Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern the use of Dubrovnik Stays (the “Platform”) by guests and apartment owners. By creating an account, requesting a booking, or listing an apartment, you agree to these Terms.

1. What Dubrovnik Stays is

Dubrovnik Stays is a booking platform that connects guests directly with independent local apartment owners in and around Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Stays is not the owner or operator of any listed apartment; each apartment is owned and managed by the individual or company shown on its listing (the “Owner”). The rental contract for a stay is between the guest and the Owner; Dubrovnik Stays facilitates the booking, payment, and communication between the two parties.

2. Accounts

• Guest accounts are created by self-registration and must use accurate, current information.
• Owner accounts are created only by Dubrovnik Stays after the Owner has been verified; Owners cannot self-register.
• You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential and for all activity under your account.
• Accounts may be suspended or deactivated for fraudulent activity, repeated policy violations, or misuse of the messaging system.

3. How a booking works

1. A guest submits a booking request for specific dates, which does not yet reserve the apartment or charge any money.
2. The Owner reviews the request and either approves or declines it, typically within a short period. Dubrovnik Stays does not guarantee a response time.
3. Once approved, the guest must add a valid payment card, which is verified but not charged immediately.
4. The card is charged automatically 15 days before check-in (or immediately, if the booking is approved within 15 days of check-in). See Section 4 for full payment terms.
5. A booking is only guaranteed once payment has been successfully collected and the status shows as confirmed.

4. Payments, charges, and the 15-day policy

Dubrovnik Stays processes payments through a third-party payment provider. Card details are sent directly to that provider and are never stored on Dubrovnik Stays' own servers in raw form; the platform only retains a tokenized reference to your card (such as its last four digits and expiry) sufficient to identify it, together with a provider-issued authorization (“mandate”) that permits the future charge described below.

• Verification, not an immediate charge: adding a card after Owner approval verifies that the card is valid and creates a mandate to charge it later. No funds are taken at this step.
• Automatic charge at 15 days: the full booking amount is automatically charged to the verified card 15 days before the scheduled check-in date. If a booking is approved with less than 15 days remaining before check-in, the charge is attempted immediately upon card verification.
• Cancellation cut-off: a booking can be freely cancelled by the guest, free of charge, at any point more than 15 days before check-in. Once a booking is within 15 days of check-in, it can no longer be cancelled by the guest through the Platform, and the automatic charge described above will proceed.
• If the charge fails: the guest is notified by email and given a 24-hour grace period to add a working card and complete payment. If payment is not completed within that window, the booking is automatically cancelled and the apartment is released.
• Platform fee: Dubrovnik Stays charges Owners a service commission, calculated as a percentage of the total booking value, which is deducted before the Owner's payout. This does not change the total amount charged to the guest.

5. Cancellations, no-shows, and refunds

• Cancellations made more than 15 days before check-in are not charged.
• Once a booking has been paid (whether via the automatic 15-day charge or a retried payment during the grace period), it is considered final and is non-refundable by the guest through self-service cancellation.
• Refund requests outside the above (for example, a material problem with the apartment on arrival) are handled case-by-case between the guest, the Owner, and Dubrovnik Stays support.
• No-shows and early departures do not entitle the guest to a refund of any amount already charged.

6. Guest conduct

Guests must respect the maximum occupancy, house rules, and check-in/check-out times specified on the listing, and must leave the apartment in the condition in which it was received. Guests are liable for any damage caused during their stay beyond normal wear and tear, which the Owner may pursue directly with the guest.

7. Owner responsibilities

Owners are responsible for the accuracy of their listing (description, photos, pricing, and availability), for maintaining the apartment in a safe and habitable condition, for complying with local short-term rental regulations and tax obligations in Croatia, and for responding to guest booking requests and messages in good faith.

8. Messaging

The in-platform messaging tool between guests and Owners for a specific apartment must only be used for questions and communication related to an actual or prospective stay. Messages may be reviewed by Dubrovnik Stays if abuse is reported.

9. Liability

Dubrovnik Stays is a booking intermediary and is not liable for the condition of any apartment, the conduct of any guest or Owner, or any loss, injury, or damage arising from a stay. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded under applicable Croatian or EU consumer protection law.

10. Changes to these Terms

Dubrovnik Stays may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Platform after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

11. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Croatia.

12. Contact

Questions about these Terms can be sent via the contact page.

This document is a template provided for a preview build of Dubrovnik Stays and is not legal advice. Before operating a real rental platform, have these Terms reviewed by a qualified lawyer familiar with Croatian and EU consumer, tourism, and payment services law.