The short answer
A channel name on a compatibility list does not establish every synchronized field. Compare the specific product-to-channel connection, its direction, sync mode, property eligibility and handling of existing bookings. Smoobu’s documented Vrbo connection is iCal, while Beds24 and Rentals United describe conditional software connections. Our recommendation is to verify the fields you need before buying.
Booking channel connection scope
| Product | Channel | Connection | Scope and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoobu | Airbnb | Direct connection | Reservations, availability and prices; listing photos, descriptions and amenities remain on Airbnb. Owner authorization, Listed property, profile image and correct mapping required. The guide documents host-only fees; actual account fee needs confirmation. Typical updates are not a delivery guarantee. |
| Smoobu | Booking.com | Direct connection | Reservations, availability and Standard-rate prices/minimum stay. Connectivity provider set per property; manual blocked dates do not import. Other rate plans must derive from Standard; initial prices need a push. |
| Smoobu | Vrbo | iCal calendar exchange | Availability, bookings and blocked periods; no rates or messages, first-name-only guest details. Published listing required. Import typically 10–20 minutes; Vrbo polling can take up to 24 hours. This is current technical help rather than a blanket marketing API claim. |
| Beds24 | Airbnb | Two-way API | Rates, availability, restrictions, reservations, changes, cancellations and messages; content depends on sync mode. Owner authorization and live listing required; traditional-hospitality acceptance is case by case. Blocked Airbnb dates do not import. Manually check availability before approving requests. |
| Beds24 | Booking.com | XML/API software connection | Rates, availability, restrictions and confirmed bookings/changes/cancellations; content needs appropriate entitlement. Map rooms and rates, import upcoming bookings and inspect outgoing data before activation. Prices are needed to send availability; modification/cancellation imports can be disabled. |
| Beds24 | Vrbo | XML/software connection | Rates, availability and content; only post-connection reservations import automatically. Credit card and tax identifier, content requirements and channel acceptance apply. Earlier bookings need iCal/manual entry; iCal is the alternative if ineligible. Confirmations come from Beds24. |
| Rentals United | Airbnb | Software connection with separate data flows | Rate/availability changes sent; reservations pulled; modifications/cancellations made in Airbnb. Limited versus Everything controls descriptive content. Actual model must be checked in Rentals United. Automatic Everything content pushes every four hours, usually appearing within 24 hours depending processing; this excludes standard rates/availability. Exact PMS adapter and plan matter. |
| Rentals United | Booking.com | Software channel connection | Single-/multi-unit listing support; hotel/room-type/rate mapping with separate content-update controls. Existing listings map to Rentals United properties; payment options depend on country, property and agreement. Exact adapter and account eligibility need confirmation. |
| Rentals United | Vrbo | Software PUSH/PULL connection | Separate rate/availability flow and daily content retrieval; reservation changes/cancellations synchronize both directions. Self-catering accommodation with kitchen and no shared space; hotel inventory excluded. Connection contract and future-reservation mapping/transfer required. Currency mismatch can recalculate rates. Exact PMS adapter and plan apply. |
Smoobu: direct Airbnb and Booking.com, iCal Vrbo
Smoobu’s direct connections exchange reservations, availability and prices; photos, descriptions and amenities stay on each channel. Booking.com prices and minimum stay go to Standard rate, with other plans requiring derivation. Vrbo calendar links carry availability/bookings/blocks, not prices or messages, with first-name-only guest details. Vrbo polling may take up to 24 hours. Typical timing is not a guarantee against double bookings.
Beds24: channel and sync mode decide the field set
Airbnb’s two-way API includes rates, availability, reservations and messages, with descriptive content governed by sync mode. Owner authorization and live listings are required; manually check availability before approving requests. Booking.com maps rooms and rates, while full content requires the appropriate connection. Vrbo XML/software eligibility includes credit-card and tax-identifier prerequisites; only post-connection reservations import automatically. Other iCal feeds may carry optional fields, so their actual provider data matters.
Rentals United: descriptive content and reservations are different flows
Airbnb Limited Sync differs from Sync Everything; automated content pushes every four hours, generally appearing within 24 hours depending on channel processing. That content schedule excludes standard rates and availability. Vrbo has separate rate/availability flow and daily content retrieval, with self-catering, kitchen-equipped, nonshared-property eligibility and no hotel-type inventory. Booking.com uses hotel/room-type/rate mapping. Confirm the actual PMS adapter; API labels alone do not establish every direction.
Write a field checklist before connecting
Our checklist: identify which system owns availability, rates, minimum stay, fees, photos, reservations, cancellations and messages for each channel. Record any mode or entitlement requirements. Include manual booking and blocker treatment, then inspect outgoing data and channel status after the documented setup. An API is not a measured reliability guarantee.
Common questions
Does iCal always contain no guest information?
No. Scope depends on the actual feed: Beds24 supports event summaries/comments and optional custom fields, while Smoobu’s documented Vrbo import is first-name-only and contains no price.
Sources & research
Official public documentation verified. Date: View details
- How calendars sync
- Connect Vrbo by iCal
- Connect Airbnb
- Connect Booking.com
- Where to change prices and settings
- Airbnb mapping
- Booking.com booking/rate mapping
- Vrbo setup
- Create Booking.com properties and rooms
- iCal import
- Overbooking
- Airbnb integration overview
- Airbnb synchronization models
- Airbnb automatic content updates
- Vrbo integration overview
- Transfer existing Vrbo booking
- Vrbo currency selection
- PULL and PUSH connections
- Booking.com integration overview