How to Connect Your Booking Website to Your Own Domain

Already have a domain you want to use? You can connect it to your Holidu booking website to drive more direct bookings under your own brand. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, making it easy even if you're not familiar with domain settings.

Before You Start

Before beginning, make sure you have the following:

• Access to your domain provider's settings (such as AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or similar platforms)
• Your Holidu account with admin access
• Your existing domain name ready to connect

Important note: If you already have a website live on that domain, it will be replaced by your direct booking website once this process is complete. Make sure this is what you want to do before proceeding.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Domain

Step 1: Start the Process in the Holidu App by Setting Up Your Booking Website

The first step is to initiate the domain connection process directly in your Holidu account.

1. Log in to your Holidu account and navigate to your booking website settings
2. Click Enable website if it is not enabled yet
3. Click Connect my domain

After you start the setup and enter your existing domain name, a DNS tab will appear displaying specific DNS values that Holidu has generated for you. These values are essential for the next steps.

Tip: Don't worry if you're not familiar with DNS settings — we will guide you through each step. Copy these values carefully as you'll need them in the following steps.

Step 2: Create a New CNAME Record in Your Domain Settings

Now you'll need to add the first DNS record to your domain provider's settings. This record is called a CNAME.

1. Log in to your domain provider (AWS, GoDaddy, Vercel, etc.)
2. Look for an option to create a new DNS record or DNS record management
3. A form will open where you need to fill in the following information:

• For Type, select CNAME from the dropdown menu
• In the Holidu app, copy the NAME value from the CNAME line and paste it into the name field of the record you're creating
• Copy the VALUE from the same CNAME line in Holidu and add it to the value field
• The TTL and Routing policy fields can usually keep their pre-filled default values

After filling in these settings, create the record.

Example (AWS):

Important: If there are already DNS records saved for the domain you want to use, you'll need to delete those first. This will disconnect your existing website from the domain, so it will no longer be accessible to guests. This step is necessary so you can connect the domain to your new direct booking website.

Step 3: Add a CAA DNS Record in Your Domain Settings

The next step is to create a CAA record. This record helps secure your domain and ensure that only authorized services can issue SSL certificates for it.

1. Return to your domain provider's DNS settings
2. Create another new record with the following details:

• For Type, select CAA
• In the Holidu app, copy the NAME value from the CAA line and paste it into the name field
• Copy the VALUE from the CAA line in Holidu and paste it into the value field
• Note: Some domain providers might require a special format for the value field, such as 0 issue "example.com". In this case, add the value from Holidu in quotation marks
• The TTL and Routing policy fields can usually keep their pre-filled values

After making these settings, create the record.

Step 4: Head Back to the Holidu App to Check That the Records Are Recognized

Now that you've added the CNAME and CAA records to your domain provider, Holidu will automatically verify these DNS settings.

• Return to the Holidu app and wait for the verification process to complete
• This usually takes around 5 minutes, but can sometimes take up to 24 hours depending on your domain provider
• Once verification is complete, you'll see a confirmation message and be guided to the final step of the setup

Tip: If verification takes longer than expected, this is normal. DNS changes can sometimes take time to propagate across the internet. You can proceed to the next step once you receive confirmation from Holidu.

Step 5: Add an ALIAS DNS Record in Your Domain Settings

Once Holidu has verified your domain, there is just one more DNS record to add to complete the setup.

1. In the Holidu app, you'll see new DNS values for the ALIAS record
2. Return to your domain provider's DNS settings
3. Create a new record with the following details:

• For Type, select ALIAS
• Copy the NAME value from the ALIAS line in Holidu and paste it into the name field
• Copy the VALUE from the ALIAS line in Holidu and paste it into the value field
• Keep the TTL and Routing policy fields at their default values

Before moving on, make sure your domain provider settings now include all three of the following records:

• ALIAS
• CAA
• CNAME

Important: All three records are required for your direct booking website to connect properly to your domain.

Step 6: Final Verification

The final step is to wait for Holidu to complete the verification of all your DNS records.

1. Head back to the Holidu admin interface
2. Wait until your domain shows as fully verified
3. Once verified, you'll receive a confirmation notification

Congratulations! You can now access your direct booking website using your own domain. Your guests will see your custom domain in their browser, making your booking website feel more professional and trustworthy under your own brand.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Verification is taking longer than expected: DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate. If it's been longer, double-check that all your DNS records are entered correctly and match exactly what Holidu provided
• Records not being recognized: Make sure you've copied the values exactly as shown in the Holidu app, including any hyphens or special characters
• Old website still showing: Clear your browser cache and try accessing your domain from a different browser or device. The new website should appear once all DNS records are verified
• Need help with your domain provider: Contact your domain provider's support team if you're having trouble locating the DNS settings or creating records. They can provide specific guidance for their platform

Next Steps

Once your domain is connected, you can start promoting your direct booking website to guests. Your own domain makes it easier for repeat customers to find you directly and helps build brand recognition for your property or business.