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How do I set up a custom domain for my direct booking site?

Point your own domain at your direct booking site using the Site Domain field and the DNS records Host Tools shows you.

Written by Tom Krones

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 site path, 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

  1. Navigate to Settings > Direct Booking

  2. Click Edit next to the direct booking site you want to configure. The site opens on its own page.

Configuring Your Custom Domain in Host Tools

  1. Scroll to the URL section

  2. In the Site Domain field, enter your domain or subdomain (e.g., book.yourbrand.com or yourbrand.com)

  3. A DNS Records table appears below the field, listing the exact records to create at your registrar — each record's Name, Type, and Value. Keep it open for the next section, or come back to it any time

  4. 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. The DNS Records table in your site's URL section shows exactly what to enter.

  1. Log in to your domain registrar's control panel (where you purchased your domain)

  2. Navigate to the DNS settings or DNS management section

  3. Create a new A record with the following settings:

  • Record type: A

  • Name/Host: Enter your domain or subdomain (e.g., book for book.yourbrand.com, or @ for the root domain)

  • Value/Points to: 54.144.71.87

  • TTL: Default or 3600 (1 hour)

  1. Save your DNS changes

If you're using your root domain, the DNS Records table lists two records — @ and www — so your site loads with or without the www prefix. For a subdomain, create a single record using the subdomain (such as book) as the Name, with the same Value.

💡 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:

  1. Wait at least 15-30 minutes for initial DNS propagation

  2. Visit your custom domain in a web browser

  3. 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 the Value shown in the DNS Records table in your site's URL section (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 site path still work after I set up a custom domain?

Yes, your Host Tools site path 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.

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