Reservation rules

Booking rules are set in three places: the product group (unit, approval, payment), the product (duration, buffer time), and the 'Reservation rules' screen (booking window, pausing, reminders).

Booking unit and duration

Each product group has a 'Booking unit' of 30 or 60 minutes; guests pick start and end times on that grid. Each product sets its 'Minimum duration' and 'Maximum duration'.

Lead time and booking window

Under 'Reservation rules', the 'Reservation window' gauge has two ends. 'Earliest booking' sets how many hours before the start time guests can still book; use it to stop last-minute bookings. 'Farthest booking' is how many days ahead guests can book, up to 90 days.

Instant booking or approval

The group's 'Approval mode' decides what happens after a guest books:

• 'Instant booking' confirms right away.
• 'Approval required' creates a pending request that you approve or decline. A request expires 24 hours after it's made or 30 minutes before the start time, whichever comes first, and you get a warning 12 hours before that deadline.

With 'Online prepaid' and approval required, the guest's card is only authorized at booking. The charge happens when you approve; declining or letting the request expire releases the hold with no charge and no fee. 'Pay on site' has no online charge.

Buffer time between bookings

Each product can set a 'Buffer time' after every booking, up to 240 minutes in multiples of the booking unit. The next booking can't start until that buffer time ends. Guests see it as a lighter cell showing the 'Buffer icon' you picked; it isn't included in the price and disappears if the booking is cancelled. Your own manual reservations aren't blocked by it.

Deposits

For 'Online prepaid' groups, 'Amount charged at booking' can be 'Full amount', 'Deposit (fixed)', or 'Deposit (percentage)'. The guest pays the deposit online and the rest on site; you mark the balance as received in the reservation detail. With 'Full payment for bookings close to the date', bookings within the chosen number of days are charged in full. Refund rules apply to the amount actually paid, and cancelling never charges the remaining balance.

Holidays

Under 'Operating hours', add closures with 'Add holiday' in 'Holidays'. 'National holiday closures' applies your country's public holidays; uncheck the days you stay open. Guests see a red dot on public holidays even when you're open.

Pausing bookings

'Pause reservations' stops new bookings while the page stays visible; the reason you enter is shown to guests.