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 comprehensive guide will walk you through each step of the process, making it easy even if you're not familiar with DNS settings.

Before You Start

Make sure you have the following in place before beginning:

• Access to your domain provider's settings (such as AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or similar)
• Your Holidu account with admin access
• A few minutes to complete the entire process

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. Any existing content on that domain will no longer be accessible.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Domain

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

Begin by enabling your booking website and initiating the domain connection process:

1. Log into your Holidu account and navigate to your property 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 with specific DNS values that Holidu has generated for you.

Copy these values carefully—you'll add them to your domain provider's settings in the next steps. Don't worry if DNS settings seem unfamiliar; we'll guide you through the process.

Step 2: Create a New CNAME in Your Domain Settings

Now it's time to log into your domain provider and create your first DNS record:

1. Log in with your domain provider.
2. Look for an option to create a new record or DNS record.
3. A form will open where you'll select the record type and enter values.

For this step, follow these instructions:

• For Type, select CNAME.
• 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.
• Then copy the "VALUE" from the same CNAME line and add it to the value field of the record.
• The "TTL" and "Routing policy" fields can usually keep their pre-filled default values.
• Click to create the record.

Example (AWS):

Important: If there are already DNS records saved for the domain you want to use, please delete those first. This will disconnect your existing website from the domain, so it will not be accessible to guests anymore. 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

Next, you'll create a second DNS record. This one secures your domain:

1. In your domain provider's settings, create another new record.
2. For Type, select CAA.
3. Copy the "NAME" value from the CAA line in the Holidu app and paste it into the name field.
4. Copy the corresponding "VALUE" from the Holidu app and paste it into the value field.

Note for some providers: Some domain providers might require a special format for the value field. For example, they may need the format: 0 issue "example.com". If this is the case, add the value from the Holidu app within quotation marks.

• The "TTL" and "Routing policy" fields can usually keep their pre-filled values.
• Click to create the record.

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

With the CNAME and CAA records now in place, Holidu will automatically verify your DNS settings. This verification process typically takes around 5 minutes.

During this time:

• Keep the Holidu app open or check back after a few minutes.
• Holidu will scan your domain provider's settings to confirm the records are correctly configured.
• You'll receive confirmation when the verification is successful.

If everything looks good, your domain is verified and you'll be guided to the final step of the setup.

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 connection:

1. Return to your domain provider's settings.
2. Create a new record and change the Type to ALIAS.
3. Holidu will provide you with the specific NAME and VALUE for this record—copy these from the Holidu app just as you did for the previous records.
4. Paste the NAME into the name field and the VALUE into the value field.
5. Create the record.

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

• ALIAS
• CAA
• CNAME

All three records are essential for your direct booking website to connect properly to your domain.

Step 6: Final Verification

You're almost done! Now it's time for the final verification:

1. Head back to the Holidu admin interface.
2. Check the domain connection status.
3. Wait until the domain is fully verified and shows as connected.

Once verification is complete, you can now access your direct booking website via your own domain. Your booking website is live and ready to accept reservations under your own brand!

Troubleshooting Tips

If your domain isn't connecting or verification is taking longer than expected:

• DNS propagation delays: DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate worldwide, though it usually happens within 5-15 minutes.
• Double-check your entries: Ensure that the NAME and VALUE fields match exactly what's shown in the Holidu app—even small typos will prevent connection.
• Verify all three records: Make sure you've created all three records (CNAME, CAA, and ALIAS) before expecting full functionality.
• Clear your browser cache: If you can access the domain but the website looks incorrect, try clearing your browser cache.

Next Steps

Once your domain is successfully connected, you can:

• Customize your booking website to match your brand
• Add your property details and photos
• Set your booking policies and rates
• Start promoting your direct booking website to guests

For additional help with customizing your booking website or other questions, visit our Help Center or contact our support team.