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 new booking website! This guide will walk you through the process step by step.

Before You Get Started

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• Access to your domain provider's settings (such as AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or similar)
• Your domain name ready to configure

Important: If you already have a website live on that domain, it will be replaced by your Direct Booking website once this process is complete. Please ensure you have backed up any content you wish to preserve.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connect Your Domain

Step 1: Initiate the Process in Your Holidu Application

Start by setting up your domain connection in the Holidu admin panel:

1. Click on "Enable website" if it is not enabled yet
2. Click on "Connect my domain"
3. Enter your existing domain name in the provided field

Once you enter your domain name, a DNS tab will appear displaying several DNS values that are specific to your setup. These values are essential for the next steps, so make sure to keep them visible or copy them for reference.

Tip: Don't worry if you're not familiar with DNS settings—we will guide you through each record type in the following steps!

Step 2: Create a CNAME DNS Record in Your Domain Settings

Now, log in to your domain provider's admin panel and look for an option to create a new DNS record. Follow these steps:

1. Select CNAME as the record type
2. In the Holidu application, locate the CNAME line and copy the "NAME" value
3. Paste this name value into the name field of the new record in your domain provider
4. Copy the "VALUE" from the same CNAME line in Holidu
5. Paste this value into the value field of your domain provider's record
6. Leave the TTL and Routing policy fields at their default values
7. Create the record

Here's an example of how this looks in AWS:

Important: If there are already DNS records saved for the domain you want to use, you must delete those records first. This step will disconnect your existing website from the domain, so it will no longer be accessible to customers. However, this is necessary to connect your domain to your new Direct Booking website.

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

Next, create another DNS record for security certification. Follow these steps:

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

Here's an example of how this looks in AWS:

Step 4: Verify Your DNS Records in Holidu

Head back to your Holidu application to allow the system to check your DNS records. Here's what happens next:

1. Holidu will automatically verify the DNS records you added
2. This verification process typically takes around 5 minutes
3. If everything is configured correctly, your domain will be verified, and you'll be guided to the final step

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

After Holidu verifies your domain, there is just one more DNS record to add. Follow these steps:

1. In your domain provider, create a new DNS record
2. Select ALIAS as the record type
3. In the Holidu application, copy the Value provided for the ALIAS record
4. Paste this value into the Value field in your domain provider's settings
5. Create the record

Verification Checklist: Before moving to the final step, confirm that your domain provider settings now include all three of the following records:

• ALIAS
• CAA
• CNAME

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

Step 6: Final Verification

Complete the process with a final verification:

1. Return to the Holidu admin panel
2. Wait for the system to verify that all DNS records are correctly configured
3. This final verification process may take a couple of minutes
4. Once verified, you will receive a confirmation message

You're All Set!

Congratulations! Your booking website is now connected to your custom domain. You can now access your Direct Booking website using your own domain name. Your customers will see a professional, branded experience when they visit your site.

Troubleshooting Tips

• DNS changes take time: DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours in some cases, though it's usually much faster. If your domain doesn't work immediately after verification, please wait a bit longer
• Double-check your records: Make sure you've copied the exact values from Holidu into your domain provider without any extra spaces or characters
• Contact your domain provider: If you're unsure about where to find the DNS settings in your domain provider's dashboard, consult their support documentation or contact their customer service team
• Clear your browser cache: If you still see an old website after verification, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then reload the page

Need Additional Help?

If you encounter any issues during the domain connection process or need further assistance, our support team is here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out to us for guidance on any step of this process.