This page is broken into two sections. The first explains how to manually add a reservation to your FLARBO availability calendar on both desktop and mobile or iPad devices. The second section is more advanced with details on how to sync availability calendars through iCal URL links.

Keeping your calendar up to date helps the FLARBO team market your properties. We get calls every day from travelers looking for help to find accommodations.

• If your calendar is empty we cannot recommend it to a traveler who is ready to book!
• Properties with empty calendars will appear towards the bottom of your subscription level rank
• Keeping your calendar up to date ensures you receive qualified booking inquiries

Manually updating and Syncing an availability calendar for automated booking uploads is easy on Florida Rental By Owners - FLARBO.

Manually Adding a Reservation to your Availability Calendar

• Navigate to the FLARBO host Dashboard>Click "Details" on the property listing you wish to edit
• Click the "Availability" tab on the left menu bar
• Click on the calendar check-in date and hold your mouse to the check-out date
• Enter the details of the booking in the pop up window and press "save"

Desktop

Mobile or iPad

On mobile or iPad view you can press the 'Add a New Booking' button to manually add a reservation to your calendar.

How to Sync Availability Calendars - iCal URL Links

Why having a Master Calendar is Important when using Multiple iCal URL Links

It's important to assign one "Master" calendar for all of your iCal URL Links to sync directly into.

In some cases, this would be your channel manager or booking software if you use either of these tools. Although it's not necessary to use special software. You can use one specific listing site as your "Master Calendar". It's up to you as a host to decide which calendar will be your Master.

Assigning yourself a Master Calendar avoids any reservations not getting picked up through the other listing sites.

Any one of the following criteria will be successful before deciding on what platform will be your Master calendar.

1. A listing site that allows several iCal URL link imports (ie: Florida Rental By Owners FLARBO)
2. A booking software or channel manager (ie: Ownerreservations.com, RentalsUnited.com, Lodgify, etc..) that can manage multiple URL link imports
3. A calendar like Google Calendar if you are able to set up yourself which requires a bit of technical knowledge

Setting up the iCAL Framework and Connections Correctly

Syncing Bookings from Another Platform into a FLARBO Listing:

• Copy the iCAL URL link from the "export" area of your listing platform or property management software 

Example: VRBO Host Calendar

• Navigate to the FLARBO Host Dashboard>Click "Details" on the property listing you wish to edit
• Click the "Availability" tab on the left menu bar
• Paste the link into the iCAL URL link field
• Press the "Save iCal Settings button

iCal Links can be refreshed at any time by pressing the grey 'Refresh' buttons which will force a sync of data immediately

Note:

• Up to 3 iCAL URL links can be entered
• Although you can enter up to 3 links we recommended only entering the primary master calendar url link in order to avoid potential issues

Exporting Bookings from FLARBO Listing to Another Platform:

• Navigate to the FLARBO Host Dashboard > Click 'Details' on the property listing you wish to edit
• Click the "Availability" tab on the left menu bar
• Paste the link into the iCAL URL link field
• Press the "Save iCal Settings button

Tips to Manage your Availability Calendar iCal Syncs

Syncing your calendar to your "master" calendar is a great way to decrease work and automate your bookings to upload on your FLARBO property listing. There are a few things to keep in mind when syncing multiple calendars to a property listing.

• Always use a Master Calendar for your syncs. This avoids any reservations that may not get picked up through the other listing sites
• A Master Calendar is a calendar found on a booking software (ie: Ownerreservations.com, Lodgify, etc..) or from a Google Calendar if you are savvy enough to set it up or on a listing site that allows several iCAL URL link imports
• If you get a cancellation, it is important to review each listing site to ensure that the booking has been removed. Start with your Master Calendar first and work your way through all calendars to remove the reservation. In some cases, depending on the syncing cycle, you may have to detach (remove) the iCal URL link, and delete the booking and finally re-attach the iCal URL link.

Definitions

What is a Channel Manager versus Rental Booking Software?

Vacation rental booking software is often referred to as a PMS - Property Management Software. This software gives a host a central dashboard to manage all of their bookings, rental contracts, payments, and refunds. Whether you are a single property host or have multiple properties having a booking software is a game changer to ease the administrative tasks when renting out your home.

A Channel Manager is a distribution solution. Channel managers offer marketing solutions to hosts and property managers to advertise rental properties across multiple listing site platforms all in one dashboard. Channel managers sync to listing sites to push all relevant bookings into property availability calendars automatically.

Many hosts successfully manage their properties without these software solutions the 'old fashioned way' with excel sheets which is great if that works for you.