1. About This Guide
This guide is for you as a traveller on Pravaasa Stays. It gathers simple habits that keep you, your belongings, and your money safe, and it shows you where to go in your traveller account if something goes wrong.
Most stays on Pravaasa are homestays, villas, cottages, farmstays, and small resorts, often in hills, plantations, coastal villages, or forests. They are run by independent hosts. We verify hosts and review listings before they go live, but we do not run or inspect each property on a daily basis, so a few minutes of care from you makes a real difference. This guide does not replace local laws, official travel advisories, or common sense.
2. Before You Book
- Check the trust details. On a property page, open the Pravaasa Backed details to see whether the host identity, the property location, and the listing information have been checked.
- Read recent reviews. Reviews on Pravaasa come only from guests with verified stays. Look for patterns in what people say, not only the star rating.
- Compare the photos, the description, and the map pin. They should tell the same story. Be careful with a listing whose photos look generic, or whose pin does not match the address or the route.
- Read the house rules, the cancellation policy, and the price breakdown. Check check-in times, occupancy limits, pet and child rules, quiet hours, meal arrangements, and anything about steep paths, limited network, or wildlife.
- Be wary of prices far below similar stays, of hosts who rush you, and of anyone who suggests you pay or chat outside Pravaasa.
- If you have allergies, mobility needs, or travel with children or older relatives, message the host before booking and get answers in writing through the platform.
3. Paying Safely
Always pay through Pravaasa. Payments are processed through Razorpay, and your payment is held in escrow and released to the host 24 hours after check-in. You pay no Pravaasa service fee.
Never pay a host, or anyone who says they represent a host or Pravaasa, by direct UPI to a personal number, a bank transfer, cash, or a link sent in chat, for a booking made on Pravaasa. That includes deposits, 'confirmation' fees, advances, balances, and 'refunds' of overpayments. Payments outside the platform are not covered by our escrow, refund, and dispute processes, and are the usual route for deposit scams.
Pravaasa will never ask for your OTP, card PIN, UPI PIN, or password. Do not share these with anyone.
After you pay, confirm that the booking shows up in My Trips (/trips) and in your account (/account). Keep your confirmation and receipts.
4. Communicating Safely
Use the Host Messages tab in your account (/account) and the WhatsApp host chat linked to your booking to coordinate with your host. A record of what was agreed helps if there is a disagreement.
Share only what the host needs: your name, your arrival time, and your party size. Do not send passwords, OTPs, card details, or unnecessary personal documents over chat. If a host asks for something that seems excessive, ask why and report it if the answer is not satisfactory.
If someone asks you to move to another app, to pay elsewhere, or to review in a certain way, say no and report them (see section 11).
5. Getting There
- Save your host's contact details and the property's map pin before you leave, and download offline maps. Network can be poor in hills, forests, and plantations.
- Ask the host about the final stretch of the road and the best time to arrive. Try to reach remote stays in daylight, especially in monsoon, when roads can be slippery or blocked.
- Tell a family member or friend where you are staying and when you expect to arrive, and share your live location if you are comfortable doing so.
- Use trusted transport. Do not accept a lift from a stranger who 'knows the host'.
- If you cannot find the property or feel uneasy about the route, message the host and do not continue into unfamiliar areas at night.
6. On Arrival
6.1 Check-in and ID
Hosts are required by law to check government photo ID for adult guests, and to report some guests, such as foreign nationals, to the authorities. Carry a valid ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or driving licence), and a passport and visa if you are a foreign national. It is reasonable for a host to take your details. If a host wants more than seems necessary, or will not tell you how your ID copy is stored, ask, and report anything that makes you uncomfortable.
6.2 Take two minutes to inspect
Check that the property matches the listing and that the room is clean and the lock works. Locate the emergency exits, a fire extinguisher, and a first-aid kit. Look for exposed wiring, a gas smell, broken railings, slippery steps, and unprotected drops or water bodies. Ask the host about hot water timings, power cuts, and the nearest medical help.
Photograph any existing damage or problems, and tell the host straight away in writing, so you are not blamed later. If the property is unsafe or very different from what was promised, message the host and, if needed, open a support case from the Support tab of /account.
6.3 Your privacy
Cameras and recording devices are never allowed inside bedrooms, bathrooms, or changing areas. Cameras outside, at gates, or in outdoor common areas are allowed only if the listing discloses them. Look around for unusual devices, such as unexpected smoke detectors, chargers, or clocks pointed at the bed, and if you find any recording device in a private space, leave the area, take photos, and report it straight away at /trust-and-safety?action=report-property, and to the police if you feel you are in danger.
7. During Your Stay
Lock doors and windows when you go out and at night, and keep valuables out of sight. Do not hand your original ID or passport to anyone to keep. A copy or a quick look is usually enough, and an original should be returned straight away.
Keep to the host's house rules, including quiet hours and rules about fire, smoking, and visitors. Do not bring extra overnight guests without the host's agreement through the platform.
Solo travellers and women travelling alone: tell someone your plans, keep your phone charged, and trust your instincts. If someone makes you feel unsafe, whether a host, a staff member, or another guest, go somewhere safe, contact a person you trust, call 112 if you are in danger, and report it to us afterwards.
Nobody, including the host or staff, may enter your private room without notice or your consent, except in a real emergency.
8. Hills, Water, Wildlife, and Remote Places
- Listen to local advice about weather, landslides, and river levels. Do not swim in unfamiliar rivers, falls, or lakes, particularly after rain.
- Do not wander into forests, plantations, or farmland at night. Follow the host's guidance about wildlife such as leopards, elephants, snakes, and monkeys, and never feed or approach wild animals.
- Take care with open fires and bonfires, and use them only where the host allows.
- Carry any medicines you need, a torch, and basic first aid, and find out where the closest clinic or hospital is.
- Check food and water. If you are unsure about drinking water, ask or use bottled or filtered water. Tell the host about allergies and dietary needs when you book and again on arrival.
9. Treks, Events, and Activities
Treks and events on Pravaasa are run by independent organisers, and adventure activities carry real risk. Check the difficulty, the group size, the guide's experience, and what is included before you commit. Be honest about your fitness and any health conditions.
Carry the ID and any permits required, follow your guide's instructions, stay with the group, and turn back when conditions change. Do not take part in activities in restricted or protected areas, or with an organiser who has no licence or permits where they are required. If an organiser seems unsafe or unlicensed, report it.
10. If Something Goes Wrong
10.1 Step by step
1. If anyone is in danger, call emergency services first (112 in India).
2. Tell your host through the platform messages or WhatsApp host chat, and give them a short chance to fix a problem such as no hot water or a locked gate.
3. Document it: take photos and videos, note times, and keep messages.
4. If the host does not help, or the property is unsafe or uninhabitable, open a support case from the Support tab of your account (/account). Choose a category such as Reservation, Payment, Trust, Safety & Access, or Amenity Discrepancy, and include your evidence. Your case gets a case number, which you can use when you follow up.
5. For a payment problem or a refund, see the Refund Policy and the Payment & Billing Policy.
10.2 If your booking is disrupted
If your host cancels or your stay can no longer be provided, you will receive a full refund. Where we can find matching stays, you may see alternative options in your account. If you added optional Pravaasa Protect, you can report incidents such as a host cancellation, a host no-show, a property that does not match the listing, or a travel disruption, and our team will look at them. Protect is booking support and recovery assistance, and is not insurance.
10.3 Disputes and damage claims
If a host claims that you damaged the property, you will be told, you can add your own evidence, and our team looks at both sides. Pravaasa never automatically charges your card for a claim. Photograph the property on arrival and when you leave, to protect yourself.
11. Reporting a Property, Host, or Fraud
You can report a concern at any time from the Trust & Safety page:
- A listing that is inaccurate, unsafe, unlicensed, or fake: /trust-and-safety?action=report-property
- Payment requests outside the platform, deposit scams, impersonation, phishing, or fake reviews: /trust-and-safety?action=report-fraud
- Anything else about your booking or safety: /trust-and-safety?action=report-issue
Include the property name or link, your booking reference, dates, what happened, and screenshots or photos. You can also email support@pravaasastays.com. Reports are reviewed by our team. We do not promise a fixed response time, and we cannot replace emergency services.
A host who pressures you to pay outside Pravaasa, who discriminates against you, or who puts you at risk, may lose their listing, payouts, and account, and we may refer serious cases to the authorities.
12. Your Part in Keeping Everyone Safe
Safety goes both ways. Give your host accurate information, follow house rules, respect neighbours and wildlife, keep to the booked occupancy, and take care of the property. Do not use a stay for anything illegal. Do not discriminate against, harass, or threaten any host or staff. Do not post fake reviews, or use reviews to demand money. See the Guest Terms and Prohibited Properties & Activities.
Your reputation as a guest builds over completed stays and is visible to you in the Reputation & Badges tab of your account. If you disagree with a review about you, you can dispute it there.
13. Emergencies and Contact
PRAVAASA STAYS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE. In an emergency, call 112 (India) or your local emergency number first. Then tell your host, and let us know through your account or at support@pravaasastays.com.
For non-urgent help, open a support case from /account, visit the Support page, or email support@pravaasastays.com. We aim to respond to support emails within one business day.
Questions About This Policy?
Our customer support and legal compliance team is available to assist you.