I'm completely new to web development and want to create a website for my small hotel. I'd like a simple, fast site that showcases the rooms, location, contact details, and general information, with the possibility of connecting a booking engine later.
There are so many AI tools available that I'm not sure where to start. Should I use Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, v0, an AI site builder, or something else? I've also heard about Model Context Protocol (MCP) and wonder whether it's useful for a beginner or just something I can ignore for now.
Would a website builder, WordPress, plain HTML and CSS, or a modern framework be the best choice? I'd also appreciate advice on common beginner mistakes and how to avoid creating a disorganized site that becomes difficult to maintain.
4 Answers
An AI site builder may be the quickest route if you want something working without learning web development. Just check its hosting costs, export options, ownership of the content, accessibility, mobile layout, and whether it can integrate with the booking service you might use later. Avoid platforms that make it difficult to move your site if your needs change.
I’d skip MCP for now. It can be useful when connecting an AI model to files and external tools, but it won’t solve the basic problems of planning and maintaining a website. If you use AI, treat each session as if it has forgotten the project: keep a clear file structure, explain what each file does, and tell it exactly which files it is allowed to change.
You probably don’t need React, a framework, or even much of an AI coding tool. A few plain HTML and CSS pages, with an AI assistant helping explain or draft code, would be easier to understand and repair. Put most of your effort into accurate information, clear contact details, and excellent room photos, since those are more important to potential guests than the technology behind the site.
For a small hotel, start with the simplest possible setup. A website builder or a CMS such as WordPress is probably a better fit than building a full application. You can update room details yourself, and if you later need a booking system or custom features, hire someone experienced rather than making the site unnecessarily complicated with AI tools.
That approach also makes it easier to hand the site over to someone else later. Keeping the first version small is much safer than adding a booking system, accounts, and other features immediately.