How to Book a Hotel with Bitcoin: Travala.com and Destinia

How Bitcoin Works for Hotel Bookings

Bitcoin is not accepted directly on Booking.com or Expedia. Two online travel agencies that do accept it are Travala.com and Destinia, both with millions of properties and confirmed track records. You pay with BTC at checkout the same way you would with a card: select it as the payment method, send from your wallet, and receive a booking confirmation within minutes.

Travala.com, founded in 2017 and backed by Binance, accepts over 100 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin on-chain and the Bitcoin Lightning Network. The platform reported over $100 million in annual revenue for 2024, with over 80% of bookings paid in crypto (Travala, 2024). Destinia was the first OTA globally to accept Bitcoin for travel, launching crypto payments in 2014. It now supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Dash, USDC, and USDT, with prices displayed in euros.

Step-by-Step: Booking a Hotel with Bitcoin

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

Select Travala.com for the widest cryptocurrency selection, Lightning Network support, and Binance-backed infrastructure. Choose Destinia for EUR-based pricing and a platform that has accepted Bitcoin since 2014.

Step 2: Search for Your Hotel

On your chosen platform, enter your destination, check-in and check-out dates, and number of guests. Browse the results and select a property and room type.

Step 3: Enter Guest Details and Proceed to Checkout

Enter the required information: name, contact details, and passport number if required for the booking. Review the total price and proceed to the payment screen.

Step 4: Select Bitcoin as Your Payment Method

On Travala.com, choose "Bitcoin (BTC)" or "Bitcoin Lightning Network" from the list of payment options. On Destinia, select "Payment with Bitcoin" at the checkout screen.

Step 5: Send the Payment from Your Wallet

A QR code and wallet address appear showing the exact BTC amount at the current exchange rate. On Travala.com, this rate is locked for 40 minutes once the payment screen is active. Send the exact amount from any compatible Bitcoin wallet by scanning the QR code or copying the address. For Lightning payments on Travala.com, use a Lightning-enabled wallet such as Phoenix or BlueWallet.

Step 6: Receive Your Booking Confirmation

Once the payment is confirmed on the blockchain, your booking is secured. Both platforms send a confirmation email with your e-ticket or hotel voucher, typically within minutes of payment.

Fees, Limits, and Availability

Travala.com charges zero platform fees for Bitcoin payments. The only costs are standard Bitcoin network fees, which vary with blockchain congestion and are paid from your own wallet. Destinia similarly charges no commission on crypto transactions. Credit card payments on Travala.com carry a surcharge, so Bitcoin is typically the cheaper option.

Both platforms serve European users without geo-restrictions. Travala.com displays prices in USD; Destinia shows prices in euros alongside the BTC equivalent, which is more practical for European buyers. Under the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation, payments from self-custody wallets above €1,000 may require a one-time identity confirmation on the platform side (Travala, 2025).