Here is what the platform does around host verification, payments, and refunds.
Verified hosts
Every host on Withlocals is vetted before they can welcome guests. New hosts go through an onboarding process that includes identity verification, and they only start hosting once they have been approved.
Beyond the onboarding checks, every host has a public profile with their rating, number of completed experiences, and reviews from past guests. You can read those before you book to get a feel for who you'll be spending your time with.
Secure payments
All payments on Withlocals are handled through a secure checkout. You enter your card or another supported payment method, and Withlocals does not see or store your full card details.
For experiences that need host confirmation, your payment is held when you book and only charged when the host accepts. If the host does not accept, the hold is released and you are not charged.
Refunds when things go wrong
Refunds are enforced by the platform, not negotiated:
If a host cancels a confirmed booking, you get a full refund automatically. See What happens if my host cancels.
If the host does not accept your booking request, you are not charged.
If you cancel inside the allowed window, the refund amount depends on the refund policy. See Cancellation and refund policy.
Messaging your host
You and your host communicate through the Withlocals chat, which is accessible from your booking page. Your chat history stays with the booking.
Good to know
Pay only through the Withlocals checkout. Any request to pay a host directly, outside the platform, is not covered by Withlocals.
If a message or email looks suspicious, check Is this message really from Withlocals.
Related articles