# Book a stay

Source: https://app.rentiqa.com/help/renters/book-a-stay

> The four booking steps, what you pay and when, and the difference between a request the host approves and an instant booking.

Press **Book** on a search card or **Choose dates** on a listing page. You need to be signed in. The booking window has four steps: **Dates & Guests**, **Guest Details**, **Review & Pricing** and **Confirmation**.

## 1. Dates & Guests

Pick your check-in and check-out days in the calendar, and the number of adults, children and pets. Press **Next**: Rentiqa checks the dates are free and tells you if they are not. You do not need an account for this step: the total for your dates, taxes and fees included, is shown next to the availability note. If the party is larger than the place sleeps, or brings a pet where the host allows none, Rentiqa says so here. To go on you sign in or create an account; you come back to the same place with your dates kept, and during the beta an account created this way is ready at once.

## 2. Guest Details

Your name and email are filled in from your account. Add a phone number (required) and any special requests for the host.

## 3. Review & Pricing

Check the summary and the **Price Breakdown**: the nights at the nightly rate, then any cleaning fee, extra guest fee, each tax with its rate, service fee and card processing, and the **Total**. The total is what your card is charged.

- **Payment**: choose a saved card, or enter a new one at the end. You can tick **Save this card for future stays and rent**.
- **Security deposit**: some places have one. It is not charged now: your card stays on file and is charged only for damage the host reports after your stay that you accept or that Rentiqa approves after hearing both sides. You tick a separate box to agree to it. See [Damage claims](https://app.rentiqa.com/help/renters/damage-claims).
- Tick **I agree to the Terms & Conditions**, complete the security check if one is shown, and press **Complete Booking**.

With a saved card or bank account, your bank may ask you to approve the payment. With a new card, a secure card form opens; press **Authorize** to finish, and you are taken straight to your trip page.

## 4. A request or an instant booking

Each host chooses how their place is booked. With a saved card the last step tells you; with a new card your trip page does:

- **A request** ("Booking request sent!", or **Payment held** on the trip page): your card is authorized, not charged. The host has a limited time to approve or decline. When they approve, your card is charged and your check-in details unlock. If they decline or do not answer in time, the hold on your card is released and nothing is charged.
- **An instant booking** ("Booked!", or **Confirmed** on the trip page): your stay is confirmed and your card has been charged.

Either way you get an email, and the booking is under [Trips](https://app.rentiqa.com/trips). When a stay is confirmed, the email "Your stay is confirmed" is your receipt and has the address, which also shows on the trip page.

## If the booking is refused

A red message above the buttons says why, for example:

- the place is your own listing;
- the host has not finished setting up how they are paid;
- short stays in that state cannot be booked on Rentiqa yet;
- the security check did not pass (reload the page and try again).

## Good to know

- You cannot change the dates or number of guests on a booking. Cancel it and book again; see [Cancel a booking](https://app.rentiqa.com/help/renters/cancel-a-booking).
- If you leave before paying, the booking is kept for a short time on your Trips page with **Finish booking**, then released.
- You do not need to verify your identity to book. [Verifying](https://app.rentiqa.com/help/getting-started/verify-your-identity) is optional; hosts see a "verified" mark next to your name when you have.

Next: [Your trips](https://app.rentiqa.com/help/renters/your-trips).