Help Centre

Everything you need to know

Guia completo para surfistas, escolas e instrutores. Não encontras a tua resposta? Respondemos em 2–4 horas no horário de apoio (Seg–Sáb, 9h–19h).

Surfers
Sou Surfista
Booking, cancellations, sea conditions, gear and progression.
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Schools
Sou Escola
SurfBooking OS, Channel Manager, Stripe Connect, packs and staff.
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Instructors
Sou Instrutor
Portable CV, marketplace, certifications and how schools invite you.
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Contact Surfers Booking Ocean Schools Instructors Payments Account
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Email

Send us an email and we reply within 2–4 hours during support hours (Mon–Sat, 9h–19h).

[email protected]

In-App Support

Open a ticket in the app under Profile → Help & Support. We reply inside the app with real-time chat.

Response Time

We typically reply within 2–4 hours during business hours (Mon–Sat, 9h–19h Portugal time).

What is Surf Booking? +

Surf Booking is a platform dedicated to booking surf lessons. Browse beaches and certified schools — Portugal-rooted, available worldwide — check real-time ocean conditions, book in seconds, and show up ready to surf with equipment pre-allocated for you.

The app is 100% free for surfers. You only pay for the lesson itself.

How do I create an account? +

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Register with your email, name and phone number. We'll send you a verification code to confirm your account.

For the best experience, also add your height, weight and surf level in your profile — this allows schools to pre-allocate the right wetsuit and board for you automatically.

How do I find surf lessons near me? +

The app has three ways to discover lessons:

  • Discover tab — Browse by zone (Porto, Ericeira, Algarve…), then pick a beach and see all available schools and time slots
  • Map view — See all beaches on a map, sorted by distance from your location. Tap a marker to see schools and lessons
  • Search — Search by beach name, school name or zone directly

Each beach shows real-time ocean conditions (wave height, water temperature, wind, tide) so you can pick the best day.

What are surf levels and which one am I? +

Lessons are grouped by level so you're always with people at a similar stage:

  • Beginner — First time or very few sessions. You'll learn ocean safety, how to paddle and stand up on the board
  • Intermediate — You can stand up consistently. Working on turning, reading waves and positioning
  • Advanced — You ride waves comfortably. Refining technique, learning manoeuvres or surfing bigger waves

If you're unsure, choose Beginner — the instructor will assess you on the beach and adjust accordingly.

Do I need to bring equipment? +

No. When you register your height and weight, Surf Booking automatically calculates the right wetsuit size and board type for your level. The school sees a prep list with exactly what to prepare for each student.

Just show up at the beach — your equipment will be ready. If a lesson includes gear, it's shown on the booking screen.

Can I save favourite beaches and follow schools? +

Yes. Tap the heart icon on any beach to save it as a favourite. You can also follow schools to stay updated with their latest lessons and schedules.

All your favourites and followed schools appear in your profile for quick access.

How do I book a lesson? +

Find a lesson you like, tap it, and choose a time slot. Pay securely with card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or MB Way. You'll receive a confirmation email instantly with all details.

Your booking appears immediately in "My Lessons" with your QR check-in code.

Can I book for a group or bring friends? +

Yes. When booking, increase the number of participants. Add the name of each person in your group. Everyone gets a spot in the same time slot and you pay in a single checkout.

Group bookings work for both individual lessons and lesson packs.

What are Lesson Packs (bundles)? +

Lesson Packs are bundles of multiple lessons sold at a discounted price. For example, a school might offer a "5-Lesson Pack" with a 15% discount.

When you buy a pack, you choose which dates and times you want for each lesson. After purchase, you can use your remaining lessons to book any available slot at that school.

How do I cancel a booking? +

Go to "My Lessons", select the lesson and tap "Cancel Booking". Refunds are automatic based on how much notice you give:

  • More than 96 hours (4 days) before the lesson — 100% refund
  • Between 48 and 96 hours before — 75% refund
  • Between 24 and 48 hours before — 50% refund
  • Less than 24 hours before — No refund (schools need to prepare; if the school cancels for dangerous sea you always get 100%)

Refunds go back to your original payment method — timing to appear in your account depends on your bank.

What if the school cancels my lesson? +

If a school cancels (bad weather, instructor unavailable, etc.), you receive a 100% automatic refund and a notification. The school may also offer to reschedule — you can accept the new date or decline for a full refund.

How does check-in work? +

On the day of your lesson:

  • Open the app and go to "My Lessons"
  • Show your QR code to the instructor, who scans it in 2 seconds
  • If the camera isn't available, use the 6-digit backup code

After check-in, the school confirms your attendance and your equipment allocation is finalised.

What is an Express Lesson? +

Express Lessons are instant surf experiences — no app or pre-registration required. The school creates a QR code or link that anyone can use:

  • Scan the QR at the beach (or tap the link on social media)
  • Fill in your name, email and phone
  • Pay securely with card
  • You're booked and checked in — ready to surf

Perfect for walk-up students, tourists, or anyone who decides to surf on the spot.

Can I join a waiting list for a full lesson? +

Yes. If a lesson is fully booked, tap "Join Waiting List". If a spot opens up (someone cancels), you'll be notified automatically by email and push notification.

Can I book lessons for minors? +

Yes. When a school requires a digital waiver, the signing screen includes a "Student is under 18" toggle. If activated, you must provide the legal guardian's name and signature — both are mandatory.

The guardian's signature is captured digitally in the app alongside the student's. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the beach during the lesson.

What ocean data does the app show? +

Each beach page shows real-time and forecast data:

  • Wave height — Current swell in metres with a 7-day forecast chart
  • Water temperature — Updated daily
  • Wind speed & direction — Real-time with forecast
  • Tide times — Low and high tide with state indicator
  • UV index — Sun protection recommendations
  • Air temperature — Current and forecast

Data is sourced from marine weather services and updated continuously.

What are Surf Alerts? +

You can set up alerts for any beach to be notified when wave conditions match your preferences. Tap the bell icon on a beach page to configure:

  • Minimum wave height — Get notified when waves reach your preferred size

Alerts are sent as push notifications so you never miss good conditions at your favourite spots.

Does the app show webcams? +

Some beaches have live webcam feeds available. When a webcam is available, you'll see a camera icon on the beach page. Tap it to watch the live stream and check conditions before heading out.

How do I register my school? +

Two ways:

  • Via web — go to surfbooking.eu/para-escolas and request access. Our team gets in touch.
  • Via app — download the app, create an account and select "I'm a surf school".

Either way, once approved, you manage everything in the SurfBooking OS (CC) — the web panel at surfbooking.eu/controlpainel. CC is your full system: lessons, team, calendar, bookings, equipment, reports.

After getting access, complete the profile:

  • Name, description, logo, photo gallery
  • Beaches you operate at and location
  • RNAAT licence and public liability insurance
  • IBAN and Stripe Connect setup to receive payouts

Our team validates and activates within 24–48 hours.

How much does the platform cost for schools? +

€0/month, always. Zero monthly fees, zero setup. We charge a commission on each confirmed booking — you only pay when you sell.

What's included:

  • SurfBooking OS (CC) — full web panel: drag-and-drop calendar, create lessons and packs, team management, check-in, reports, equipment.
  • Channel Manager — The Channel Manager isn't paid for in money: it's paid for in lessons. Keep lessons on sale in the Surf Booking marketplace and it's yours, for good. One lesson every six months you work is enough. SurfBooking OS itself stays at €0/month, always. Sync with Airbnb Experiences, Booking Things-to-do, GetYourGuide, Viator, Bókun, Civitatis, Google Calendar. Imports external bookings and publishes SB availability back. No overbooking.
  • Surf Booking Forecast — proprietary per-beach forecast (swell, wind, tide, /10 score) baked into CC. Run your operation on real data.
  • SEO page on Google — your school indexed at surfbooking.eu, found by tourists searching for lessons, no ads needed.
  • Surf Today + Awards — visibility on the public beach and school index. The better your service, the higher you rank.
  • Stripe Connect payouts — automatic, direct transfer to your school's IBAN.
  • Instructor Marketplace, Conditional Lessons, LTV Cockpit, Newsletter, CSV importer — features detailed at surfbooking.eu/features.

No contract. Cancel whenever.

How do I create and manage lessons? +

In SurfBooking OS (CC, web), open the Lessons tab and use the 7-step wizard to set:

  • Date, time and duration
  • Type (group, private, kids, pack/bundle)
  • Level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, kids)
  • Available spots and minimum students to confirm (Conditional Lessons)
  • Price, primary and secondary instructor, beach

To create multiple lessons at once, use bulk create (same lesson repeated across the week). Or drag directly on the CM calendar to move/duplicate/cancel visually.

For walk-ups on the beach, use Express Lessons — generate a 1-minute QR that accepts walk-ups without app install.

How do Packs / Bundles work? +

In SurfBooking OS, open Lessons → Packs. Three modes:

  • Classic Bundle — configurable lesson count (X lessons at a pack price). Student books each date individually.
  • Academy — pack with fixed dates (intensive course, e.g. 5 mornings in a row). Student buys the whole series.
  • Pack with progress levels — optional: define milestones (e.g. "first waves → trimming → bottom-turn") with icons; the student tracks progress in the SB Passport.

You set total price and discount vs. one-off bookings. When the student buys, they receive digital credits that can be spent on any compatible lesson during the pack's validity.

How do I manage my team of instructors? +

In SurfBooking OS → Team:

  • Add instructor — fill in the data and generate an invite code (10 chars) or link. The instructor creates an account and uses the code to join your school.
  • Marketplace — alternative: invite instructors who already have a verified portable profile at surfbooking.eu/instrutores. Click "Invite" and they accept/decline.
  • Granular permissions — control what each one can do (create lessons, view bookings, check-in, manage packs, view revenue).
  • Assign to lessons — primary and secondary instructor per lesson. CM calendar shows it visually.
  • Quick reassignment — if someone can't make it, right-click the lesson on the calendar → reassign.
  • Live Status — instructors mark themselves "live on the beach" so the app shows where they're teaching right now.
How do I create an Express Lesson (walk-up QR)? +

In SurfBooking OS → Lessons, click Express. Set beach, time, capacity, price — and the system generates a QR code + short link.

Print the QR and take it to the beach (or share on IG/WhatsApp). The surfer scans, fills in details, pays, and is booked — no app install needed. Works on any phone with a camera.

For large groups (stag/hen, team-building), there's also Express in-app and the Corporate flow at /para-empresas that handles 10–50 people with one link.

How does automatic equipment allocation work? +

When the surfer fills height, weight and shoe size in their profile, the system automatically calculates:

  • Wetsuit size (XS to XXL, with substitutes when the ideal isn't available)
  • Board recommendation based on level and height
  • Leash and boots by size

In SurfBooking OS → Lessons, before each lesson, you see the prep list with each student and their suggested equipment. Click "Print" and take it to the beach.

Manage your stock in SurfBooking OS → Equipment. Toggle on the Stock Manager and the system only allocates what you actually have. Stock × Lessons shows the most-used sizes (with month-on-month trend) — useful for restocking before peak season.

What analytics do I have in SurfBooking OS? +

Two main tabs in CC:

Resumo (daily view):

  • Today's + tomorrow's lessons, occupancy per lesson
  • Per-beach forecast (swell, wind, tide, /10 score)
  • Current month revenue vs. previous
  • Cancellation and no-show rate (with a 3-booking floor to avoid noise on new schools)

Reports (deep analysis):

  • Revenue by month, instructor, beach, level, weekday
  • Top students by LTV (lifetime value) + dormants (VIP students who haven't booked in 60 days)
  • Reviews and team rating
  • CSV export for your accountant
  • Price suggestions based on historical occupancy (Dynamic Pricing)
Can I offer lessons at multiple beaches? +

Yes. In SurfBooking OS → Settings → Beaches, link your school to every beach you operate at. Each lesson has its own beach (you pick it in the create wizard), and the student always sees exactly where to go + the meeting point.

For schools running coaching tours or trips (e.g. one day in Ericeira, the next in Peniche), the CC calendar shows lessons across all beaches in one screen — drag-and-drop between beaches works.

How do I get the Surf Booking Partner badge? +

In SurfBooking OS → Settings → Verification, upload:

  • Valid RNAAT licence
  • Public liability insurance policy within validity
  • Complete profile (description, photos, contact, prices)

Our team reviews within 24–48h. Approved → ✓ Verified badge appears on the public school profile. You get:

  • Higher visibility on Surf Today + in search results
  • A trust signal for the surfer choosing
  • Eligibility for Awards (Editor's Pick + categories)

If the licence or insurance expires, you get a CC alert to renew before the badge drops.

How do I connect Airbnb Experiences / GetYourGuide / Viator? +

In SurfBooking OS → CM (Channel Manager) you have two-way iCal:

  • Import — paste the iCal link from Airbnb Experiences, Booking Things-to-do, GetYourGuide, Viator, Bókun, Civitatis, Google Calendar or Outlook. External bookings show on the CM calendar alongside SB lessons. Cron reads hourly.
  • Publish — SB generates its own iCal feed for you. Paste it in the external channel and that platform starts blocking the hours where you have SB lessons. Filled slots = confirmed block; empty slots = TENTATIVE block (channel can keep selling).

When an external booking needs to be edited, CC opens the source channel's panel in one click — you edit where it was born, and the next sync brings the new state in. iCal is one-way on the read — local edits to external bookings would be overwritten.

Sync delay 2-4h on their side (iCal protocol). Full detail at /features/channel-manager.

How do I receive corporate events (stag/hen, team-building)? +

Toggle Accepts inquiry quotes in SurfBooking OS → Settings → Corporate. Your school appears with the ✦ Corporate badge at /para-empresas and in beach listings.

When an organiser requests a quote, you get a push + email + entry in the CC inbox. You reply with a price; they pay online; each participant gets an individual link to fill the waiver, register height/weight and check in by QR on the day. You get reminders 24h and 2h before.

How do I register as an instructor? +

Two paths:

  • Self-register at surfbooking.eu/sou-instrutor — create your portable instructor profile (bio, certifications, languages, levels, photo) without belonging to any school yet. You'll show up in the schools' marketplace and can be invited by multiple schools.
  • Invited by a school — the owner generates an invite code. Create an account in the app and enter the code to join their team. Your portable profile is auto-linked.
Can I work for more than one school? +

Yes. Portuguese instructors typically work across 2–3 schools at the same time. In your instructor profile (CC → "My Profile") you have an "Accept extra work" toggle: when ON, you stay visible in the marketplace even with active school links, so other schools can find you for ad-hoc lessons.

Each school sees its own bookings + check-ins; your CV (lessons given, beaches taught, hours) accumulates across all of them and shows on your public profile page /instrutor/<username>.

What's the verification / certification badge? +

Upload your federation card (FPS Grau I/II/III, ISA Level 1/2, or equivalent) in CC → "My Profile" → "Verify". SurfBooking admin reviews the photo and stamps your profile Verified, which adds a checkmark next to your name in the marketplace and on every lesson card you teach.

Verification is free and one-time. Re-upload only when your card renews.

What can I see as a school staff instructor? +

Depending on permissions set by the school owner:

  • Today's lessons — Your assigned slots, student list and equipment prep
  • Check in students — Scan QR codes or enter 6-digit codes
  • Ocean conditions — Real-time marine forecast for the beach you're teaching at
  • Lesson photos — Upload photos taken during the lesson; students claim them for their Surf Passport
  • Reassignment notifications — Get notified when a lesson is moved to you

Financial data (revenue, cancellation rates, full booking history) stays with the school owner.

How do I check in a student? +

Open your lesson, tap "Scan QR" and point your camera at the student's QR code. Check-in takes about 2 seconds. If the camera isn't available, the student shows you a 6-digit code and you enter it manually.

How does my Stamp Passport CV grow? +

Every check-in stamps your CV automatically: zone, country, lesson count, hours teaching, unique beaches. After 90 days you also collect student ratings tied to your profile (anonymous). Your public CV at /instrutor/<username> is shareable — show it to schools, post it on Instagram, attach to job applications.

What payment methods are accepted? +

We accept:

  • Credit & Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • MB Way (Portugal)

All payments are processed securely by Stripe — the same payment provider used by companies like Amazon, Google and Shopify. Surf Booking never stores your card details.

When and how do schools receive payments? +

Payments are processed automatically via Stripe Connect and transferred directly to your registered bank account. No manual steps, no invoicing, no chasing payments.

To set up payouts, connect your Stripe account in SurfBooking OS → Settings → Payments. You complete the verification once, then everything is automatic. Each payment goes to your school's Stripe balance the moment the student pays; Stripe holds it for 7 days and then sends it to your bank, which takes 1–2 more business days.

My payment failed. What should I do? +

Check that your card has sufficient funds and the details are correct. Try an alternative payment method (MB Way, Apple Pay). If the problem persists, contact us — we'll help resolve it.

How do refunds work? +

Refunds are automatic and depend on the cancellation timing (see "How do I cancel a booking?" above). Refunded amounts go back to your original payment method — timing to appear in your account depends on your bank.

If a school cancels your lesson, you always receive a 100% refund.

I didn't receive my confirmation email? +

Check your spam/junk folder first. If it's not there, open the app — the booking appears in "My Lessons" if the payment was processed. If you still can't find it, contact us with the booking details.

How do I edit my profile? +

Go to Profile → Edit Profile. You can update your name, email, phone, avatar, height, weight, surf level, boot size and tax ID (NIF). Keeping your height and weight updated ensures accurate equipment allocation.

How do I change the app language? +

The app supports Portuguese and English. Go to Profile → Language to switch. The entire interface, notifications and emails will be in your chosen language.

How do I delete my account? +

Go to Profile → Settings → Delete Account. All your personal data is permanently erased within 30 days. Active bookings with payment are cancelled with a full refund.

If you're a school owner, your school listing, lessons and team are also removed.

Is my data safe? +

Yes. We take security seriously:

  • HTTPS encryption on all connections
  • bcrypt password hashing — even we can't read your password
  • Stripe payment processing — card details never touch our servers
  • Single-session enforcement — only one active session per account
  • GDPR compliant — your data rights are fully respected

See our Privacy Policy for full details.

How do I report a problem or give feedback? +

In the app, go to Profile → Help & Support to open a ticket. You can also send suggestions through Profile → Feedback. We read every single message and use feedback to improve the app.