Connecting your Holidu booking website to your own domain is a straightforward process that allows you to create a professional online presence with your custom domain name. This guide will walk you through each step of the domain connection setup.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have access to your domain provider's settings. Common domain providers include AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others. Keep in mind that if you already have a website live on the domain you want to use, it will be replaced by your Direct Booking website once this process is complete.

Step 1: Start the Domain Connection in Your Holidu Application

Begin by accessing your Holidu website configuration:

• Click on "Enable website" if it is not already enabled
• Click on "Connect my domain"

After you initiate the setup and enter your existing domain name, a DNS configuration tab will appear. Holidu will generate specific DNS values that you will need to add to your domain provider's settings in the following steps.

Step 2: Create a CNAME Record in Your Domain Settings

Log in with your domain provider and look for an option to create a new DNS record. A configuration form will open where you can enter the following information:

• For the "Type" field, select CNAME
• Copy the "NAME" value from the CNAME line in the Holidu application and paste it into the name field of your domain provider
• Copy the "VALUE" from the same CNAME line in the Holidu application and paste it into the value field of your domain provider
• The fields "TTL" and "Routing policy" can usually keep their default prefilled values

After entering these settings, create the record in your domain provider.

Important: If there are already DNS records saved for the domain you want to use, delete those first. This will disconnect your existing website from the domain, making it no longer accessible to customers. This step is necessary to connect the domain to your new Direct Booking Website.

Step 3: Add a CAA DNS Record

Create another record in your domain settings with the following details:

• For the "Type" field, select CAA
• Copy the "NAME" value from the CAA line in the Holidu application and paste it into the name field
• Copy the "VALUE" from the CAA line in the Holidu application and paste it into the value field. Some providers may require a special format for the value field, such as 0 issue "awstrust.com". In this case, add the value from Holidu in quotation marks
• The fields "TTL" and "Routing policy" can usually keep their default values

After entering these settings, create the record in your domain provider.

Step 4: Verify Your Records in the Holidu Application

Return to your Holidu application to check if the DNS records you added are recognized. Holidu will automatically check the DNS settings you just configured. This verification process usually takes around 5 minutes. Once everything looks correct, your domain will be verified and you will be guided to the final step of the setup.

Step 5: Add an ALIAS DNS Record

After Holidu verifies your domain, you will need to add one final DNS record. Holidu will provide you with the specific value needed for this step:

• Create a new record and change the Type to ALIAS
• Copy the Value provided for the ALIAS record in the Holidu application
• Paste it into the Value field in your domain provider's settings

Before moving forward, verify that your domain provider settings now include all three of the following records:

• ALIAS
• CAA
• CNAME

All three records are required for your Direct Booking website to connect properly to your domain.

Step 6: Final Verification

Return to the Holidu admin interface and wait for the final domain verification. Holidu will automatically check all the settings you have configured. This verification may take a couple of minutes to complete. Once you receive confirmation that your domain is verified, you can access your Direct Booking Website using your own custom domain.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your domain is not being recognized or verified, double-check the following:

• Ensure you have copied the NAME and VALUE fields correctly from the Holidu application
• Verify that all three DNS record types (ALIAS, CAA, and CNAME) have been created in your domain provider's settings
• Make sure any existing DNS records for the domain have been deleted before adding new ones
• Wait the full 5 minutes for DNS propagation before checking verification status again
• Check that you are entering information in the correct fields in your domain provider's interface

Need Additional Help?

If you encounter any issues during the domain connection process or have questions about connecting your booking website to your domain, please contact our support team using the contact form. Our team is here to help you get your website up and running smoothly.