What are the best tools to create a hotel website on a budget?

While it could be tempting to build everything from scratch, I'd suggest looking into existing SaaS solutions designed for hotels. Using a mix of frontend frameworks like NuxtJS for the user interface and a good backend CMS like Strapi could work, but it might be overkill, especially for a single property. If you can, consider a complete platform like Mews that can handle everything you need.

I recommend using a content management system (CMS) you’re comfortable with; I prefer Concrete CMS for PHP. Instead of building everything yourself, focus on integrating external SaaS plugins for the features you need. It’s better to choose the right integrations rather than trying to create them yourself.

If funds are really tight, instead of a full booking system, you could just build a basic site with a request form for reservations. I did something like that for a client, and while it doesn’t offer real-time bookings, it keeps things manageable and straightforward.

You definitely want to avoid a custom system from scratch. Double booking is a real risk if you don't connect your site to a reliable booking system. Consider using a dedicated property management system (PMS) like Cloudbeds or Little Hotelier. They manage booking availability and calendar syncing effectively, and you can embed their booking widget into your site.