Already have a domain you'd like to use? Great news! You can now connect it to your Holidu booking website in just a few simple steps. This guide will walk you through the entire process, making it easy even if you're not familiar with DNS settings.

Before You Start

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Access to your domain provider's settings (such as AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or similar)
• Your Holidu account with admin access to your booking website
• About 15-20 minutes to complete the setup

Important Note: If you already have a website live on that domain, it will be replaced by your Holidu Direct Booking website once this process is complete.

Step 1: Initiate the Domain Connection in Holidu

Start by logging into your Holidu account and navigating to your website settings:

1. Click on "Enable website" if it's not already enabled
2. Click on "Connect my domain"
3. Enter your existing domain name in the provided field
4. A DNS tab will appear showing you the specific DNS values you'll need

You'll see several DNS records listed here. Copy these values carefully — you'll need them in the next steps. Keep this page open as you work with your domain provider settings.

Step 2: Create a CNAME DNS Record

Now you'll log into your domain provider and add the first DNS record. Here's how:

1. Log in to your domain provider's control panel (AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, etc.)
2. Look for DNS settings, DNS records, or Name Server settings
3. Click the option to create a new record or add a new DNS record
4. Select CNAME as the record type
5. In the Holidu application, find the CNAME line and copy the NAME value
6. Paste this NAME value into the name field of your new DNS record
7. Now copy the VALUE from the same CNAME line in Holidu
8. Paste this VALUE into the value field of your DNS record
9. Leave TTL and Routing policy fields with their default values
10. Save and create the record

Important: If there are already DNS records saved for your domain, delete them before proceeding. This step disconnects your old website from the domain so it will no longer be accessible. This is necessary to connect your new Holidu Direct Booking website.

Step 3: Create a CAA DNS Record

Next, you'll add a second DNS record for security purposes:

1. In your domain provider, create another new DNS record
2. Select CAA as the record type
3. In the Holidu application, find the CAA line and copy the NAME value
4. Paste this NAME value into the name field of your new record
5. Copy the VALUE from the CAA line in Holidu
6. Paste this VALUE into the value field
7. Note: Some domain providers require a special format for the value field, such as 0 issue "http://awstrust.com". In this case, place the Holidu value in quotation marks
8. Leave TTL and Routing policy with their default values
9. Save and create the record

Step 4: Wait for Domain Verification

Now comes the easy part — you wait! Here's what happens:

1. Head back to your Holidu application
2. Holidu will automatically check the DNS records you just added
3. This verification process usually takes around 5 minutes
4. Once verified, you'll receive a confirmation and be guided to the final step

If verification takes longer than expected, double-check that your DNS records match exactly what Holidu provided. Even small differences can cause delays.

Step 5: Create an ALIAS DNS Record

After Holidu verifies your domain, there's just one final DNS record to add:

1. Go back to your domain provider's DNS settings
2. Create one more new DNS record
3. Select ALIAS as the record type (note: some providers may call this ANAME)
4. In the Holidu application, find the ALIAS record and copy the VALUE provided
5. Paste this VALUE into the value field in your domain provider settings
6. Save and create the record

Checklist: Before moving forward, confirm your domain provider settings now include all three records:

• ALIAS record
• CAA record
• CNAME record

All three are essential for your Holidu Direct Booking website to connect properly to your domain.

Step 6: Final Verification and You're Done!

The final step is simple:

1. Return to your Holidu admin dashboard
2. Wait while Holidu automatically verifies all your DNS settings
3. This final check usually takes a couple of minutes
4. Once complete, you'll see a confirmation message

Congratulations! Your custom domain is now connected to your Holidu Direct Booking website. Your guests can now visit your website using your own domain name instead of a Holidu subdomain.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues during setup:

• DNS records not recognized: Wait a bit longer (up to 24 hours) for DNS changes to propagate globally. DNS updates don't happen instantly
• Verification keeps failing: Double-check that your DNS values match exactly what Holidu provided. Even one character difference will cause verification to fail
• Can't find DNS settings: Search your domain provider's help documentation for "DNS records" or "Name server settings." The location varies by provider
• Already have other records: If you need to keep existing records, consult with your domain provider about how to add new records without removing old ones

If you need additional help, our support team is here to assist you. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions about connecting your domain to your Holidu booking website.