How to Connect Your Airbnb Calendar to Vrbo https://www.hostaway.com/features/channel-manager/

Listing your property on both Airbnb and Vrbo boosts exposure, but managing availability on both platforms can get tricky. One missed calendar update can lead to overbookings, frustrated guests and a damaged reputation.

In this blog, we'll show you how to sync your Airbnb and Vrbo calendars to avoid conflicting bookings, save time and improve your guest experience.

Whether you're looking for a quick manual fix, which can require more manual effort or a fully automated solution, we've broken down both options — so you can choose the one that fits your hosting style best. Let’s dive in.

How to Connect Your Airbnb Calendar to Vrbo

Keeping your Airbnb calendar and Vrbo calendars in sync is essential for managing your vacation rental calendars efficiently. Whether you’re listing one property or many, having a reliable method to sync your calendars helps you avoid double bookings, save time and offer a better guest experience.

(Learn more about how to sync Airbnb and Vrbo rates)

Recommended choice: Use Hostaway's channel manager

The most efficient way to sync your Airbnb calendar with Vrbo calendars — and even your direct booking websites — is by using a vacation rental channel manager.

Here's why Hostaway stands out:

2-Way API connection

Hostaway provides a reliable API connection to major booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. It syncs reservations, availability settings and calendar data in real time. That means fewer errors and zero chance of overlapping bookings.

Streamlined updates

In addition to calendar sync, Hostaway allows you to update pricing, minimum night rules and fees across platforms — all from one place. This means you don’t have to waste time manually editing every single listing calendar.

Multi-platform integration

Hostaway handles multiple calendars effortlessly. Whether you're on Airbnb, Vrbo or other major platforms, it helps you manage multiple listings with ease.

Option 2: Manual connection (calendar sync with iCal url)

If you're not ready for a channel manager, you can still manually sync your Airbnb and Vrbo calendars using iCal links. It’s a free method, but far from perfect.

Think of it like trying to keep track of several group chats by copying and pasting messages. It’s doable, but prone to delays and mistakes. With iCal imports, syncing can take hours and double bookings can still happen if calendar data isn't updated fast enough.

How to Sync Airbnb and Vrbo Calendars

Step 1: Export Airbnb Calendar

• Go to Listings in your Airbnb dashboard and select the desired listing.

• Navigate to Pricing and Availability > Calendar Sync.

• Click Export Calendar.

• In the Export Calendar window, copy the iCal link (your Airbnb calendar link).

Step 2: Import into Vrbo

• Log in to your Vrbo account and select the appropriate listing.

• In the left navigation menu, click Calendars, then Reservation.

• Click the Import/Export icon and select Import Calendar.

• Provide a name for the calendar (e.g., "Airbnb") and choose a color for easy identification.

• Paste the Airbnb availability url into the calendar address field.

• Make sure the calendar is set to automatically block availability for imported dates.

• Click Import Calendar to finalize.

Export Vrbo calendar manually

• Go to your Vrbo account and select the listing you want to sync.

• Select Calendars in the left navigation menu, then Reservation.

• Click the Import/Export icon and select Export Calendar.

• In the Export Calendar window, copy the Vrbo calendar link.

Import into Airbnb

• Go to Listings in your Airbnb dashboard and select the desired listing.

• Navigate to Pricing and Availability > Calendar Sync.

• Select Import Calendar

• Paste the Vrbo calendar link into the Calendar Address field.

• Name the calendar (e.g., "Vrbo") for easy reference.

• Click Import Calendar to complete the process.

The Limitations of Manually Syncing Airbnb and Vrbo Calendars

While connecting your Airbnb and Vrbo calendars using iCal links might seem like a simple and budget-friendly solution, it does come with notable limitations — especially as your vacation rental business grows.

First and foremost, iCal synchronization is not instant. Updates can take several hours to reflect across platforms, which increases the likelihood of overlapping or conflicting reservations. If a guest books your property on Airbnb, that reservation might not immediately block off the same dates on Vrbo, leaving a window for another booking to sneak through.

Then there's the manual workload. For hosts managing just one or two listings, manually importing and exporting availability URLs may be manageable. But once you start handling multiple listings across several booking platforms, keeping everything up to date becomes time-consuming and prone to human error.

Each update requires deliberate action — and missing just one can lead to costly consequences. Perhaps the biggest drawback is functionality. iCal syncs only availability and reservation dates. It doesn’t update pricing, fees, minimum night stays or other essential booking rules.

That means even if your calendars are technically synced, they might still display outdated or inconsistent information — something that can confuse guests and damage your credibility. In short, using iCal to connect Airbnb and Vrbo calendars might work as a temporary solution for individual hosts or beginners, but it’s not scalable.

For property managers or anyone aiming to grow their vacation rental business across multiple platforms, a more robust, automated system is a much better fit.

Why You Should Connect Your Airbnb and Vrbo Calendars

If you list your property on both Airbnb and Vrbo, syncing your calendars is a must. Here's why:

Avoid double bookings

Double bookings are a nightmare for both you and your guests. They can lead to negative reviews and a lot of unnecessary stress. Connecting your calendars ensures that once a booking is made on one platform, the same dates are automatically blocked on the other.

Better guest experience

A seamless booking experience without the risk of overbooking keeps guests happy. Happy guests are more likely to leave glowing reviews and recommend your property — bringing you more business.

Plus, syncing your calendars saves you valuable time by eliminating manual updates and reducing errors. This simplifies your operations, allowing you to focus on providing an exceptional guest experience.

Host cancellation fees

Airbnb and Vrbo charge fees if you cancel confirmed reservations, which can add up depending on why and when you cancel. Preventing double bookings helps you steer clear of these costly fees.

Automate Your Vacation Rental Calendar

Successfully managing vacation rentals across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo requires seamless calendar syncing to prevent double bookings and enhance guest satisfaction. While connecting Google Calendar using iCal is an option, it often comes with delays and errors.

By far, the most efficient and reliable method is using a channel manager like Hostaway, which offers real-time, automated updates across all your listings, ensuring accuracy and freeing up your time to focus on delivering exceptional service to your guests.

Implementing these simple and straightforward strategies protects you from double booking and financial penalties while streamlining your rental business. Connecting local events to your Airbnb and Vrbo calendars through a robust channel manager leads to more bookings, happier guests and overall success.

FAQs

1. What are the risks of not syncing my calendars?

If you don't sync your calendars, you risk double bookings which can lead to unhappy guests and bad reviews. Plus, you might have to deal with refunds and cancellations, which can be a hassle and cost you money.

2. How often do iCal calendars sync?

iCal calendars can be pretty slow, often taking several hours to sync. So, it's not instant and can sometimes lead to delays in updating your availability.

3. What should I do if I encounter issues with calendar syncing?

If you run into problems with calendar syncing, don't panic. First, check any troubleshooting guides or FAQs provided by your channel manager or booking platform — they often have quick fixes. If that doesn't solve it, reach out to customer support for help.

4. Is it possible to sync calendars more than two platforms?

Absolutely! You can import a calendar or select sync calendars across multiple platforms using a channel manager like Hostaway. It lets you keep everything in order, whether you're listing on Airbnb, Vrbo or direct booking website.

5. Can I still manually adjust bookings after syncing calendars?

Yes, you can. Just use your edit panel in Airbnb or Vrbo. If you manually move a booking, be sure these changes are updated across all your synced calendars to avoid any confusion or double bookings.