Hosting Providers for Bed and Breakfast Website – What’s the Difference?
If you’re planning on hosting a B&B (bed and breakfast) website, then you’re in luck because there are a variety of providers that offer these services to make your life easier.
The difference between a traditional hotel and a B&B is that the former typically offers full functionality on a smartphone, while the latter usually doesn’t. People looking for a traditional hotel experience may prefer booking a cruise ship, which offers all the conveniences of a five-star hotel with the added luxury of a cruise ship experience.
What to Consider
If you’re looking for a traditional hotel experience but with some of the comforts of home, then you should consider a B&B. However, if you want something more unique, then you should opt for self-hosting a bed and breakfast website. Keep in mind though that you may need to upgrade your hosting package to ensure that your website can handle the increased traffic.
Types of B&B Hosting
There are a variety of hosting plans that you can choose from when considering a B&B, ranging from the basic shared hosting to the ultra-premium VPS (virtual private servers). Let’s take a look at each one so you can choose the best plan for your needs.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most popular and least expensive option among web hosts. Like with a regular hotel, you’ll rent space on shared hosting from a hosting provider. As the name implies, your website will share the resources of the server with other websites. Therefore, if you have more than one website, each one will occupy a portion of the server’s resources. While this is the most economical option, it also causes a lot of congestion on the servers because all the websites are competing for space and using up more of the system’s resources than usual. Keep this in mind if you have a resource-hungry website that attracts a lot of visitors.
Basic VPS Hosting
Basic VPS hosting provides you with a virtual private server (VPS) on which you can install a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP). A VPS allows you to have full control over the server and the resources it has at your disposal. This includes the ability to install and remove software, configure the server’s settings, and access its files directly via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). If you have the budget and you want maximum control over the server, then opt for basic VPS hosting. It’s crucial to note here that the price of a VPS is typically higher than that of a shared hosting plan, but the advantages are worth it. The main advantage of a VPS is that it provides you with the freedom to install and run any type of application on the server. This includes apps such as word processors, email clients, and internet browsers. If you have a specific application that you need for your website, then you can opt for a VPS hosting plan instead of a shared hosting plan.
Step-Up VPS Hosting
If you have the budget, step-up VPS hosting allows you to install a larger VPS on top of the one you already have. This is similar to buying a more expensive car with the same performance as your old one. The main difference between a step-up VPS and a standard one is that the former provides you with the ability to add more RAM and storage space. The step-up VPS is designed to speed up your site’s performance, so if you have a slow-loading one, then this option may be suitable for you.
UPLOAD-FREE VPS Hosting
UPLOAD-FREE VPS hosting provides you with a barebones server without any of the restrictions imposed by the hosting provider. This type of server does not allow you to install additional applications or use advanced features, but it gives you complete control over the server and its resources. For the budget conscious, this is the perfect option because you won’t have to spend extra on application servers that you don’t need.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting provides you with the ultimate flexibility when it comes to hosting your website. Similar to a VPS, a cloud hosting plan allows you to install and remove applications as you see fit. The main advantage of a cloud hosting plan is that you don’t have to worry about software installations because the provider handles all of that for you. As a result, you only need to worry about updating the software and securing the server itself from hacking attempts.
As you can see above, the options for hosting a bed and breakfast website are numerous. The decision is up to you but keep in mind that the more resources you have, the more you can handle. A large amount of traffic can quickly overwhelm a shared hosting plan, particularly if the site is heavy on images and videos. If you have the budget and you want total control over the server, then opt for a VPS. If you don’t have the budget and you need something more economical, then opt for shared hosting. If you’re looking for the ultimate flexibility, then opt for a cloud hosting plan.