If you're using the Vrbo Partner Connection, you can configure payment terms for Vrbo reservations directly in Hospitable.
Payment terms determine how much guests pay at booking, when remaining payments are collected, and what happens if a scheduled payment fails.
At a Glance
Payment terms are configured at the property level
Guests can pay in multiple installments
The first payment is collected at booking
Up to three installments can be configured
Failed payments can trigger booking cancellation if the guest does not update their payment method
Access Payment Terms
To configure payment terms for a property:
Open Properties.
Select the property you want to update.
Navigate to Booking Policies.
Select Pricing Policies.
Locate the Vrbo section.
From here, you can create and manage the payment schedule for future Vrbo reservations.
Booking Policies page with the Vrbo payment schedule settings displayed
Configure the First Payment
The first installment is collected when the guest completes their booking.
Enter the percentage of the reservation total that should be collected at booking.
The first installment must be at least 25% of the total reservation amount.
For example:
25% due at booking
75% collected later
The first payment must be at least 25% of the reservation total.
Configure Additional Installments
After setting the first payment, you can add additional installments for the remaining balance.
To add an installment:
Click + Installment.
Enter the percentage to collect.
Select how many days before check-in the payment is due.
Hospitable automatically calculates the percentage for the final installment based on the percentages you've already configured.
For example:
Installment | Percentage |
Due at booking | 25% |
30 days before check-in | 25% |
7 days before check-in | 50% (automatically calculated) |
You can still configure when the final installment is due. However, its percentage is automatically adjusted to ensure the total payment schedule always equals 100% of the reservation total.
If a guest books close to check-in, any installment with a due date that has already passed will be merged into the first payment automatically.
The final installment percentage is calculated automatically to ensure the payment schedule totals 100%. For last-minute bookings, any overdue installment is automatically combined into the first payment.
Vrbo payment schedule displaying configured installment dates and an automatically calculated final installment percentage
Configure Failed Payment Handling
If a scheduled payment cannot be collected, Hospitable gives the guest time to update their payment method.
Choose how many hours the guest has to update their payment details before the reservation is cancelled.
For example:
24 hours
48 hours
Other available options
Once the grace period expires, the reservation may be cancelled if payment is still outstanding.
Save the Payment Schedule
After reviewing the schedule:
Click Save Vrbo Schedule.
Confirm the updated payment terms.
Future reservations will use the new payment schedule. Existing reservations keep the payment schedule that was active when the booking was created.
Changes only affect future reservations. Existing reservations are not updated.
What Guests See During Checkout
Guests do not see the percentage-based schedule configured in Hospitable.
Instead, guests see:
The amount due today
Future payment amounts
The due date for each future payment
Hospitable calculates these amounts automatically using the payment schedule configured for the property.
For example, a guest may see:
Pay today: $250.00
Due Jul 1: $250.00
Due Aug 1: $500.00
without seeing the underlying percentage split used to generate those amounts.
Vrbo checkout page displaying the amount due today and future scheduled payments
Guests see payment amounts and due dates, not the percentage configuration used to create the schedule.
What Happens After Booking
After the reservation is confirmed:
The first payment is collected immediately
Future installments are charged automatically on their scheduled dates
Guests receive reminders before upcoming payments
Guests receive receipts after successful payments
Guests can review their payment history and upcoming payments from the guest portal.
Guest portal displaying completed and upcoming scheduled payments for a Vrbo reservation
When a Payment Fails
If a scheduled payment cannot be collected:
The guest receives a notification asking them to update their payment method.
The guest can open the guest portal and either:
Retry the payment using their existing payment method, or
Add a different card and use it for the outstanding payment.
Hospitable attempts to collect the outstanding balance.
If payment remains outstanding after the configured grace period, the reservation may be cancelled.
Hosts are notified when a scheduled payment cannot be collected so they can monitor the reservation.
Guests can update their payment method and complete the outstanding payment from the Guest Portal. If the balance remains unpaid after the configured grace period, the reservation may be cancelled.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many installments can I create?
You can split the reservation total into up to three installments.
What is the minimum amount due at booking?
The first payment must be at least 25% of the reservation total.
Can I manually configure all installment percentages?
No. Hospitable automatically calculates the percentage for the final installment based on the percentages you've already configured. You can still choose when the final installment is due.
Do guests see the percentages I configured?
No. Guests see payment amounts and due dates. Hospitable calculates those amounts using the payment schedule configured for the property.
What happens if a guest books close to check-in?
Any installment with a due date that has already passed will be merged into the first payment.
Do changes affect existing reservations?
No. Updated payment schedules only apply to future bookings.
What happens if a guest's card is declined?
The guest receives a notification and can update their payment method through the guest portal. They can pay the outstanding balance using a different card before the grace period expires.
Can I configure different payment schedules for different properties?
Yes. Payment terms are configured independently for each property.
Need Help?
If a payment schedule is not behaving as expected, contact Hospitable Support and include:
The property name
The reservation code
A description of the payment schedule you expected
Screenshots of the reservation or payment schedule settings, if available