Syncing your calendar across multiple booking platforms is essential to managing your property efficiently and avoiding double bookings. This guide walks you through configuring an iCal synchronization to connect your Holidu calendar with other platforms, keeping your availability updated in real-time across all channels.

Introduction to iCal Calendar Synchronization

iCal synchronization enables a two-way connection between your Holidu calendar and external booking channels. Once configured, your availability stays aligned across all platforms, significantly reducing the risk of double bookings. The synchronization process involves importing your external calendar into Holidu and exporting your Holidu calendar to the external platform, ensuring bidirectional data flow.

Supported Calendar Channels

Holidu supports iCal synchronization with a wide range of popular vacation rental and booking platforms. Before setting up synchronization, verify that your external calendar provider is listed below:

• 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, check with them directly 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 before relying on it for your bookings.

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 step-by-step instructions to configure your iCal calendar connection:

First-Time Setup (Configure)

1. Log in to your external booking platform and locate the iCal synchronization settings. Copy your iCal export URL from that platform.
2. In a separate window, log in to your Holidu account and select the property you want to sync.
3. In the left-hand menu, navigate to Configuration and scroll down to find iCal & Synchronization.
4. Click the Configure button to begin your first synchronization setup.
5. Select the name of the channel you wish to sync from the dropdown list.
6. Follow the two-step setup process that appears on your screen.

Adding Additional Synchronizations (Add New Synchronization)

1. If you already have one synchronization configured and want to add another, log in to your Holidu account and select your property.
2. Navigate to Configuration in the left-hand menu and scroll down to iCal & Synchronization.
3. Click Add new synchronization instead of Configure.
4. Select the channel you want to add from the available options.
5. Proceed with the two-step setup process as described below.

Step-by-Step Import and Export Instructions

Both first-time setups and additional synchronizations use the same import and export process:

Step 1 – Import Your External Calendar

1. In the iCal import field labeled Address of iCal, paste the iCal URL you copied from your external calendar provider.
2. Double-check that the URL is correct and free of typos, as errors will prevent the synchronization from working.
3. Proceed to Step 2 once you have entered the URL.

Step 2 – Export Your Holidu Calendar

1. Copy the iCal URL provided by Holidu in the export section.
2. Log in to your external calendar provider in another window or tab.
3. Locate the iCal import settings on that platform and paste the Holidu iCal URL into the designated field.
4. Save your changes on the external platform.

Final Steps

1. Return to your Holidu iCal configuration screen and click Save to complete the synchronization setup.
2. Allow a few minutes for the synchronization to activate.
3. Test the connection by creating a test block or unavailable date on one calendar and verify it appears on the other platform within minutes.

Important Notes for Major Booking Platforms

Booking.com

When setting up synchronization with Booking.com, specific configuration steps are required to ensure all booking statuses sync correctly:

• Log in to your Booking.com account and navigate to the calendar export settings.
• Ensure you tick the box for Booked and Closed Dates. This critical setting ensures that both confirmed bookings and manual blocks sync properly with your Holidu calendar.
• Without this setting enabled, closed dates may not appear on Holidu, leading to potential double booking issues.

For detailed Booking.com iCal instructions, visit the Booking.com support page.

Airbnb

Airbnb's iCal synchronization operates with a specific time limitation that affects long-term bookings:

• The Airbnb iCal calendar synchronizes availability only from today through the next 364 days.
• Any dates beyond the 364-day window will not be synced to Holidu or other connected calendars.
• If you have bookings or blocks extending beyond this timeframe, you will need to manually update your other calendars when those dates enter the active 364-day window on Airbnb.
• Plan accordingly for long-term reservations and ensure your manual calendar blocks are updated as new dates come into the active sync range.

For additional information, see the Airbnb iCal setup guide.

VRBO

VRBO offers straightforward iCal synchronization for keeping your calendars in sync. For complete setup instructions and troubleshooting specific to VRBO, visit the VRBO calendar synchronization help article.

Troubleshooting Tips

Synchronization Not Working: Check the iCal URL

The most common cause of synchronization failure is an incorrect iCal URL. Verify the following:

• Copy the iCal URL directly from your external platform without manually typing it, as typos are easy to introduce.
• Check for extra spaces at the beginning or end of the URL.
• Ensure the URL starts with http:// or https:// as required.
• Confirm the URL remains valid by testing it in a new browser tab—it should display calendar data or trigger a download.
• If the URL appears invalid, generate a new one from your external platform and try again.

Calendar Updates Are Delayed

If your calendar has not updated immediately after setting up synchronization or making changes:

• Click the green Refresh button on the Holidu iCal configuration page to force an immediate synchronization.
• Allow up to 5 minutes for the synchronization to complete, as automatic syncs may take time to process.
• Check that both calendars show the same date entries after refreshing.
• If updates still do not appear, proceed to the manual testing steps below.

Manual Connection Test

To confirm your synchronization is working correctly, perform a manual test before relying on the connection for your actual bookings:

• On your Holidu calendar, create a block or mark a date as unavailable.
• Wait 2-3 minutes, then check your external calendar platform to see if that date now appears as blocked or unavailable.
• Next, create a block on your external calendar platform.
• Return to Holidu and click the Refresh button, then verify the block appears on your Holidu calendar.
• If both tests succeed, your synchronization is working correctly and you can use it with confidence.
• If either test fails, verify the iCal URLs are correct and re-save your synchronization configuration.

Double Bookings Still Occurring

If you continue to receive double booking notifications despite having synchronization enabled:

• Verify that both the import and export URLs are correctly configured in your Holidu iCal settings.
• Confirm that Booked and Closed Dates are enabled in Booking.com if you use that platform.
• Check that your external platform also has the Holidu iCal URL correctly pasted in its import settings.
• Manually refresh your Holidu calendar and wait a few minutes before accepting new bookings.
• Contact Holidu support if the issue persists after confirming all settings are correct.

Disclaimer

Holidu cannot guarantee compatibility with every external iCal calendar provider. While we support synchronization with the platforms listed above, some third-party providers may have limitations or inconsistencies in their iCal implementations. We strongly recommend testing your synchronization with a manual block before relying on automatic syncing for your actual bookings. Always verify that dates and bookings sync correctly across all your connected calendars.

Video Tutorial: Connecting Your Holidu Calendar to Airbnb

For a visual walkthrough of the iCal synchronization process using Airbnb as an example, watch the video tutorial below:

Watch How to Connect Your Holidu Calendar to Airbnb

This video demonstrates the complete process from logging into both platforms to verifying that your synchronization is working correctly. Following along with this tutorial will help ensure you set up your iCal connection accurately.