How to Connect Your Booking Website to Your Own Domain

Already have a domain you would like to use? Great news—you can now connect it to your Holidu booking website! This guide will walk you through each step of the process to get your own custom domain up and running.

Before You Start

Before you begin, make sure you have access to your domain provider's settings. Common domain providers include AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others. You'll need to log in to your domain provider's dashboard to complete the DNS configuration steps.

Important: If you already have a website live on the domain you want to connect, it will be replaced by your Holidu booking website once this process is complete. Please ensure you have backed up any content from your existing site if needed.

Step 1: Initiate the Domain Connection in Your Holidu Account

To begin connecting your domain, follow these steps in your Holidu application:

• Click on "Enable website" if it is not already enabled
• Click on "Connect my domain"

After you start the setup and enter your existing domain name, a DNS tab will appear. This tab displays the DNS values that Holidu has generated specifically for your domain. You will need to copy these values and add them to your domain provider's settings in the next steps.

Tip: If you're not familiar with DNS settings, don't worry. The steps below will guide you through the process in detail.

Step 2: Create a CNAME Record in Your Domain Settings

Now you'll log in to your domain provider and create your first DNS record. Follow these instructions:

1. Log in to your domain provider's dashboard
2. Look for an option to create a new DNS record or new record
3. A form or mask will open where you can enter record details
4. For the "Type" field, select CNAME
5. In your Holidu application, locate the CNAME line and copy the "NAME" value
6. Paste this NAME value into the "Name" field in your domain provider's form
7. Next, copy the "VALUE" from the same CNAME line in your Holidu application
8. Paste this VALUE into the "Value" field in your domain provider's form
9. Leave the "TTL" and "Routing policy" fields with their default values
10. Create the record by clicking the save or create button

Important: If there are already existing DNS records for the domain you want to use, you must delete those records first. This will disconnect your existing website from the domain, making it inaccessible to customers. This step is necessary so you can connect the domain to your new Holidu booking website.

Step 3: Add a CAA DNS Record in Your Domain Settings

Next, you'll create a second DNS record. This CAA record is important for security purposes. Here's how to add it:

1. In your domain provider's dashboard, create another new DNS record
2. For the "Type" field, select CAA
3. In your Holidu application, find the CAA line and copy the "NAME" value
4. Paste this NAME value into the "Name" field in your domain provider's form
5. Copy the "VALUE" from the CAA line in your Holidu application
6. Paste this VALUE into the "Value" field in your domain provider's form

Note: Some domain providers may require a special format for the value field. For example, you might need to enter the value as: 0 issue "awstrust.com". If your provider requires this format, place the value from Holidu in quotation marks.

• Leave the "TTL" and "Routing policy" fields with their default values
• Create the record by clicking the save or create button

Step 4: Verify Your DNS Records in Holidu

With the CNAME and CAA records now in place, Holidu will automatically check your DNS settings. This verification process typically takes around 5 minutes.

Return to your Holidu application and wait for the system to recognize and verify your DNS records. Once verified, you'll receive confirmation and will be guided to the final step of the setup process.

Step 5: Add an ALIAS DNS Record in Your Domain Settings

After Holidu confirms that your domain is verified, you'll need to add one final DNS record. This ALIAS record completes the connection between your domain and your Holidu website.

1. In your Holidu application, locate the ALIAS record information provided in the DNS tab
2. Copy the "VALUE" for the ALIAS record
3. Log in to your domain provider's dashboard
4. Create a new DNS record
5. For the "Type" field, select ALIAS
6. Paste the VALUE you copied from Holidu into the "Value" field
7. Leave other fields with their default values
8. Create the record

Before proceeding to the final verification, double-check that your domain provider's DNS settings now include all three of the following records:

• ALIAS
• CAA
• CNAME

All three records are necessary for your Holidu booking website to connect properly to your domain.

Step 6: Final Verification and Activation

The final step is simple—just wait for Holidu to confirm that everything is set up correctly.

1. Return to the Holidu admin dashboard
2. Holidu will automatically check all the DNS records you've created
3. This verification may take a few minutes
4. Once verified, you'll receive confirmation

Congratulations! Your Holidu booking website is now connected to your own domain. You can access your website by visiting your custom domain in a web browser. Your guests will be able to view and book your properties directly from your branded website.

Troubleshooting and Next Steps

If your domain doesn't verify within a few minutes, here are some common issues to check:

• Make sure you copied the DNS values exactly as they appear in Holidu, including any special characters or formatting
• Confirm that you created all three record types: ALIAS, CAA, and CNAME
• Verify that any old DNS records for the domain have been deleted
• Check that you've selected the correct record type in your domain provider's form
• Wait a bit longer, as DNS changes can sometimes take up to 48 hours to fully propagate across the internet, though usually much faster

If you encounter issues or have questions during the setup process, please use the contact form in your Holidu account to reach our support team. They can help you troubleshoot any problems and ensure your domain is properly connected.

What Happens Next?

Once your domain is successfully connected, your Holidu booking website will be live at your custom domain. Your property listings, guest booking functionality, and host management tools will all be accessible through your branded website. This gives your guests a professional, personalized experience and helps build trust in your rental business.

You can now start promoting your custom domain to potential guests, share it on social media and marketing materials, and enjoy the benefits of having your own branded booking platform.