Booking a stranger's house online involves trust, so it is worth being plain about exactly what happens at each step.
1. You search
Availability comes live from each owner's own booking system. If a night shows as free here, it is free in the owner's calendar too.
2. You choose a stay
The property page shows the nightly rate, cleaning fee, service fee and taxes separately, and the total you will actually pay.
3. Your card is authorised
A hold is placed on your card — not a charge. Card details go straight into Stripe's own secure form; they never touch this website's servers.
4. The reservation is created
We create the reservation in the owner's system. Only when that succeeds is your card actually charged. If it cannot be created, the hold is released and you pay nothing.
5. You get the confirmation
An email with your reference, dates, total and the owner's contact details. The owner sends arrival instructions as your stay approaches.
If you need to cancel
Terms depend on the property and the timing, and each listing shows its own before you book. Refunds return to the original payment method, typically visible within 5–10 business days. The full rules are on our cancellation and refund policy page.