By default, your guide links use guide.touchstay.com. With a custom domain, they use an address on your own website instead, for example guides.yourdomain.com.
ℹ️ This article covers the new Hub. If you're using the legacy Hub, see How to customise your guide links.
Table of contents:
Before you start
You need a subdomain, not your main domain. Use something like guides.yourdomain.com. Don't use yourdomain.com itself, as that would take over your own website.
Custom domains are available on the Growth and Pro plans. If your plan doesn't include it, the Custom domain page shows an upgrade banner instead of the settings.
You'll need access to your DNS settings. These are usually with your domain registrar or web host (for example GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare or SiteGround).
A custom domain replaces custom sub-domains. If any of your guidebooks use a Touch Stay sub-domain (such as yourproperty.touchstay.com), switch those guidebooks back to Default or Custom slug first. You'll find this under Guidebooks → your guidebook → Settings & Features → Guidebook URL. A custom domain and a guidebook sub-domain can't be used at the same time.
Step 1: Add a CNAME record in your DNS
Log in to your DNS provider and create a new record with these details:
Field | What to enter |
Type | CNAME |
Name / Host | Your subdomain, for example guides |
Value / Target | guide.touchstay.com |
💡 Tip: Most DNS providers add your main domain to the Name field automatically. Enter just guides, not guides.yourdomain.com, or you may end up with guides.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com.
Use a CNAME record, not a redirect or forwarding rule. A redirect sends guests to guide.touchstay.com, and the security certificate can't be set up.
It can take anything from a few minutes to a few hours for a new record to spread across the internet. These guides from popular providers explain how to add a CNAME record:
Step 2: Connect the domain in Touch Stay
Click General settings in the left sidebar.
Open the Custom domain tab.
In Your domain, enter your full subdomain, for example guides.yourdomain.com. Don't include http://, https:// or www.
Click Connect.
If the domain isn't accepted, check the error message. The most common reason is that the CNAME record from Step 1 hasn't spread yet. Wait a little and try again.
Step 3: Add the TXT record for your security certificate
Once you click Connect, two new fields appear under your domain:
Certificate validation TXT name
Certificate validation TXT value
This record goes in your DNS provider, not in Touch Stay. It lets us issue the security certificate that makes your links open securely.
Go back to your DNS provider and create a new record of type TXT.
Use the copy button next to each field in Touch Stay, and paste the name and value into the new record.
Save the record. Leave your CNAME record from Step 1 as it is.
⚠️ Important: Copy the TXT name and value exactly as shown. Don't add or remove any characters, dots, spaces or quotation marks. As with the CNAME, your DNS provider may add your main domain to the name automatically, so you may only need the part before your domain (for example _acme-challenge.guides).
Checking the status
Go back to General settings → Custom domain at any time to check progress:
Status | What it means |
Pending SSL validation | We're waiting to find your TXT record. Your guidebooks keep working on guide.touchstay.com in the meantime, so guests aren't affected. |
Connected | You're all set. Your guide links now use your custom domain. |
Once the status shows Connected, every link you share from Touch Stay uses your custom domain. That includes quick share links, QR codes and invitation links, whether sent from Message Hub or through an integration.
💡 Don't disconnect and reconnect to speed things up. Reconnecting creates a new TXT value, so the record you've already added would no longer match and you'd have to start Step 3 again.
How to disconnect your custom domain
Go to General settings → Custom domain.
Click Disconnect.
Confirm with Yes.
Once disconnected, your guidebooks are no longer available on that domain. Any links you've already shared using it will stop working, so send guests your guide.touchstay.com links instead.
If you're changing to a different subdomain, disconnect the old one, then follow Steps 1 to 3 again for the new one. Links already shared on the old domain stop working once it's disconnected.
FAQ
What will my guide links look like?
Your links keep the same ending and only the domain changes. For example:
guides.yourdomain.com/guest/abcdef1234567
Will anything change on my own website?
No. The subdomain only points to your Touch Stay guides. Your main website keeps working exactly as it does today. If you'd like visitors to your website to find your guide, add a link or button pointing to your guide link.
Can I use a custom domain and a custom slug together?
Yes. A custom slug (for example /beach-retreat) still works, and it appears on your custom domain instead of guide.touchstay.com. Only Touch Stay sub-domains (yourproperty.touchstay.com) can't be combined with a custom domain.
I can't see the Custom domain tab
If you see an upgrade banner instead, your plan doesn't include custom domains. They're available on Growth and Pro. If the tab isn't there at all, you may be in a master account. Switch to the account that holds your guidebooks.
It still says Pending SSL validation
First, give it time. DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to spread. Then check:
The CNAME points to guide.touchstay.com and isn't set up as a redirect.
The TXT name and value in your DNS match the ones on the Custom domain page exactly.
You can check what's publicly visible with any free online DNS lookup tool.
⚠️ If both records are publicly visible and match exactly, but the status still says Pending SSL validation after 24 hours, contact us at [email protected] with your domain name. That usually means the issue is on our side rather than in your DNS, and we'll look into it.
📖 Learn more: Guidebook settings & features (new Hub)