A double booking — the same apartment taken for the same dates from two channels — is the nightmare of anyone who lets accommodation. iCal sync is the cheapest way to prevent it. This article explains how it works and where its limits are.
What iCal sync is
Every platform (Booking, Airbnb, Expedia, the site calendar) can export its booked dates as an iCal file and import others. You connect them cross-wise: when a booking is made on Booking, the dates close on Airbnb and on the site too — and vice versa. The feature is free and built into almost every platform.
How to set it up
- From each channel, copy its iCal export link for the specific property.
- In the other channels, add that link as an import calendar.
- Repeat for every pair of channels (Booking↔Airbnb, Booking↔site, Airbnb↔site).
- Check that each property has its own separate set of links — mixing up properties is a common mistake.
The limit — the delay
iCal is not real-time. Channels refresh the imported calendars at intervals — usually every 30 minutes to 2 hours. In that window, two channels can sell the same dates. The risk is real with:
- Last-minute bookings (for today/tomorrow).
- Many channels at high occupancy.
- A single property sold aggressively everywhere.
Mitigation: close dates manually right after a phone/email booking; don't rely on sync alone.
When you need a channel manager
A channel manager syncs availability, rates and restrictions in real time and removes the iCal window. It costs ~€30–100/month. Move to it when:
- You have more than 2–3 properties or channels.
- A significant share of bookings are last-minute.
- You want to manage rates centrally too, not just availability.
- You have already had a double booking because of the delay.
A calendar on your own site
The calendar on your own site can join the same iCal network — it shows the free dates to visitors and takes direct bookings with no commission. Direct bookings are also exported via iCal to Booking and Airbnb so they don't get double-booked.
Summary
iCal sync is free and does the job for 1–3 properties without a strong dependence on last-minute. The update delay is the risk — covered by closing dates manually and, with more properties/channels, by moving to a channel manager.
Get in touch for a site with a calendar and direct bookings for a guest house.
