Booking flow modes
Pick how much commitment a guest makes before you get involved.
The booking flow is configured in the dashboard under Bookings - Booking settings, not as embed parameters. Three modes are available:
| Mode | How it works |
|---|---|
| Inquiry only | Guest submits name, email, dates, and a message. You review and respond. No payment collected. |
| Request now | Guest submits a booking request. You confirm or decline, then send a secure payment request for manual payment. |
| Pay in widget | Guest enters card details and pays at the time of booking. Requires Stripe Connect setup. |
Which mode fits your calendar sync
Inquiry only and Request now both keep a host review step before anything is confirmed, so nothing is booked or charged until you say yes - that review step is the safety net, independent of how fast your calendars sync. Pay in widget re-checks your connected feeds when a guest submits, to catch conflicts before the reservation is accepted. Calendars do not update in real time, though: RentalBeam re-checks your feeds frequently, but the platforms you sync from (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com) only refresh their own exported calendars on their schedule, so a booking taken on one may not have reached its feed yet. If you list the same dates across multiple platforms, Inquiry only and Request now carry the strongest built-in protection against double bookings.
What guests see
The booking form collects:
- —Check-in and check-out dates (with real-time availability validation)
- —Guest count
- —Name and email
- —Optional message
- —Custom fields you define in the dashboard, including file uploads (photo ID, license, documents)
- —Card details if Pay in widget mode is enabled