Synchronizing your calendar across multiple booking platforms is essential for managing your property efficiently and avoiding double bookings. This guide will walk you through configuring iCal/sync to connect your calendar with other platforms, ensuring your availability is always up-to-date across all channels.

What is iCal Synchronization?

iCal synchronization is a two-way connection that allows you to import and export calendar data between your Holidu listing and other booking platforms or calendar providers. Once configured, any bookings or blocks created on one platform automatically sync to the others, keeping your availability information consistent and preventing overbooking situations.

Supported Calendar Channels

You can synchronize your calendar with the following 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 provider you want to use is not listed above, check with 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. Please note: We do not guarantee compatibility of external calendars with iCal, so it is your responsibility to verify that the sync functions as expected for your specific needs.

How to Import and Export an iCal Calendar

Follow these steps to set up iCal synchronization between your Holidu property and another platform:

Step 1: Gather Your iCal URL from the External Provider

1. Log into your other booking platform or calendar provider
2. Navigate to the calendar or synchronization settings
3. Look for the iCal export option or sync URL
4. Copy the iCal URL (this is your import link)

Step 2: Configure the Sync in Holidu

1. Log into your Holidu account
2. Select the property you want to synchronize
3. On the left-hand side menu, scroll down to Configuration
4. Click on iCal & Synchronization
5. Click on Configure and select the name of the channel from the list

Step 3: Complete the Two-Step Setup

The setup screen will present two required steps:

Step 1 – Import: Paste the iCal URL you copied from the external provider into the "Address of iCal" field. This allows Holidu to receive updates from the other platform.

Step 2 – Export: Copy the Holidu iCal URL provided on the setup screen. Log into your external provider's platform and paste this URL into their iCal import section. This allows the external platform to receive updates from Holidu.

1. Click Save to complete the configuration

Important Notes for Popular Platforms

Booking.com

When setting up iCal synchronization with Booking.com, it is critical to configure the export settings correctly. In your Booking.com account settings, navigate to the calendar export section and ensure you have checked the box for "Booked and Closed Dates." This setting ensures that both confirmed reservations and any manual availability blocks you create in Booking.com are properly synchronized with your Holidu calendar. Without this setting enabled, blocked dates may not sync correctly, potentially leading to availability conflicts.

For detailed instructions, visit the Booking.com iCal help article

Airbnb

Airbnb's iCal synchronization has an important limitation: the system only supports synchronization from today through the next 364 days. Any dates beyond this 364-day window will not be included in the sync. This means that if you are planning availability more than one year in advance, those future dates must be manually updated in Holidu or will need to be updated in Airbnb once they fall within the 364-day range. Keep this restriction in mind when managing long-term bookings or planning your calendar strategy.

For more information, see the Airbnb iCal help article

VRBO

VRBO provides built-in iCal synchronization support to help you manage your calendar across multiple platforms. When setting up the connection, follow VRBO's standard iCal process and ensure you have the correct URL configured in your Holidu account.

For step-by-step guidance, refer to the VRBO calendar sync help article

Troubleshooting Tips

The Calendar is Not Syncing

Check the iCal URL: Verify that the URL you pasted into Holidu is correct and complete. Even a single typo or missing character can prevent the sync from working. Copy the URL directly from your external provider without manually typing it to avoid errors.

Changes Are Not Appearing Immediately

Refresh Your Calendar: iCal synchronization may not update in real time. If you do not see your latest bookings or blocks appear within a few minutes, click the green "Refresh" button in the iCal & Synchronization section. This forces Holidu to pull the latest data from the external provider. It may take several minutes for all changes to display after refreshing.

Verify the Connection with a Manual Test

Create a Test Block: The best way to confirm that synchronization is working correctly is to perform a manual test. Create a small block or availability change in your external calendar (such as blocking a single day), then check if it appears in your Holidu calendar within a few minutes. If the test block syncs successfully, your configuration is working. Repeat this test in the opposite direction by creating a block in Holidu and checking your external provider's calendar. This two-way test ensures the sync is functioning in both directions.

Still Having Issues?

If your calendar sync is still not working after trying these troubleshooting steps, double-check the following:

• Confirm that your external provider's iCal URL is still active and has not changed
• Verify that you have the correct permissions or access level in both Holidu and your external provider account
• Check that your external provider supports two-way iCal synchronization
• Contact your external provider's support team to confirm their iCal service is functioning normally

Best Practices for Calendar Management

To ensure smooth operation of your synced calendars, follow these best practices:

• Test the sync connection regularly by creating manual blocks and monitoring for synchronization
• Always verify that bookings from one platform appear on all other connected calendars within a reasonable timeframe
• Update your availability information consistently across all platforms to maintain accuracy
• Be aware of any limitations or unique settings required by each platform (such as Booking.com's booked dates setting or Airbnb's 364-day window)
• If you stop using a particular channel, consider removing the iCal sync to avoid confusion or conflicting availability information

By properly configuring iCal synchronization, you can manage your property across multiple platforms efficiently while minimizing the risk of double bookings and keeping your guests informed of accurate availability.