Overview
The menu is your site's main navigation. You can customize which items appear, their order, how dropdowns open, and how each dropdown looks.
Accessing Menu Settings
Go to your CraftedStays dashboard
Click on Site > Manage Template > Edit
Click on the Menu section
Click "Edit Menu Items"
To change the "Book Now" button, change its Title and Type, then paste the URL.
Menu Settings
When you click the Menu section, the right panel shows settings that apply to the whole menu, on every page:
Logo — light background: shown when the menu bar is solid and light (after scrolling, or on a page without a hero photo). Leave it empty to use the logo from your brand settings.
Logo — over photo / dark background: shown when the menu bar is transparent over a hero photo, or on a dark bar. Leave it empty to reuse the light-background logo. Upload both versions at the same pixel size.
Book Button Icon on Desktop: shows a calendar icon on the Book Now button in the desktop menu. The icon always shows on mobile.
Open Dropdowns On: choose how dropdown menus open (see below).
Open Dropdowns On: Hover or Click
Option | How dropdowns open | Best for |
Hover | When a visitor rests the pointer on a menu item on desktop. Clicking and the keyboard still work. | Most sites. Guests see what's inside without clicking. |
Click | Only when the visitor clicks the menu item, on every device. | Menus with large dropdowns (for example a list of all properties) that would open by accident as the pointer passes over. |
To change it:
Go to Site > Manage Template > Edit.
Click the Menu section.
In the right panel, find Open Dropdowns On and choose Hover or Click.
Click Save at the top of the editor.
Tip: if you added custom code to make your dropdowns open on hover, remove it once you switch this setting to Hover. Running both can make dropdowns flicker or close unexpectedly.
Default Menu Structure
A typical default menu includes:
Destinations - Dropdown of all properties
Featured - Link to featured properties
Logo - Your logo (always stays at root level)
Blogs - Link to blog page (if you have Marketing Hub)
Book Now - Booking call-to-action
Menu Item Types
Type | What it does |
Page | Link to a page on your site (home, search, blogs, a custom page) |
Link | Link to any URL |
Group | Opens a dropdown of the items you nest under it. The title itself isn't a link. (Previously called Container.) |
Button | A link styled as a button |
Properties | Dropdown of all, featured, or selected properties, grouped by market |
Markets | Dropdown generated from your markets |
Collections | Dropdown generated from your collections |
Book Now | The booking call-to-action button |
Phone Number | Your phone number |
Your email address | |
Social Links | Links to your social profiles |
Text | Plain text with no link |
Placeholder | An empty spacer, used to separate the logo or Book Now from other items |
Logo | Your site logo (root level only) |
How to Edit Menu Items
Adding a Menu Item
In the menu editor, click "Add Root"
Select the item type
Enter the title/label
Configure any additional options
Save changes
Removing a Menu Item
Find the item in the menu editor
Click the delete/remove icon
Confirm deletion
Save changes
Reordering Menu Items
Drag and drop items to reorder
Items can be nested under a Group to make a dropdown
Save changes when done
Creating a Dropdown Menu
Add a Group item
Give it a title (e.g., "Explore")
Drag other items under the Group, or use the + next to it to add them
These items will appear in a dropdown
Dropdown Styles
Each dropdown can have its own look: a plain list, headed columns, or photo cards. You set the style on the top-level item that opens the dropdown.
Available on: templates that use the shared menu (all v4 templates). Older templates keep the Classic dropdown.
The four styles
Style | What it looks like | Good for |
Classic | Your template's standard dropdown | Keeping the current look |
List | One narrow column under the menu item | Short lists, like About or Guides |
Columns | Headed columns; items with a photo lead as tiles | Long, grouped lists, like all properties |
Cards | Photo cards; items without a photo show as small buttons (chips) | Visual menus, like your destinations |
Classic (a Properties dropdown):
Cards (a destinations dropdown with photos, captions and a bottom row):
Set a dropdown style
Go to Site > Manage Template > Edit, click the Menu section, then Edit Menu Items.
Select a top-level item that opens a dropdown: type Group, Properties, Markets or Collections.
Choose a Dropdown style: Classic, List, Columns or Cards.
Click Save in the window, then Save at the top of the editor.
A top-level Link or Page item has no dropdown, so it has no Dropdown style. To add one, change its type to Group and nest links under it.
Settings on the top-level item
These appear once you choose List, Columns or Cards:
Show home counts on generated markets and collections: adds the number of homes next to each market or collection. Works only when the item's type is Markets or Collections, because those lists are generated for you.
Bottom row note: a short line of text along the bottom of the dropdown, next to any items marked for the bottom row. For example: "Every home is hosted by our local team".
Settings on each link inside the dropdown
Select a link nested under the top-level item, then scroll down in the right panel:
Show in the bottom row: moves the link to the strip along the bottom of the dropdown. Use it for a "View all" or "Browse all homes" link.
Image: click the box to add a photo. Paste an image URL, upload from your computer, or pick from your uploaded images. Photos show as tiles (Columns) or cards (Cards).
Caption: a short line under the title, for example "12 homes near the beach".
Icon: a Font Awesome solid icon name, for example
fa-mountainorfa-paw. A link with an icon and no image shows as a chip.
These fields only appear when the top-level item uses List, Columns or Cards. On Classic, the panel shows a note instead.
Example: a destinations menu with photo cards
Add a top-level Group called "Where to Stay" and set Dropdown style to Cards.
Nest one Link per area, each pointing to that area's page.
Give each link an Image (the area's best photo) and a Caption (one short line about the area).
Add one more link, "Browse all homes" to
/search, and tick Show in the bottom row.Optional: add a Bottom row note on "Where to Stay".
Save, then hover over "Where to Stay" on your live site to check it.
On mobile, the same photos and captions show inside the menu as tiles.
Properties Dropdown Configuration
Select a Properties item and choose a Mode:
Mode | Shows |
Show all properties | Every active property, grouped by market |
Show only featured properties | Only properties marked as featured |
Select specific properties | Only the properties you pick |
The list updates on its own when properties are added, removed or renamed.
Link to Search Page
Instead of a dropdown, link directly to your search page:
Type: Page
Page: Search
Logo Placement
Important: The logo can only be at the root level of your menu (not nested inside other items).
The logo position is determined by surrounding items:
Items before logo = appear on left
Logo = center
Items after logo = appear on right
You can use the Placeholder item to separate the logo or Book Now button from other menu items.
Troubleshooting
Menu not updating
Save your changes
Clear your browser cache
View your site in incognito mode
Wait a few minutes for changes to deploy
Properties dropdown empty
Make sure you have properties imported
Check that properties are marked as "active"
Verify the menu item Mode (all, featured, or specific properties)
I can't see the Image, Caption or Icon fields
Check that you selected a link inside a dropdown, not the top-level item.
Select its top-level item and make sure its type is Group (or Properties, Markets, Collections).
Set that item's Dropdown style to List, Columns or Cards. On Classic, these fields stay hidden.
There's no Dropdown style option
The item is a Link or Page, which has no dropdown. Change its type to Group.
The item is nested inside another item. Dropdown style is only on top-level items.
Your template doesn't use the shared menu. Older templates keep the Classic dropdown.
My menu title doesn't open its page
A Group title only opens the dropdown. Add the page as the first link inside the Group so visitors can still reach it.
Dropdowns open when I just move the mouse past
Set Open Dropdowns On to Click in the Menu section settings.
Menu items overlapping
Try reducing the number of top-level items
Use dropdowns (Groups) to group items
Use shorter titles for menu items
Mobile menu issues
Test your site on mobile or use browser dev tools
The mobile menu is automatically generated from your desktop menu
Long menus may need reorganization
Best Practices
Keep it simple - 5-7 top-level items maximum
Use clear labels - "Our Properties" is better than "Destinations"
Prioritize - Most important items should be visible, not buried
Test on mobile - Make sure navigation works on phones
Include Book Now - Make it easy for guests to book