Syncing your calendar across multiple platforms is essential for managing your rental property efficiently and avoiding double bookings. This guide will walk you through the process of connecting your calendar with other platforms using iCal synchronization on Holidu.

Supported Channels

You can sync your Holidu calendar with the following channels and providers:

• 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 the calendar you want to import is not listed, check with your external provider whether they support two-way iCal synchronisation. Always test the connection manually by creating a manual block on each calendar to confirm it syncs correctly.

Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee compatibility with every external iCal calendar. You should always verify that the sync works as expected before relying on it for your bookings.

How to Import and Export an iCal Calendar

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

First-Time Setup

1. Log in to the other channel or platform and find the iCal sync options. Locate your iCal URL (export link) from that platform.
2. In another window, log in to your Holidu account and select your property.
3. On the left-hand side under Configuration, scroll down and click on iCal & Synchronization.
4. Click on Configure to set up your first synchronization.
5. Select the name of the channel you want to sync from the list of available options.
6. Follow the two steps on the setup screen:

• Step 1 – Import: Paste the iCal URL from the other provider into the "Address of iCal" field.
• Step 2 – Export: Copy Holidu's iCal URL and paste it into the iCal import section on the other provider's platform.

1. Click Save to complete the setup.

Adding Additional Synchronizations

1. Log in to the other channel or platform and find the iCal sync options. Locate your iCal URL (export link) from that platform.
2. In another window, log in to your Holidu account and select your property.
3. On the left-hand side under Configuration, scroll down and click on iCal & Synchronization.
4. Click on Add new synchronization if you already have one and want to add another.
5. Select the name of the channel you want to sync from the list of available options.
6. Follow the two steps on the setup screen:

• Step 1 – Import: Paste the iCal URL from the other provider into the "Address of iCal" field.
• Step 2 – Export: Copy Holidu's iCal URL and paste it into the iCal import section on the other provider's platform.

1. Click Save to complete the additional synchronization setup.

Important Notes for Major Booking Platforms

Booking.com

To ensure your bookings and blocks synchronize correctly with Holidu, follow these steps on Booking.com:

• In the export settings on Booking.com, tick the box for Booked and Closed Dates.
• This ensures both confirmed bookings and manual blocks sync properly with your Holidu calendar.
• For detailed instructions, visit the Booking.com iCal connection guide.

Airbnb

Be aware of the following limitation when syncing with Airbnb:

• The Airbnb iCal supports synchronization only from today through the next 364 days.
• Dates beyond this 364-day range will not be synced.
• You may need to update your synchronization periodically to maintain coverage for future dates.
• For more information, check the Airbnb iCal help article.

VRBO

For detailed instructions on syncing your VRBO calendar with Holidu, visit the VRBO calendar synchronization guide.

Troubleshooting Tips

Calendar Sync Not Working

If your calendar is not syncing as expected, try these troubleshooting steps:

Check the iCal URL

• Make sure the iCal URL has been copied correctly from the other platform.
• Even small typos or missing characters will cause the sync to fail.
• Copy and paste the URL carefully to avoid manual errors.
• Verify that the URL starts with "http://" or "https://".

Refresh Your Calendar

• If the calendar does not update immediately after setting up the sync, click the green Refresh button.
• It may take a few minutes for blocks and bookings to appear in your calendar.
• Try refreshing multiple times if changes are not visible right away.

Perform a Manual Test

• Always test the connection by creating a test block or booking in each calendar.
• Create a block on your external platform (e.g., Airbnb) for a specific date.
• Check if that date appears as blocked or booked in your Holidu calendar within a few minutes.
• Repeat the test in reverse by creating a block on Holidu and checking if it appears on the external platform.
• This confirms that the two-way synchronization is working correctly.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

• Ensure that the external platform's iCal export option is enabled and active.
• Check that you have the correct permissions or access level on the external platform to export calendar data.
• Verify that your Holidu account has the necessary permissions to manage calendar synchronizations.
• If the issue persists, contact Holidu customer support with details about which platforms you are trying to sync.

Visual Guide: Connecting to Airbnb

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

Video: How to Connect Your Calendar to Airbnb

Key Takeaways

• iCal synchronization provides two-way calendar syncing between Holidu and other platforms.
• Always test your synchronization with a manual block before relying on it completely.
• Pay special attention to platform-specific requirements like Booking.com's export settings and Airbnb's 364-day limitation.
• Use the Refresh button if updates do not appear immediately.
• Ensure iCal URLs are copied correctly to avoid sync failures.