Frequently Asked Questions

When a property indicates "pets allowed," that means it warmly welcomes your four-legged family members. However, there might still be certain rules in place. Always read through the property listing details for specifics and contact our travel advocates for confirmation. They're waiting to assist you at support@whimstay.com , and they love hearing about your furry friends!

Absolutely! At Whimstay, we understand that service animals are not pets and that they serve an essential function for their owners. Property managers are required to accept service animals even if their property does not typically allow pets unless there are unique health and safety circumstances. If you have any questions regarding this policy or need to confirm details about a specific property, our traveler advocacy team is ready to assist. Please reach out to them at support@whimstay.com .

Whimstay offers exclusive last-minute deals that can’t be found anywhere else! Our rates will always be lower than the other major vacation rental sites. Find your next escape with ease at unbeatable prices only with Whimstay!

Every Whimstay property is managed by seasoned professional property management companies, guaranteeing clean, comfortable, well-maintained, and expertly curated vacation rentals along with supportive customer service throughout your stay.

Not every host who lists their properties on Whimstay allows for same-day bookings – though some do! The good news is every listing on our site can be booked instantly (versus having to wait for the host to confirm your reservation request), which makes it easy to secure a stay as soon as tomorrow!
If the particular property you're interested in doesn't allow you to book a stay with a check-in date for today, we'd be more than happy to assist you with looking for alternate rentals, if available.

Whimstay only works with professional property managers. This ensures that the properties listed on our platform are clean, consistent with descriptions, and managed with expertise and the highest service standards.

Whimstay currently has properties located across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Our property ratings are sourced directly from professional property management companies listing their vacation rentals on Whimstay. These stars come from real feedback by travelers just like you, ensuring that the reviews and ratings on our site accurately reflect genuine guest experiences. Our aim is to provide transparent and reliable information, helping you make well-informed decisions about your accommodations.

At Whimstay, we're your go-to for the best last-minute deals within the next 30 days! But guess what? For those who love a good plan, you can snag fabulous rates on vacation rentals up to 330 days in advance. Whether it’s a spontaneous getaway or a well-planned journey, we’ve got your stay covered!

After booking, you'll receive a confirmation email from Whimstay with your host's details. Your host will send your check-in information before your arrival. Timing varies, so keep an eye out! If you haven't received it, contact your host directly. For some bookings, like those hosted by Booking.com, check-in details are sent to you by Whimstay. If you’re missing check-in information and still aren’t sure where to find it, feel free to reach out to us at support@whimstay.com

Some properties on Whimstay are listed through our partnership with Booking.com. These properties offer the same level of support as all Whimstay listings. If you have questions about a specific property, please reach out to us at support@whimstay.com.

Starting July 1, 2024, guests booking California vacation rentals through Whimstay can cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, provided the booking is made at least 72 hours before check-in. This law does not apply to reservations made for negotiated rates that are not advertised or made available to the general public.

You can purchase "Cancel for Any Reason" travel insurance at the following times:

• At time of initial booking
• Within 14 days of initial booking
• No purchase allowed less than 30 days before check-in

To view all the benefits included in the "Cancel for Any Reason” insurance option, click here.

For trips less than 30 days away, you can still purchase Standard travel insurance within 5 days of making your booking, but "Cancel for Any Reason" travel insurance will not be available.

Yes, Whimstay offers two types of travel insurance to ensure peace of mind: Standard Travel Insurance and "Cancel for Any Reason" Insurance, both underwritten by Nationwide. These policies are crafted to offer comprehensive protection and flexibility for various booking and travel scenarios.

Rules for Purchasing "Standard" Travel Insurance:

• At the time of initial booking.
• Any time 30 days or more from the check-in date.
• Within 5 days of booking when less than 30 days from check-in.

Some benefits of purchasing Standard Travel Insurance:

• 100% coverage for over 30 standard trip cancelation or interruption reasons, including illness, injury, travel delays, and more.
• Unique coverage reasons such as being required to work or auto accidents.
• Coverage for trip costs up to $100,000.

To view all the benefits included in the Standard Travel insurance option, click here.

Rules for Purchasing “Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance:

• At the time of initial booking.
• Within 14 days of initial booking.
• No purchase allowed less than 30 days before check-in.

Some benefits of purchasing "Cancel for Any Reason" Insurance:

• 100% coverage for over 30 standard trip cancelation or interruption reasons.
• 75% coverage for cancelations made for any reason.
• Coverage for trip costs up to $100,000.

To view all the benefits included in the "Cancel for Any Reason” insurance option, click here.

These insurance options ensure that your travel plans are safeguarded against a wide range of unforeseen circumstances, allowing you to book and travel with confidence.

You can purchase Standard travel insurance at the following times:

• At time of initial booking
• At any time 30 Days or more from check in date
• Within 5 days of booking when less than 30 days from check in

To view all the benefits included in the Standard Travel insurance option, click here.

The minimum age needed to rent varies from property to property, as each host sets their own requirements. To make sure you meet the age criteria for a specific property, check the details listed on its page. Remember, this age requirement applies to the primary renter—the person making the booking. If you have any questions or if anything's unclear, don't hesitate to contact us at support@whimstay.com. We're always here to help!

Whimstay partners with Stripe to securely verify ID for certain bookings. If ID verification is required for your reservation, you'll be prompted to complete the process after checkout. Additionally, you'll receive notifications via text message and email if your booking requires ID verification to confirm your reservation. This step helps ensure a safe and secure experience for all our travelers and hosts.

You can purchase travel insurance by visiting this link. Please be aware of the terms for purchasing each type of insurance:

For Standard travel insurance, you can purchase it:

• At the time of initial booking.
• At any time 30 days or more from the check-in date.
• Within 5 days of booking when less than 30 days from check-in.

For "Cancel for Any Reason" travel insurance, you can purchase it:

• At the time of initial booking.
• Within 14 days of initial booking.
• No purchase is allowed less than 30 days before check-in.

Remember, these options are designed to offer flexibility and protection for your travel plans.

Whimstay offers cancellation options to help ensure your stay fits your needs best! The specific policy for your booking will be displayed on the property details page and during checkout. Here are the possible options:

• Partial (7 Days): Eligible for a 50% refund, less the cancellation fee, up to 7 days before check-in.
• Standard (14 Days): Eligible for a full refund, less the cancellation fee, up to 14 days before check-in.
• Moderate (30 Days): Eligible for a full refund, less the cancellation fee, up to 30 days before check-in.
• Strict (60 Days): Eligible for a full refund, less the cancellation fee, up to 60 days before check-in.

Please be sure to note the cancellation policy for the property you choose before finalizing your booking.

1. Confirm Your Cancellation Eligibility
Check your confirmation email or view your booking details in the Bookings tab on our website or mobile app to see if your reservation is within the cancellation period.

2. Contact Customer Service
Contact customer service at help.whimstay.com. Our team is happy to help with cancellation and next steps based on your booking’s cancellation policy.

All bookings canceled after 24 hours of the reservation confirmation (and are eligible for cancellation) are subject to a cancellation fee in the amount of the service fee on your booking.   

If you cancel within 24 hours of booking (for bookings made at least 72 hours in advance of check-in), no cancellation fee applies, and you will receive a full refund. 

Refunds are sent right away by Whimstay, but it can take up to 10 days for your bank or credit card issues to process the refund and reflect it in your account. The exact timing depends on your financial institution’s policies.

Yes! The cancellation policy is displayed on the property detail page and during checkout, ensuring you can review the policy before making payment.

Whimstay accepts the following payment methods:

• Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover)
• Affirm
• Google Pay
• Apple Pay
• Credit or promo code

Our price comparison is calculated by taking the average rate of the vacation rental in the market and comparing it to Whimstay’s exclusive discounted rates. The savings per night (the one you see on the listing summary that says “save $/night”) is the average dollar amount you will save per night by booking on Whimstay.

Whimstay negotiates exclusive discounts with professional property management companies to secure the best rates on last-minute bookings, ensuring your spontaneous trips are exciting and affordable!

When booking a stay that's 100 days away or sooner, Affirm becomes an available payment option for you. However, if your booking falls outside this timeframe, Affirm won't be an option. Curious about how Affirm works? Learn more here.

Yes, when you choose to pay for your purchase using Affirm at checkout, there is an additional 5% service fee. This fee is applied to help cover the cost of offering this flexible payment option. It allows you to spread out your payment over time, making your booking more manageable financially. Please consider this extra cost when deciding to use Affirm for your purchase to ensure it fits your budgeting needs.

Yes, we encrypt all credit card information and are PCI compliant. Our payment system abides by the strictest anti-fraud protection requirements.

The initial pricing you see on the listings when searching by city is an average nightly rate over the next three-weeks. To find the most accurate pricing, please click on a property, select your desired dates, and click “Book Now”. This page will include the most accurate nightly rate, taxes, and fees.

Our price comparison is calculated by taking the average rate of the vacation rental in the market and comparing it to Whimstay’s exclusive discounted rates. The savings per night is the average dollar amount you will save per night by booking on Whimstay.

Please report any damage directly to the property manager. Property manager contact information is provided in the booking confirmation page and in the booking confirmation email.

Whimstay collects full payment for your reservation at the time of booking. The funds for your booking are then transferred directly to the property manager to cover your stay. We never store or send your credit card information to the property manager, so a credit card might be required at check-in by the property manager to cover any incidentals.
If you ever have questions or concerns about anyone contacting you to verify your credit card, or inquire about further information regarding your stay, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for assistance.

At Whimstay, we are dedicated to fostering trust between our hosts and travelers. Displaying reviews helps ensure that all feedback is authentic, honest, and useful for our users, aiding them in making informed decisions.

We source reviews from a variety of channels to maintain transparency and provide a broad perspective. These include property managers’ websites, integrated property management systems, and established online travel agencies.

To maintain integrity, published reviews must be unbiased, packed with relevant details, and adhere to our content policy detailed in our terms and conditions. Reviews should add value and assist other users in understanding what to expect.

We take the integrity of our reviews seriously. Reviews that do not comply with our policy may be removed. This action includes erasing any related ratings and content. Removal is a measure of last resort, undertaken only when there is a definitive breach of our guidelines.

Our reviews are updated continuously to ensure that the latest feedback from travelers and any changes to properties are accurately reflected.

If you disagree with a review or believe it to be inaccurate, you can contact us directly at: support@whimstay.com. While we do not change reviews based on a request, there are processes in place for disputing a review that you believe violates our guidelines.

Whimstay relies on trusted property managers, integrated property management systems, and established online travel agencies to source reviews. We work closely with these partners to ensure that all reviews come from verified users who have actually used the services or stayed at the listings. Our partners employ strict verification processes during the review collection phase to maintain the authenticity and reliability of the feedback provided.

After you make a reservation on Whimstay, you will receive a confirmation email with the property manager’s full contact information listed as well as the address for the property.

You can purchase travel insurance by visiting this link. Please be aware of the terms for purchasing each type of insurance:

For Standard travel insurance, you can purchase it:

• At the time of initial booking.
• At any time 30 days or more from the check-in date.
• Within 5 days of booking when less than 30 days from check-in.

For "Cancel for Any Reason" travel insurance, you can purchase it:

• At the time of initial booking.
• Within 14 days of initial booking.
• No purchase is allowed less than 30 days before check-in.

Remember, these options are designed to offer flexibility and protection for your travel plans.

You can review Whimstay’s privacy policy here.

Please email us at support@whimstay.com

You can review all of Whimstay’s terms and conditions here.

Please contact Whimstay Customer Support at support@whimstay.com to update the phone number associated with your account.

Go to Settings then click Profile. Once you are in your profile, click edit and update your information.

Before Checkout: To snag the deal, enter your promo code before confirming your booking.
No Time Travel: Sorry, but you can't apply promo codes to past orders.
One at a Time: Each order only gets one promo code. No promo code combos!
Just for You: Promo codes can't be swapped for cash or credit and are not transferable.
Tick-Tock: Promo codes come with an expiration date. Use it before the clock runs out.
Heads Up: We reserve the right to modify or cancel promo codes anytime. Some listings or categories may not be eligible for promotions. Always check the specific terms attached to each promo code.