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Hourly import checks · Standard iCal feeds

iCal sync for
vacation rentals

Connect Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and your direct booking calendar with standard iCal links. DirectBookings checks imported feeds hourly, so you spend less time copying blocked dates between channels.

Connect your calendarsSee the setup

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From a checklist to a connected calendar

The practical difference between copying dates by hand and sharing availability through feeds.

Manual workflow

Without calendar sync

Every reservation creates another round of calendar updates.

  • Open each marketplace separately
  • Repeat the same date block on every calendar
  • Rely on memory when plans change or cancel
One missed update can leave the same dates open twice.
Connected workflow

With iCal sync

Each calendar shares its blocked dates through a standard feed.

  • Imported feeds are checked hourly
  • Direct and manual blocks appear in your export feed
  • Sync status shows when a feed needs attention
Less repetitive admin and a lower risk of overlapping reservations.

iCal is scheduled rather than real-time. Each marketplace controls when it retrieves an external feed.

Connect both sides of the calendar

Share your DirectBookings feed out, then bring each marketplace feed back in.

01

Copy your DirectBookings feed

Open Calendar Settings and copy the export URL for the property you want to connect.

02

Add it to your marketplaces

Paste that URL into the external-calendar settings in Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, or another iCal-compatible channel.

03

Copy each marketplace feed

Use the Export Calendar option in each marketplace to copy its iCal URL.

04

Bring those feeds back

Add each marketplace URL to DirectBookings so their blocked dates appear on your direct calendar.

05

Test one blocked date

Create a temporary manual block, confirm the feeds are connected, and remove the test after the marketplaces refresh.

What updates when

DirectBookings controls its import schedule. Connected marketplaces control theirs.

01
Imported feeds

Checked hourly

DirectBookings retrieves new blocked dates from connected channel feeds.

02
Exported availability

Ready when pulled

Your feed exposes current availability whenever a connected marketplace retrieves it.

03
Manual blocks

Included in your feed

Owner stays and maintenance blocks are shared on the next marketplace refresh.

iCal is scheduled rather than real-time. Marketplace refresh timing varies by channel.

Calendar work without the busywork

The controls you need to connect feeds, inspect their status, and keep manual blocks intact.

Hourly import checks

DirectBookings checks connected marketplace feeds every hour and updates blocked dates on your direct calendar.

Standard iCal connections

Use the same import and export links supported by Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and other booking calendars.

Two-way setup

Import channel feeds into DirectBookings and give each channel your DirectBookings export feed.

Visible sync health

See when each feed last synced and whether an invalid or unavailable feed needs attention.

Manual blocks included

Owner stays, maintenance, and other manual blocks are included in the calendar feed you share.

Guided connection flow

Follow platform-specific steps to copy the right URLs, name each feed, and verify the connection.

Supported platforms

If a channel gives you a usable iCal URL, you can connect it.

Standard iCal connectionsAvailability and blocked dates move through secure calendar URLs.
.ICS compatible

Airbnb

iCal

Import and export blocked dates through Airbnb calendar links.

VRBO / HomeAway

iCal

Connect external availability with standard calendar feeds.

Booking.com

iCal

Connect properties where Booking.com enables calendar links.

Expedia

iCal

Use an iCal feed when it is available for your property.

TripAdvisor Rentals

iCal

Share reservation blocks through an external calendar URL.

Any iCal feed

iCal

Connect another booking calendar with a valid .ics feed URL.

iCal exchanges availability only. Rates, messages, and guest details stay in their original systems.

Frequently asked questions

What is iCal sync for vacation rentals?
iCal sync shares blocked date ranges between booking calendars through standard .ics feed URLs. DirectBookings checks imported feeds hourly, while connected marketplaces fetch your DirectBookings export feed on their own schedules. It reduces repeated calendar work and the risk of overlapping reservations, but it does not sync rates, messages, or guest details.
How often does iCal sync with Airbnb and VRBO?
DirectBookings checks imported Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and other iCal feeds every hour. Your DirectBookings export feed reflects current blocked dates whenever a connected marketplace retrieves it. Airbnb, VRBO, and other marketplaces control their own feed-refresh schedules.
Why is my Airbnb calendar sync not working?
First confirm that you copied Airbnb's Export Calendar URL rather than its import field. Then check that the feed is still enabled and allow for Airbnb's refresh delay. DirectBookings shows the last successful import and any feed error, which helps separate an invalid URL from a normal marketplace delay.
Can iCal sync prevent double bookings completely?
No scheduled iCal connection can guarantee that. It substantially reduces risk by removing most manual updates, but two channels can still accept overlapping reservations before their next refresh. Hosts who need real-time inventory control should use direct API or channel-manager connections where available.
How do I sync my calendar with Airbnb and VRBO?
Copy your DirectBookings export URL into Airbnb and VRBO as an imported calendar. Then copy each marketplace's export URL back into DirectBookings. This creates a two-way iCal setup: DirectBookings imports their blocked dates, and they can import blocked dates from DirectBookings.
What platforms support iCal calendar sync?
DirectBookings can connect to a platform that provides a usable iCal import or export URL. Common examples include Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor Rentals, Flipkey, Vacasa, and Evolve. Feed availability can depend on the platform, property type, and account settings.
Does iCal sync work in real-time?
No. iCal is a scheduled feed exchange, not a real-time inventory API. DirectBookings checks imported feeds hourly. External platforms decide when to fetch your exported DirectBookings calendar, so their update timing can vary.
Why is VRBO calendar not syncing with Airbnb?
Airbnb and VRBO do not need to connect directly. Import both export feeds into DirectBookings, then add the DirectBookings export feed to each marketplace. DirectBookings becomes the shared calendar hub between the channels.
Can I manually block dates with iCal sync enabled?
Yes. Manual blocks for maintenance, owner stays, or other unavailable dates remain part of your DirectBookings calendar and its export feed. Connected marketplaces show the block after they next retrieve that feed.
How much does vacation rental calendar sync cost?
iCal calendar sync is included with DirectBookings plans: $9 per month for 1 property, $29 per month for up to 5 properties, or $79 per month for up to 10 properties. There are no per-feed or per-sync charges.

Keep building your booking stack

The calendar connects availability. These tools handle the rest of the direct booking path.

Booking calendar

Manage direct availability, bookings, and owner blocks in one calendar.

Multi-platform listing

Use multiple booking channels without rebuilding your availability workflow.

Website builder

Publish a direct booking site that uses the same connected availability.

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Connect your booking calendars.

Import Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and other iCal feeds into one availability calendar. Plans start at $9/month.

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iCal Sync for Vacation Rentals — Reduce Double-Booking Risk | DirectBookings