Do you know that the success of any online booking platform relies on its booking and payment system?
Let’s assume that a user is trying to book a listing and make a payment to book that particular listing for his Christmas vacation and unfortunately the payment failed due to some technical issues on the platform.
Do you know how it feels? He will feel very disappointed and never visit your platform in his lifetime.
In order to prevent these circumstances, it is advisable to build a solid booking system and integrate a good payment gateway that makes the customer’s booking process at ease.
In this blog, we will cover how to implement both for seamless experiences from start to finish on your Airbnb-like app.
Let’s begin!
Wait, but before that let’s discuss how Airbnb works and the need to build an app like Airbnb.
How does Airbnb Work?
If you are planning to build an app like Airbnb, you might have know about Airbnb. So, let’s make it short and sweet.
Airbnb is an online marketplace platform that connects travelers with hosts who are ready to provide lodging accommodation.
Users can book unique stays like apartments, private villas, and individual houses directly from the host with the help of the Airbnb platform.
On the other hand, hosts can list their property on the platform and set pricing and availability based on their preferences.
So to summarize, Airbnb facilitates the communication and transactions between hosts and guests via the platform for a seamless booking experience.
What is the need to build an app like Airbnb?
As we all know with over 150 million users globally, Airbnb has transformed the way we travel today. It is a very big revolution that happened in the vacation rental industry.
But do you know that the vacation rental market is expected to hit $113.9 billion by 2027 according to a recent Statista report?
By building an app like Airbnb, you can tap into this growing market that allows you to offer fellow travelers unforgettable experiences.
Based on my understanding, you are planning to launch an Airbnb-like app for any of the below reasons,
- You might have vacation rental properties and don’t know how to market among travelers.
- Your property listing is already listed on platforms like Airbnb, vrbo, and bookings.com but you don’t want to pay a high service fee to them.
- Thinking of starting a vacation rental business and planning to explore an Airbnb-like app.
- You already have your Airbnb-like app for your business and want to look into a new platform with stunning features.
- And you have become a fan of my writing and staying with me till here. Just joking!
If you have any of the reasons mentioned above except the last one, then Airbnb clone is the right choice for you.
Airbnb clone helps you to launch a vacation rental business very quickly without any need to build it from scratch.
How does the booking system work and tips to build a good one?
The entire performance of the platform depends on the quality of the booking system. You can spend more time and research a lot before you build a system.
Here is a detailed breakdown of how a booking system works,
1) Search a property
Usually, guests search for accommodations with filters like location, dates, price range, and amenities. After this, they can browse through the listings, view photos, read descriptions, and reviews to find their ideal stay.
2) Booking Request
Once guests find a suitable listing, they will submit a booking request to the host. Now, the host has the option to accept or decline the booking request based on his preference and the availability of the property.
3) Confirmation and Payment
If the host accepts the booking request, the reservation is confirmed and the guest will make a payment. Airbnb handles transactions securely through secure payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe (Let’s discuss in detail in the next section).
4) Communication
Hosts and guests can communicate through Airbnb’s In-app messaging system to coordinate check-in details, address any questions or concerns, and provide assistance throughout the stay.
5) Review and Feedback
After the stay, both hosts and guests have the opportunity to leave reviews and ratings for each other. This two-way review system helps maintain trust and transparency within the Airbnb community.
So, if you want to build a seamless booking system on your Airbnb-like app, you need to have features like advanced search filters, instant booking options, payment gateway integration, In-app messaging, and a two-way review system.
These mentioned features help you to stay unique and make the booking process more easier.
Understanding the importance of Payment Gateways
Do you know that payment gateways are the backbone of the platform’s financial transactions? Yes, with the implementation of a secure payment gateway, you can avoid a lot of headaches.
It is very important for seamless payment transactions between hosts, guests, and admin. I have prepared a separate section for payment flow as well. Have a look after a couple of sections.
Why do you need a payment gateway?
I have covered the top 6 reasons to implement a payment gateway on your Airbnb-like app.
Secure Transactions
Payment gateways ensure that financial transactions conducted online are secure, protecting sensitive information such as credit card details from unauthorized access and fraud.
Convenience
Payment gateways offer convenient payment options that allow customers to make purchases from anywhere, at any time, using their preferred payment method, whether it’s credit/debit cards, digital wallets, or bank transfers.
Global Reach
Want customers from all around the globe? Payment gateways enable businesses to reach customers worldwide and it results in expanding their market reach and potential customer base.
Trust and Credibility
A very important reason to consider. When you implement a reliable payment gateway, it automatically builds trust and credibility in your business. It also assures that their payment information is safe and that transactions will be processed securely and efficiently.
Compliance
Payment gateways ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards, including data protection laws and payment card industry (PCI) requirements, reducing the risk of legal issues and penalties for businesses.
Streamlined Operations
Want to save time and resources? By automating payment processing, payment gateways streamline business operations, saving time and resources while improving efficiency and accuracy.
Improved Customer Experience
A seamless and hassle-free payment experience gives overall customer satisfaction that encourages repeat business and customer loyalty.
What is the best payment gateway to integrate?
Choosing the best payment gateway to integrate depends on various factors such as target audience, geographical location, and budget.
Here is the list of top 3 payment gateway available in the market and widely used in Airbnb-like apps.
- Stripe – Known for its developer-friendly API, easy integration, and support for a wide range of payment methods and currencies.
- PayPal – A most trusted payment solution that supports credit/debit cards, PayPal balance, and localized payment methods as well.
- Braintree – Owned by PayPal, it provides seamless integration, advanced security features, and support for international payments and recurring billing.
The above-mentioned are the most popular choices for Airbnb-like apps due to their reputation for reliability, security, and global support. Also, it is used by most of our customers all around the globe and people love it.
What is the payment flow in Airbnb-like apps?
There are various steps involved in payment flow. Stay with me from start to finish,
Step 1: The guest finalizes the listing and makes a booking for their trip.
Step 2: Once the guest makes the payment, it is transferred to the admin’s bank account.
Step 3: After 24 hours from the check-in, the payout will be ready and the admin will deduct the host and guest service fee from the whole amount.
Step 4: Now, the admin will process the payout to the host.
I have made this as simple as possible to give you a rough idea of what happens in the background if a guest books a listing. If you want to more, you can feel free to contact our team
Top 5 reasons to prefer readymade Airbnb-like app
I won’t take much of your precious time and let me make it simple.
It is a good idea to prefer a readymade Airbnb clone or Airbnb-like app because,
- 100% Customizable – You can customize any part of the platform based on your requirements as it gives you complete flexibility.
- Saves time and Cost – If you want to build an app like Airbnb, then it will take you one complete year to finish the development and cost you more than $50000. We recommend our customers save money by preferring readymade script.
- 100% Source Code – With 100% source code, you can have full freedom to customize the product and it gives you complete ownership of your business.
- Technical Support – We have only one thing to say, “We got your back”. From day 1 you get dedicated technical and customer support from our experts and we take care of our customers with complete care
- Quick Launch – Yes, with readymade Airbnb scripts like GlyphStay, you can launch a platform within a month.
Wrapping Up
If you’re with me up to this point, believe me, I know what it takes and feels like to launch a business.
So, in order to launch a vacation rental business quickly and effectively, a readymade Airbnb clone is the right choice for you. Feel free to drop a message and we are here to help you.
Don’t just dream, make it happen, and no, let’s make it happen!
