How guests pay, and when the money reaches you
Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA payment or on arrival. All online payments go through Stripe into your own Stripe account. Fees and payout times, checked in November 2026.
Three ways to pay
Every payment runs through Stripe, straight into your own Stripe account. The money goes to you; we never hold it.
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Card
Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The easiest way for guests, confirmed at once.
Stripe’s fee: from 1.5% + €0.25 per payment
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SEPA Direct Debit
The guest pays from their euro bank account. It costs little, so it suits deposits and larger amounts. It takes several working days to clear.
Stripe’s fee: €0.35 per payment
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On arrival
The rest of the stay can be paid when guests arrive, as you agree with them. You mark it paid in the admin.
Outside Stripe, so no Stripe fee
No platform commission. Each payment carries only Stripe’s fee; separately, you pay our monthly fee. Stripe’s pricing as of November 2026; the card rate is for standard EEA cards, and premium, UK and international cards cost more. Stripe’s pricing
The money comes straight to you
A guest pays and the money goes into your own Stripe account. Nobody holds it until the guest arrives or leaves.
| In your Stripe account | visible straight away |
|---|---|
| In your bank account | usually 3 business days |
| SEPA payment | confirmation takes a few business days |
For comparison: direct or through a platform
On a direct booking the money is yours as soon as the guest pays. Platforms hold the money until the stay: some pay out around 24 hours after check-in, others only after check-out, and the bank transfer can take a few more days.
Example with €1,840. Direct booking: the guest pays and, after payment processing, the money is in your account, usually in 3 business days. Through a platform: the platform holds the money, only starts the payout after the guest arrives or leaves, so the money lands months after the booking.
The first payout to a new Stripe account is a one-off that takes longer, about 7 to 14 days.
Sources: Stripe, payouts and the payout rules of the major platforms, November 2026.
Deposit and balance
Usually the guest pays a deposit when booking, by card or SEPA, and the balance on arrival or by a date you agree. For larger amounts SEPA pays off because the fee is fixed, €0.35 per payment.
In the admin you see what has been paid and what is still due. If the guest pays the balance in cash or by bank transfer on arrival, just mark it as paid. The contract and invoice are generated from the booking and emailed to the guest, in their language.
What you pay, and what you don’t
No platform commission. Each payment carries only Stripe’s fee; separately, you pay our monthly fee. Stripe’s pricing as of November 2026; the card rate is for standard EEA cards, and premium, UK and international cards cost more.
Example: a €500 deposit paid with a standard European card costs €7.75 in Stripe fees (1.5% + €0.25). The same deposit by SEPA costs €0.35.
Invoices and tax
Stripe processes payments, but it does not issue invoices or report anything to the authorities. Which invoicing and reporting rules apply to you (in Croatia, for example, fiscalization) depends on your country, your status and how you take payment. That is a question for your accountant, and a good one to ask before the season.
Security
Card payments are processed by Stripe, which is certified as a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider, the highest level in the card payments industry.
Source: Stripe, security.
Questions
Do I need my own Stripe account?
Yes. Payments go into your own Stripe account, and from there to your bank account. We never hold the money.
What are Stripe’s fees?
For standard EEA cards from 1.5% + €0.25 per payment, for SEPA Direct Debit €0.35 per payment. Premium, UK and other international cards cost more. Prices are from Stripe’s pricing, November 2026.
When do I see the money?
You see a card payment in your Stripe account straight away, and in your bank account usually after 3 business days. The first payout to a new Stripe account takes longer, once, roughly 7 to 14 days.
Can I charge just a deposit?
Yes. The guest pays the deposit online and the balance on arrival or by a date you agree.
Does Stripe issue the invoice?
No. Stripe only processes the payment. You or your software issue the invoice, and which reporting rules apply depends on your country and your status. Ask your accountant.
Can guests from the UK or the US pay?
Yes, by card. Stripe’s fee for cards from outside the EEA is higher than for standard European cards.
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