Synchronizing your calendar across multiple booking platforms ensures your availability stays up-to-date and helps prevent double bookings. This guide walks you through configuring iCal synchronization to connect your Holidu calendar with other channels and platforms.

Supported Channels and Platforms

Holidu supports iCal synchronization with a wide range of booking platforms and calendar services. Here are the channels you can connect:

Provider	iCal Support
Admin	Supported
Abritel	Supported
Airbnb	Supported (365-day limit — bookings beyond that need a manual block)
Atraveo	Supported
Avaibook	Supported
Avantio	Supported
Booking.com	Supported — tick "Booked + Closed dates" in your Booking.com export settings
FeWo-direkt	Supported
Feratel	Supported
Fewomanager.de	Supported
Icnea	Supported
Iperbooking	Supported
Menorca Vacations	Supported
Mister B&B	Supported
Octorate	Supported — export only (one-way)
TouristManager - LTS	Supported
VRBO / HomeAway	Supported
Wimdu	Supported
Google Calendar	Supported — refreshes approximately once per day, slower than other channels
Outlook / iCloud Calendar	Not tested — sync isn't confirmed to work
Smoobu	Supported
Wubook	Supported — export only (one-way)
KrossBooking	Supported
Amenitiz	Supported
Expedia	Supported
Eviivo	Supported
Fincallorca	Supported
Homerti	Supported
Ruralidays	Supported
SECRA	Supported
Spain-Holiday	Supported
Your Rentals	Supported
Gites.fr	Supported
Rentals United	Not supported
Kigo	Not supported
TripAdvisor	Not supported
Siteminder	Not supported
Homerez	Not supported
Belvilla	Not supported

If your calendar provider is not listed above, check with your external provider to confirm they support two-way iCal synchronization. We recommend testing the connection manually 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're setting up synchronization for the first time or adding an additional calendar connection.

First-Time Setup

1. Log in to your Holidu account and select your property.
2. On the left-hand side under Configuration, scroll down and click on iCal & Synchronization.
3. Click on Configure to begin your first synchronization.
4. Select the name of the channel you want to sync from the list of options provided.
5. Follow the setup wizard with the two required steps below.

Adding Additional Synchronizations

1. Log in to your Holidu account and select your property.
2. On the left-hand side under Configuration, scroll down and click on iCal & Synchronization.
3. Click on Add new synchronization to connect another calendar or booking platform.
4. Select the name of the channel you want to sync from the list of options provided.
5. Follow the setup wizard with the two required steps below.

Import and Export Steps (Same for Both Scenarios)

1. Log in to the other booking platform or calendar service and find the iCal synchronization options. Locate your iCal export URL.
2. In another browser window, proceed with your Holidu setup.
3. On the synchronization setup screen, complete the following two steps:
   • 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.
4. Click Save to complete the synchronization setup.

Important Notes About Booking.com, Airbnb, and VRBO

Booking.com

When exporting your calendar from Booking.com to sync with Holidu, ensure you have enabled the correct export settings:

• In your Booking.com export settings, tick the box for Booked and Closed Dates. This setting ensures that both your confirmed bookings and any manual blocks you create on Booking.com will synchronize with your Holidu calendar.
• For detailed instructions on setting this up, refer to Booking.com's official iCal synchronization guide.

Airbnb

Airbnb's iCal synchronization has a built-in time limitation that you should be aware of:

• Airbnb's iCal calendar supports synchronization only for the next 365 days from today. Any dates beyond this 365-day window will not be synced with Holidu.
• If you have bookings or blocks scheduled further in the future, you will need to manually create those blocks in Holidu when they approach the current date window.
• For more information, see Airbnb's iCal help documentation.

VRBO

VRBO offers iCal synchronization to keep your calendars aligned across platforms:

• Follow VRBO's iCal connection instructions to obtain your export URL.
• For step-by-step guidance, visit VRBO's official calendar synchronization help page.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you experience issues with your calendar synchronization, try the following solutions:

Verify Your iCal URL

One of the most common reasons for synchronization failures is an incorrect or incomplete iCal URL. Double-check that you've copied the entire URL correctly from your external calendar provider with no extra spaces or typos. A single character error will prevent the sync from working.

Refresh Your Calendar

Calendar updates don't happen instantaneously. If your calendar doesn't reflect changes immediately, click the green Refresh button in your Holidu synchronization settings. It may take a few minutes for new blocks or bookings to appear across your connected calendars. Refresh again if needed.

Test the Connection Manually

Before relying on your iCal synchronization for real bookings, always test the connection:

1. Create a manual block on one calendar (for example, block a single day on Airbnb).
2. Wait a few minutes for the sync to process.
3. Check your Holidu calendar to confirm that the block appears.
4. Repeat the process in reverse, creating a block on Holidu and checking your external calendar.

If the manual blocks sync correctly in both directions, your calendars are properly connected. If they don't appear, review the URL and repeat the setup process.

Check Your Export Settings

Some platforms require specific settings to be enabled before exporting calendar data. For Booking.com, ensure you've ticked the Booked and Closed Dates option. Review the export settings on your other calendar platforms to confirm all relevant options are selected.

Contact Support

If you've verified your URL, refreshed your calendar, and tested the connection but synchronization still isn't working, reach out to the Holidu support team. Be ready to provide your property details and information about which calendar you're trying to sync.

Video Guide

For a visual walkthrough of connecting your Airbnb calendar to Holidu, watch the video below:

How to Connect Your Airbnb Calendar to Holidu

This video demonstrates the import and export steps in action, making it easy to see exactly what to do at each stage of the setup process.

Summary

Calendar synchronization through iCal ensures your availability is always up-to-date across all your booking platforms. Whether you're connecting Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO, or any other supported channel, the process is straightforward: obtain your iCal URLs, input them in the correct locations, and test to confirm everything is working. With proper synchronization in place, you'll reduce the risk of double bookings and provide your guests with accurate availability information.