Summary
Build a more professional brand and improve your search engine visibility by using your own custom domain for your direct booking site. Instead of using a Host Tools subdomain, you can point your own domain (like book.yourbrand.com) to your direct booking site, making it easier for guests to remember and trust your booking page.
Before You Start
Before setting up a custom domain, make sure you have:
An existing direct booking site created in Host Tools
A domain name you own (purchased from a domain registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.)
Access to your domain's DNS settings
Steps
Accessing Your Direct Booking Settings
Navigate to
Settings > Direct BookingClick the Edit button next to the direct booking site you want to configure
Configuring Your Custom Domain in Host Tools
Scroll to the Domain Configuration section
In the Custom domain field, enter your domain or subdomain (e.g.,
book.yourbrand.comoryourbrand.com)Click Save to update your settings
> ⚠️ Important: You must also configure your DNS settings (see next section) for the custom domain to work.
Configuring Your DNS Settings
To connect your domain to Host Tools, you need to create an A record in your DNS settings that points to our servers.
Log in to your domain registrar's control panel (where you purchased your domain)
Navigate to the DNS settings or DNS management section
Create a new A record with the following settings:
Record type: A
Name/Host: Enter your domain or subdomain (e.g.,
bookforbook.yourbrand.com, or@for the root domain)Value/Points to:
54.144.71.87TTL: Default or 3600 (1 hour)
Save your DNS changes
> 💡 Pro tip: DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate fully across the internet, though most changes take effect within a few hours. Host Tools servers are ready immediately.
Verifying Your Custom Domain
After configuring both Host Tools and your DNS settings:
Wait at least 15-30 minutes for initial DNS propagation
Visit your custom domain in a web browser
Your direct booking site should load at your custom domain
Troubleshooting
My custom domain shows "site not found" or an error page
DNS changes can take time to propagate. Wait up to 48 hours and try again. You can use a tool like dnschecker.org to verify your DNS records have propagated.
My custom domain shows a different website
Make sure you've removed any existing A records or CNAME records pointing to a different IP address or hostname for the same domain/subdomain.
I entered the wrong IP address
Update your A record to point to 54.144.71.87. Changes may take some time to propagate.
I don't know how to access my DNS settings
Contact your domain registrar's support team. They can help you locate and configure your DNS settings. Common registrars include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, Cloudflare, and Hover.
FAQ
Do I need to buy a new domain?
No, you can use a subdomain of an existing domain you already own. For example, if you own myrentals.com, you can set up book.myrentals.com without purchasing anything new.
Can I use my root domain (e.g., yourbrand.com)?
Yes, you can use either a subdomain (like book.yourbrand.com) or your root domain (like yourbrand.com). Use @ as the host/name in your DNS settings for the root domain.
Will my subdomain still work after I set up a custom domain?
Yes, your Host Tools subdomain will continue to work alongside your custom domain. Guests can access your site using either URL.
Is SSL/HTTPS supported?
Yes, Host Tools automatically provides SSL certificates for custom domains. Your site will be accessible via HTTPS.