SheStays connects solo female travellers with verified women hosts around the world. Book real stays — not a gamble — in a community built on trust, safety, and shared experience.
180+
Countries
100%
Women Hosts
Verified
Every Host
🌺
Maria C.
📍 Lisbon, Portugal
✓ Verified Host · 4.97 ★
Your stay
Jun 12 → Jun 16
★★★★★
"Felt completely safe and so welcomed. Maria showed me the best hidden spots in the city."
— Sophie T., London
Simple & safe
How SheStays works
01
🔍
Search & Discover
Browse verified women hosts by destination, dates, and stay type. Read genuine reviews from fellow female travellers.
02
✅
Book with Confidence
Every host is identity-verified and community-rated. Book instantly or send a request. Payment is held securely until your stay begins.
03
🌍
Arrive & Connect
Experience your destination through a local woman's eyes. Get insider tips, feel genuinely at home, and leave a review to help the next traveller.
Built for safety
Trust is our foundation
🪪
ID Verification
Every host completes government ID verification before accepting their first booking.
⭐
Verified Reviews
Only guests who've completed a stay can leave a review. No fake ratings, ever.
🔒
Secure Payments
Funds are held in escrow and only released after check-in confirmation.
🆘
24/7 Support
Our safety team is on-call around the clock. In-app emergency contacts always available.
Find your perfect stay
Every kind of welcome
🏡
Private Room
Stay in a home
A private room in your host's home. Wake up to local breakfast recommendations and insider knowledge.
From £25 / night
🏢
Entire Space
Your own space
Full apartment or studio owned by a local woman host. Your own front door, your own pace.
From £55 / night
☕
Shared Space
Commune & connect
Shared living with other female travellers. Perfect for those who want community on the road.
From £18 / night
Live host map
Find hosts near you — worldwide
Our interactive world map shows verified host locations to approximately 1km — enough to plan your trip, not enough to compromise anyone's privacy.
Ready to welcome the world?
Whether you're looking for a safe place to stay or want to open your home to fellow women travellers — SheStays is your community.
Version 1.0 · 2025
SheStays
Community House Rules
These rules exist to protect everyone in the SheStays community. By making or accepting a booking, both parties agree to uphold these standards.
Our community promise: SheStays is built on mutual respect between women travellers and women hosts. These rules are not restrictions — they are the foundation of the trust that makes this community possible.
🧳
Guest Rules
Your responsibilities as a traveller
Booking & Communication
Book honestly. Your profile must accurately represent who you are.
Communicate promptly. Respond to host messages within 24 hours.
Confirm arrival details at least 48 hours before check-in.
Respect the cancellation policy. Cancel within the stated timeframe.
Respect for the Space
Treat the home with care. Leave spaces as you found them.
No unauthorised guests. Only booked persons may stay overnight.
Respect quiet hours — typically 10pm to 8am unless agreed otherwise.
Follow house-specific rules listed in the booking.
Report damage immediately.
No smoking indoors unless explicitly permitted.
Safety & Privacy
Do not share your host's address publicly.
Lock up responsibly when you leave.
Respect the host's privacy — do not enter rooms outside your booking.
Conduct & Community
Be kind and considerate. Your host has opened their home to you.
No discrimination or harassment of any kind.
Leave an honest review within 7 days of checkout.
⚠️ Guest violations — serious breaches may result in removal from SheStays.
🏡
Host Rules
Your responsibilities as a host
Listing Accuracy
Be truthful in your listing. Photos and descriptions must accurately reflect reality.
Keep availability up to date. Cancelling confirmed bookings is a serious breach of trust.
State your house rules clearly before a guest books.
Set fair pricing. No additional off-platform payments.
Welcoming Guests
Respond within 24 hours to all booking requests.
Provide clear arrival instructions at least 24 hours before check-in.
Ensure the space is clean and prepared.
Make an introduction. A friendly welcome helps guests feel safe.
Privacy & Safety
Respect your guest's privacy. No unannounced entry except in emergencies.
No surveillance in private spaces. Cameras must be disclosed and are prohibited in bedrooms/bathrooms.
Maintain a safe environment — smoke detectors, secure locks, basic first aid.
Do not discriminate. All verified members must be welcomed equally.
⚠️ Host violations — inaccurate listings or safety breaches will result in suspension.
🤝
Shared Expectations
Applies to all SheStays community members
Zero Tolerance
No violence or threats of any kind.
No harassment or unwanted contact beyond the booking.
No illegal activity on or connected to any SheStays property.
No misrepresentation of identity. SheStays is women-only.
Payments & Reviews
All transactions must go through SheStays. Off-platform payments remove your protections.
Raise disputes within 48 hours via the in-app resolution centre.
Reviews must be honest and fair. Retaliatory reviews are monitored.
Our Mutual Agreement
By using SheStays, both hosts and guests agree to uphold these rules in full. We are all responsible for maintaining the safety, trust, and warmth that makes this community worth belonging to.
Guest Signature
Host Signature
Date
✦ Your Profile ✦
Show the world who you are
Your profile is how hosts and guests get to know you before you even meet.
🧭
✏️
Your Name
Solo Traveller
🧳 Guest✦ New Member
👤
About You
The essentials
▾
0/200
🌍
Travel Background
Help hosts understand you
▾
✨ Interests & passions
This will appear on your profile as a custom interest tag.
🏡
Your Home Story
Help guests feel at home before they arrive
▾
🚪 Rooms available for guests
How many guest rooms can you offer? This helps guests searching for multi-room stays or travelling with a friend find you.
Room 1
👯
Hosting pairs — if you tick "Can share" for any room, your listing will appear in search results when two women travelling together are looking for a stay. You can set a small additional rate for the second guest in your listing details.
🌟 What you love sharing with guests
📷 Your Photos
Share up to 5 photos of yourself or your travels!
📷Add photo
🌄Travel snap
🌿Adventure
🌸Favourite place
✨One more
How others see your profile
🧭
Your Name
📍 Your Location
Your bio will appear here once you've written it above…
🌅
🏔️
🌸
✦ Guest Preferences ✦
What makes your stay perfect?
Tell us your vibe, lifestyle, and what you need.
1
Vibe
2
Life
3
Health
4
Home
5
Safety
6
Trip
0%
Start selecting your preferences
The more you share, the better your matches.
🌅
Travel Vibe
What kind of traveller are you?
0 sel
▾
🌿 Nature & outdoors
🏙️ City & culture
⚡ Energy level
🌿
Lifestyle & Values
How you live, what you care about
0 sel
▾
🌍 Environment
🍽️ Diet
🤝 Social style
🧘 Wellness
💙
Health & Accessibility
So we can find your perfect match
0 sel
▾
♿ Accessibility needs
🤧 Allergies
🏥 Health considerations
🏠
Home & Space
What environment suits you?
0 sel
▾
🛏️ Stay type
👯 Travelling with
🏠
Looking for hosts with multiple rooms
Filter is active — your search will only show hosts offering 2+ guest rooms, or hosts with twin beds in one room. Great for friends who want to stay together.
Multi-room filter on
✨ Must-haves
🤫 Atmosphere
🛡️
Safety & Community
Your comfort and identity matter
0 sel
▾
🌈 Identity & community
⚙️ Quick toggles
📷No cameras
🚭Smoke-free
🌙Late arrival OK
🔒Room lock needed
🚇Near transport
🤫Minimal contact
✈️
Trip Style
How you like to travel
0 sel
▾
📅 Trip length
💰 Budget
🧭 Planning style
✦ Host Profile ✦
Tell guests what makes your home special
Share what your space offers and who feels most at home with you.
1
Space
2
Vibe
3
Access
4
Guests
5
Rules
6
Values
0%
Start building your host profile
Help the right guests find you.
🏡
Your Space
What are you offering?
0 sel
▾
🛏️ Space type
📍 Location
✨ Amenities offered
🌿
Home Vibe & Lifestyle
What's life like at yours?
0 sel
▾
🌍 Your values
🤝 Hosting style
🌅 Household rhythm
🍽️ Household diet
♿
Accessibility & Health
What your space can accommodate
0 sel
▾
♿ Accessibility features
🏥 Health-aware features
👩
Your Ideal Guest
Who feels most at home at yours?
0 sel
▾
🎒 Traveller type
📅 Stay length preference
🎯 Shared interests I love
📋
House Rules & Policies
What applies in your home?
0 sel
▾
⚙️ House policies
🚭Smoke-free property
🍷Alcohol-free home
🌙Late arrivals welcome
🔒Room lock provided
🐾Pets live here
👶Children in home
🏠I live on-site
📷Security camera (exterior)
🌈
Community & Values
The kind of space you create
0 sel
▾
🌈 Inclusive space
🌟 Why I love hosting
✦ Trip Itinerary
Your journey, all in one place
All your stays for a named trip, in order. Auto-updates as you travel. Share with anyone.
🔗 Share this itinerary
shestays.com/itin/sophie-europe-2025
Anyone with this link can view your itinerary — host names shown as first name only, exact addresses hidden until check-in. You can revoke access at any time from settings.
Southern Europe Adventure 2025
● Active
1 May 2025→28 May 2025·27 nights
5
Stays
2
Complete
3
Remaining
27
Nights total
🔗 Shared with 2 people
📥 Export PDF
📅 Add to calendar
City / Destination
Host name
Check-in
Check-out
Space type
Nightly rate
Amenities confirmed
Notes for this stay
Name your trip ✦
Give this adventure a name, a date range, and you're ready to start adding stays.
Trip name
Dates
Travel style
⚡ Trip Mode
Your stay, right now
Quick controls for this trip only. No fuss. Everything you need, nothing you don't.
No active trip
Where are you headed?
Set up a trip to activate check-in, quick toggles & SOS.
Trip type
Check-in
—
Check-out
—
Nights
—
🌺
Your host
Location
✓ ID Verified Host
🆘
Emergency SOS
Alerts your emergency contact & SheStays safety team instantly
✅
Arrival checklist
Tick each off as you settle in — sends safe arrival to your emergency contact
🚪
Arrived safely
You've reached the property
○
🛏️
Room as described
Matches listing photos & description
○
🔑
Keys & access sorted
You have everything you need to come & go
○
📷
No unexpected cameras
Private spaces are clear — bedroom & bathroom
○
🚪
Exits & locks checked
You know how to get out and lock up
○
🌐
WiFi connected
You're online and reachable
○
⚡
This trip's quick settings
Just for this stay — your main profile is unchanged
🤫
Minimal contact
Just what's needed — I'm in and out
🚇
Close to transport
Public transport is a priority this trip
🔕
Quiet environment needed
Early start / early bed / focus time
💻
Working remotely
Reliable WiFi is non-negotiable
🌙
Arriving late tonight
Notifies your host automatically
🔔
24hr safe-arrival reminder
Sends welfare prompt if you don't check in
☕
No breakfast needed
I'll sort myself — please don't wait up
⏰
Early checkout
I'll be out before the standard time
⭐ How's the stay so far?
💡 How Trip Mode works
Per-trip settings — your main profile stays exactly as it is. Trip Mode is a quick overlay just for this stay.
Arrive & tick off — the arrival checklist sends a quiet safe-arrival notification to your emergency contact when complete.
Quick toggles — flip what matters for this particular stay in seconds. Minimal contact? Late arrival? Remote working? One tap.
SOS always there — the emergency button is always a single tap away the moment your trip is active.
✦ Host Map ✦
Find hosts anywhere in the world
Approximate host locations shown to ~1km radius. Exact addresses are only shared after booking confirmation.
📍 Privacy first: Host pins show approximate location only — within ~1km of their actual address. Full details are shared only after a confirmed booking. Click any pin to see host details.
Verified Hosts
Showing all 18 hosts
✦ Messages ✦
Your conversations
Connect with hosts and guests. Keep all communication on SheStays for your protection.
💡About messaging & payments: This messenger is built into SheStays for you to communicate safely with hosts and guests. Payment processing and booking confirmation will be handled by your hosting platform (e.g. Stripe, your own booking system) — SheStays keeps all communication in-app so you're always protected by our trust & safety policies.
💬
Select a conversation to start messaging
🏡 Host Status
Set the scene for this stay
Your life doesn't pause for guests — and that's completely fine. Let them know what to expect right now so everyone feels comfortable.
🧳
Current guest: Sophie M.
Staying 12–16 June · 4 nights
✓ ID Verified✓ Emergency contact set
How available are you right now?
✓
🌿
Fully present
Happy to chat, help, and connect
✓
📋
Busy at home
Working or occupied — minimal contact please
✓
💻
Working from home
Here but on calls / focused work
✓
🚶♀️
Out & about
Away from home — back later
✓
🌙
Working late
Back late tonight — please settle in
✓
✈️
Away overnight
Not home — guest has full independence
👁️
What your guest sees right now
Updates the moment you save — appears in their Trip Mode dashboard
🌿
Maria is fully present today
Happy to help with anything you need — feel free to knock or message anytime.
⏰
Timing for this stay
Set arrival and departure windows — keeps everyone comfortable and avoids awkward moments
🚪
Earliest check-in
Guest should not arrive before this time
🌙
Latest arrival tonight
Please don't arrive after this time
🌅
Quiet hours begin
Please keep noise down from this time
🌄
Check-out by
Please vacate by this time on departure day
☕
I'm up from
When you can expect to see me around
⚡
Quick settings for this stay
Flip anything that applies right now — your default profile is unchanged
🔑
Self check-in this stay
Key in lockbox — no need to wait for me
🤫
Minimal contact preferred
Please respect my space — I'll do the same
🍳
Kitchen available this stay
Help yourself — please clean up after
☕
Leaving breakfast provisions
Tea, coffee, basics — help yourself
🐾
Pets in the home right now
Worth flagging if guest has allergies
🌐
WiFi details shared
Password sent via message
🔕
Extra quiet needed today
Important meeting / sleep / unwell — please be mindful
📱
Available for emergencies only
Please only contact me if it's urgent
Leave a personal note for your guest
Shows on their arrival screen — a small touch that makes a big difference
0/240
👥 Other people in the home
Your guest is booking with you — a verified woman. If anyone else will be in the home during their stay, guests have a right to know. This is one of SheStays' most important safety commitments.
🔒 Our occupant safety policy
All adults in the home must be declared before a guest's first booking at that property.
Male occupants require ID verification — the same government ID + selfie process as hosts. Non-negotiable.
Female household members (partner, adult daughter, flatmate) require name and relationship confirmed — ID verification is encouraged but not mandatory.
Guests are shown occupant information (first name, relationship, verification status) before confirming a booking. No booking can proceed without disclosure.
Undisclosed occupants reported by a guest result in immediate listing suspension pending investigation.
Children under 16 require only name and age — no ID verification needed, but their presence must be declared so guests can make an informed choice.
✦ Verification ✦
Your trust & safety journey
Every person on SheStays completes verification. It protects you, your host, and every woman in our community. Click each step to learn what's involved.
🔓
Start your verification
Complete all steps to receive your Verified Guest badge and unlock full booking access.
0 of 6 done
🎂 Age bracket & expectation matching
We use age brackets to match guests and hosts with compatible expectations — not as a filter or barrier. A 22-year-old and a 65-year-old can both be wonderful guests; this helps everyone feel at ease. Your exact age is never shared.
Select your age bracket
✦ Your age bracket helps hosts know what kind of traveller to expect. Hosts can set preferred guest age ranges — but "all ages welcome" is the default and most common setting.
Your age bracket
Which guest age brackets are you most comfortable welcoming?
✦ This is a comfort preference, not a hard filter. It helps the matching system surface the most compatible guests — guests outside your preferred range can still send requests.
1
Create account & confirm email
Email + optional Facebook or Google sign-in
AutomatedRequired
▾
Email address verified by confirmation link — takes 30 seconds
Facebook Login option: we check your account is 12+ months old and has 20+ genuine connections — fake accounts rarely build real social graphs
Google Login option: a verified Google account adds an extra layer of identity confidence
VoIP or temporary email addresses are rejected
2-factor authentication is offered at this step and strongly encouraged
2
Personal profile & age bracket
Who you are and how you travel
AutomatedRequired
▾
Age bracket: select above — used for matching only, never displayed publicly without your consent
Profile photo required — face clearly visible, no filters, no group shots
Short bio (minimum 50 words) — helps hosts feel confident before accepting
Languages spoken, travel experience, interests
All profile information is reviewed by our trust algorithm for completeness
3
Phone number verification
SMS code to a real, reachable mobile
AutomatedRequired
▾
One-time SMS code sent to your mobile number
Number stored privately — never shown to hosts
Used for safety alerts and emergency contact during stays
VoIP numbers are flagged and rejected — must be a real mobile
You may opt in to 24-hour check-in notifications at this step
4
Community pledge & house rules
Informed consent — legally binding acceptance
LegalRequired
▾
Key clauses presented individually — not a single "agree to all" checkbox
Active acceptance of: Community Pledge, Guest House Rules, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service
Explicit acknowledgement that SheStays is a women-only platform and that misrepresentation of identity means immediate removal
Legally: timestamped acceptance record is stored — your protection if a dispute ever arises
5
Government ID verification
Passport or driver's licence + live selfie match
AutomatedRequiredLegal
▾
Powered by Veriff or Stripe Identity — supports 11,500+ document types from 230+ countries
Photograph your ID document, then take a live selfie — AI matches face to document in seconds
Document type adapts by country automatically (NZ licence, Indian Aadhaar, UK passport, US state ID, etc.)
SheStays does not store your ID document — the provider returns only a pass/fail and legal name confirmation
Your verified legal name must match your SheStays account name
On passing, you receive the Verified Guest ✓ badge — hosts see this and are much more likely to accept your booking
6
Emergency contact & safety check-in
Someone who knows where you are
OptionalAutomated
▾
Nominate a trusted person (name + phone + email) who can be contacted if something goes wrong
Optional 24-hour safe-arrival notification: if you don't confirm, SheStays sends a welfare check prompt to you — then your emergency contact if unanswered
Emergency SOS button visible in-app throughout every stay
Completing this step shows as a safety signal on your guest profile — hosts appreciate it
Why this matters: solo female travel carries real risk. This is one of the most important safety layers SheStays offers — we strongly encourage it
🎉
You're verified!
Your Verified Guest badge is now active. Hosts can see your verification status, age bracket, and profile completeness — you're ready to book your first SheStays.
1
Account creation & social verification
Email + Facebook social layer + 2FA
AutomatedRequired
▾
Email verified, Facebook Login checks account age (12+ months) and friend count (20+ genuine connections)
Google Login is accepted as an alternative social signal
Phone number verified by SMS — VoIP numbers rejected
2-factor authentication is required for all host accounts (higher security than guests)
Accounts flagged if created very recently or if social signals are weak — these go to human review
2
Government ID verification
Mandatory — completed before any other step proceeds
AutomatedRequiredLegal
▾
Government photo ID + live selfie — completed before anything else proceeds
Confirms legal name, nationality, and that you are who you say you are
Document type varies by country — the provider handles this automatically
Legal: this step satisfies KYC (Know Your Customer) obligations under NZ AML/CFT law for financial transactions
You receive the ID Verified ✓ badge — displayed prominently on your listing
SheStays does not store the document — only a verified pass result and legal name
3
Host profile & personal statement
Who you are, your values, why you want to host
Human reviewRequired
▾
Full personal bio (minimum 100 words) — reviewed by the SheStays team for authenticity and warmth
"Why do you want to host women travellers?" — a short answer, personally assessed by the team
Age bracket (see above) — helps match with compatible guests
Languages spoken, years at current address, hosting experience if any
Real profile photo — face clearly visible, recent, no heavy filters
Optional: social media links — adds trust signals for the review team
4
Space listing & photo submission
Real photos of the actual space — no stock images
Human reviewRequired
▾
Minimum 6 photos of the actual space: bedroom, bathroom, common areas, exterior, neighbourhood
SheStays team checks for: accuracy, cleanliness standard, and that no cameras are visible in private spaces
Full description, house rules, what's included in the stay
Address confirmed — SheStays verifies this is a real residential address, not a commercial property
Stock photos, AI-generated images, or photos from other listings = automatic rejection
5
Safety declaration
Legal confirmation of property safety standards
LegalRequired
▾
You legally declare: working smoke detectors, secure door locks, first aid kit on premises
Confirm whether security cameras exist — and confirm none are in bedrooms, bathrooms, or private guest spaces
Confirm the property complies with local short-term rental laws in your country/region
Declare whether you live on-site during guest stays
Confirm you hold appropriate home insurance or acknowledge responsibility for the space
Legally binding: false declarations are grounds for immediate removal and potential legal action — stated explicitly
6
Community pledge & terms — clause by clause
Full platform agreement with individual tick-boxes
LegalRequired
▾
Community Pledge, Host Code of Conduct, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Anti-discrimination Policy — each presented individually
Explicit agreement to non-discrimination: all verified SheStays members welcomed equally regardless of nationality, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability
Agreement that SheStays may conduct periodic re-verification (every 2 years, or triggered by complaints)
Timestamped legal record stored for every individual acceptance
7
SheStays team review & approval
Human eyes on every host application — 2–5 days
Human reviewRequired
▾
Our team reviews: ID result, profile statement, space photos, safety declaration, and any linked social media
Red flags that trigger rejection or further questioning: very recent account, inconsistent name/location, copied bio text, camera visible in bedroom photos
Borderline applications may trigger a short video call with the applicant
Rejected applicants receive a clear, kind explanation and may reapply after 90 days
Approved hosts receive a welcome email, onboarding guide, and their listing goes live
8
Payment setup via Stripe Connect
Payout account — final KYC layer before first earning
AutomatedLegalRequired
▾
Stripe Connect onboarding — enter bank account details for payouts in your local currency
Stripe performs its own independent KYC check — a legal requirement for financial services (Stripe handles the compliance burden)
No payouts can be received until this step is complete — a natural incentive to finish verification
SheStays takes its platform commission at booking; remainder held in escrow and released after guest confirms check-in
Stripe generates annual payment summaries for your local tax records
🏡
Application submitted!
Your host application is now with our review team. You'll hear back within 2–5 business days. Once approved, your listing goes live and your Stripe payout account is activated.
✦ Re-verification ✦
Keeping our community current & safe
Verification isn't a one-time event. We re-verify members periodically — and after significant changes — so every person in the SheStays community remains who they say they are.
Why re-verification matters
A host who was wonderful two years ago may have moved, changed circumstances, or had complaints. A guest's ID document may have expired. Periodic re-verification ensures that the trust you place in SheStays is always well-founded — not based on a check done years ago.
Re-verification schedule
🧳
Guest re-verification
Your current verification status
ID re-verification
Every 3 years
Active
Phone number check
Every 2 years
Active
Community pledge renewal
When terms update
Active
Emergency contact refresh
Annual prompt
Due soon
Profile photo refresh
Every 3 years
Active
🏡
Host re-verification
More frequent — hosts carry greater responsibility
ID re-verification
Every 2 years
Active
Space re-inspection (photos)
Every 2 years
Due in 3 months
Safety declaration renewal
Every 2 years
Active
Community pledge renewal
When terms update
Active
Stripe KYC refresh
Stripe-triggered
Pending Stripe
Profile statement review
Every 2 years
Active
What triggers early re-verification?
⚠️
Complaint received
Any formal complaint against a member triggers an immediate review and may require re-verification before they can continue using the platform.
📍
Change of address
Hosts who move to a new address must re-submit space photos and a new safety declaration before accepting bookings at the new location.
🪪
Expired ID document
If your passport or licence expires, we'll prompt you to re-verify with a current document. Bookings continue while re-verification is in progress.
📵
Long inactivity
Accounts inactive for 24+ months require a fresh ID check and community pledge renewal before accessing the platform again.
🎂 Age bracket — keeping it current
Your age bracket is prompted for review every 3 years, or whenever you feel it has changed significantly. This is about managing expectations, not gatekeeping — update it whenever it no longer represents where you are in life.
✦ Last updated: January 2025 · Next prompt: January 2028
How you'll be notified
90 days before due: in-app banner and email — plenty of time to prepare
30 days before due: reminder email with direct link to re-verify
On due date: new bookings paused until re-verification is complete — existing confirmed bookings are unaffected
Re-verification typically takes under 10 minutes for automated steps, 2–5 days if human review is needed
✦ Rates & Policies ✦
Transparent pricing, fair for everyone
SheStays uses a split-fee model — guests pay a small booking fee, hosts pay a service fee. Both disclosed upfront. No surprises, ever.
💰 Commission structure
Guest booking fee
7%
Added at checkout
Non-refundable in all scenarios. Covers payment processing, verification & support.
Recommended
Host service fee
10%
Deducted from payout
Deducted automatically before funds are released. Competitive vs Airbnb's 15–20%.
SheStays total
17%
Blended per booking
7% from guest + 10% from host. Split fairly between both parties.
Why split-fee? Charging the host everything breeds resentment. Charging the guest everything inflates the displayed price. Splitting it keeps both parties invested — and keeps SheStays honest about its true cost. The guest booking fee is always retained by SheStays regardless of cancellation, because the work of verification, matching, and support has already been done.
🧮 Booking fee calculator
Nightly rate
Number of nights
Currency
Subtotal (4 nights × $45)NZD$ 180.00
Guest booking fee (7%)NZD$ 12.60
Guest pays totalNZD$ 192.60
Host service fee (10%)− NZD$ 18.00
Host receivesNZD$ 162.00
SheStays earnsNZD$ 30.60
📅 Cancellation policies
The guest booking fee (7%) is always retained by SheStays — in every cancellation scenario at every tier. This is disclosed before booking and covers the real cost of processing, verifying, and supporting every booking regardless of outcome.
🌿
Flexible Most guest-friendly
Best for occasional hosts comfortable with last-minute changes
Cancellation timing
Host portion
SheStays fee
7+ days before check-in
Full refund ✓
Retained
2–6 days before check-in
Full refund ✓
Retained
Under 48 hours
No refund ✗
Retained
No-show
No refund ✗
Retained
Extenuating circumstances*
Full refund ✓
Retained
⚖️
Moderate Default for new hosts
Balanced protection for both guest and host — recommended starting point
Cancellation timing
Host portion
SheStays fee
7+ days before check-in
Full refund ✓
Retained
2–6 days before check-in
50% refund
Retained
Under 48 hours
No refund ✗
Retained
No-show
No refund ✗
Retained
Extenuating circumstances*
Full refund ✓
Retained
🔒
Strict Most host-protective
For high-demand locations or hosts who need certainty of income
Cancellation timing
Host portion
SheStays fee
7+ days before check-in
50% refund
Retained
2–6 days before check-in
No refund ✗
Retained
Under 48 hours
No refund ✗
Retained
No-show
No refund ✗
Retained
Extenuating circumstances*
Full refund ✓
Retained
* Extenuating circumstances: documented serious illness or death of a close family member, major natural disaster, or government travel ban. Requires documentation within 72 hours. SheStays team reviews each case. The booking fee is always retained even in these cases.
⚠️ Host cancellation penalties
If a host cancels a confirmed booking
Protects guests from the devastating experience of a last-minute cancellation
First offence — NZD $50 penalty
Deducted from next payout. Guest receives a full refund of all fees including the booking fee — SheStays absorbs this.
Second offence — NZD $100 + listing suspended 30 days
Host must contact the SheStays team to reinstate. A review flag is added to the host profile.
Third offence — permanent removal
Host removed from the platform. SheStays reserves the right to remove earlier if the pattern appears deliberate.
Genuine emergency exception
Documented illness, bereavement, or force majeure reviewed individually. Penalty waived if verified. Guest still receives a full refund.
Search ranking impact
Any host cancellation temporarily reduces listing visibility. Reliability is a key matching signal regardless of penalty tier.
📐 Pricing guidance for hosts
Suggested nightly rate ranges by space type
Based on comparable women-focused accommodation globally. Hosts set their own rate — these are starting-point benchmarks only.
🚪
Private room (shared home)
Most common listing type
NZD $35–$85
🏠
Entire home / apartment
Full independence for the guest
NZD $80–$180
🤝
Shared / communal space
Social, community-oriented
NZD $25–$55
🏕️
Cabin / rural retreat
Unique & experience-led
NZD $60–$140
💸 Host payout timing
Guest books → funds held in escrow by Stripe. Neither party can access them yet.