Syncing your calendar across multiple platforms is essential for managing your property efficiently and avoiding double bookings. This comprehensive guide will walk you through configuring iCal synchronization to connect your calendar with other platforms, whether you're listing on Booking.com, Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental channels.

Understanding iCal Synchronization

iCal (iCalendar) synchronization is a two-way connection that automatically updates availability across all your connected platforms. Once configured, your bookings, blocks, and availability status sync in real-time, ensuring consistency across channels and significantly reducing the risk of double bookings. The process involves importing availability from external platforms and exporting your Holidu calendar to those same platforms.

Supported Calendar Channels

Holidu supports synchronization with the following platforms and channels:

• 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 platform you wish to integrate is not listed above, contact your external provider to verify whether they support two-way iCal synchronization. Always perform a manual test by creating a block on each calendar to confirm the sync works properly before relying on automated updates.

Important Disclaimer: Holidu does not guarantee compatibility with all external calendar providers using iCal. We recommend thoroughly testing the synchronization connection to ensure it functions as expected before considering it production-ready.

How to Import and Export an iCal Calendar

Setting up iCal synchronization involves a straightforward six-step process. Follow these instructions carefully to establish a two-way connection between your external platform and Holidu.

Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

1. Locate your external calendar's iCal URL: Log into your other platform (such as Booking.com or Airbnb) and navigate to the iCal or calendar synchronization settings. Find and copy the iCal export link or URL provided by that platform.
2. Access your Holidu account: In a separate browser window, log into your Holidu account and select the property you wish to synchronize.
3. Navigate to synchronization settings: On the left-hand menu, locate and click on "Configuration," then scroll down to find "iCal & Synchronization."
4. Click Configure: Select the "Configure" button and choose the specific channel you want to synchronize from the available list of options.
5. Complete the two-step setup process:
   • Step 1 - Import: Paste the iCal URL you copied from your external platform into the "Address of iCal" field.
   • Step 2 - Export: Copy the iCal URL provided by Holidu and paste it into the corresponding iCal import section on your external platform's settings.
6. Save your configuration: Click the "Save" button to finalize the synchronization setup.

Important Notes for Major Booking Platforms

Booking.com iCal Configuration

When setting up iCal synchronization with Booking.com, ensure you have configured the export settings correctly. In your Booking.com account settings, navigate to the iCal export options and make sure to enable the checkbox for "Booked and Closed Dates." This critical setting ensures that both confirmed reservations and any manual calendar blocks you create in Booking.com are synchronized with your Holidu calendar, preventing scheduling conflicts.

For detailed instructions directly from Booking.com, visit their official support article on calendar synchronization.

Airbnb Calendar Synchronization Limitations

Airbnb's iCal synchronization has an important limitation that hosts should be aware of: the system only supports synchronization for dates from today through the next 364 days. Any dates beyond this 364-day window will not be included in the iCal feed and will not synchronize with Holidu. This means you should plan your property's long-term availability strategy accordingly, and you may need to manually update your Airbnb calendar for dates further in the future or set up periodic manual syncs.

For more information about Airbnb's iCal specifications, consult Airbnb's official help documentation.

VRBO Calendar Integration

VRBO supports iCal synchronization to help you manage availability across multiple platforms. When configuring your VRBO iCal connection with Holidu, follow the same import and export steps outlined in the step-by-step setup section above. For VRBO-specific guidance, you can reference their official help article on calendar synchronization.

Troubleshooting Tips for iCal Synchronization Issues

Calendar Not Syncing or Updates Not Appearing

If you notice that your calendar updates are not appearing as expected, verify the following:

• Verify the iCal URL accuracy: Double-check that the iCal URL has been copied correctly without any typos or truncated characters. Even a single incorrect character can cause the synchronization to fail completely. Copy and paste the URL directly from your external platform to avoid manual entry errors.
• Refresh your calendar: iCal synchronization is not instantaneous. If the calendar has not updated within a few minutes, click the green "Refresh" button within your Holidu iCal settings to manually trigger a synchronization update. The system may take several minutes to process and display newly synced blocks.
• Check external platform settings: Ensure that the external platform's export settings are enabled and that you've correctly pasted the Holidu iCal URL into their import field.

Testing Your Synchronization Connection

Before fully relying on automated iCal synchronization, always perform a manual connection test to confirm it's working properly. Create a calendar block or temporary unavailability on your external platform and verify that it appears within your Holidu calendar within 5-10 minutes. Repeat this test by creating a block directly in Holidu and confirming it appears on your external platform. This bidirectional test confirms that both import and export functions are operating correctly.

Persistent Sync Problems

If you've verified the iCal URL, refreshed the calendar, and tested the connection without success, the issue may relate to compatibility between your external platform and Holidu's iCal implementation. Contact your external provider's support team to confirm they support two-way iCal synchronization and that their format is compatible with Holidu's system. If problems persist, reach out to Holidu's support team with details about which platform you're trying to sync and any error messages you've encountered.

Best Practices for Calendar Synchronization

To maximize the effectiveness of your iCal synchronization setup, follow these best practices:

• Perform regular manual tests by creating blocks on each platform to ensure synchronization continues working correctly.
• Monitor your Holidu calendar closely during the first week after setup to verify that all bookings and blocks from external platforms are syncing as expected.
• Keep documentation of your iCal URLs and the platforms you've synchronized in a safe location for future reference.
• If you use multiple platforms, establish a primary calendar management location to minimize confusion about where changes should be made.
• Review your external platform's iCal export settings periodically, as platform updates may change settings or require re-authentication.

By following this comprehensive guide, you can establish reliable two-way calendar synchronization across all your vacation rental platforms, streamline your property management workflow, and significantly reduce the administrative burden of managing multiple calendars manually.