Most travel APIs route through a legacy GDS. Xeni connects directly to wholesale suppliers, skipping that layer entirely. No transaction fees, no markup restrictions, PCI-DSS compliant payments built in.
With 2M+ hotels and resorts, 300K+ activities, and coverage in 70+ countries, Xeni provides a single API key that covers every travel vertical — hotels, flights, cars, activities, and resorts.
GDS vs Direct Connect: What the Difference Costs You
Most developers do not realize how much legacy GDS infrastructure adds to total cost of ownership — not just in fees, but in integration time, compliance burden, and pricing flexibility.
| Factor | Legacy GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) | Xeni Direct Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | Per-segment + per-booking GDS fees | No GDS transaction fees |
| Pricing model | Published rates with GDS markup layers | Wholesale net rates, you set your markup |
| Integration time | Weeks to months, GDS-certified developers | Days, using standard OpenAPI v3 |
| Travel verticals | Primarily flights, limited hotel content | Hotels, flights, cars, activities, resorts |
| Payments | Separate payment layer required | PCI-DSS compliant payments built in |
| Crypto payments | Not supported natively | 9 cryptocurrencies + 6 stablecoins |
| Certification | GDS certification mandatory | No certification required |
Why Developers Choose Direct Connect
Here is what the direct-connect difference means in practice for teams building on Xeni:
- No GDS Transaction Fees — Xeni connects directly to suppliers. Per-segment, per-transaction, and per-ticketing GDS fees do not apply.
- Net-Rate Pricing You Control — You receive wholesale rates. You set your own markup. Xeni does not take a cut of your margin.
- One Integration, Every Vertical — Hotels, flights, cars, activities, and resorts from a single API — no separate consolidator connections.
- PCI-DSS Compliance Built In — Payment handling, fraud protection, and card tokenization are part of the platform from day one.
- Merchant of Record Flexibility — Use Xeni's MOR or act as your own. Both models fully supported with no extra setup.
- Multi-Currency and Multi-Language — Hundreds of currencies, eight languages including Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- Crypto Payments Supported — 9 cryptocurrencies and 6 stablecoins accepted natively, no third-party integration needed.
- Days to Integrate, Not Months — OpenAPI v3, Postman collection, and code samples in 15+ languages. POC in days.
See a full side-by-side breakdown on the Why Xeni page.
One API Key. Every Travel Vertical.
All five travel verticals accessible through a single integration, one support relationship, and one API key:
- Hotels — Search and book from 2M+ properties worldwide. Full room details, cancellation policies, and high-quality images included.
- Flights — Global airlines and LCCs via NDC and direct connections. Search, price, book, and cancel fully programmatically.
- Car Rentals — 30,000+ pickup locations from all major suppliers. Cancellations handled natively, no third-party dependency.
- Activities and Tours — 300,000+ experiences from trusted global operators. Fully bookable end-to-end with cancellation endpoints.
- Resorts — 200,000+ curated properties with real-time availability and live savings display against published rates.
- Xeni Deals API — A proprietary endpoint returning the highest-value properties by search location, ranked by discount to published rate.
Three Ways to Integrate
Whether you have a full engineering team or want to launch without writing backend code, Xeni has a path for you.
Option 1: Full API Integration
Complete programmatic access via OpenAPI v3-compliant REST endpoints. Code samples in C#, cURL, Dart, Go, Java, JavaScript, Node.js, PHP, Python, Ruby, Swift, and more. Best for OTAs, super apps, large travel platforms, and teams with dedicated engineering resources.
Option 2: Quick Builder
Embed a fully functional booking widget into any site or app with minimal code. The widget connects to Xeni's full inventory layer and inherits your branding. Best for travel agencies, host agencies, and startups wanting live booking without building from scratch.
Option 3: No-Code Branded Platform
Launch a complete white-label travel booking website instantly. Xeni handles hosting, supplier connectivity, and payment processing. Best for independent travel agents, influencers, and businesses entering travel for the first time. See Instant Branded.
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Built for How Developers Actually Work
Xeni's API is built on OpenAPI v3.x with machine-readable definitions that work with standard tooling out of the box:
- Full endpoint reference for all five travel verticals
- Postman collection with pre-configured environments
- Code samples in 15+ languages at developer.xeni.com
- Payment widget integration guide for iOS and Android
- Most teams complete a POC integration within days
Who Uses Xeni
From early-stage startups to enterprise super apps operating across dozens of markets:
- OTAs and Booking Platforms — Access multi-vertical travel inventory without building separate supplier connections independently.
- Super Apps and Fintechs — Add a complete travel vertical as a single embedded feature, live from day one.
- Host Agencies and Travel Tech — Power custom booking tools for agent networks with white-label branding and CRM built in.
- Travel Startups — Bypass the multi-year supplier negotiation that legacy GDS platforms require.
Security and Compliance
Xeni includes a built-in payment widget with card tokenization via Stripe and BitPay, fraud protection for all transactions processed through Xeni's merchant of record, and Seller of Travel compliance for required US states — handled natively.
Pricing
Enterprise and API access pricing is customized based on booking volume and integration type. No setup fees, no minimum transaction requirements. Free sandbox access available for qualifying teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best travel API for developers?
The best travel API depends on your use case, but for teams that need hotels, flights, cars, and activities through one integration without GDS overhead, Xeni is built specifically for that. It connects directly to wholesale suppliers, skipping per-transaction GDS fees, and includes PCI-DSS compliant payments natively.
What makes Xeni different from other travel APIs?
Xeni connects directly to wholesale travel suppliers instead of routing through a legacy GDS. This removes GDS transaction fees, gives developers wholesale net-rate pricing they control, and covers hotels, flights, cars, and activities through a single integration with PCI-DSS compliant payments built in.
Does Xeni use GDS?
No. Xeni connects directly to wholesale suppliers without routing through Amadeus, Sabre, or Travelport. This eliminates GDS transaction fees and gives developers access to net-rate pricing with no per-booking overhead.
How long does integration take?
Most development teams complete a working integration within days using Xeni's OpenAPI v3 documentation and Postman collection at developer.xeni.com.
Is Xeni's travel API PCI-DSS compliant?
Yes. Xeni is PCI-DSS compliant and includes a built-in payment widget covering card tokenization, fraud protection, and settlement. API clients can use Xeni's merchant of record or act as their own MOR.
