How To Pay On Hostelworld [Credit Card, Best Price Guarantee, Arrival]

HostelworldHostels
Written By Taz Zaidi

How To Pay For A Hostelworld Booking

Hostelworld makes searching and booking easy.

Still, many travelers have questions on how payments work on the Hostelworld website/app and what forms of payment are accepted by Hostelworld.

In this guide, we’ll explore how payments work on Hostelworld.

We’ll cover Hostelworld’s booking fees, how to pay with a card, how to pay your host on arrival, how to change your account’s display currency, Hostelworld’s Best Price Guarantee and how you’ll receive a receipt.

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*Agoda.com is a great place to find deals on hostels. For today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

How Hostelworld’s Booking Fees Work

As a Hostelworld user, we pay a “booking deposit” fee each time we book on the site. The booking deposit is due upon booking and is non-refundable (except on Free Cancellation and Standard Flexible bookings).

This payment goes directly to Hostelworld and is the primary way Hostelworld makes money. A booking deposit helps to reduce last-minute cancellations and headaches for hostel staff, as customers are less likely to cancel a reservation after they’ve made a payment.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

How To Pay With A Credit Card

Your booking deposit must be paid via debit or credit card. Hostelworld accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB and a few other payment processing networks. PayPal isn’t accepted as a payment option. Here’s a screenshot on the last step of the booking process.

You’ll enter your card details at check out

You’ll enter your card details at check out

For step-by-step instructions on how to discover and book your hostel on Hostelworld, follow this guide.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

How To Pay For The Rest Of Your Booking On Arrival

The remainder of your payment is due when you arrive at check-in. Some hosts (particularly in “cash-based” countries) do not accept card. To see which forms of payment a host accepts, click “View House Rules” under a listing’s Property Description section.

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Hosts define their own payment policy. As you see in the screenshot below, credit cards are not accepted at this property, meaning I must pay with cash. Payment instructions are in your Booking Confirmation email.

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*For the ten things every traveler should bring to a hostel, click here.

How To Change Your Account’s Display Currency

To change your account’s display currency, click the current display currency in the upper-right corner.

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From the drop-down, search or scroll for the currency you prefer. All prices will display in the new currency.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

Hostelworld’s Best Price Guarantee

Hostelworld offers a Best Price Guarantee. It works like this - if you find the exact same bed/room on another site at a lower price than what you paid for on Hostelworld.com, they promise to price match.

To qualify, ensure the lower priced bed/room is:

  • Displayed online (offline prices don’t qualify)

  • Reported within 24 hours from the time you made the booking on Hostelworld

  • Includes the same “extras” (like breakfast included, for example)

If so, you may contact Hostelworld using this form.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

How To Get A Receipt From Hostelworld

Hostelworld will send a Booking Confirmation email to you when a reservation is made. The email shows the paid booking deposit and how much you still owe your host upon arrival. This email is also your receipt and proof of booking. It’s best to have a screenshot of this email with you when you arrive at the property.

booking-confirmation-email-hostelworld.png

Creating a Hostelworld account helps you track your bookings. For how to create one, follow this guide.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

Frequently Asked Payment Questions

Does Hostelworld accept PayPal?

No, Hostelworld does not accept PayPal.

Does Hostelworld charge international/foreign transaction fees?

No, Hostelworld does not charge international fees. If you pay your host via card, the “charge currency” and exchange rate will be decided by your bank, as usual.

Does Hostelworld charge booking fees?

The only booking fee Hostelworld charges is an initial booking deposit, paid at the time of reservation. To learn about cancellation and no-show fees, click here.

Do hostels charge extra fees at check-in?

Some countries require hostels to collect a tourist tax, but this is atypical. To see if a property charges tourist tax at check-in, see the listing’s House Rules section.

*To see today’s deals on hostels in any destination, click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

Now that you understand how a booking deposit and arrival payment work, booking your hostel should be simple. To learn more about Hostelworld or hostels, explore our other guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

How To Find Discounts On Hostels In Your Destination

For great deals on a wide variety of accommodation (including hostels, budget hotels, resorts, apartments, homes, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and unique or alternative types), use the Agoda widget below. Just input your destination and dates, then browse the results! Or to go directly to Agoda.com, click here.

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Taz Zaidi [Author]
Taz Zaidi [Author]

Taz Zaidi is an American travel writer and the founder/creator of TRVLGUIDES.com. Connect with him on Instagram (@tazzaidi) or on his personal website, at tazzaidi.com.

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Taz Zaidi
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