Frequently Asked Questions

The Basics

What is Vayable?

Vayable n.\ˈvī-ə-bəl\

A marketplace that lets people to discover, book and sell trips and local travel experiences worldwide.
The term is a combination of vaya, which means "let's go!" in Spanish and viable, which means "capable of living, growing and developing adequately."

Booking experiences from strangers?

Most people you meet when you go somewhere new are strangers--that’s the beauty and fun of stepping outside of your daily life! Vayable seeks to ease the difficulty and risk by providing users with information about each other before booking, and an opportunity to communicate directly through our messaging platform before embarking on an adventure. Vayable adheres to a very strict community policy (see guidelines) that ensures a safe, fun and positive experience for everyone!

Is it safe?

Yes. Vayable connects you to the best guides of travel experience to ensure a positive travel experience. The Vayable team personally screens each guide on Vayable through a video or in-person interview, so they are all personally connected to our team and ambassadors!

Exploring places with Vayable is safer than many other forms of travel for several reasons: Booking experiences prior to departure enables communication between both parties, guaranteed and secure payments, and the opportunity to read reviews of either party.

How do payments work?

In order to book an experience you must provide Vayable with your credit card information. We authorize it (to make sure you’re good for the money), but do not charge you until the guide has accepted your booking (which they must do within 24 hours). Money is then transferred from your credit card to Vayable, which keeps it secure. Vayable then pays the guide directly 24 hours after the experience begins.

Who can use Vayable?

Anyone! We welcome travelers and guides from all walks of life--professionals, amateurs, experienced and novice. The only thing we require is that you respect the community as stated in our Guidelines.

Guides are:

Seasoned Experts
You are an experienced travel or tour guide looking to connect directly with people around the world. You are growing your small tour guide businesses. You are an aspiring guide looking to launch a professional business.

Saavy Locals
You live and breathe the architecture, food, or history of your city. You have access to the best back-roads and back-doors of your community. You’ve been dubbed the unofficial mayor of your hometown.

Booking Experiences

How do I travel with Vayable?

Simply search your destination or browse our play lists and discover new amazing trips and local tours. Select the one you want to take and hit book.

Select a few times that work for you.
Enter your credit card information, and we’ll authorize it.
Within 24 hours, the guide will confirm a time that you selected.
Your card will be charged, and you’ll be on your way!

You can also see what’s already happening to join in on an amazing adventure that someone has already booked and get instant confirmation. This is perfect for those last minute requests!

If you don't see an experience, activity or destination you want, let us know and we'll do everything we can to add it for you!

Why book with Vayable?

Because you want an easy and fun way to book vacation experiences. To save money. Vayable experiences are on average cost much less than experiences you’d buy on the ground, through travel agencies or other intermediaries. To meet new and interesting worldwide. To enjoy authentic experiences that you cannot access anywhere else. To cultivate greater cultural understanding and positive exchange than otherwise possible when traveling with a traditional tour group or using guidebooks. To engage one-of-a-kind experiences that you will remember forever.

Because studies show that amazing experiences like travel engender lasting happiness (whereas the happiness you get from material items comes and goes quickly). Because we are building a community of awesome, enthusiastic, passionate travelers and guides who care about the world and want to broaden their understanding of it.

Are bookings on Vayable public or private?

Bookings on Vayable can be public or private depending on your preference. By default bookings are public, and upcoming events can be found on the social page. Public bookings are a great way to meet other travelers and to create events for your friends. If you'd like to keep your event private, you can simply check that option when you book.

How do I get in touch with my guide?

It's easy! Before your booking is confirmed you can simply send them a message directly from their experience page. Once your booking is confirmed, Vayable will send contact details for your guide.

What if the guide is late or does not show up?

You are only obligated to pay for the time and date you booked. If a guide arrives more than 15-minutes late or attempts to reschedule the start time or day of the experience within 24 hours prior to the time that it is scheduled to start, you may, but are not obligated, to accommodate the request, and must submit the change in writing to support@vayable.com for the new time/date to be honored by Vayable. If a guide is more than 15 minutes late or cancels within 24 hours of the start date of your experience and you do not wish to or are unable to reschedule it, you will be refunded in full (minus service fees). For more information, please refer to Vayable's cancellation policy.

Offering Experiences

Who can list an experience on Vayable?

Anyone who has expertise and access to a unique experience. This includes people who are local to the destination and know some aspect of it inside out, people who are familiar and passionate about a destination and want to share it with others, and those who have special skills, interests or contacts in a place and want to share them with visitors or fellow locals. You must complete a video or in-person interview for your experience to go live on Vayable.

Why offer an experience?

Because you're passionate about your hometown or another destination you know well and want to share it with others.
To earn money easily by sharing the places, people and experiences you love.
To meet awesome people from around the world.

Sharing your local stomping grounds is an enjoyable and lucrative way to rediscover the magic of a familiar place. You’re taking these excursions around your neighborhood or destinations you frequent anyway, and this is a way to share that experience with those who are discovering it for the first time. To play a first-hand role in expanding the parameters of travel beyond typical tourist sites and overrated activities. To help redirect tourist dollars to the vendors, merchants and communities that need them most. To see parts of the world you could otherwise not afford to see. To make a living discovering new places and people.

How much should I charge?

The best way to determine your price is to do the following:

Determine the net cost of the experience.
Add any additional charges for your time, expertise and resources.
Keep in mind that Vayable collects a 15% service charge for each transaction.

Vayable offers a per person and flat rate pricing mechanism. Per Person is most often used when there is a cost to you for each explorer who comes on your experience (like food costs). Flat rate is most often used for experiences that don't cost you more to include more people.

It's always best to keep prices as affordable for buyers as possible, especially as guides build their reputation. Once you host a successful experience, you’ll be in a position to charge more. :-)

All payments are processed securely through our site. Vayable collects money from travelers once you confirm a booking request and we pay you by 11pm the day after your experience began.

What if the explorer is late or does not show up?

If an explorer arrives more than 15-minutes late or attempts to reschedule the start time or day of the experience less than 24 hours prior to the time that it is scheduled to start, you may, but are not obligated to accommodate the request. If you choose not to, you will still be paid the full balance due in accordance with Vayable's cancellation policy.

Payments & Fees

How do I get paid?

Vayable has partnered with leading payment providers around the globe to ensure secure and reliable payouts to all our guides. We have different payment methods depending on where you are located, but the most common option is direct deposit*. Simply enter your payout information in your payment settings.

Explorers book an experience by entering their credit card information on the site.
We authorize their card, but do not charge it until the booking is confirmed.
Guides have 24 hours to accept the booking request.
Guides and explorers meet up and enjoy an awesome experience.
Vayable pays out guides via (either by ACH or bank transfer) by 11pm local time the day after the experience started.

* Please note that direct deposit information can only be used to put deposits into your account. Only you can approve the withdrawal of money from your account. Neither Vayable nor any other organization sending payments by direct deposit can obtain your account balance or any other personal information. Actually, receiving your money by direct deposit is more confidential than being paid by check because fewer people are involved in the delivery and deposit of your payment. For more information, you can read details here.

When do I get paid?

We will send out payment by 11pm the day after an experience begins. It typically takes a few business days for your bank to receive the funds.

What fees does Vayable charge?

Offering experiences and discovering experiences on our site is always free! When you book an experience, Vayable charges a 3% service fee which is added to your total at checkout. This fee is only charged if your booking is confirmed. Vayable collects a 15% commission from all guides for all confirmed bookings. This is automatically deducted from the amount we pay out. Please see our Guidelines for more information.

Does it cost to list an experience on Vayable?

Nope! you can list as many experiences as you would like for free! We only make money when you do.