Travel Agency Payments in Europe: Stripe, Klarna, Swish Compared

Payments Are a Conversion Lever

For travel agencies, payment is not just a backend concern — it is a conversion lever. The easier you make it for a traveler to pay, the more bookings you close. Offer only credit cards, and you lose the customer who prefers Klarna. Offer only bank transfers, and you lose the impulse buyer.

In Europe, the payment landscape is fragmented by design. Each market has its preferred methods. Understanding them is key to maximizing your booking conversion rate.

Stripe: The Foundation

Best for: Card payments, international customers, recurring billing.

Stripe is the default payment infrastructure for most modern travel platforms. It handles Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and a growing list of local methods through Stripe Payment Links and Checkout. Pros:

• Accepts payments from 135+ currencies
• PCI-compliant out of the box
• Excellent developer APIs for custom integrations
• Supports 3D Secure for European SCA compliance
• Instant payouts available in many markets

Cons:

• Transaction fees (typically 1.4% + €0.25 for European cards)
• Not always the preferred method for Scandinavian customers
• Requires technical setup for advanced features

For travel agencies: Stripe should be your foundation layer. It handles the broadest range of customers and currencies. But it should not be your only option.

Klarna: Buy Now, Pay Later for Travel

Best for: Higher-value bookings, converting hesitant buyers, Nordic and German markets.

Klarna lets travelers split payments into installments or pay within 30 days — with no interest. For travel, where bookings often exceed €500, this can significantly increase conversion rates. Pros:

• Pay-in-3 and pay-in-30 options reduce purchase friction
• Klarna assumes the credit risk — you get paid immediately
• Extremely popular in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands
• Checkout integration is smooth and trusted

Cons:

• Higher merchant fees than standard card processing (typically 2.5-3.5%)
• Not available in all European markets
• Can add complexity to refund workflows

For travel agencies: If you sell tours above €300 and your customers are in the Nordics or DACH region, Klarna is not optional — it is expected. The higher merchant fee is offset by the increase in completed bookings.

Swish: Instant Payment for Swedish Agencies

Best for: Swedish customers, fast confirmations, low-value add-ons.

Swish is a mobile payment system used by over 8 million Swedes. It is instant, free for consumers, and deeply integrated into Swedish banking. For travel agencies operating in Sweden, not offering Swish is like not accepting cash ten years ago. Pros:

• Instant settlement
• Zero consumer fees — no friction
• Ubiquitous in Sweden (used by 82% of the population)
• Very low merchant fees

Cons:

• Sweden only — no international reach
• Requires a Swedish bank account and Swish merchant agreement
• Not suited for high-value international transactions

For travel agencies: If you have Swedish customers, add Swish. It is the fastest path to a confirmed booking for domestic travelers. Pair it with Stripe for international reach and Klarna for high-value packages.

The Ideal Payment Stack

For a European travel agency, the optimal payment configuration looks like this:

• Stripe as the foundation — cards, international customers, multi-currency
• Klarna for high-value bookings — installments reduce cart abandonment
• Swish for Swedish domestic — instant, trusted, zero friction

This combination covers 95%+ of European travel payment scenarios. The key is offering all three at checkout and letting the traveler choose.

How Beebus Handles This

Beebus integrates Stripe, Klarna, and Swish natively. All three payment methods appear in a single checkout flow — the traveler picks their preferred option, and the booking is confirmed in real-time.

Payment data flows directly into Beebus finance tools for automatic reconciliation, invoicing, and reporting. No manual data entry between systems. See the payment flow in action — book a demo with our team.