When can I contact the host freely?

Updated on 04/20/2026

You've found a rental on Roomlala and would like to communicate directly with the host by phone, email, or on another platform? We'll explain when this free exchange becomes possible and why we regulate initial contacts.

1. Before booking: only via Roomlala messaging

As long as your booking is not confirmed and paid, all communications with the host go through Roomlala's internal messaging system, accessible from My Bookings. You can ask any questions you have about the rental, amenities, neighbourhood, or stay arrangements.

At this stage, the host's personal contact information (phone, email) and the exact address of the rental remain hidden. On the listing map, only the neighbourhood or city is indicated.

2. Why is contact information initially hidden?

This rule is not meant to complicate your life; quite the opposite. It aims to protect you:

  • Keeping the discussion on Roomlala allows us to intervene if a problem arises (dispute, misunderstanding, emergency).
  • This prevents attempts at off-platform payments, which do not benefit from any protection.
  • Your own number and email are also hidden from the host, to protect your privacy as long as nothing is committed.

If you or the host attempt to exchange a number, email address, or a link to another website, our system may detect this attempt and hide the information, or even block the conversation until a moderator verifies it.

3. Once the booking is confirmed: free contact

As soon as your booking is confirmed and payment is made, you can contact the host freely:

  • Their contact information (phone, email) is automatically sent to you.
  • The exact address of the rental is revealed to you.
  • You can continue to communicate via Roomlala messaging or directly by phone and email.

This is a good time to confirm the exact arrival time, key handover, or any last-minute practical questions.

4. The Premium Pass: free contact from the start

If you wish to communicate freely with hosts without waiting for confirmation, you can opt for a Premium Pass. The advantages:

  • Freedom to exchange your contact information within Roomlala's messaging system.
  • Your messages are not subject to automatic moderation.
  • Priority processing of your requests by hosts.

The Premium Pass is particularly useful if you are doing multiple searches or if you need to ask specific questions before deciding.

5. Our tips for a good first contact

  • Briefly introduce yourself in your first message: who you are, why you are coming, how many people.
  • Ask your questions directly in the messaging system: the host prefers to respond to a structured conversation rather than multiple different channels.
  • Don't worry if the host takes a little while to respond: you receive an email notification as soon as they write to you.

Need help?

If you encounter difficulty contacting a host or if your conversation was blocked by mistake, our team can resolve the situation. Contact us using the contact form in your account, and we will respond quickly.