Guest wants to pay in local currency

[Samuel1489]

Got a question: I recently lost a 5-night stay because the prospective guest wanted to pay in the local currency. I declined, stating that AirBnB prefers payment in USD. 

Did I err in declining the request.

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Samuel1489 

Guests can pay in their preferred currency. Airbnb supports payments in 60+ currencies.

Hosts cannot choose or restrict which currency the guest pays in. Airbnb handles all the exchange and will always pay you in the payout currency you set (USD, EUR, etc.).

So you didn’t need to decline Airbnb would have charged the guest in their local currency anyway.

[Shelley159 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Samuel1489 

@Patricia2526 has explained Airbnb payments . You didn't have to decline - the guest could've entered their credit card details and it would've been seamlessly processed.

In general, if a guest asks about payment (some questions are about the timing of payments or lesser known payment methods), it's best to refer them to Airbnb Support. They're usually very quick to help guests in these cases, and it establishes clear boundaries that the host is responsible for the listing and Airbnb is responsible for the payment process.

I sometimes contact Support from my side, and ask them the contact the guest to help them pay. Then I simply tell the guest Airbnb will be in touch to resolve their question.