How to book a hosted trip safely
Updated 11 Oct 2026
Pay by credit card, book through the button on the trip page, and never send money by bank transfer, Zelle, Venmo, gift card or crypto to someone you haven't checked. If something feels off, tell us before you pay.
How does booking work on hosted/trips?
On hosted/trips, every trip has a named host, and you book directly with them on their own site. hosted/trips takes no bookings or payments and no cut of what you pay the host. That means your money goes straight to the person running the trip, with nobody holding it in between.
It also means hosted/trips never asks you for money. We never send payment links, never take deposits and never message you asking you to pay. If anyone claiming to be us does, it isn't us.
What is the safest way to pay for a hosted trip?
The single most useful thing you can do is pay by credit card.
- Credit card: if a trip isn't delivered, you can usually ask your card company to dispute the charge. Card companies set their own time limits, so ask yours how long you have.
- Debit card: some banks offer a dispute process too, but the protection is often weaker. Ask your bank before you pay.
- Bank transfer · Zelle · Venmo · Cash App: once the money is sent, it's very hard to get back.
- Crypto · gift cards · Western Union · MoneyGram: no genuine host should ask for these. Treat it as a warning sign.
Many legitimate small hosts take bank transfers, especially outside the US. If a host asks for one, ask whether you can pay by card instead, and read the next section before you send anything.
Will travel insurance cover me if a trip is a scam?
Travel insurance won't usually cover a scam, though it is worth having for the things it's built for: cancellation, illness, delays. Read our guide on travel insurance and cancel for any reason.
But most policies don't pay out if the trip turns out to be fake. Fraud is usually excluded, and cover for a company going out of business is not the same thing. Don't rely on insurance as scam protection. Paying by card is what helps there.
What are the warning signs of a fake hosted trip?
Two or three of these together are worth stopping for, though none proves a trip is fake on its own.
- The host asks you to pay outside their booking page, or by message
- Payment only by bank transfer, Zelle, Venmo, crypto or gift card
- Pressure to pay today, or a price that seems far too low for what's included
- The booking site looks brand new, or doesn't match the host's name
- The host won't answer simple questions about the trip, or answers vaguely
- Photos you've seen elsewhere under a different name (a reverse image search can show this)
Our guide to questions to ask a host has more to ask before any money changes hands.
What do the checkmarks on a host mean?
Under "About your host", some trip pages show checkmarks. Each one says exactly what was checked, nothing more.
- ID checked: the host confirmed who they are with a photo ID and a selfie, checked by Stripe. We never see or keep their ID. When a trip has several hosts, it says Lead host's ID checked: that's the person who listed the trip with us.
- Registered business: the host gave us their registered business name and where it's registered, and we looked it up.
- Insured: the host sent us their insurance certificate, and we checked who it's with, what it covers and when it ends. The checkmark goes away when the policy ends.
- Seller of travel registered: the host holds a seller-of-travel registration in a US state, and we looked up the number they gave us. We don't require one: whether a host needs it is between them and their own legal adviser.
A checkmark is information, not a guarantee. A trip with none can be run by a lovely, careful host who simply hasn't done the optional steps. Use the checkmarks alongside your own questions.
What should I do if a hosted trip seems wrong?
Every trip page has a link: Something wrong with this trip? Report it. Reports come straight to us. When more than one person reports a trip, its page shows "Under review" in place of the booking button until we've looked into it.
If you've already paid and think it's a scam, contact your card company or bank as soon as you can. The sooner they hear, the more they can usually do.
Find a trip
When you've done your checks, you're ready to book with the host directly.
Common questions
Should I pay for a retreat by credit card or bank transfer?
Credit card is the most useful option. If a trip isn't delivered, you can usually ask your card company to dispute the charge, while money sent by bank transfer, Zelle, Venmo or Cash App is very hard to get back. If a host asks for a bank transfer, ask whether you can pay by card instead.
Does hosted/trips ever ask me for money?
No. hosted/trips never sends payment links, never takes deposits and never messages you asking you to pay. If anyone claiming to be us does, it isn't us.
Does an ID checked checkmark guarantee a hosted trip is safe?
No. A checkmark is information, not a guarantee. Each one says exactly what was checked, nothing more, so use the checkmarks alongside your own questions.
How do I report a hosted trip that looks like a scam?
Use the link on the trip page that says Something wrong with this trip? Report it. Reports come straight to hosted/trips, and when more than one person reports a trip its page shows Under review in place of the booking button. If you've already paid, contact your card company or bank as soon as you can.
