Stripe payments, built in

Stripe for
vacation rentals

Connect your own Stripe account and give guests a secure, familiar checkout for cards and supported digital wallets—without adding another payment workflow to your business.

5-day free trial · No credit card to start · Your own Stripe account

See your property as a direct booking website

Paste your Airbnb or VRBO link. Free preview in 2 minutes, no account needed.

No signup requiredNo credit cardReady in minutes

Know what a refund costs

See how Stripe's original processing fee affects full and partial refunds under standard US card pricing.

Current Stripe policy

Stripe states that the processing fees from the original transaction are not returned when a completed payment is refunded. The examples below use Stripe's published standard US domestic card rate.

Original paymentRefundProcessing feeFee not returned
$500 booking$500 full refund$14.80$14.80
$1,000 booking$1,000 full refund$29.30$29.30
$2,000 booking$1,000 partial refund$58.30$58.30

A cleaner payment policy

Reduce preventable refunds without making booking harder for good guests.

Make the policy clear before payment

Show cancellation windows and refundable amounts at checkout, then repeat them in the confirmation and rental agreement.

Choose collection timing deliberately

Balance guest convenience, cash flow, and cancellation risk when deciding whether to collect in full or schedule a later balance.

Set fair damage deposit terms

Explain when the deposit is collected, how inspections work, what evidence supports a deduction, and when the remaining amount is returned.

Keep a complete payment record

Retain the booking confirmation, signed terms, guest communication, and any supporting photos before issuing a partial refund or responding to a dispute.

Payments that feel built in

A professional checkout for guests and one connected payment account for you.

Transparent processing

Stripe currently lists 2.9% + 30¢ for successful US domestic card transactions, with no Stripe setup or monthly fee. Other cards, methods, and markets can differ.

One connected account

Connect your own Stripe account to DirectBookings and manage payments, refunds, disputes, and payout details from the Stripe Dashboard.

Cards and digital wallets

Offer a familiar checkout with major cards and supported wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, depending on device and account eligibility.

Secure hosted payments

Stripe handles sensitive card data and provides payment security tools, including fraud screening and supported authentication flows.

Payout visibility

Track payment status and expected payouts in Stripe. Timing depends on your country, account history, bank, and configured payout schedule.

Refund and dispute controls

Issue full or partial refunds, review payment history, and respond to disputes with supporting booking records from your connected Stripe account.

Processing vs marketplace costs

Stripe publishes a standard US card rate; marketplace host costs depend on each account and fee model.

Illustrative economics

Stripe processes the payment. Airbnb and Vrbo also operate marketplaces, so their fees pay for a different service. Compare both cost and value before choosing a channel.

ProviderCost basisExample rateContext
StripePayment processing through DirectBookings$29.30 example2.9% + 30¢Published US domestic card rate
VrboVacation rental marketplaceVariesAccount-specificDistribution and marketplace booking tools
AirbnbVacation rental marketplaceVariesFee-model specificDistribution and marketplace booking tools

Official pricing and scope notes

Reviewed August 5, 2026. Payment pricing and marketplace terms can change.

Stripe's US pricing page is the source for the domestic card example. Stripe's refund documentation is the source for refund timing and the treatment of original processing fees. Your Stripe Dashboard and signed marketplace terms are authoritative for your accounts.

Stripe pricing · Stripe refund documentation

Frequently asked questions

Practical answers about Stripe payments, refunds, and disputes.

How much does Stripe charge for vacation rental payments?
Stripe currently lists standard US pricing of 2.9% + 30¢ for each successful domestic card transaction. A $1,000 domestic card payment would therefore have a $29.30 processing fee. International cards, currency conversion, alternative payment methods, custom pricing, and non-US accounts can have different rates, so confirm the pricing shown for your Stripe account.
Are Stripe processing fees returned when I refund a guest?
Stripe's current refund documentation states that the processing fees from the original transaction are not returned. Under standard US domestic card pricing, fully refunding a $1,000 payment would return the guest's $1,000 while the original $29.30 processing cost remains with the host. Pricing and refund policies can vary by region and account.
How do partial refunds work with Stripe?
You can issue one or more partial refunds from Stripe as long as the total does not exceed the original payment. The refund comes from your available Stripe balance, and Stripe's current documentation says the original transaction's processing fees are not returned. Review the payment in your Stripe Dashboard before confirming the refund.
How can vacation rental hosts reduce avoidable refund costs?
Publish a clear cancellation policy, communicate the total and property terms before payment, choose collection timing deliberately, and keep the booking record needed to resolve exceptions. When appropriate, a date change or stay credit can preserve the booking relationship without creating an immediate card refund.
Can I deduct Stripe fees from a guest's refund?
Do not deduct processing fees automatically. Your cancellation terms, consumer-protection requirements, card-network rules, and local law can affect what you may retain. State your policy clearly before booking and obtain appropriate legal guidance for your market.
How long do Stripe refunds take for vacation rental guests?
Stripe says customers typically see a card refund approximately 5–10 business days after it is submitted, depending on the bank. A refund issued soon after payment can appear as a reversal, causing the original charge to disappear instead of showing a separate credit.
How should I account for damage deposit refunds?
If a damage deposit is collected as part of a completed card payment, returning it is a refund and Stripe's refund policy applies. State the deposit terms clearly, document any deductions, and review the original payment in Stripe before issuing a full or partial refund.
What happens if a guest disputes a Stripe charge?
Stripe withdraws the disputed amount and applies the dispute fees shown for your account. You can respond with evidence such as the booking confirmation, signed rental agreement, cancellation policy, guest communication, and proof of the stay. Stripe's current US pricing page lists separate fees for receiving and manually countering a dispute.
Is Stripe cheaper than Airbnb or Vrbo?
Stripe is a payment processor, while Airbnb and Vrbo are marketplaces that also provide traveler demand and platform services. For a $1,000 US domestic card payment, Stripe's published standard processing example is $29.30. Marketplace host fees vary by platform, account, property, market, and fee model, so compare the net payout shown in each account rather than treating one percentage as universal.

Continue with the payment stack

Explore the workflows that sit around a secure guest payment.

Turn one-time guests into repeat direct bookings

Most hosts never see their guests again. Every OTA stay should become your next direct booking — your website accepts commission-free reservations, your WiFi keeps your brand in front of guests long after checkout.

The repeat booking engine
1

Guest books on Airbnb

You pay the OTA commission

2

Stays at your property

Their only visit — for now

3

Connects to your WiFi

Branded splash page

4

Email captured

Added to your guest CRM

5

Automated follow-up

Offers & seasonal discounts

Books directly next trip

Zero OTA commission

Step 1

Direct Booking Website

Accept commission-free reservations from day one. Your own branded site with payments, calendar sync, and automated check-in — live in 15 minutes.

  • Branded booking website with custom domain
  • Stripe payments — zero booking fees
  • Calendar sync with Airbnb & VRBO
  • Pre-signed rental agreements & waivers
Start accepting direct bookings →
Step 2

Guest WiFi Marketing

Stop letting guests disappear after checkout. Capture their email when they log on to WiFi, then automatically invite them back to book direct next time.

  • Branded WiFi splash page & guest email capture
  • Automated rebooking campaigns & seasonal offers
  • Repeat-guest discounts to win the direct booking
  • Guest CRM across all your properties — any router
See WiFi Marketing →

One repeat booking often pays for your subscription many times over — there's no OTA commission the second time around. Bundle subscribers save 30% on Guest WiFi Marketing.

Accept direct booking payments with Stripe.

Connect your own Stripe account to a DirectBookings website. Plans start at $9/month with a 5-day free trial.

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Stripe for Vacation Rentals — Built-In Payments | DirectBookings