Overview
SquadTrip's Trip Builder walks you through creating a trip page, setting up packages, configuring payments, and publishing. The left sidebar has 17 sections. The walkthrough below covers the ones every trip needs, in the order you meet them; the rest - Add-ons, Registration Questions, Waitlist, Promote your trip, Scheduled Messages and more - are optional. You can save and return to any step at any time.
Getting to the Trip Builder
Log in to your organizer dashboard
Click "Create New Trip" or open an existing trip from your dashboard
Click "Edit Trip" to enter the Trip Builder
The left sidebar shows all builder sections
Step 1: Basics - trip details
Enter your trip name, description, destination, and dates. This is the information travelers see on your trip page.
Step 2: Basics - trip photos
Upload high-quality images for your trip page. Images display in a 4:3 aspect ratio -- use landscape-oriented photos for best results. You can crop images directly in the uploader to fit the 4:3 frame.
Step 3: Packages
Create one or more packages with names, descriptions, pricing, and room type options. Upload package photos in 4:3 aspect ratio for consistent display.
Step 4: Group Chat
Enable Group Chat to create a private messaging space for confirmed travelers. Features include:
Real-time messaging
Polls for group decisions
Message reactions
Pinned messages
Automated milestone messages
Daily digest emails
Step 5: Itinerary (Optional)
Add a day-by-day itinerary with activities, descriptions, and images. You can drag and drop items to reorder them within a day, and travelers can download the itinerary as a PDF from the trip page.
Step 6: Payments
Connect your payment gateway and set up payment options:
Setting | Details |
Payment Gateways | Connect Stripe (recommended) or Square |
Payment Methods | Toggle Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, and Apple Pay on or off |
Payment Plans | Choose Pay in Full, installments, or both per package |
Card payments are always enabled. BNPL options (Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay) require Stripe and add a 4% convenience fee to the traveler. BNPL is a third checkout option outside of Pay in Full and Installments. Currency support varies by provider.
Step 7: Preview and Publish
Review your trip and click "Publish" to go live. Your trip page becomes accessible to travelers via the link you share.
From this step you can also test your checkout before going live with Test Mode, and turn on a Waitlist so travelers can join when the trip or a package is sold out. See How to Test Your Checkout with Test Mode and Activating the Waitlist Option.
Important Notes
Save your progress at any time -- the Trip Builder remembers where you left off
You must connect a payment account - Stripe (recommended) or Square - before publishing
Package pricing must be above
$99to offer installment plans (a package at exactly $99 stays pay-in-full)All payment options and settings are free for organizers
Photos should be landscape-oriented in 4:3 aspect ratio for best display
You can edit any section after publishing without taking the trip offline
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
Can't publish the trip | Verify a payment gateway (Stripe or Square) is connected and all required fields are filled. |
Images look cropped or distorted | Upload landscape photos. The trip page displays in 4:3 aspect ratio -- portrait photos get cropped. |
Package pricing not saving | Ensure you've entered a valid price and clicked Save. Prices must be at least $35 - the package form rejects anything lower. |
Group Chat not appearing for travelers | Group Chat must be enabled in the Trip Builder. It's only visible to confirmed (booked) travelers. |
Travelers say they can't book or checkout is blocked | Check that Test Mode isn't still on. While it is, your whole account runs on Stripe's test key: a real traveler can reach checkout but their card payment fails. Turn it off from the Publish step - that also unpublishes the trip you tested, so publish it for real afterwards. See How to Test Your Checkout with Test Mode. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I edit my trip after publishing? A: Yes. You can edit any section of your trip at any time without taking it offline. Changes are reflected immediately on your trip page. Be cautious with pricing changes if travelers have already booked.
Q: Do I need a payment gateway to create a trip? A: You can create and set up a trip without connecting a gateway, but you must connect Stripe before publishing. Square is offered as an alternative. This ensures payments can be processed when travelers book.
Q: How many packages can I add to a trip? A: There's no strict limit on the number of packages. Most organizers create 2-4 packages with different pricing tiers and room configurations to give travelers flexibility.
Q: Can I use Square instead of Stripe as my payment gateway? A: Yes, but you connect one gateway at a time. Stripe is the primary gateway and supports all payment methods (cards, Apple Pay, BNPL). Square is offered as an alternative, but only supports card payments.
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