Frequently asked questions

The operator, directly, by bank transfer to the details on your booking page. BukNau never holds your money and never asks you to pay BukNau.

Not yet. Bank transfer is the only payment method, because it is the way money already moves for local operators. You can transfer from a bank app, internet banking or a branch.

Your dates are held for 2 days by default. Some operators set their own window, and the exact deadline is shown on your booking page. If the operator has not recorded your payment by then, the booking is released.

On your booking page in My Trips, a few minutes after you book — there is a short hold of 8 minutes first. Put the reference in the description of your bank transfer so the operator can match it.

Tap “I've made the transfer” on your booking page if you have not already. The operator then checks their account and confirms. Transfers between banks can take a working day; if it has been longer, message the operator from the booking page, and tell us if you get no reply.

No. Only ever pay to the bank details shown on your BukNau booking page. Operators cannot change the details on a booking by email or chat. If you receive different details, do not pay, and tell us straight away.

No. If a listing is bookable, your booking is real the moment you make it and your dates are held. The only thing that moves it from Reserved to Confirmed is your payment being recorded.

Yes. The total in the booking panel is the total on your invoice — tax, any extras you chose and any child pricing included. A refundable security deposit on a hire car or charter is shown separately.

Under-5s always travel free. Children aged 5 to 15 pay a child price where the operator has set one; otherwise they take the normal seat rate on per-person services and make no difference to the price of a room or vehicle.

You need to be signed in to book, but signing up happens inside checkout — sign in with Google or set a password, and carry on. It exists so your booking, payment details and invoice have somewhere to live.

Yes. A valid licence is required at checkout — the operator cannot confirm a self-drive hire without it. The deposit is separate from the price and returned after the hire.

No — per trip, for the vehicle class you choose. Pick the class that fits your party and luggage. Pickup and drop-off addresses are required at checkout.

It is security for the boat, like a hire car's deposit, and it is returned after the trip. Any damage deduction must be itemised within 2 days and can never exceed the deposit.

An invoice is created for every booking and is what you pay. A quote is for work accounts only — a priced snapshot of a cart before anyone commits, with nothing held and no bank details on it.

Unless the operator has published their own terms, you get a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before your service date. An operator's own policy is shown on the listing and before you pay. If the operator cancels, you are refunded in full whenever it happens.

The operator transfers it to your bank account, the same way you paid. Your booking page shows the refund as owed, then sent, then received once you confirm it arrived. If it has not arrived, tell us and we will follow it up.

Message the operator from your booking page first — many will move a booking for you. Otherwise cancel within the free window and book the new dates. An unpaid booking can be cancelled at any time before you pay.

It appears on your booking page once the booking is confirmed. Before that, message them on BukNau from the listing or the booking — the conversation stays with your trip.

On the booking page in My Trips. The invoice is there once the booking is confirmed and can be downloaded as a PDF; it also arrives by email with your confirmation.

The operator keeps the payment for the service. A security deposit on a hire car or charter is still returned to you, because it was never part of the price.

Use “Forgot password?” on the sign-in page and follow the link in the email. If you signed up with Google, just sign in with Google again.

Sign in with the same email you used to book and it appears in My Trips.

From the Account page, under “Delete account”. It is blocked while you have a booking still to come — let the trip finish or cancel it first. Operators keep an anonymised record of past bookings for their accounts.

Yes. From your cart, create a Quote. It is priced exactly as checkout prices it, holds nothing, and comes as a link and a PDF. It is valid for 14 days; when approved, one tap rebuilds the cart and books it.

Where the operator has agreed monthly billing with your organisation, yes. The booking is held immediately, you receive a pro forma invoice, and you have 7 days to attach the PO. Everything is then gathered into one monthly invoice per operator.

Admins and bookers can book on behalf of anyone in the organisation. The traveller sees the trip in their own My Trips.

Nothing during beta. Travellers pay you directly, into your own bank account.

By bank transfer to the details in your settings, with a payment reference for each booking. When the money lands, record it on the booking and it confirms. Keep your bank details up to date — they are what travellers see.

A listing appears only when it is published, has a price, and your bank details are saved — travellers must be able to book and pay it. Check all three in your workspace, and make sure the town was chosen from the list rather than typed.

No. Record what arrived — it is kept — but the booking confirms only when the recorded amount covers the invoice. The booking shows what is still owed; message the traveller for the balance.

Yes, from the booking page, at any stage. If the traveller has paid, you owe them a full refund, which you transfer to their bank account and mark as sent on the booking.

Block the dates on your calendar. A blocked room, vehicle or boat cannot be booked on BukNau for those dates.

Whenever you like. A new price applies to bookings made from then on; a booking already made keeps the price it was made at.

Two things, at most: record the payment when it lands in your account, and, if a traveller cancels after paying, transfer their refund and mark it sent. Everything else — the hold, reminders, Active and Completed — happens on its own.

Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Every feature works the same in both.

No. BukNau is a booking site: operators list, travellers book and pay the operator directly. We do not hold your money or arrange trips on your behalf.

Ask us a question from the help centre and we reply by email, or write to support@buknau.com. Operators also have a help page inside their workspace.