What form of payments should your travel business accept?

1. Payment Links

How it works: You send a secure payment link to the guest, via email or Whatsapp. They pay online - often for a deposit or full booking - using their card.

Pros:

• Fast and simple setup
• No need for a website or booking engine
• Great for international payments
• Reduces no-shows with upfront deposits

Cons:

• Not ideal for automated bookings
• Requires manual messaging or follow-up

Conclusion: A flexible option for small teams that want to secure payments quickly, especially when guests reach out via email or Whatsapp.

2. Booking Widgets (Payments directly through your website)

How it works: You embed a booking and payment widget directly on your website. Guests can check availability, book, and pay, all in one place.

Pros:

• Professional guest experience
• Accepts payments instantly
• Embedded directly onto your website, rather than linking to external platforms or sites
• Manage availability through a simple portal

Cons:

• Requires a website (or a basic landing page)
• Slightly less customisable than full PMS tools
• May not integrate with channel managers

Conclusion: A solution for operators who want customers to be able to see availability, pricing, and book without having to directly message the business first.

3. In-Person Card Payments

How it works: Guests pay in person using a card reader or payment app - either on arrival or during their stay.

Pros:

• Ideal for walk-ins and extras
• Allows the exact amount to be received, and quick payouts

Cons:

• Requires card reader or mobile device
• No advance payment option increases the likelihood of no-shows

Conclusion: Useful if you're in a location with reliable infrastructure and want to offer payment flexibility on-site.

4. Virtual Credit Cards (VCCs)

Best for: Hotels and hostels using Booking.com, Expedia, or similar OTAs

How it works: When a guest books through an OTA, the platform issues a virtual credit card that you charge manually by inputting the details provided in the VCC.

Pros:

• Guaranteed funds from OTAs
• Reduces fraud and no-shows

Cons:

• Manual or semi-manual workflow
• Typically more expensive to process

Conclusion: Best used alongside other payment methods; reliable for OTA payments but limited flexibility.

5. Cash Payments

How it works: Guests pay in local currency, usually on arrival.

Pros:

• No fees or setup
• Offline and straightforward

Cons:

• Risk of no-shows or last-minute cancellations
• Safety and accounting issues
• Less convenient for international travellers, who prefer to pay with card, and in their currency

Conclusion: Still relevant in some places, but becoming less common. Travellers increasingly expect digital options.

Consider offering a variety of payment methods

Tourism businesses in emerging markets are increasingly moving away from cash and relying less on expensive or complex systems. Modern tools let you accept international payments, reduce no-shows, and give guests the convenience they expect - without needing a tech team or big budget.

Many operators today are using simple booking widgets, links, and multi-channel payment solutions that are easy to set up and manage through a single inventory portal.

Looking to upgrade how you take payments? Check out tab.travel for low fee payment methods tailored for tourism businesses.