If you list your property on multiple platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo...), you know the risk: a double booking can quickly turn a good day into a nightmare. The solution? Sync your calendars via iCal links. Here's how, step by step.
What is iCal synchronization?
iCal (or iCalendar) is a standard format used by all booking platforms to share calendar information. It's like a common language everyone understands:
Universal format. Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo, Google Calendar all use the same iCal standard.
Easy export. A simple iCal link lets you export your calendar to any other service.
Two-way sync. Synchronization can work in both directions or one-way, depending on your needs.
No skills needed. No installation or technical knowledge required to get started.
The iCal format was created in 1998 and remains the universal standard for calendar data exchange. It's free and offered by all serious platforms.
Step 1: Get the iCal link from Airbnb
Here's how to find your iCal link on Airbnb:
Host login. Log into your Airbnb account as a host.
Calendar tab. Navigate to the calendar for the listing you want to sync.
Availability menu. Click "Availability" in the top right corner of the page.
Sync section. Open the "Sync calendars" section in the settings.
Copy link. Copy the link from the "Export calendar" section to use elsewhere.
Important: copy the EXPORT link (not import). This link allows other services to read your Airbnb calendar.
Step 2: Get the iCal link from Booking.com
For Booking.com, the process is in the extranet:
Booking extranet. Log into your property management area on the Booking.com extranet.
Rates & availability. Go to the "Rates and availability" section in the menu.
Calendar sync. Click "Calendar sync" to access the synchronization settings.
Copy iCal link. Copy the iCal link provided by Booking to use in another tool.
Import available. You can also import an external calendar directly from this page.
Booking.com can take up to 24h to reflect imported changes. For cleanings, it's recommended to use a third-party tool that centralizes everything.
Step 3: Get links from other platforms
Other platforms also offer iCal links:
Vrbo. Go to Calendar then Settings to find your iCal link.
Google Calendar. In Settings, under "Integrate calendar", copy the secret address.
Smoobu. Go to Property then Calendar to export the iCal link.
Lodgify. Navigate to Calendar then Sync to retrieve your iCal link.
Guesty. In Property then Calendar, open iCal Settings to get the link.
If you use a channel manager (Beds24, Smoobu, Lodgify...), you can often get a single iCal link that already includes all your platforms.
Step 4: Centralize with Easyical
Once you have your iCal links, centralize them in Easyical:
Free account. Create your Easyical account in seconds, no credit card required.
Add property. Add a property and fill in its basic information.
Paste links. Paste your Airbnb, Booking and other iCal links in the provided fields.
Set schedules. Configure your check-in and check-out times for each property.
All visible. Reservations from all platforms appear on a single unified schedule.
Easyical's advantage over simple inter-platform sync: cleaning schedules are generated automatically and your team can access them directly.
Mistakes to avoid
Some common pitfalls to avoid during sync:
Import vs export. Don't mix up import and export links, they serve different purposes.
Sync loops. Don't sync the same calendar in a loop, as this creates data conflicts.
Time zones. Make sure time zones are correctly configured on all platforms.
Re-sync needed. Remember to re-trigger sync after any major settings change.
Test first. Create a test reservation to verify the sync works before relying on it.
If you manually block dates on one platform, make sure this change will sync to others (it's not always automatic).
Conclusion
Syncing your calendars is the essential first step to peacefully managing multi-platform rentals. Once set up, you can go further by automating cleaning schedules, team communication and even invoicing. With the right tools, multi-platform management becomes a breeze.