Getting Started with Argonautas
Argonautas is a property management system built for vacation villas and boutique rentals. It brings together everything you need to manage properties, bookings, guest communications, rates, channel distribution, and staff operations in one place.
Overview
Whether you manage a handful of private villas or a growing portfolio of vacation rentals, Argonautas provides the tools to run your operation efficiently. The platform supports multiple user roles, each with a tailored experience and appropriate level of access.
User Roles
Argonautas uses role-based access to ensure every user sees exactly what they need.
Admin
Full access to every feature in the system. Admins can manage properties, bookings, rates, channel distribution, staff, users, settings, and reports. This is the role for business owners or operations managers who oversee the entire rental operation.
Property Manager
Access to properties, bookings, guests, messaging, rates, availability, and staff management. Property managers handle the day-to-day operations for a set of properties. They can create bookings, manage rates, communicate with guests, and assign tasks to staff.
Owner
A dedicated portal showing only the properties they own. Owners can view their property details, check booking calendars, review financials, and communicate with their property manager. The owner portal is a separate, simplified interface accessible at /owner.
Staff
Staff members (housekeepers, maintenance workers, concierge agents) have a focused portal at /staff with their assigned tasks, schedule, and the properties they service. Concierge staff have additional access to activity operators and commission tracking.
Guest
Guests access a self-service portal at /guest where they can view their booking details, arrival information, villa guide, directions, trip services, payment status, and communicate with the property team.
Main Sections
After signing in, admins and property managers see a sidebar with the following sections:
| Section | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | At-a-glance overview of today's check-ins, check-outs, payments due, and alerts. |
| Properties | Manage your property portfolio -- add, edit, and configure villas, apartments, and houses. |
| Bookings | View and create reservations. Filter by arrivals, departures, or status. |
| Guests | Browse your guest database and access guest profiles. |
| Inbox | Unified messaging across WhatsApp, SMS, email, and live chat. |
| Templates | Configure lifecycle message templates (booking confirmation, check-in instructions, etc.). |
| Maintenance | Track maintenance requests and property upkeep. |
| Tasks | Create and assign tasks to staff members with due dates and priorities. |
| Reports | Financial and operational reports across your portfolio. |
| Owners | Manage property owners and their contact details. |
| Rates | Set base rates, seasonal pricing, property seasons, and rate overlays. |
| Taxes & Fees | Configure taxes, cleaning fees, and other charges. |
| Availability | View and manage property availability calendars. |
| Channels | Connect to distribution channels (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, etc.) and manage sync. |
| Staff | Manage staff members, send invitations, assign roles and properties. |
| Users & Roles | Manage system users and their role assignments. |
| Settings | Company settings, messaging channel configuration, translation providers, and account preferences. |
First Steps for New Admins
If you are setting up Argonautas for the first time, follow these steps:
Add an owner. Go to Owners and create at least one property owner record. Every property must be assigned to an owner.
Create your first property. Go to Properties and click Add Property. Fill in the property details, assign it to the owner, set the property type, and provide the address. See the Property Setup Guide for detailed instructions.
Upload photos. Open your property and go to the Photos tab. Upload at least 10 high-quality photos. Set one as the primary photo.
Set rates. Go to the Pricing tab on your property, or visit the Rates section to configure base nightly rates, seasonal templates, and property-specific seasons.
Configure taxes and fees. Visit Taxes & Fees to set up cleaning fees, service charges, and applicable taxes.
Connect a distribution channel. Go to Channels to connect your properties to booking platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com. You will need to map each property to its listing on the external platform.
Set up messaging. In Settings, connect your WhatsApp, SMS, or email channels so you can communicate with guests through the Inbox.
Invite staff. Go to Staff to add team members. Staff receive an invitation via email, WhatsApp, or SMS and set up their account through a magic link.
Getting Help
Every page in Argonautas includes a floating help button in the bottom-right corner (the ? icon). Click it to open the help panel, which provides:
- Context-specific guidance for the page you are currently viewing
- A search bar to find help articles
- Quick action links
- Related articles
- A direct link to contact support at support@argonautas.pro
[Screenshot: Help panel button in the bottom-right corner of the dashboard]
Signing In
When you visit Argonautas, you'll see a login page with your email and password fields, plus a "Keep me signed in" checkbox and a Forgot password? link.
Keep Me Signed In
This checkbox controls what happens when you close your browser:
- Unchecked (default): Your session ends when you close the browser tab. The next time you visit, you'll need to sign in again. This is the safest option for shared or public computers.
- Checked: Your session persists for up to 7 days, even if you close and reopen the browser. You'll go straight to the dashboard without signing in again.
Logging out always ends your session, regardless of whether you checked the box. The next time you visit the login page, the checkbox will be unchecked and you'll need to enter your credentials.
The checkbox only controls session persistence -- it does not autofill your email or password. Your browser's built-in password manager handles that separately.
Passkey Sign-In
If you've registered a passkey (fingerprint, face recognition, or hardware security key), you can use the Sign in with Passkey button to log in without typing a password. Passkeys are the most secure and convenient option. See Users and Permissions for setup details.
Automatic Sign-Out
For security, Argonautas may sign you out automatically after a period of inactivity. Your admin configures this timeout. When this happens, you'll see a message on the login page letting you know you were signed out due to inactivity.
Common Questions
How do I switch between languages? Argonautas supports English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Language settings are available in your account preferences under Settings > Account.
Can I use the system on my phone? Yes. The interface is fully responsive and works on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops.
What happens if I forget my password? Use the magic link option on the login page to sign in without a password, then set a new one in your account settings.
How do I contact support? Click the help button (?) on any page, or email support@argonautas.pro directly.