How to Connect Your Booking Website to Your Own Domain

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. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process in six simple steps.

Before You Start

Make sure you have the following in place before beginning:

• Access to your domain provider's settings (e.g., AWS, Vercel, etc.)
• Administrative access to your Holidu account
• A few minutes to complete the DNS configuration

Important note: If you already have a website live on that domain, it will be replaced by your direct booking website once this process is complete.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Your Domain

Step 1: Start the Process in the Holidu App by Setting Up Your Booking Website

Begin by enabling your booking website in the Holidu app:

1. Click Enable website if it is not enabled yet.
2. Click Connect my domain.

After you start the setup and enter your existing domain name, a DNS tab will appear with specific DNS values that Holidu generates for you.

Tip: Don't worry if you're not familiar with DNS settings — we will guide you through it in the following steps. Simply copy the DNS values that appear and follow the instructions for your domain provider.

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

Now it's time to add your first DNS record. Log in with your domain provider and look for an option to create a new record or DNS record:

1. Select CNAME as the record type.
2. In the Holidu app, copy the "NAME" value from the CNAME line and paste it into the name field of your new record.
3. Copy the "VALUE" from the same CNAME line and add it to the value field of your record.
4. Leave the "TTL" and "Routing policy" fields at their default values.
5. Create the record in your domain provider.

Example (AWS):

Important: If there are already records saved for the domain you want to use, please delete those first. This step will disconnect your existing website from the domain, but it's necessary to connect your new direct booking website.

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

Next, create another DNS record for certificate authority authorization:

1. Select CAA as the record type.
2. In the Holidu app, copy the "NAME" value from the CAA line and paste it into the name field of your new record.
3. Copy the "VALUE" from the Holidu app and paste it into the value field.
4. If your domain provider requires a special format (for example: 0 issue "https://awstrust.com"), add the value in quotation marks as specified by your provider.
5. Leave the "TTL" and "Routing policy" fields at their default values.
6. Create the record in your domain provider.

Step 4: Head Back to the Holidu App to Check That the Records Are Recognized

With the CNAME and CAA records you've added now in place, Holidu will automatically check your DNS settings. This verification process usually takes around 5 minutes.

If everything looks good, your domain will be verified and you'll be guided to the final steps of the setup process. If verification takes longer than expected, wait a few more minutes and refresh the page.

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

Once Holidu has verified your domain, there is just one more DNS record to add to complete the setup:

1. In the Holidu app, locate and copy the values for the ALIAS record.
2. Log in to your domain provider and create a new DNS record.
3. Select ALIAS as the record type.
4. Add the values from Holidu according to your domain provider's requirements.
5. Create the record.

Before moving on, make sure your domain provider settings now include all three of the following records:

• ALIAS
• CAA
• CNAME

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

Step 6: Final Verification

You're almost there! Head back to the Holidu admin interface and wait for the final domain verification to complete.

Once the verification is complete, you will receive a confirmation notification. You can now access your direct booking website using your own domain.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Verification is taking longer than expected: DNS changes can take up to 24-48 hours to propagate across all servers. Wait a bit longer and refresh the Holidu app.
• Records won't create in my domain provider: Double-check that you've copied the NAME and VALUE fields exactly as shown in Holidu, with no extra spaces.
• My website is showing an error: Ensure all three DNS records (ALIAS, CAA, and CNAME) are properly created in your domain provider's settings.
• I need help identifying my domain provider: Check the email confirmation you received when you registered your domain, or look at your domain registrar's website.

Need Additional Help?

If you encounter any issues while connecting your domain or need further assistance, our customer support team is here to help. Contact us through your Holidu account or visit our help center for more resources on managing your booking website.