Found a place you like? Here's what happens from your request to your confirmed booking.
- Send your request: on the listing page, click Request to Book. Write a short message to the host: introduce yourself and the people travelling with you, and say why you're coming. Then enter your card details and send the request.
- The host answers within 48 hours: the host accepts or declines your request, and may ask you a question first. The 48 hours run from your request, or from the last message in the conversation. You can follow the conversation in your Inbox.
- The host accepts and your card is charged: the amount held on your card when you sent the request is charged when the host accepts. You don't need to do anything else: Confirm & Pay is only for a pre-approved inquiry or a special offer (see below).
- Your booking is confirmed when your payment succeeds: you receive a confirmation email with your booking details and the host's contact information.
About payment
- When you send your request, we place a temporary hold on your card for the amount due (the total, or the first part if you chose to pay part now and part later), and we may charge a small verification amount (no more than CHF 1). If the booking doesn't go ahead, we release the hold and refund the verification amount.
- The amount held is charged when the host accepts, and your booking is confirmed when that payment succeeds. If you first sent the host a question and the host pre-approved it, or if the host sent you a special offer, you complete Confirm & Pay within 48 hours instead, and your card is charged then. See When will I pay for my booking?
- The total, including the Service Fee, is shown before you send your request.
Important: Until your booking is confirmed, do not share phone numbers, email addresses, social media or links in the chat; the platform removes them. Always pay through JWguest, never directly to the host.
Good to know
- You can have up to 3 pending booking requests at a time. When one is answered or cancelled, you can send a new one.
- If the host doesn't answer within 48 hours, the request expires and any hold or verification amount on your card is released.
- To change or cancel a pending request, go to Trips and use the Options column. See Change your booking dates.