Synchronizing your Holidu calendar with other booking platforms and channels is essential for managing your availability across multiple sites efficiently. By connecting your calendar via iCal, you can ensure that bookings made on one platform automatically reflect across all your connected channels, significantly reducing the risk of double bookings. This guide walks you through the entire setup process, from initial configuration to troubleshooting common issues.

Supported Calendar Channels

Holidu supports iCal synchronization with a wide range of popular booking platforms and property management systems. You can sync your calendar with the following channels:

• Admin
• Abritel
• Airbnb
• Atraveo
• Avaibook
• Avantio
• Booking.com
• FeWo-direkt
• Feratel
• Fewomanager.de
• Icnea
• Iperbooking
• Menorca Vacations
• Mister B & B
• Octorate
• TouristManager - LTS
• VRBO
• Wimdu

If your calendar provider is not listed above, contact your external provider to confirm they support two-way iCal synchronization. We recommend always testing the connection manually by creating a test block on each calendar to verify the sync works correctly.

Disclaimer: While we support synchronization with the channels listed above, we cannot guarantee compatibility with every external iCal calendar. Always verify that your sync is functioning as expected before relying on it for availability management.

How to Import and Export an iCal Calendar

The import and export process is the same whether you are setting up your first synchronization or adding an additional one. Follow these steps to connect your calendar:

1. Log in to your external channel: Access your account on the booking platform or property management system you want to sync with. Locate the iCal synchronization or calendar settings section and find your iCal export URL (sometimes called a sync link or feed URL).
2. Open your Holidu account: In a separate browser window or tab, log in to your Holidu account and navigate to your property.
3. Access the iCal configuration page: On the left-hand sidebar, scroll down to find the Configuration section. Click on iCal & Synchronization.
4. Choose your setup option:
   • First-time setup: Click the Configure button.
   • Adding another calendar: Click Add new synchronization if you already have one connection and want to add another.
5. Select your channel: From the dropdown menu, select the name of the channel you want to sync with.
6. Complete the two-step setup:
   • Step 1 – Import: Paste the iCal URL you copied from your external channel into the "Address of iCal" field in Holidu. This allows Holidu to receive availability updates from your other platform.
   • Step 2 – Export: Copy the iCal URL generated by Holidu. Go back to your external channel's settings and paste this URL into their iCal import section. This sends your Holidu availability to the other platform.
7. Save your settings: Click the Save button to finalize the synchronization setup.

Important Notes About Popular Booking Platforms

Different booking platforms have specific requirements and limitations when syncing calendars. Be aware of the following considerations when connecting to major channels:

Booking.com

To ensure your Booking.com calendar syncs properly with Holidu, you must configure the export settings on Booking.com correctly. In your Booking.com account, navigate to your calendar export settings and make sure to tick the box for Booked and Closed Dates. This setting ensures that both confirmed bookings and manual blocks (blocked dates) sync with your Holidu calendar.

For detailed instructions specific to Booking.com, refer to their official help guide: Booking.com iCal connection guide

Airbnb

When synchronizing with Airbnb, it is important to understand a key limitation: the Airbnb iCal feed only supports synchronization from today through the next 364 days. Any dates beyond this 364-day window will not be synced to or from Holidu. This means you should verify that your availability is correctly reflected within this timeframe and plan accordingly for longer-term bookings or blocks.

Learn more about Airbnb's iCal functionality in their official guide: Airbnb iCal instructions

VRBO

VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) has its own calendar synchronization process. For complete instructions on how to connect your VRBO calendar to Holidu, visit: VRBO calendar sync guide

Troubleshooting Tips

If your calendar synchronization is not working as expected, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Check the iCal URL

The most common reason for sync failures is an incorrect iCal URL. Double-check that you have copied the URL exactly as it appears on your external channel. Even a single missing character or typo can cause the synchronization to fail. Copy the URL carefully and paste it into the Holidu field without any extra spaces.

Refresh Your Calendar Manually

Holidu does not update in real time; calendar synchronization happens at regular intervals. If you have just added a new sync or made changes and do not see them reflected immediately, click the green Refresh button in your iCal settings. After refreshing, it may take a few minutes for new blocks or bookings to appear in your calendar.

Perform a Manual Test

The best way to verify that your calendar sync is working correctly is to perform a manual test. Create a test block or unavailable period in one calendar (for example, block a single day on Airbnb), then check whether that block appears in your Holidu calendar within a few minutes. Next, create a block directly in Holidu and verify it appears on your external platform. If both directions work, your synchronization is functioning properly.

Verify Both Directions Are Configured

Remember that calendar synchronization requires two separate URL entries: one for importing availability from your external channel into Holidu, and one for exporting Holidu availability to the external channel. Ensure you have completed both Step 1 (Import) and Step 2 (Export) in the setup process.

Video Guide for Airbnb Connection

For a visual walkthrough of connecting your Holidu calendar to Airbnb, watch this step-by-step guide: How to sync Holidu calendar with Airbnb