A stay booking has a simple flow:

Booking received → Payment confirmed → Prepare → Check in → Host → Check out → Complete

You do not need to memorise everything at once. Follow the booking in your dashboard and deal with each stage as it comes.

When a booking comes in

Tambala will notify you when a guest makes a booking.

Open Bookings in your seller dashboard and select the reservation.

Check the important details carefully:

The guest name, and contact details.
Check-in and check-out dates.
The room or property booked.
Number of guests.
Any special requests.
Payment status.
Current booking status.

Always use the booking in your dashboard as the source of truth. Do not rely only on an email, screenshot or message from the guest.

Check the payment status

Before treating the booking as confirmed, make sure Tambala shows the required payment (full payment or deposit depending on what you set at listing) as received.

Do not accept a screenshot or message saying that payment has been made as proof on its own.

If the booking is still waiting for payment, follow the status shown in Tambala. Once the required payment is confirmed, you can continue preparing for the stay.

Keep payments inside the approved Tambala process so the booking, payment and support records stay connected.

Prepare for the guest

Once the booking is confirmed, make sure the property is ready for the reserved dates.

Check that the correct room or unit is available and that your calendar reflects the booking.

Prepare anything the guest has requested and that you agreed to provide. This could include an extra bed, airport pickup or another service offered by the property.

If you cannot provide something the guest requested, tell them as early as possible.

It is also helpful to send the guest a short message before arrival with the information they need.

For example:

Thank you for your booking. Check-in is from 2:00 p.m. We are located at [location]. Please let us know if you need help with directions or expect to arrive late.

Keep the message simple and useful.

Check any remaining payment

Some bookings may require full payment at once, while others may have a deposit and a remaining balance.

Open the booking and check what Tambala currently shows as paid and what is still due.

Follow the payment terms attached to that reservation.

Do not create your own payment arrangement outside Tambala unless the booking process specifically allows it. Keeping payment inside the platform makes it easier to confirm what has been paid and to resolve problems if something goes wrong.

Check the guest in

When the guest arrives, confirm the booking and make sure they are receiving the room or property they reserved.

Give them the information they need for the stay, such as access instructions, Wi-Fi details, important house rules and the expected check-out time.

Once the guest has arrived successfully, update the booking using Mark as Checked In where that option is available.

For the full arrival process, see Check Guests In and Out.

During the stay

Be reachable for reasonable questions or problems.

If something important happens, keep a clear record of the communication through Tambala where possible.

If the guest asks for something additional, confirm whether it is available and whether there is an extra charge before agreeing.

If they want to extend their stay, first check your availability and use the approved booking process so the extra nights and payment are recorded properly.

Do not make changes that could create a conflict with another confirmed booking.

Check the guest out

At the end of the stay, follow the normal check-out process.

Collect any keys or access items, inspect the property and confirm that the guest has left.

Normal cleaning after a stay is expected. If there is unusual damage or something important is missing, document it clearly and follow the appropriate Tambala support or dispute process.

Then update the booking using Mark as Checked Out where available.

What happens after check-out

After the stay is completed, Tambala will move the booking through the remaining payment and completion process.

You can follow the status from your seller dashboard and view your earnings or payout information in the relevant payments section.

The exact timing of payouts, fees and any hold period should always be checked in the current Tambala payment guidance.

See Stay Payouts and Reviews for the full explanation.

If the guest cancels or does not arrive

If a guest cancels before the stay, follow the cancellation policy attached to the booking.

If the guest does not arrive, try to contact them before treating the booking as a no-show.

Do not mark a guest as checked in if they never arrived.

For the full process, see Cancellations and No-Shows.

If something goes wrong

Problems can happen.

A guest may arrive late, ask to change dates, complain about the room or report something that needs attention.

Respond early and keep the conversation calm.

Check the booking first, understand what was originally agreed, and then use the correct Tambala support, cancellation, refund or dispute process where necessary.

Do not solve serious booking or payment problems through informal arrangements that leave no record.

The important thing to remember

For every booking, focus on five things:

Is the booking confirmed?

Has the required payment been received?

Is the property ready?

Does the guest know what to expect?

Have I updated the booking as the stay moves forward?

If you keep those five things under control, most bookings will be straightforward.

For the practical arrival and departure process, continue with Check Guests In and Out.

For money after the stay, see Stay Payouts and Reviews.

If a guest cancels or does not arrive, use Cancellations and No-Shows.