How to Sync Your Shared Vacation Home Calendar with Airbnb, VRBO & Google Calendar
Prevent double-bookings by exporting your co-ownership calendar to rental platforms and personal calendars using iCal synchronization.
You and your family co-own a beautiful vacation home. When you're not using it, you rent it out on Airbnb or VRBO to help cover expenses. But there's a problem: every time a family member books a weekend, you have to manually block those dates on your rental platforms. Miss one? You've got an awkward situation with a guest who booked dates that aren't actually available.
Or maybe you just want to see your vacation home bookings in your personal Google Calendar alongside your other commitments. Manually adding every booking? That's tedious and error-prone.
The solution is calendar synchronization using iCalendar (iCal) format. With OurSharedPlace's new calendar export feature, you can automatically sync your bookings to Airbnb, VRBO, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and any other platform that supports iCal feeds.
What is iCalendar (iCal)?
iCalendar (often abbreviated as iCal) is a universal calendar format that allows different calendar applications to share event data. Think of it as a common language that lets Airbnb, VRBO, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and hundreds of other apps all understand your bookings.
One Calendar, Everywhere
When you export your calendar as an iCal feed, other platforms can subscribe to it and automatically receive updates. Book a week for your family in OurSharedPlace, and within hours, that week is blocked on Airbnb, shows up in Google Calendar, and appears on your iPhone.
Why Calendar Synchronization Matters
Prevent Double-Bookings
The nightmare scenario: an Airbnb guest arrives on the same weekend your sister planned a family reunion. Calendar sync prevents this by automatically blocking booked dates across all platforms.
Automatic Updates
Make a booking in OurSharedPlace, and it automatically propagates to all your connected calendars. No manual updates, no copy-paste, no forgetting.
See Everything in One Place
View your vacation home bookings alongside your work meetings, kids' soccer games, and personal appointments in Google Calendar or Apple Calendar.
Share with Potential Guests
Send a public calendar link to potential renters so they can see availability before reaching out. Professional and convenient.
How OurSharedPlace Calendar Export Works
OurSharedPlace makes calendar synchronization simple and secure:
Enable Calendar Export: Property administrators can enable calendar export from the Calendar Export settings page. The feature is disabled by default for privacy and security.
Get Your iCal URL: OurSharedPlace generates a unique, secure URL for your property's calendar. This URL includes a random 256-bit token that acts as a password - anyone with the URL can access your calendar, but the URL itself is impossible to guess.
Configure Privacy Settings: Choose what information appears in the exported calendar. Show member names or keep bookings anonymous. Include booking notes or hide them. You control the privacy level.
Import to Platforms: Copy your iCal URL and paste it into Airbnb, VRBO, Google Calendar, or Apple Calendar. Each platform has a simple "Import Calendar" or "Subscribe to Calendar" feature.
Automatic Synchronization: Platforms periodically check your iCal feed for updates. Airbnb and VRBO sync every 2-3 hours, Google Calendar once per day, and Apple Calendar based on your configured refresh interval.
Where Can You Export Your Calendar?
OurSharedPlace calendar exports work with any platform that supports iCal feeds. Here are the most popular:
Vacation Rental Platforms
- Airbnb - Sync calendars to block booked dates and prevent double-bookings
- VRBO - Import your calendar to manage availability across platforms
- Booking.com - Keep your availability up-to-date
- HomeAway, TurnKey, Vacasa - Any platform supporting iCal
Personal Calendar Apps
- Google Calendar - See bookings on web, Android, and iOS
- Apple Calendar - Mac, iPhone, and iPad native integration
- Microsoft Outlook - Desktop and Outlook.com support
- Any iCal-compatible app - Hundreds of calendar apps support the standard
Privacy & Security Features
OurSharedPlace takes your privacy seriously. Here's how we protect your calendar data:
Disabled by Default
Calendar export is turned off until you explicitly enable it. Your calendar stays private unless you choose to share it.
Secure Token Authentication
Each calendar URL includes a 256-bit random token. This is cryptographically secure - there's no way for someone to guess or brute-force your calendar URL.
Regenerate Anytime
If your calendar URL is ever compromised or you want to revoke access, regenerate it with one click. Old URLs stop working immediately, and you get a fresh URL to share.
Granular Privacy Controls
Choose exactly what information appears in exported calendars. Hide member names and notes for maximum privacy, or show them for more context.
Admin-Only Control
Only property administrators can enable calendar export or access the URLs. Regular members and guests cannot export the calendar.
Ready to Sync Your Calendar?
OurSharedPlace makes calendar synchronization simple and secure. If you're managing a co-owned vacation home that you also rent out, calendar export is a game-changer. No more double-bookings, no more manual updates, and no more awkward conversations with disappointed guests.
Start Managing Your Shared Property Today
OurSharedPlace includes calendar export as part of our comprehensive property management platform. Coordinate bookings, manage members, share documents, track expenses, and more.
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