Why Stayoa instead of Airbnb or Booking.com?

With Stayoa, you receive 100% of the booking amount – no commissions. You have full control over design, pricing, and availability. Your booking page is SEO-optimized and visible to Google, leading to more direct inquiries. Independence from platforms means more freedom and higher profit margins.

How do direct bookings work without commissions?

Stayoa creates your own booking website with integrated payment system. Guests book directly with you – 100% of the money goes to your account. We use Stripe Connect for secure payments. No hidden fees, no per-booking commissions. You only pay the monthly platform fee.

How does synchronization with other platforms work?

Via iCal links, your Stayoa calendar automatically syncs with Airbnb, Booking.com, and other platforms. New bookings are imported in real-time, preventing double bookings. The synchronization runs in the background – you don't need to do anything manually.

Can I use my own domain?

Yes, from the Pro plan you can use your own domain. You keep your brand, and your guests see your own domain instead of a subdomain. We support you with the setup and ensure automatic SSL encryption.

Is my booking page SEO-optimized?

Yes, all Stayoa websites are fully SEO-optimized. Your page will be indexed by Google and can appear in search results. We use Schema.org structured data, optimized meta tags, and a clear page structure. This leads to more organic traffic and direct inquiries.

Stayoa is designed for vacation rentals, villas, and boutique accommodations that want to achieve more direct bookings through their own website. Perfect for hosts who want to be independent, maintain their brand control, and avoid the high commissions from platforms.

Concepts

This page explains the fundamental concepts of Stayoa and how they work together. A solid understanding of these concepts will help you use the platform effectively.

Property (Accommodation)

A Property is the central unit in Stayoa – your accommodation that you rent out.

Characteristics

Status: Draft, Published, Archived
Slug: Unique URL (e.g., alpine-view-villa → alpine-view-villa.stayoa.app)
Type: Apartment, House, Villa, Cabin, etc.
Details: Address, guests, bedrooms, bathrooms, beds
Media: Images, hero image, gallery
Design: Individual colors, logo, layout

Property Lifecycle

Draft → Published → Archived
  ↓         ↓
Preview   Live

Draft: Visible only to you, not bookable
Published: Live and bookable for guests
Archived: No longer active, but data is preserved

Best Practice

Test your property thoroughly in draft mode before setting it to published.

Bookings (Reservations)

A Booking represents a guest reservation for your property.

Booking Flow

Guest selects dates
       ↓
Review & Price Calculation
       ↓
Payment (Stripe)
       ↓
Booking Created (Pending)
       ↓
Payment Success → Confirmed

Booking Status

Status	Meaning	Next Steps
Pending	Waiting for payment	Automatically becomes Confirmed after payment success
Confirmed	Payment successful	Check-in reminder 24h before
Cancelled	Cancelled	Refund based on cancellation policy
Payment Failed	Payment failed	Guest must book again

Guest Access Token

Each booking receives a unique, securely hashed token:

Guests can access their booking via token
Token is valid for 90 days after check-out
Guests can cancel via token
Access to documents (PDF, iCal)

Security

The token is sent in the booking confirmation email and is only known to the guest.

Pricing (Pricing Structure)

Stayoa offers a flexible pricing system with multiple levels.

Price Components

Base Price (per night)
  ↓
+ Weekend Pricing (Fri/Sat multiplier)
  ↓
+ Seasonal Pricing (period-based)
  ↓
- Discounts (Weekly/Monthly)
  ↓
+ Fees (Cleaning, Security, Additional Guests, Tourist Tax)
  ↓
= Total Price

Base Price

The basic price per night in your preferred currency (CHF, EUR, USD).

Weekend Pricing

Multiplier for Friday and Saturday:

Friday: e.g., 1.2 (= 20% more)
Saturday: e.g., 1.3 (= 30% more)

Seasonal Pricing

Period-based prices:

{
  "startDate": "2026-07-01",
  "endDate": "2026-08-31",
  "pricePerNight": 200.00,
  "minNights": 7
}

Discounts

Weekly: Discount from 7 nights (e.g., 10%)
Monthly: Discount from 28 nights (e.g., 20%)

Fees

Cleaning Fee: One-time per stay
Security Deposit: Blocked via Stripe hold (not charged)
Additional Guest Fee: Per person over base guests
Tourist Tax: Per guest per night

Price Calculation Example

Base Price: 150 CHF/night × 5 nights = 750 CHF
Weekend Pricing (1 Sat): +45 CHF
Weekly Discount (7+ nights): -0 CHF
Cleaning Fee: +80 CHF
Additional Guests (1): +25 CHF
Tourist Tax (2 guests × 5 nights): +20 CHF
─────────────────────────────────────
Total: 920 CHF

Payment System

Stayoa uses Stripe Connect for secure payment processing.

Stripe Connect

Direct Charges: 100% revenue goes directly to you
No Stayoa Commission: We don't take any commission
Stripe Fees: Approx. 1.4% + 0.25 CHF (Stripe processing fee)

Payment Flow

Guest enters card details
       ↓
Stripe Payment Intent Created
       ↓
Payment Processing (Stripe)
       ↓
Payment Confirmed
       ↓
Booking Status → Confirmed
       ↓
Confirmation Email sent

Refunds

In case of cancellation:

Cancellation Policy is checked
Refund Amount is calculated
Automatic Refund via Stripe API
Cancellation Email to guest

Stripe Dashboard

You have full access to your Stripe dashboard and can view all transactions.

Domains & Subdomains

Stayoa supports two types of domains for your booking page.

Subdomain (Standard)

Automatically for each property:

{slug}.stayoa.app

Example: alpine-view-villa.stayoa.app

Custom Domain

Connect your own domain:

book.your-domain.com
reserve.yourdomain.com

Setup:

Add domain in Stayoa
Create DNS CNAME record: CNAME → cname.vercel-dns.com
Domain verification (automatic)
Status becomes "Active"

Primary Domain

If you have multiple domains, set one as the primary domain. This will be used in emails and links.

Team & Permissions

Work with your team on properties.

Roles

Role	Permissions	Use Case
Owner	Full (all tabs, delete)	Property owner
Manager	Edit (almost all tabs)	Property manager
Viewer	View only	Cleaning staff, accountant

Property Members

Each property can have its own members:

Member is invited by email
Invitation token (7 days valid)
Member can manage multiple properties
Permission system on property level

Invitation Flow

Owner invites Member
       ↓
Invitation Email sent (with Token)
       ↓
Member clicks Link & accepts
       ↓
Member assigned to Property

Analytics & Tracking

Stayoa offers privacy-first analytics (GDPR-compliant).

Tracked Metrics

Page Views: Number of page views
Unique Visitors: Unique visitors (session-based)
Conversion Rate: Booking conversion %
Engagement: Dwell time, scroll depth
Traffic Sources: UTM parameters, referrer
Device & Locale: Devices and languages

Privacy Features

IP Hashing: IPs are hashed (not stored)
No Cookies: No cookie banner required
Bot Filtering: Bots and prefetch traffic filtered
Data Retention: 30 days
Analytics Opt-Out: Guests can opt-out

Reports

Available reports:

Revenue Report: Revenue over time
Booking Report: Bookings per property
Occupancy Report: Occupancy rates
Tax Report: Tax report (tourist tax)

All reports are exportable as CSV.

iCal Synchronization

Prevent double bookings through calendar sync.

Import (From External Platforms)

Import bookings from Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO:

Copy iCal URL from external platform
Paste URL into Stayoa
Click "Sync Now"
External bookings are created as calendar blocks

Export (For External Platforms)

Export Stayoa bookings:

Copy Stayoa iCal export URL
Paste URL into Airbnb/Booking.com
External platform synchronizes automatically

Automatic Synchronization

Interval: Every 30 minutes
Timeout: 10 seconds per request
Retry Logic: Retry after 1h in case of error

Best Practice

Enable iCal import & export for all platforms you're listed on to avoid double bookings.

Email Automation

Automatic emails for guests and hosts.

Email Types

Email	Trigger	Recipient
Booking Confirmation	Payment successful	Guest + Host
Check-in Reminder	24h before check-in	Guest
Cancellation	Booking cancelled	Guest + Host

Email Content

Each email contains:

Booking details (date, guests, property)
Guest access token link
Property address & check-in info
Cancellation policy
Host contact

Email Preferences

Hosts can configure:

Which emails they want to receive
Email language (DE/EN)
Copy to guest (for host emails)

AI Features

AI-powered tools for content creation.

Description Generator

Generates property descriptions:

Languages: DE/EN
Tone: Professional, Friendly, Exclusive
Length: Short (100 words), Medium (200), Long (300)
Context: Location, type, amenities, highlights

Title Generator

Generates SEO-optimized titles:

Styles: Modern, Traditional, Luxury, Cozy
Length: 40-60 characters
SEO: Keywords based on location & type

Translation Helper

Translates content automatically:

Auto-Detection: Detects language (DE ↔ EN)
Tone: Natural, Formal, Casual
Context-aware: Property name, field type

Usage Limits

Hourly: 50 AI requests per account
Daily: 200 AI requests per account
Rate Limiting: Automatically enforced

SEO & Discovery

Stayoa is SEO-optimized for better Google visibility.

Structured Data

Automatic Schema.org markup:

{
  "@type": "VacationRental",
  "name": "Alpine View Villa",
  "address": { ... },
  "geo": { ... },
  "offers": { ... }
}

SEO Features

Meta Tags: Title, description, keywords
Open Graph: Social media previews
Canonical URLs: Avoids duplicate content
Sitemap: Automatically generated (/sitemap.xml)
Robots.txt: Domain-aware

Multilingual SEO

hreflang Tags: DE/EN language variants
Localized URLs: /de/ and /en/ prefixes
Alternate Links: For language variants

Next Steps

Now you understand the core concepts of Stayoa!

Recommended next steps:

Dashboard Guide – Detailed dashboard guide
Property Management – Manage properties
Bookings – Manage bookings
FAQ – Frequently asked questions

This page explains the fundamental concepts of Stayoa and how they work together. A solid understanding of these concepts will help you use the platform effectively.

Property (Accommodation)

A Property is the central unit in Stayoa – your accommodation that you rent out.

Characteristics

Status: Draft, Published, Archived
Slug: Unique URL (e.g., alpine-view-villa → alpine-view-villa.stayoa.app)
Type: Apartment, House, Villa, Cabin, etc.
Details: Address, guests, bedrooms, bathrooms, beds
Media: Images, hero image, gallery
Design: Individual colors, logo, layout

Property Lifecycle

Draft → Published → Archived
  ↓         ↓
Preview   Live

Draft: Visible only to you, not bookable
Published: Live and bookable for guests
Archived: No longer active, but data is preserved

Best Practice

Test your property thoroughly in draft mode before setting it to published.

Bookings (Reservations)

A Booking represents a guest reservation for your property.

Booking Flow

Guest selects dates
       ↓
Review & Price Calculation
       ↓
Payment (Stripe)
       ↓
Booking Created (Pending)
       ↓
Payment Success → Confirmed

Booking Status

Status	Meaning	Next Steps
Pending	Waiting for payment	Automatically becomes Confirmed after payment success
Confirmed	Payment successful	Check-in reminder 24h before
Cancelled	Cancelled	Refund based on cancellation policy
Payment Failed	Payment failed	Guest must book again

Guest Access Token

Each booking receives a unique, securely hashed token:

Guests can access their booking via token
Token is valid for 90 days after check-out
Guests can cancel via token
Access to documents (PDF, iCal)

Security

The token is sent in the booking confirmation email and is only known to the guest.

Pricing (Pricing Structure)

Stayoa offers a flexible pricing system with multiple levels.

Price Components

Base Price (per night)
  ↓
+ Weekend Pricing (Fri/Sat multiplier)
  ↓
+ Seasonal Pricing (period-based)
  ↓
- Discounts (Weekly/Monthly)
  ↓
+ Fees (Cleaning, Security, Additional Guests, Tourist Tax)
  ↓
= Total Price

Base Price

The basic price per night in your preferred currency (CHF, EUR, USD).

Weekend Pricing

Multiplier for Friday and Saturday:

Friday: e.g., 1.2 (= 20% more)
Saturday: e.g., 1.3 (= 30% more)

Seasonal Pricing

Period-based prices:

{
  "startDate": "2026-07-01",
  "endDate": "2026-08-31",
  "pricePerNight": 200.00,
  "minNights": 7
}

Discounts

Weekly: Discount from 7 nights (e.g., 10%)
Monthly: Discount from 28 nights (e.g., 20%)

Fees

Cleaning Fee: One-time per stay
Security Deposit: Blocked via Stripe hold (not charged)
Additional Guest Fee: Per person over base guests
Tourist Tax: Per guest per night

Price Calculation Example

Base Price: 150 CHF/night × 5 nights = 750 CHF
Weekend Pricing (1 Sat): +45 CHF
Weekly Discount (7+ nights): -0 CHF
Cleaning Fee: +80 CHF
Additional Guests (1): +25 CHF
Tourist Tax (2 guests × 5 nights): +20 CHF
─────────────────────────────────────
Total: 920 CHF

Payment System

Stayoa uses Stripe Connect for secure payment processing.

Stripe Connect

Direct Charges: 100% revenue goes directly to you
No Stayoa Commission: We don't take any commission
Stripe Fees: Approx. 1.4% + 0.25 CHF (Stripe processing fee)

Payment Flow

Guest enters card details
       ↓
Stripe Payment Intent Created
       ↓
Payment Processing (Stripe)
       ↓
Payment Confirmed
       ↓
Booking Status → Confirmed
       ↓
Confirmation Email sent

Refunds

In case of cancellation:

Cancellation Policy is checked
Refund Amount is calculated
Automatic Refund via Stripe API
Cancellation Email to guest

Stripe Dashboard

You have full access to your Stripe dashboard and can view all transactions.

Domains & Subdomains

Stayoa supports two types of domains for your booking page.

Subdomain (Standard)

Automatically for each property:

{slug}.stayoa.app

Example: alpine-view-villa.stayoa.app

Custom Domain

Connect your own domain:

book.your-domain.com
reserve.yourdomain.com

Setup:

Add domain in Stayoa
Create DNS CNAME record: CNAME → cname.vercel-dns.com
Domain verification (automatic)
Status becomes "Active"

Primary Domain

If you have multiple domains, set one as the primary domain. This will be used in emails and links.

Team & Permissions

Work with your team on properties.

Roles

Role	Permissions	Use Case
Owner	Full (all tabs, delete)	Property owner
Manager	Edit (almost all tabs)	Property manager
Viewer	View only	Cleaning staff, accountant

Property Members

Each property can have its own members:

Member is invited by email
Invitation token (7 days valid)
Member can manage multiple properties
Permission system on property level

Invitation Flow

Owner invites Member
       ↓
Invitation Email sent (with Token)
       ↓
Member clicks Link & accepts
       ↓
Member assigned to Property

Analytics & Tracking

Stayoa offers privacy-first analytics (GDPR-compliant).

Tracked Metrics

Page Views: Number of page views
Unique Visitors: Unique visitors (session-based)
Conversion Rate: Booking conversion %
Engagement: Dwell time, scroll depth
Traffic Sources: UTM parameters, referrer
Device & Locale: Devices and languages

Privacy Features

IP Hashing: IPs are hashed (not stored)
No Cookies: No cookie banner required
Bot Filtering: Bots and prefetch traffic filtered
Data Retention: 30 days
Analytics Opt-Out: Guests can opt-out

Reports

Available reports:

Revenue Report: Revenue over time
Booking Report: Bookings per property
Occupancy Report: Occupancy rates
Tax Report: Tax report (tourist tax)

All reports are exportable as CSV.

iCal Synchronization

Prevent double bookings through calendar sync.

Import (From External Platforms)

Import bookings from Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO:

Copy iCal URL from external platform
Paste URL into Stayoa
Click "Sync Now"
External bookings are created as calendar blocks

Export (For External Platforms)

Export Stayoa bookings:

Copy Stayoa iCal export URL
Paste URL into Airbnb/Booking.com
External platform synchronizes automatically

Automatic Synchronization

Interval: Every 30 minutes
Timeout: 10 seconds per request
Retry Logic: Retry after 1h in case of error

Best Practice

Enable iCal import & export for all platforms you're listed on to avoid double bookings.

Email Automation

Automatic emails for guests and hosts.

Email Types

Email	Trigger	Recipient
Booking Confirmation	Payment successful	Guest + Host
Check-in Reminder	24h before check-in	Guest
Cancellation	Booking cancelled	Guest + Host

Email Content

Each email contains:

Booking details (date, guests, property)
Guest access token link
Property address & check-in info
Cancellation policy
Host contact

Email Preferences

Hosts can configure:

Which emails they want to receive
Email language (DE/EN)
Copy to guest (for host emails)

AI Features

AI-powered tools for content creation.

Description Generator

Generates property descriptions:

Languages: DE/EN
Tone: Professional, Friendly, Exclusive
Length: Short (100 words), Medium (200), Long (300)
Context: Location, type, amenities, highlights

Title Generator

Generates SEO-optimized titles:

Styles: Modern, Traditional, Luxury, Cozy
Length: 40-60 characters
SEO: Keywords based on location & type

Translation Helper

Translates content automatically:

Auto-Detection: Detects language (DE ↔ EN)
Tone: Natural, Formal, Casual
Context-aware: Property name, field type

Usage Limits

Hourly: 50 AI requests per account
Daily: 200 AI requests per account
Rate Limiting: Automatically enforced

SEO & Discovery

Stayoa is SEO-optimized for better Google visibility.

Structured Data

Automatic Schema.org markup:

{
  "@type": "VacationRental",
  "name": "Alpine View Villa",
  "address": { ... },
  "geo": { ... },
  "offers": { ... }
}

SEO Features

Meta Tags: Title, description, keywords
Open Graph: Social media previews
Canonical URLs: Avoids duplicate content
Sitemap: Automatically generated (/sitemap.xml)
Robots.txt: Domain-aware

Multilingual SEO

hreflang Tags: DE/EN language variants
Localized URLs: /de/ and /en/ prefixes
Alternate Links: For language variants

Next Steps

Now you understand the core concepts of Stayoa!

Recommended next steps:

Dashboard Guide – Detailed dashboard guide
Property Management – Manage properties
Bookings – Manage bookings
FAQ – Frequently asked questions