Step 5: Test Your System with a Booking
Test the entire booking flow to ensure everything works correctly before going live. Create a test booking through your website to verify payment processing, confirmations, and admin notifications.
Access Your Booking Website
Navigate to your booking website URL. This is either: - Subdomain: https://[your-property].hostel-agent.com - Custom Domain: https://www.yourdomain.com You can find this URL in the Website Settings section of your dashboard.
Browse Available Units
- View your property and units with images, descriptions, and amenities - Check that unit photos load correctly - Verify that amenity icons/tags display properly - Ensure bilingual text (English/Arabic) switches correctly - Test responsiveness on mobile (if applicable)
Create a Test Booking
1. Select a unit and choose check-in/check-out dates 2. Enter guest details: - Name: A test name (e.g., 'Test Guest') - Email: Your test email (ensure it's accessible) - Phone: Your test phone number - Optional: Special requests 3. Verify the price breakdown: - Base price × number of nights - Any discounts applied - VAT (if enabled) - Total amount 4. Confirm all information before proceeding
Test Payment Processing
At checkout, select a payment method to test: - Credit Card: Use test card numbers provided by the payment gateway: * Tap: 4242 4242 4242 4242 (exp any future date, CVV 123) * Moyasar: 4111 1111 1111 1111 (same exp/CVV) - Bank Transfer: Complete the form and note the generated reference - BNPL (Tamara/Tabby): Verify the installment breakdown Key checks: - Payment form displays correctly - No SSL/security warnings - Redirect URL is correct after payment - Error messages are clear (if testing decline scenarios)
Verify Admin Email Confirmation
After completing the test payment: 1. Check your admin email(s) for booking confirmation: - Property email - Notification email (if configured) 2. Verify the booking details: - Guest name, phone, email - Dates, unit name, price - Payment method used - Any special requests 3. Look for any formatting issues or missing information 4. Test clicking any action links (if present)
Check Guest Confirmation Email
1. Use a separate email for the test guest (or check spam folder) 2. Verify guest receives a booking confirmation email with: - Booking reference/ID - Guest name and dates - Unit details and check-in instructions - Payment confirmation (receipt) - Contact information for the property - Next steps or house rules (if included) 3. Verify email displays correctly on mobile and desktop 4. Check that any WhatsApp or SMS notifications also arrive
Verify Booking in Dashboard
1. Log back into your merchant dashboard 2. Go to Calendar or Bookings section 3. Find the test booking: - Should appear on the dates you booked - Status should be 'Confirmed' or 'Paid' - Guest name and contact info should be visible 4. Check if you can: - View full booking details - Edit guest information - Mark as checked-in/checked-out - Add internal notes 5. Verify the payment shows in your financial dashboard
Test Additional Scenarios
For a thorough test, try: - Different payment methods (if available) - Different date ranges (single night, weekends, long stays) - Different units/rooms - Mobile device booking (different screen size) - Language switching (English ↔ Arabic) - Special requests and notes - Cancellation (test cancel a booking and verify refund/email) - Payment retry (test failed payment, then successful retry) Document any issues found and resolve them before going live.
Make Any Necessary Adjustments
Based on your tests, you may need to: - Adjust unit descriptions or images for clarity - Correct pricing or VAT settings - Update check-in/check-out procedures - Modify payment method configurations - Add more units or remove inactive ones - Test again after each adjustment Make all adjustments in Test/Draft mode before enabling production bookings.
Go Live!
Once all tests pass and you're satisfied: 1. Enable production payment methods (if not already enabled) 2. Remove or hide test bookings from your records 3. Announce your booking website to guests 4. Monitor the first few live bookings closely 5. Be ready to respond quickly to guest inquiries Congratulations! Your booking system is now live and accepting real bookings. Monitor your email for confirmations and stay responsive to guest needs.
More in Getting Started
Step 1: Create Your Account
Set up your administrator account with your email and password. This is your primary login to manage all property operations.
Step 2: Add Your Property Group
Create your first property/location with bilingual names, location details, currency, timezone, VAT settings, and operational hours. A 'group' represents a property location with its own units, payment settings, and website.
Step 3: Add Payment Methods
Configure payment gateways so guests can pay for their bookings. You can accept credit cards, bank transfers, installment plans, and more. Popular options include Tap, Moyasar, Tamara, and Tabby.
Step 4: Add Rooms/Units
Create individual units (rooms, villas, apartments) within your property group. Each unit has its own pricing, images, amenities, and availability calendar.