How UrbanBNB Protection works

Booking somewhere sight unseen means trusting a stranger with your money. We take that risk off you by holding the payment ourselves until the stay has actually started.

What happens, step by step

1. You pay when you book. The money leaves your account, but the host does not receive it. We hold the full amount.
2. The host confirms within 24 hours. If they decline, or simply do not answer, you are refunded in full and nothing is charged.
3. You arrive and check in. The host enters the code from your Trips page, which starts a 24-hour window.
4. If everything is as described, the host is paid. Twenty-four hours after check-in, the money moves to their verified bank account, minus our fee.

If something is wrong

Tell us within that 24-hour window. Raising an issue freezes the payout immediately, so the money stays with us while we look into it. Send photos if you have them. We may refund you in full, decide for the host, or split it, depending on what we find.

What this does not cover

Escrow protects your payment. It is not insurance, and it does not cover personal belongings, travel costs or anything that happens away from the property. For anything of that sort, use your own travel insurance.

Why the host agrees to this

Because it cuts both ways. Every booking a host receives is already paid for before a guest walks through the door, so they are never chasing payment after the fact.