Best card machine for hotels and b&bs UK 2026

The best UK card machine for hotels and b&bs in 2026 is Dojo Go (with PoS integration if available), on Dojo or Worldpay (for booking-engine integration). Hotels need card-on-file capability and settlement against authorisation holds; specialist-acquirer integration with booking engines often beats no-contract acquirers. Alternatives that fit lower-volume hotels and b&bs: Square Terminal (small B&Bs); Stripe (online + in-person hybrid).

Our pick

Dojo Go (with PoS integration if available)

Acquirer: Dojo or Worldpay (for booking-engine integration)

Hotels need card-on-file capability and settlement against authorisation holds; specialist-acquirer integration with booking engines often beats no-contract acquirers.

Read full Dojo Go review

What hotels and b&bs card payments look like

Cashflow shape: Booking-engine pre-authorisation with settlement at stay end. Variable across season.
Average transaction: £80 to £300
Contactless share: ~50%
Recommended acquirer: Dojo or Worldpay (for booking-engine integration)

Alternatives for hotels and b&bs

Square Terminal (small B&Bs)
Stripe (online + in-person hybrid)

Watch outs specific to hotels and b&bs

Card-on-file PCI requirements stricter.
Booking-engine integration with the acquirer often dictates choice.
Pre-authorisation hold management adds friction at check-in.

FAQs

What is the best card machine for hotels and b&bs in the UK?

The best UK card machine for hotels and b&bs in 2026 is Dojo Go (with PoS integration if available) on Dojo or Worldpay (for booking-engine integration). Hotels need card-on-file capability and settlement against authorisation holds; specialist-acquirer integration with booking engines often beats no-contract acquirers.

How much does a card machine cost for a hotels and b&b business?

Card-machine cost for hotels and b&bs comprises hardware (free to £329 upfront), monthly fee (£0 to £25), per-transaction rate (0.8% to 1.95% typical for hotels and b&bs), plus chargeback and scheme fees. Headline rate is one input; total 12-month cost depends on monthly card volume, average transaction size, and contract length. Use our /fees-calculator/ to model the blended cost.

Average transaction size in hotels and b&bs?

£80 to £300. Booking-engine pre-authorisation with settlement at stay end. Variable across season..

What contactless share do hotels and b&bs businesses see?

~50%. Hotels and b&bs card-payment kit should prioritise contactless reliability over chip-and-PIN throughput; tap-to-pay reliability after 10pm is the differentiator on late-night trade.

What should hotels and b&bs owners watch out for when choosing a card machine?

Card-on-file PCI requirements stricter. Booking-engine integration with the acquirer often dictates choice. Pre-authorisation hold management adds friction at check-in.

Sign through us, get all of this

Take any UK acquirer. We do the rest.

Named UK account team for the life of the agreement. Acquirer pays our commission on completed introductions, so it costs you nothing on top.

24/7 dedicated support
Direct line to a named UK account manager, not a generic acquirer helpline. When your terminal goes down on a Saturday night you call us.
Quarterly rate reviews
As your card volume grows your rate should drop. We renegotiate against the 80+ UK acquirer panel every quarter, so you never overpay because you forgot to ask.
Chargeback and dispute help
UK chargebacks cost £15 to £35 per case and 60-80% are friendly fraud you can win with the right evidence. We draft the response and escalate where the acquirer drags its feet.
Switching support when you outgrow
If a better acquirer fit emerges as you grow we manage the cutover. No exit-fee surprises, no dual-running gap. Same account team across acquirers.

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Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-04-26.