Features · Payments
Hostel payment automation
Nightly rate, tourist tax and any extras are shown as one itemized total during online check-in, charged by card, with a security deposit held and released automatically. No card is handled at a desk, and no invoice is typed by hand.
What is payment automation for a hostel, and how does it work?
Payment automation means the full guest bill — accommodation, tourist tax, deposit, extras — is calculated, charged and invoiced without a staff member processing a card or writing a receipt. In EZ2Stay, the guest sees an itemized total during online check-in and pays by card through Stripe; a refundable deposit is placed as a pre-auth hold and released automatically after checkout if no damage is reported; tourist tax is added per person, per night, at the municipality rate the owner sets; and an invoice is generated automatically for every payment, with SmartBill handling Romanian fiscal filing.
| Capability | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe card payments, charged during online check-in | card is the only live online payment method | Live |
| Security deposit: Stripe pre-auth hold, released automatically after checkout | the hold releases automatically unless damage is reported within 24h of checkout | Live |
| Tourist tax, per person per night, at the municipality rate | the rate itself is set by the owner, not fetched automatically from municipality data | Live |
| Extra services, paid now or at checkout | timing is configured per service by the owner, not chosen per guest | Live |
| Automatic invoice generated for every payment | PDF and CSV export are built in; deeper accounting-software sync is not | Live |
| SmartBill fiscal invoicing + e-Invoice (Romania) | Romania-specific; other countries' fiscal integrations are not automated yet | Beta |
| PayPal as an alternative payment method | card via Stripe is the only live online method today | Roadmap |
How it works
- The guest sees the full bill. During online check-in, an itemized total appears: nightly rate, tourist tax, and any extras the guest has added.
- Card payment runs through Stripe. The guest pays by card. If EZ2Stay already knows the booking is paid, this step is skipped automatically.
- A deposit hold is placed, if configured. Where the owner has set a security deposit, a Stripe pre-auth hold is taken at the same step — no separate charge.
- The hold releases automatically. After checkout, if no damage is reported within 24h, the deposit hold is released via the Stripe API with no owner action needed.
- Extras can be paid any time. Guests can pay for extra services during check-in or at checkout, depending on how the owner configured that service.
- Every payment gets an invoice. An invoice generates automatically per payment; for Romanian organizations, SmartBill files it toward e-Invoice compliance.
What the owner configures
| Setting | Default | Who can change it |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit amount, per room type | off (0) | Owner |
| Tourist tax rate | the municipality rate the owner enters | Owner |
| Extra service payment timing (now vs. at checkout) | set per service | Owner |
| Damage report window before deposit auto-releases | 24h after checkout | Not configurable |
| Fiscal invoicing via SmartBill + e-Invoice | off until connected | Owner — Romania only, Beta |
| PayPal as a payment option | not available | Not configurable — Roadmap |
This runs in production at Popcorn Hostel, Bucharest — 49 beds — where every guest's tourist tax, deposit and extras are collected online before arrival, with no card or cash handled at the door.
Not a fit if
- You want to take cash or a card in person at arrival — EZ2Stay collects everything online before the guest arrives, by design.
- You need PayPal today — it's on the roadmap; Stripe card payments are the only live online method.
- You need automated fiscal e-invoicing outside Romania — SmartBill + e-Invoice covers Romanian compliance today, in beta; other countries aren't automated yet.
Frequently asked questions about EZ2Stay for hostels
What payment methods does EZ2Stay support today?
Card payments via Stripe, taken during online check-in. PayPal is on the roadmap. There is no in-person cash collection at arrival — the platform is built to run without a front desk.
How does the security deposit work?
It's a Stripe pre-auth hold taken alongside the guest's payment, released automatically after checkout if no damage is reported within 24h. If damage is reported, the owner confirms the amount before any capture.
How is tourist tax calculated?
Per person, per night, at the rate the owner sets for their municipality. It's added to the itemized total the guest sees and pays during check-in.
Is invoicing automated?
Yes — an invoice is generated automatically for every payment. For Romanian organizations, SmartBill handles fiscal invoicing and e-Invoice filing; that integration is in beta.
Can a guest pay for extras after they've already checked in?
Yes. Extra services can be set to charge immediately or at checkout, depending on how the owner configured that specific service.