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.

Before you start, make sure you have access to your domain provider's settings (such as AWS, Vercel, GoDaddy, or Namecheap). A quick heads-up: if you already have a website live on that domain, it will be replaced by your direct booking website once this process is complete.

How to Connect Your Domain to Your Holidu Booking Website

Follow these 6 simple steps to connect your own domain to your Holidu booking website. This process typically takes around 5-10 minutes and requires access to your domain provider's DNS settings.

Step 1: Enable Your Booking Website and Start the Domain Connection

Log into your Holidu host account and navigate to your website settings.

1. Click the Enable website button if it is not already enabled.
2. Click Connect my domain to begin the setup process.
3. Enter your existing domain name in the form provided.
4. After entering your domain, a DNS tab will appear with specific DNS values that Holidu has generated for your domain.

The DNS values you see here are unique to your domain and will be needed in the following steps. Make sure to keep this page open or take note of these values as you'll need them when logging into your domain provider.

Helpful tip: Don't worry if you're not familiar with DNS settings. The following steps will guide you through exactly what to do with these values.

Step 2: Create a CNAME DNS Record in Your Domain Provider

Now you'll log into your domain provider's control panel (such as AWS, GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Vercel) and create your first DNS record.

1. Log in to your domain provider account.
2. Find the DNS management or DNS records section (this location varies by provider).
3. Look for an option to create a new record or add a DNS record. Click to open the form.
4. For the Type field, select CNAME from the dropdown menu.
5. In the Holidu app, locate the CNAME line and copy the NAME value (marked as number 1). Paste this into the Name field in your domain provider's form.
6. From the same CNAME line in Holidu, copy the VALUE (marked as number 2) and paste it into the Value field in your domain provider's form.
7. Leave the TTL (Time To Live) and Routing policy fields with their pre-filled default values.
8. Save and create the record.

Important note: 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. While this means your current website won't be accessible to guests temporarily, this step is necessary to connect your domain to your new Holidu direct booking website.

Step 3: Add a CAA DNS Record for SSL Certificate Authority

A CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) record helps secure your website. Create this second DNS record in your domain provider.

1. Return to the DNS records section in your domain provider.
2. Create another new DNS record.
3. For the Type field, select CAA from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Holidu app, find the CAA line and copy the NAME value (marked as number 3). Paste this into the Name field in your domain provider's form.
5. From the same CAA line in Holidu, copy the VALUE (marked as number 4). Paste this into the Value field.
6. Important for some providers: Certain domain providers (such as AWS Route 53 or some others) may require a special format for the value field. If your provider shows a format like 0 issue "awstrust.com", add the value from step 5 within quotation marks in this format.
7. Leave the TTL and Routing policy fields with their default values.
8. Save and create the record.

Step 4: Verify Your DNS Records in the Holidu App

Now that you've added the CNAME and CAA records to your domain provider, Holidu will automatically check whether these records have been properly set up.

1. Return to the Holidu app and stay on the domain verification page.
2. Holidu will automatically scan your DNS settings. This verification process usually takes around 5 minutes.
3. Once Holidu detects that both records are correctly in place, your domain will show as verified.
4. You'll then be guided to the final setup steps.

Tip: If verification takes longer than expected, wait a few more minutes and refresh the page. DNS changes can occasionally take up to 15 minutes to propagate across the internet.

Step 5: Add an ALIAS DNS Record to Complete Your Domain Setup

Once Holidu has verified your CNAME and CAA records, there is one final DNS record to add: the ALIAS record. This record connects your domain directly to Holidu's hosting servers.

1. In the Holidu app, you'll see new DNS values for the ALIAS record. Copy these values.
2. Log back into your domain provider.
3. Create a new DNS record with the Type set to ALIAS (note: some providers may call this an ANAME record).
4. Paste the NAME and VALUE from Holidu into the corresponding fields in your domain provider's form.
5. Keep the TTL and other default fields unchanged.
6. Save and create the record.

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

• ALIAS record
• CAA record
• CNAME record

All three records are essential for your direct booking website to function properly. If any are missing, your domain won't connect correctly to Holidu.

Step 6: Final Domain Verification and Launch

You're almost there! Complete the final verification to go live with your domain.

1. Return to the Holidu admin dashboard where you started the domain connection process.
2. Holidu will perform a final verification to ensure all three DNS records are correctly configured.
3. Once verified (this may take a few minutes), your domain status will show as Active or Verified.
4. You can now access your Holidu direct booking website by visiting your own domain in your web browser.

Congratulations! Your booking website is now live on your own domain. Your guests can book directly from your custom domain, and all bookings will come through your Holidu account. This helps build brand trust and increases direct bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Connecting Your Domain

How long does the domain connection process take?

The entire process typically takes 5-10 minutes to complete. The DNS verification can take up to 15 minutes to fully propagate, but your domain should be active within 5 minutes in most cases.

What happens to my existing website when I connect my domain to Holidu?

Your existing website will no longer be accessible on that domain once the DNS records are changed. This is why it's important to delete old DNS records before adding the new ones. If you need to keep your existing website accessible, consider using a subdomain (like booking.yourdomain.com) instead of your main domain.

Can I use a subdomain instead of my main domain?

Yes! You can connect a subdomain (such as booking.yourdomain.com or reserve.yourdomain.com) to Holidu instead of your main domain. Follow the same steps but enter the subdomain when prompted.

What if the domain verification fails?

If verification fails after 15 minutes, double-check that all DNS records are correctly entered in your domain provider. Common issues include typos in the NAME or VALUE fields, incorrect record types, or old DNS records that weren't deleted. Compare your entries against the values shown in Holidu and try again.

Do I need technical knowledge to connect my domain?

No technical experience is necessary! The process involves copying and pasting values from Holidu into your domain provider's forms. Simply follow the steps carefully and ensure each value is entered exactly as shown in the Holidu app.

Can I disconnect my domain from Holidu later?

Yes. You can disconnect your domain at any time by removing the DNS records from your domain provider. Once removed, your Holidu website will no longer be accessible via that domain, and you can reconnect the domain to another website or restore your previous website.

Need More Help?

If you encounter any issues during the domain connection process or have questions specific to your domain provider, our support team is here to help. Contact us through the Holidu help center, and we'll guide you through any challenges you may face.

Successfully connecting your domain helps you establish a stronger brand presence and makes it easier for guests to book directly with you. Happy hosting!