Calendar & Availability
How to not allow same day booking
How do I color code imported reservations?
Yes this is possible. Please follow the instructions below:
- Log into Houfy
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
- Manage Listings
- Edit > Calendar
- Click on calendar name
- Place cursor in Color field to display color options.
- Select a color - keep in mind Houfy bookings will be dark blue.
- Adjust shade.
Note: Be sure guest name (white text) will be visible against shade.
Is it possible to get the calendar to start on a Monday.
Change minimum stay in the calendar
- On Desktop/laptop:
- Please select menu > Manage Listings
- Select the listing you want to change, and then click Calendar.
- Click on any date or the date you want to change the minimum stay.
- On the left side, you can write the minimum stay and click on Save.
2.`On Mobile/tablet:
- Please select menu > Manage Listings
- Click on the Set Price button
- Select the dates and enter the minimum stay and save.
Calendar synchronization with Houfy
If you list your place on Houfy and other websites, you can prevent multiple guests from booking the same dates by syncing your Houfy calendar with your other calendars.

The "correct" way of Synchronizing Calendars: (assuming 3 sites)
- EXPORT Airbnb + VRBO and IMPORT into Houfy
- EXPORT Houfy + VRBO and IMPORT into Airbnb
- EXPORT Airbnb + Houfy and IMPORT into VRBO
TIP: When doing this, keep the browser tabs open.
Step 1) Export Airbnb and VRBO & Import into Houfy
Calendar importing allows you to automatically keep your Houfy calendar up to date with an external calendar that supports the iCalendar format, including Google, Airbnb, HomeAway or VRBO.
Log in to Airbnb: Select Host > Listings > Select listing (Browser Tab 1)
Select the correct listing and find: Availability Settings
To export a calendar:
- On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
- Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
- Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
- Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
- Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
- Click Import calendar.

Scroll down and find "Export Calendar"

Copy the link - Make sure you select the whole link..

Open a new Tab on your browser. (Browser Tab 2)
- Log in to Houfy
- Click on the menu icon top right
- Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
- Click Calendar for the listing you want to import.
- Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the Airbnb link.
Open a 3rd tab: Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard. (Browser Tab 3)
Select property > Manage > Calendar

Click on the up/down arrows > Export Calendar


Click on the top-right corner of your Houfy calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the VRBO link.
NOW YOU HAVE IMPORTED AIRBNB AND VRBO INTO HOUFY
Step 2: EXPORT Houfy + VRBO & IMPORT into Airbnb
- Copy the export Houfy link (First one) and go to Tab 1: Airbnb > Select "Import" and paste the Houfy link.
- Copy the export VRBO link from tab 3 and go to tab 1: Airbnb > Select "Import" and paste the VRBO link
Step 3: EXPORT Airbnb + Houfy & IMPORT into VRBO
- Copy the export Houfy link(First one) and go to Tab 3: VRBO > Select "Import" and past the Houfy link.
- Copy the export AIRBNB link from tab 1 and go to tab 3: VRBO > Select "Import" and paste the AIRBNB link

Youtube video:

What is Calendar Sync?
Calendar sync is a way to integrate your calendar with other calendars to update all or some of the calendar data automatically.
In the vacation rental industry, Calendar Sync allows reservations from one calendar to be shared with another calendar automatically. Calendar sync is done using a format called iCal. (.iCal is an format just like .pdf / .com & .xml for example)
With Houfy: Calendar importing allows you to automatically keep your Houfy calendar up to date with an external calendar that supports the iCalendar format, including Google, Airbnb, HomeAway or VRBO.
The "correct" way of Synchronizing 3: AIRBNB, VRBO & Houfy Calendars:
TIP: When doing this, keep the browser tabs open.
- EXPORT Airbnb + EXPORT VRBO and IMPORT into Houfy
- EXPORT Houfy + EXPORT VRBO and IMPORT into Airbnb
- EXPORT Airbnb + EXPORT Houfy and IMPORT into VRBO
Help with Calendars
Frequently asked questions about calendars
Houfy says: can NOT import this link?
Most probably, you copied the wrong link, you might have copied the url in the browser. Please read the above document. ALL larger marketplaces have proper synchronization set up through specific export and import links. (.ics files) - These do not show in the browser.
I'm blocking dates on VRBO but they do not show on Houfy?
Please make sure you have VRBO synced into Houfy.
I added a reservation on Houfy ("Add Booking") but it doesn't show on Airbnb?
Did you import Houfy into Airbnb? Please make sure you did. Airbnb can not get any data from Houfy if you did not import the Houfy calendar into Airbnb.
What does the little sync button do?
The little sync button fetches data from the linked website. As far as I know, only Houfy, Airbnb and Tripadvisor have this.Once you have synced your calendars correctly, you should be all set!
How do I delete a calendar from Houfy?
- Log into Houfy
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
- Manage Listings
- Select property
- Click on the calendar you want to remove > Delete
How can I manually sync or do a hard sync on Houfy?
You can do a hard sync when you get a booking. It's up to Airbnb or VRBO to pull in Houfy's new calendar info. So you should find out how often Airbnb or VRBO "syncs" with other sites. It is our understanding Airbnb syncs every 2 hrs and VRBO up to 6 hrs.
Click on the little update/sync button.
Example: if you get a booking on Houfy. Then Airbnb needs to pull that booking into their calendar. You can pull the reservation block in immed. by clicking on their sync button in your Airbnb calendar dashboard.
You can do the same in Houfy as well. It's called doing a "hard" or "manual" sync. If you get a booking on Airbnb, then go into Houfy's listing calendar section and click on the sync button to pull the reservation into Houfy's calendar.
If you remove a block on Airbnb and want to show open dates on Houfy:
To show unblocked on Houfy:
- Unblock on Airbnb
- Go to Houfy and perform a "Hard sync" at edit listing > Calendar
How often does the ical get synced in Houfy
Houfy is programmed to synchronize every 3 hours. This means Houfy pulls in new data from other calendars every 3 hours.
How can I manually sync?
You can do a "hard sync or manual sync" when you get a booking on Airbnb or VRBO; go into Houfy's listing calendar section and click on the sync button to pull the reservation into Houfy's calendar.
If you get a booking on Houfy. Then Airbnb or VRBO need to pull that booking into their calendar. You can pull the reservation block in immed. by clicking on their sync button in their calendar dashboard.
It's up to Airbnb or VRBO to pull in Houfy's new calendar info. So you should find out how often Airbnb "syncs/pulls in data" with other sites. It is our understanding Airbnb syncs every 2 hrs and VRBO up to 6 hrs.
Syncing your Airbnb calendar with Houfy
The proper way to synchronize takes 2 steps: Export your Airbnb calendar, import into Houfy and Export your Houfy calendar, import into Airbnb.
This process of syncronzing is fairly easy and only needs to be done once.
Step 1: Export your Airbnb calendar and Import it into Houfy.
To export the Airbnb calendar: (Browser Tab 1)
- On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
- Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
- Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
- Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
- Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
- Click Import calendar.
Open a new Tab on your browser. (Browser Tab 2)
To Import the Airbnb calendar into Houfy:
- Log in to Houfy
- Click on the menu top right
- Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
- Click Calendar for the listing you want to import.
- Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the Airbnb link.
Step 2: Export your Houfy calendar and Import it into Airbnb.
- Log in to Houfy
- Click on the menu top right
- Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
- Click Calendar for the listing you want to export.
- Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, click Export calendar annd copy the url.
To import the Houfy calendar into Airbnb: (Browser Tab 1)
- On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
- Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
- Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Import Calendar and paste the copied Houfy URL.
- Name your calendar. (Houfy)
- Click Import calendar.
What is a booking cut-off date?
A booking cut-off date is the furthest date in the future that you want to accept bookings
To set a booking cut off date go to:
- Manage listings
- Calendar
- Scroll down to booking cut off date (Set date or choose months from today)
By leaving this date blank you'll have the option to accept a booking at any future date
This means you're taking responsibility to keep your rates up-to-date. (e.g. with a Base Rate set high enough that you won't be disappointed if someone inquires to book a high season date far in the future that you haven't updated)
Example: a guest wants to book a special anniversary in two years when you haven’t set a rate. Please make sure your rates are updated.
How can I change my booking cut off date?
You can easily change the booking cut off date by going to:
- Log into Houfy
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
- Manage Listings
- Edit > Calendar
- Scroll down to the bottom and select:
- Cut off date by date or
- Cut off date by months from today
Please note: you can only choose 1 of these options. If you wish to set by a date you will need to remove the cut off date by months from today.
How do I block my calendar
What does “blocking dates” mean? A blocked date is a date, or period, that you set to prevent a guest to book dates.
How do I block my calendar on my Houfy listing?
On Desktop/laptop:
- Manage listings > Edit listing > Calendar
- Click on any date
- Select "Blocked" and click Save
On Mobile/tablet:
- Right menu > Manage listings > Edit listing > Calendar
- Click on "Set Price"
- Select "Blocked" and click Save
How can I block calendar dates on other sites but leave them open on Houfy.
Houfy offers two import options: Reservations Only and Everything
EX: if you block dates on XXXX platform, but want them to remain bookable on Houfy, select to import "Only Reservations" instead of "Everything."

Menu > Manage Listings > Calendar > Import tab
Remove blocked dates or an added booking from your calendar
To remove blocked dates or an added booking on Houfy follow steps below:
- Edit listing -> Calendar -> Navigate to the blocked dates or booking
- Click on the booking to see details
- Scroll down the left section to see the "Remove" button
- Click on Remove and confirm "Yes" to remove the blocked dates or added booking
Note: Remove button will not be visible for paid bookings on Houfy. In case you want to cancel it, the host needs to cancel the booking and refund the payment as per agreement between the host and guest.
Export all reservations from Houfy
Most travel sites export current and future reservations in the export link, to export all past reservations on Houfy follow the below article.
- Go to Listings and click the listing you want to change
- Click Calendar from the left meu
- Select Yes in the Export past reservations section.
I received a Houfy booking but it did not update on my VRBO calendar.
Please make sure you have your Houfy calendar synced into VRBO
Log into Houfy and select Menu > Manage Listings.
- Select calendar of the listing you wish to export
- Click Export calendar and copy the url (Select only Houfy reservations)
Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard.
- Select the property to sync > Select Manage > Select Calendar at the drop down menu
- Click on the up/down arrows on the right side > Select Import Calendar
- Paste the FULL HOUFY URL in the pop up
How often does your VRBO or Airbnb calendar sync? VRBO and AIRBNB calendars usually take a few hours to update. Airbnb usually within 2 hours and VRBO up to 6 hours. There's a chance that a guest could book on one platform, and another guest could book the same dates on another platform in the time it takes for your calendar to update. To avoid problems you can always "hard sync" on Houfy and on Airbnb.
To find out how to "hard" sync, click here
I'm blocking dates on VRBO but they do not show on Houfy?
Please make sure you have your VRBO calendar synced into Houfy.
Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard.
- Select the property to sync > Select Manage > Select Calendar at the drop down menu
- Click on the up/down arrows on the right side > Select Export Calendar
- Copy the FULL URL in the pop up
- Uncheck (Incl. Tentative Reservations)
Log into Houfy and go to My Listings.
- Select calendar of the listing you wish to update
- Click Import calendar
- Paste the copied VRBO Calendar URL
I'm blocking dates on Airbnb but they do not show on Houfy?
Please make sure you have your Airbnb calendar synced into Houfy.
Log into Airbnb.
To export the Airbnb calendar:
- On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
- Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
- Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
- Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
- Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
- Click Import calendar.
Log into Houfy.
To import a calendar into Houfy:
- Menu and select Manage Listings.
- Select calendar of the listing you wish to update
- Click Import calendar
- Paste the copied Airbnb Calendar URL
Clear your calendar pricing
- Go to Listings and click the listing you want to change
- Click Calendar from the left menu and click Clear pricing
- Click on Clear Pricing again to confirm the removal of prices.