Pay your way

Most booking sites assume you have an international credit card. Many of us don't. Safar shows which options work, what they cost, and which partners let you pay at the hotel instead.

Which should I use?

Every option, with its real cost

Fees are from each provider's published terms as of November 2026 and can change. Safar does not process payments; partners do.

Five rules for paying from Lebanon

  1. Choose USD at checkout when the site offers a currency choice. Most Lebanese prepaid cards add 2–4% on anything else.

  2. Load the exact amount plus 5%. Airlines sometimes pre-authorise slightly more than the fare; a declined card can lose the price.

  3. Keep 3-D Secure alive. You'll get an SMS code; make sure your Lebanese number is reachable abroad or linked to the wallet app.

  4. If one partner declines the card, try another. Some gateways block Lebanese card ranges; Trip.com, Agoda and Pegasus are usually the most forgiving.

  5. Prefer pay-at-property for hotels. It keeps your card limit free for flights and lets you pay in cash on arrival.

Coming next: Safar Concierge

A licensed-agency desk where you pay in fresh USD via Whish or OMT and Safar issues the ticket for a flat fee — for families, groups and anyone without a working card. Join the newsletter to be first.

Safar never asks for your card details. All payments happen on the partner's secure checkout page.

Frequently asked

Why does Booking.com say "this card is not accepted"?

Some issuers' cards are blocked by partner risk rules, and cards on old (pre-2019) Lebanese accounts are often disabled for international online use. Try a Whish or OMT prepaid card, switch the listing to "Pay at the property", or use Agoda for the same hotel.

Can I pay in Lebanese pounds?

Not on international partners. OMT's dual-currency card has an LBP balance for local merchants only; international purchases draw on the USD balance.

Is it safe to use my card on these sites?

Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Skyscanner's partners, Kiwi.com, Trip.com, GetYourGuide and Viator are PCI-compliant and use 3-D Secure. Safar links to them directly and never stores card data. Check the address bar shows the partner's domain before paying.

What about PayPal or Apple Pay?

PayPal does not serve Lebanon. Apple Pay and Google Pay work only with a supported card from a supported bank; Whish and OMT cards can be added on some devices — check the provider's current list.

Does Safar charge me anything?

No. Safar is paid a commission by the partner after your booking completes. The price you pay is the partner's own price.