Calendar Sync

Solutions for iCal sync and calendar problems.

iCal Import Not Working

URL rejected

Symptom: "Please enter a valid URL" (or "Please check your inputs." if the URL passes basic validation but points to a private/internal address)

Solution:

• URL must start with http:// or https://

• URL must not point to a private/internal network address (localhost, 127.x.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16-31.x.x, 192.168.x.x, etc. — blocked for security)

• URL must deliver iCal content (.ics)

• Test URL in browser (should start download)

• Generate new URL on platform

No events imported

Symptom: Sync successful, but no blocks visible

Cause:

• Only future events are imported
• Past bookings are ignored

Solution:

• Check date ranges in external calendar
• Ensure future bookings exist

Sync Delay

Changes not immediately visible

Normal:

• Automatic sync (Stayoa): Every 30 minutes
• External platforms (Airbnb/Booking.com): ~15-60 minutes to update their own feed
• Total: Up to around 1.5 hours delay in the worst case

Solution:

• Click Sync Now for immediate sync
• Wait 1-2 minutes
• Refresh calendar view

Double Bookings

Double booking possible despite sync

Cause: Sync delay between platforms

Prevention:

• Manually sync before important periods
• Regularly check calendar

In case of double booking:

• Identify which booking should be canceled

• Cancel on corresponding platform

• Inform guest as soon as possible

• Compensation according to cancellation policy

Export Problems

External platform doesn't accept URL

Solution:

• Copy URL exactly (no trailing space)

• Check if platform supports iCal import

• Try URL in browser (should download .ics)

• Contact support of external platform

Bookings don't appear on external platform

Cause: External platform syncs slowly

Solution:

• Wait 1-2 hours
• Trigger manual sync on external platform
• Check if URL was inserted correctly

Manual Blocks vs. iCal Import

Cannot create manual block

Symptom: "A block for this exact period already exists" or "A block overlaps with an existing period"

Cause: iCal-imported blocks are deliberately excluded from this overlap check — you can always create a manual block on dates already covered by an iCal import (it will simply sit alongside it; iCal-imported blocks get replaced on the next sync anyway). This error means another manual block (or a booking-derived block) already covers the same or overlapping dates.

Solution:

• Check the calendar for an existing manual block on the same dates

• Edit or delete the conflicting manual block first, then retry

• You do not need to remove the iCal URL to create a manual block over iCal-imported dates

Calendar View

Calendar doesn't load

Solution:

• Refresh browser (F5)

• Clear cache

• Try different browser

Blocks displayed incorrectly

Solution:

• Check check-in/check-out times

• Verify timezone settings

• Manually trigger iCal sync

Common Errors

Sync keeps failing (notification: "iCal sync failed")

Cause: The external URL wasn't reachable, timed out, or returned an error. Each URL is retried automatically 3 times (with a short backoff of a few seconds) within a single sync attempt — not a delayed retry — before it's marked as failed for that run.

Solution:

• Test URL in browser
• Check platform status (Airbnb/Booking.com down?)
• Generate new URL
• No need to wait — the next automatic sync runs within 30 minutes, or click Sync Now to retry immediately

Invalid iCal format

Cause: The URL doesn't return valid iCal content (no BEGIN:VCALENDAR/BEGIN:VEVENT data) — the external platform delivered an invalid or empty feed

Solution:

• Generate new export URL on platform
• Contact platform support
• As workaround: Create blocks manually