Already have a domain you want to use? You can connect it to your Holidu booking website to drive more direct bookings under your own brand.

Before you start, make sure you have access to your domain provider's settings (e.g., AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, or other domain registrars). A quick heads-up: if you already have a website live on that domain, it will be replaced by your direct booking website once this process is complete.

Why Connect Your Own Domain?

Connecting your own domain to your Holidu booking website helps you:

• Build brand trust and credibility with guests
• Increase direct bookings to your property
• Improve your online presence and search engine visibility
• Create a professional appearance for your accommodation business

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Domain

Step 1: Enable Your Booking Website and Start the Connection Process

First, you'll need to initiate the domain connection in your Holidu admin dashboard:

1. Log into your Holidu account and navigate to your website settings
2. Click Enable website if it is not already enabled
3. Click Connect my domain
4. Enter your existing domain name when prompted

Once you enter your domain, a DNS tab will appear in your Holidu app. Holidu generates specific DNS values that you'll need to add to your domain provider's settings in the next steps. Make sure to keep this window open or note down these values.

Tip: Don't worry if you're not familiar with DNS settings. We'll guide you through each step below, and the process is straightforward once you understand what information goes where.

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

Now it's time to access your domain provider's control panel and add the first DNS record:

1. Log in to your domain provider (such as AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or any other registrar)
2. Look for DNS settings, DNS management, or DNS records section
3. Click the option to create a new record or add a DNS record
4. A form will open. Select CNAME from the Type dropdown menu
5. From your Holidu app, copy the NAME value from the CNAME line and paste it into the Name field of your domain provider
6. Copy the VALUE from the same CNAME line in your Holidu app and paste it into the Value field in your domain provider
7. Leave the TTL (Time To Live) and Routing policy fields with their default values
8. Save and create the record

Example (AWS): Your domain provider interface may look similar to this, where you'll paste the Name and Value information provided by Holidu.

Important: If there are already DNS records saved for the domain you want to use, you'll need to delete those first. This will disconnect your existing website from the domain, so it will no longer be accessible to guests. This step is necessary so you can connect the domain to your new direct booking website.

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

Next, you'll create a second DNS record for security purposes:

1. In your domain provider's DNS management area, click to create another new record
2. Select CAA from the Type dropdown menu
3. From your Holidu app, copy the NAME value from the CAA line and paste it into the Name field in your domain provider
4. Copy the VALUE from the CAA line in your Holidu app and paste it into the Value field
5. Important note for some providers: Some domain providers may require a special format for the value field. For example, you may need to enter it as 0 issue "awstrust.com". Check your provider's documentation or add the value in quotation marks if prompted
6. Leave the TTL and Routing policy fields with their default values
7. Save and create the record

Step 4: Return to Holidu to Verify Your DNS Records

Once you've added the CNAME and CAA records to your domain provider:

1. Go back to your Holidu app
2. Holidu will automatically check your DNS settings to verify the records are in place
3. This verification process usually takes around 5 minutes, but can sometimes take up to 48 hours depending on your domain provider
4. You'll see a confirmation message once the records are recognized and verified

Don't refresh the page repeatedly. If verification takes longer than expected, it's usually due to DNS propagation delays. Your domain provider may also have DNS caching that requires time to update across their servers.

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

Once Holidu has verified your domain, you'll need to add one final DNS record to complete the connection:

1. Return to your domain provider's DNS management area
2. Create a new record and select ALIAS from the Type dropdown menu
3. From your Holidu app, copy the provided NAME and VALUE for the ALIAS record
4. Paste the NAME value into the Name field in your domain provider
5. Paste the VALUE into the Value field in your domain provider
6. Leave the TTL and Routing policy fields with their default values
7. Save and create the record

Verification checklist: Before moving to the final step, make sure your domain provider settings now include all three of the following DNS records:

• ALIAS record
• CAA record
• CNAME record

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

Step 6: Final Verification and Launch

You're almost done! Here's the final step:

1. Return to your Holidu admin dashboard
2. Wait for the system to verify that your domain is properly connected
3. Once verified, you'll receive a confirmation notification
4. You can now access your direct booking website using your own domain

Share your new domain with guests and start receiving direct bookings! Your booking website is now live and professionally branded with your own domain.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

DNS Records Not Being Recognized

If Holidu hasn't recognized your DNS records after 5 minutes:

• Double-check that you've copied the NAME and VALUE information exactly as shown in Holidu, including all hyphens and dots
• Verify that all three record types (ALIAS, CAA, and CNAME) have been created in your domain provider
• Wait up to 48 hours for DNS propagation to complete across all servers
• Clear your browser cache and try again

Domain Still Shows Old Website

If your domain is still showing your old website:

• Confirm that you deleted any existing DNS records before adding the new ones
• Verify that all three records are properly saved in your domain provider's settings
• Wait for DNS propagation to complete (this can take up to 48 hours)
• Clear your browser cache or try viewing the site in an incognito/private window

Having Trouble Accessing Your Domain Provider

If you're having difficulty finding your domain provider's DNS settings:

• Check the welcome email or account confirmation email from when you registered your domain; it usually contains links to your provider's login and support
• Search online for "[Your Domain Provider Name] + DNS settings" to find step-by-step guides
• Contact your domain provider's support team directly; they can help you locate DNS management and guide you through the process

Next Steps

After your domain is successfully connected:

• Customize your booking website appearance and content through Holidu
• Test your booking flow to ensure everything works smoothly
• Share your new booking website domain with guests through your marketing channels
• Monitor your direct bookings and enjoy increased guest engagement

If you encounter any issues during the connection process or have questions about any of these steps, don't hesitate to contact our support team. We're here to help you get your direct booking website live!