Frequently Asked Questions

The Basics

What is Vayable?

Vayable n.\ˈvī-ə-bəl\

1. A marketplace that lets people to discover, book and sell trips and local travel experiences worldwide.
2. 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 the best guides of travel experience to ensure a positive travel experience. 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 payment 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 account (Paypal, bank account or 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.

Locals
You live and breath the architecture, food or history of your city. You have access to the best backroads and backdoors of your community. You’ve been dubbed the unofficial mayor of your hometown.

Seasoned Travelers
You've visited the Alhambra fifteen times and navigate the Albaicín like a pro. You know the best vineyards for pinot noir in Napa. You speak Portuguese and are friends with a local dance troupe in Rio. You know all the best surf breaks in the Mexican Riviera because you’ve surfed them. You were a Peace Corps fellow.

Booking Experiences

How do I travel with Vayable?

Simply select "Find Experiences" and discover new amazing trips and local tours. Select the one you want to take and hit book. Once the guide confirms (within 24 hours) you will be on your way. 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.

How do I get in touch with my guide?

It's easy! Before your booking is confirmed you can simply send them a message them directly from the experiences 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'cancelation 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.

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.

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. :-)

We're working hard to build a tool to help you better determine how much to charge for your experience as well as a way for you to build your reputation on our site. Thanks again for your patience as we work hard on these!

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 cancelation 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, and options include ACH (if you are in the US), bank transfer and check. Simply enter your payout information on the Payments tab on your Dashboard.

How it works:

• Explorers book an experience by entering their credit card information on the site.
• We authorizes 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, bank transfer, check or PayPal) by 11pm local time the day after the experience started.

When do I get paid?

You will receive payment by 11pm the day after an experience begins.

What fees does Vayable charge?

Offering experiences and discovering experiences on our site is always free! For all confirmed experiences, Vayable administers a 3% service fee to explorers and a 15% fee to guides. 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.