than a clunky or confusing system that puts guests off. Bookster makes this bit simple, there's no tech jargon, no complicated setup, just a clean integration that does what it’s meant to do.
But beyond the technical side, there are a few other reasons I like working with them:
They’re actually UK-based.
They’re based in Edinburgh, which means proper support during UK hours — and from people who actually understand how the holiday let market works here. You’re not waiting for replies overnight or trying to explain things across time zones.
They have genuinely helpful support.
I’ve dealt with their team a few times on behalf of clients, and they’ve always been friendly, patient, and really know their stuff. It’s a big difference from the kind of generic ticket replies you sometimes get with larger platforms and AI chat bots.
They’re a Living Wage employer.
It might sound like a small thing, but I think it says a lot about how they run their business. They look after their team, which usually means better service for customers too.
They focus on relationships, not just sales.
Bookster has been around for years, but they keep improving their software and listening to feedback. It feels like they genuinely want to help their users succeed — not just sell subscriptions.
Who Bookster works well for
If you’re currently:
- Managing bookings manually in spreadsheets
- Losing track of availability
- Missing out on direct bookings because your website isn’t set up properly
- Spending hours on admin
- Or just feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole process
…then Bookster is definitely worth a look.
It’s particularly good if you’d like to move away from relying so heavily on the big booking platforms and their hefty commission fees. Taking direct bookings through your own website gives you more control, and keeps more of your income in your pocket.
The website side of things
Bookster does include website creation as part of their service, which is great if you want an all-in-one setup.
But if you’re after something a bit more bespoke, a website that really shows off your property, reflects your brand, and helps you stand out, that’s where I come in.
I design custom Squarespace and Shopify websites for holiday let businesses that integrate neatly with Bookster. You get the best of both worlds: a professional, beautifully branded website paired with a booking system that actually works.
That said, even if you use Bookster’s own website option, the booking system itself is solid and that’s the main thing.
If you’re thinking about switching
If you’re already using another booking system (or none at all), the idea of switching can feel a bit daunting. But Bookster’s support team are good at helping new users migrate their data and get everything set up properly.
And if you’re just starting out with a new holiday let business, it’s even better getting your systems right from the start will save you a lot of hassle later on - there's something very satisfying about getting your tech right from the beginning and saving time and effort in the future.
Bookster isn’t the only booking system out there, but it’s one I’m always happy to recommend. It’s easy to use, backed by a genuinely supportive team, and designed with UK holiday let owners in mind.
If you’re looking for a reliable way to manage bookings and you’d like a website that shows off your property at its best it’s well worth exploring.
Ready to sort out your booking system?
If you'd like to explore what Bookster can do for your holiday let business, you can find out more and sign up through my affiliate link here*
And if you need help with the website side of things - whether that's building something new or improving what you've already got - just get in touch. I'm always happy to chat through what might work best for your business.
*this is an affiliate link and I will receive a small commission if you sign up to Bookster using my link. Thank you.