Documentation

Everything you need to host on
BookBed.

Quick start, the embeddable widget, Stripe payouts, iCal sync, and the full host playbook — single page, English + Hrvatski.

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Getting Started

Quick Start Guide

Get your BookBed account up and running in just 5 minutes. This guide will walk you through the essential setup steps.

Tip:

You can always come back and add more details later. Start with the basics and expand as you go.

1

Step 1: Create Your Account

Getting started is simple:

  • Go to app.bookbed.io
  • Click "Sign Up" and enter your email address
  • Verify your email and set a secure password
2

Step 2: Create Your First Property

After logging in, you'll be prompted to create your first property. Enter:

  • Property name (e.g., "Villa Sunset")
  • Address (for your reference, not shown to guests publicly)
  • Default check-in and check-out times
3

Step 3: Add a Unit

Each property needs at least one unit (apartment, room, or villa). The setup wizard will guide you through adding:

Unit details like capacity, amenities, and photos. You can add multiple units to the same property.

4

Step 4: Set Your Prices

Configure your pricing in the Pricing tab. You can set a base price and add seasonal rules for different periods.

5

Step 5: Publish and Embed

Once your unit is ready, publish it and copy the embed code from the Widget Settings tab. Paste this code on your website to display the booking calendar.

Congratulations!

You've completed the basic setup. Your property is now ready to receive bookings. Explore the other sections to learn about advanced features like Stripe payments and iCal synchronization.

Account Setup

Configure your BookBed account settings to personalize your experience.

Profile Settings

Update your personal information, including name, email, and phone number.

  • Go to Settings > Profile to edit your details
  • Add a profile photo for a personalized touch
  • Set your preferred language and timezone

Security

Keep your account secure with these settings:

  • Use a strong, unique password
  • Enable two-factor authentication if available
  • Review your login history regularly

Notifications

Configure how you receive notifications:

  • Email notifications for new bookings
  • Push notifications for urgent updates
  • Daily or weekly booking summaries
Properties

Creating a Property

A property in BookBed represents a physical location where you offer accommodation. Learn how to set one up correctly.

What is a Property?

A property is the top-level container in BookBed. It represents a single location that can contain one or more units (rentable spaces). Examples:

  • A villa with 3 separate apartments
  • A small hotel with 10 rooms
  • A single vacation home

How to Create a Property

1

Navigate to Properties

From your dashboard, click on "Properties" in the sidebar, then click "Add Property" or the + button.

2

Enter Property Details

Fill in the required information:

  • Property Name: A memorable name for your property (e.g., "Beach House Croatia")
  • Address: The full address. This is for your reference and can be shared with guests after booking.
  • Description: Optional. A general description of your property.
  • Check-in/Check-out Times: Default times for guest arrivals and departures.
3

Save Your Property

Click "Save" to create your property. You can now add units to it.

Good to Know

You can have multiple properties if you manage vacation rentals in different locations. Each property can have its own settings and units.

After Creating Your Property

Once your property is created, the next steps are:

  • Add one or more units (apartments, rooms, villas)
  • Set up pricing for each unit
  • Configure availability rules

Adding Units

Units are the individual spaces guests can book within your property. Learn how to set them up.

What is a Unit?

A unit is a bookable space within your property - an apartment, room, or entire villa.

  • Each unit has its own calendar, pricing, and availability
  • Guests book specific units, not the entire property
  • You can have multiple units per property

Creating a Unit

To add a new unit:

  • Go to your property and click "Add Unit"
  • Enter unit name, capacity, and description
  • Add photos and amenities
  • Set the base price and availability rules

Unit Details

Make your unit stand out with complete information:

  • High-quality photos (at least 5 recommended)
  • Detailed description highlighting unique features
  • Complete amenities list (WiFi, parking, kitchen, etc.)
  • Accurate capacity and bed configuration

Setting Prices

Configure your pricing strategy with base rates, seasonal pricing, and special offers.

Base Price

The base price is your default nightly rate:

  • Set a competitive base price for your unit
  • This rate applies when no seasonal rules are active
  • You can update it anytime from the Pricing tab

Seasonal Pricing

Adjust prices for different periods:

  • Create pricing rules for high season, low season, holidays
  • Set date ranges and percentage adjustments
  • Rules automatically apply to the calendar

Minimum Stay

Set minimum night requirements:

  • Global minimum stay for the unit
  • Override for specific date ranges
  • Useful for peak seasons or weekend minimums

Managing Availability

Control when your units are available for booking.

Blocking Dates

Temporarily block dates from booking:

  • Click on dates in the calendar to block them
  • Use for maintenance, personal use, or pre-existing bookings
  • Blocked dates appear as unavailable to guests

Advance Booking Window

Control how far in advance guests can book:

  • Minimum advance: Prevent same-day or last-minute bookings
  • Maximum advance: Limit how far into the future guests can book
  • Adjust based on your flexibility and planning needs
Bookings

Managing Bookings

Learn how to handle incoming reservations, communicate with guests, and manage your booking pipeline.

Booking List

View all your bookings in one place:

  • Filter by status (pending, confirmed, completed, cancelled)
  • Sort by check-in date, guest name, or booking date
  • Click any booking to view full details

Handling Pending Bookings

New bookings require your attention:

  • Review booking details and guest information
  • Confirm to accept the booking, or decline if unavailable
  • Guest receives an automatic email notification

Cancellations

Managing booking cancellations:

  • You can cancel a booking from the booking details page
  • Cancelled bookings free up the dates automatically
  • Guest is notified via email about the cancellation

Using the Calendar

The timeline calendar gives you a visual overview of all bookings across your units.

Calendar Views

Navigate your bookings easily:

  • Timeline view shows all units in a single view
  • Switch between day, week, and month views
  • Click on bookings to see details

Color Coding

Understand booking status at a glance:

  • Green: Confirmed bookings
  • Yellow: Pending (awaiting confirmation)
  • Blue: Checked-in guests
  • Gray: Completed stays

Booking Statuses

Understanding the different booking statuses and what they mean.

Status Types

Each booking goes through these stages:

  • Pending: New booking awaiting your confirmation or payment
  • Confirmed: Booking is accepted and payment received
  • Checked In: Guest has arrived
  • Completed: Guest has checked out
  • Cancelled: Booking was cancelled by you or the guest

Automatic Status Updates

Some statuses update automatically:

  • After check-out date, status changes to Completed
  • Payment expiration converts Pending to Cancelled
  • Successful payment moves Pending to Confirmed
Widget

Widget Setup

Configure your booking widget before embedding it on your website.

Publishing Your Unit

Before embedding, your unit must be published:

  • Go to Unit Hub and select your unit
  • Check that all required fields are filled
  • Click "Publish" to make the unit available

Widget Modes

Choose how the widget works:

  • Full Booking: Guests can complete bookings with payment
  • Calendar Only: Show availability without booking functionality
  • Inquiry Mode: Guests can request bookings without immediate payment

Payment Options

Configure how guests can pay:

  • Stripe: Credit card payments (requires Stripe connection)
  • Bank Transfer: Manual payment with IBAN details
  • Pay on Arrival: No upfront payment required

Embedding the Booking Widget

The BookBed widget allows guests to view availability and make bookings directly from your website. Here's how to embed it.

Getting Your Embed Code

Follow these steps to get your widget embed code:

  • Go to Unit Hub and select your unit
  • Click on the "Widget" tab
  • Make sure the unit is published
  • Click "Get Embed Code" to copy the iframe code

Example Embed Code

Your embed code will look similar to this:

<iframe
  src="https://view.bookbed.io/?property=PROPERTY_ID&unit=UNIT_ID&embed=true"
  style="width:100%;border:none;aspect-ratio:1/1.4;min-height:500px;max-height:850px;"
  title="BookBed Booking Widget"
></iframe>

Replace PROPERTY_ID and UNIT_ID with your actual IDs from the BookBed dashboard.

Adding to Your Website

Instructions for popular website platforms:

WordPress

  • Edit the page where you want the widget
  • Add a "Custom HTML" block
  • Paste the embed code and save

Wix

  • Open the Wix Editor
  • Add an "Embed HTML" element
  • Paste the iframe code and apply

Squarespace

  • Edit your page and add a "Code" block
  • Paste the embed code
  • Save and publish

Custom HTML Website

Simply paste the embed code anywhere in your HTML where you want the widget to appear.

Important

The widget requires JavaScript to function. Some website builders may block external iframes. If you encounter issues, contact your website platform's support.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

Widget not loading

Check that your unit is published and the IDs in the embed code are correct.

Widget too small

Adjust the min-height in the iframe style, or remove max-height restrictions.

Booking button not working

Ensure you have connected Stripe or enabled bank transfer payments in Widget Settings.

Customizing the Widget

Make the widget match your website's look and feel.

Theme

Choose the widget appearance:

  • Light theme for bright websites
  • Dark theme for dark-themed websites
  • Auto: Follows user's system preference

Language

Set the widget language:

  • Auto-detect from browser settings
  • Force a specific language (English, Croatian, etc.)
Integrations

Stripe Payment Integration

Accept credit card payments from your guests with Stripe. It's secure, fast, and payments go directly to your bank account.

Secure Payments

Stripe is PCI-DSS Level 1 certified. BookBed never stores credit card numbers - all payment processing is handled by Stripe's secure servers.

What is Stripe?

Stripe is a global payment processor used by millions of businesses. With Stripe Connect, you can accept payments directly to your own Stripe account.

  • Accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
  • Secure 3D Secure authentication
  • Automatic currency conversion
  • Funds deposited directly to your bank account

How It Works

When a guest makes a booking through your widget:

  • Guest selects dates and enters their details
  • Guest is redirected to Stripe's secure checkout page
  • Guest enters payment details and confirms
  • Booking is automatically confirmed and you receive an email notification

Connecting Your Stripe Account

Follow these steps to connect Stripe:

1

Navigate to Integrations

Go to Settings > Integrations > Stripe and click "Connect Stripe Account".

2

Complete Stripe Onboarding

You'll be redirected to Stripe to either log in or create a new account. Stripe will ask for:

  • Business information (name, type, address)
  • Personal verification (ID document)
  • Bank account details for payouts
3

Return to BookBed

After completing Stripe onboarding, you'll be redirected back to BookBed. Your account status will show as "Connected".

Connection Complete!

Once connected, Stripe payments are automatically enabled for all your units. Guests can now pay with credit cards through your booking widget.

Stripe Fees

Stripe charges processing fees for each transaction:

  • European cards: 1.4% + €0.25 per transaction
  • Non-European cards: 2.9% + €0.25 per transaction
Note

Stripe fees are deducted from the payment before it reaches your bank account. BookBed does not charge any additional payment processing fees.

Receiving Payouts

Stripe typically sends payouts to your bank account within 2-7 business days, depending on your country. You can view all transactions in your Stripe Dashboard.

iCal Synchronization

Sync your BookBed calendar with Airbnb, Booking.com, and other platforms to prevent double bookings.

What is iCal?

iCal is a standard calendar format that allows different booking platforms to share availability information. When a booking is made on one platform, it automatically blocks those dates on all connected platforms.

Supported Platforms

  • Airbnb — Full two-way sync
  • Booking.com — Full two-way sync
  • Vrbo — Calendar import and export
  • Google Calendar — For personal calendars
  • Any platform that supports iCal format

Importing Calendars (Other Platforms → BookBed)

To import bookings from other platforms into BookBed:

From Airbnb

  • Log in to Airbnb and go to your listing
  • Click "Availability" then "Calendar Sync"
  • Copy the "Export Calendar" URL
  • In BookBed, go to Integrations > iCal
  • Click "Add Calendar" and paste the URL

From Booking.com

  • Log in to Booking.com Extranet
  • Go to "Property" > "iCal Sync"
  • Copy the "Export Calendar" URL
  • In BookBed, go to Integrations > iCal
  • Click "Add Calendar" and paste the URL

Sync Frequency

BookBed automatically syncs imported calendars every 15 minutes. You can also trigger a manual sync at any time from the iCal settings page.

Exporting Your BookBed Calendar

To sync BookBed bookings to other platforms:

  • Go to Integrations > iCal in BookBed
  • Copy your unit's "Export URL"
  • Paste this URL in the "Import Calendar" section of Airbnb, Booking.com, or other platforms

Two-Way Sync

For complete synchronization, you need to set up BOTH import (other → BookBed) AND export (BookBed → other) for each platform. This ensures all calendars stay perfectly synchronized.

Important Warning

iCal sync has a delay of up to 15-30 minutes. For last-minute bookings, there's a small risk of double booking. Always check your calendar before accepting same-day or next-day reservations.

Troubleshooting

Calendar not syncing

Check that the URL is correct and the source calendar is accessible.

Bookings not appearing

Wait up to 15 minutes for the sync to complete, or trigger a manual sync.

Duplicate bookings

Make sure you haven't imported the same calendar twice.

Settings

Email Notifications

Configure which email notifications you receive.

Booking Notifications

Stay informed about new reservations:

  • New booking alerts (immediate)
  • Booking confirmation notifications
  • Cancellation alerts

Guest Communications

Automatic emails sent to guests:

  • Booking confirmation with details
  • Check-in reminders (7 days before)
  • Payment reminders for pending bookings

Custom Subdomain

Get a custom URL for your booking widget.

What is a Subdomain?

A subdomain gives you a clean, branded URL:

  • Example: your-name.view.bookbed.io
  • Share directly with guests or embed on your site
  • Looks professional and trustworthy

Setting Up Your Subdomain

To claim your subdomain:

  • Go to Settings > Subdomain
  • Enter your desired subdomain name
  • Click "Check Availability" and save