Taking deposits for kite trips and cruises

How much to ask

A useful starting point is what you commit to before departure: the boat charter, the crew, the food and fuel you order in advance. The deposit should cover your exposure if a guest drops out, not the whole trip.

Ask too little and a cancellation costs you the cabin; ask too much and hesitant guests book elsewhere. Whatever you choose, use the same rule for every departure, so guests and your team know what to expect.

When to collect the balance

Before departure, and early enough to resell a cabin if a guest does not pay. Many operators ask for it about a month before the trip, which leaves time for a reminder and for a waiting list to move.

Write the rules down

• What the deposit is, and whether it is refundable, and until when.
• When the balance is due, and what happens if it is not paid.
• What happens if the trip is cancelled or changed because of the weather or the boat.
• Put these terms on your booking page and in the confirmation email, before the guest pays.
• Have the wording checked locally: it depends on your country and on how you sell. What matters is that the rules exist before the first booking, not after the first dispute.

Stop chasing payments by hand

Bank transfers from abroad arrive late, with fees and without a clear reference, and matching them to guests eats evenings. A card payment at the moment of booking removes most of that work, and a booking only counts once the money is in.

How KiteDeck handles it

• You set the deposit percentage once. Guests pay it by card when they book, through Stripe, straight to your own account: KiteDeck never holds the funds.
• Set it to zero and bookings are held as options, without payment.
• The balance reminder goes out on its own at D-30 with the amount still due, followed by practical info at D-7.
• Refund a deposit from the booking itself, and record the deposits paid by transfer or in cash so every total stays right.

Frequently asked questions

Does the money go through KiteDeck?

No. Deposits are paid through Stripe directly to your own Stripe account; KiteDeck never holds the funds. KiteDeck takes 3 % excl. VAT (plus 20 % VAT in France) of each payment collected online, and Stripe's own fees remain yours.

Can I take bookings without a deposit?

Yes. With a deposit of zero percent, bookings are held as options, without payment, and free themselves if the guest does not confirm.

What if a guest pays by bank transfer?

Record the deposit as collected offline on the booking. It counts in the totals, and a refund, if needed, goes back through the channel the guest paid with.