What the Airbnb connection in Smoobu does
Unlike Booking.com, connecting Airbnb doesn't require an approval process from the channel itself. You log in directly from Smoobu with your Airbnb credentials and authorize Smoobu as a connected app — Airbnb shows exactly which permissions are being granted (calendar, rates, messages). Once connected, Smoobu pushes availability, rates, and minimum stay to Airbnb in real time, and any Airbnb booking immediately blocks the matching dates across every other connected channel.
The connection also covers guest communication: messages from the Airbnb inbox can be read and answered through Smoobu, including templates and automatic access code delivery if a smart lock like Nuki is connected. That's a fundamental difference from a plain iCal connection, which only pushes date blocks — no rates, no guest details, no messages. Smoobu is listed among Airbnb's connected software partners — exact partner status can change, so check smoobu.com if that matters to you.
Step 1 — Check prerequisites
Before starting the connection, a few things should already be in place:
- Airbnb account verified: phone number and email confirmed, payout method on file. Without full verification, Airbnb won't allow an app connection.
- Listing live: at least one published, bookable listing with photos, rates, and a calendar. A draft that hasn't been published yet can't be mapped.
- Smoobu property created: the matching property must already exist in Smoobu, with basic details like name and capacity filled in — it's the target the Airbnb listing gets mapped to.
Step 2 — Start the Airbnb connection in Smoobu
Unlike Booking.com, Airbnb doesn't require approval from the channel itself — the connection runs directly through an Airbnb login.
- In Smoobu, go to Settings → Channels → Airbnb → Connect.
- In the Airbnb login window that opens, sign in with your own Airbnb credentials.
- Authorize Smoobu as a connected app — Airbnb shows exactly which permissions are being granted (calendar, rates, messages).
The connection is usually live within seconds, with no wait for external approval — unlike Booking.com's multi-day activation process. Only the primary account holder or a co-host with full permissions can grant authorization.
Step 3 — Map listings
- Check the mapping: after logging in, Smoobu lists every listing linked to the Airbnb account. Assign each one to the matching Smoobu property.
- With several apartments under the same Airbnb account, verify each mapping individually — Smoobu doesn't auto-match by title or address.
- Save. The channel should then show a green "Connected" status, and the current Airbnb calendar gets imported into Smoobu.
Existing, upcoming bookings on Airbnb get imported on the first sync. Confirm afterward that the number of imported bookings matches the Airbnb calendar — already-completed past stays usually aren't imported retroactively, which is normal.
Step 4 — Disable Smart Pricing and message automation in Airbnb
Once Smoobu controls rates, Airbnb can't be allowed to change them on its own — otherwise both systems keep overwriting each other.
- Turn off Smart Pricing: in the Airbnb host account, under Pricing → Smart Pricing, disable it. If it stays on, Airbnb adjusts rates on its own based on demand without Smoobu knowing — the rate stored in Smoobu then no longer matches the rate guests can actually book.
- Check automated message templates: if Airbnb's own automated messages (instant messages, check-in info) are active and Smoobu is meant to take over guest communication, disable the Airbnb-side templates to avoid duplicate or conflicting messages to guests.
- Also check any minimum stay or blocked dates set directly in Airbnb — after connecting, Smoobu should be the single source of truth for these settings.
Step 5 — Verify the sync
- Block test: manually block any date in Smoobu and check the Airbnb calendar to confirm it shows as "unavailable" within a few minutes.
- Rate test: change the rate for a date in Smoobu and check the Airbnb listing view to confirm the new rate was picked up.
- Message test: if you're using the messaging feature, open an existing conversation in the Smoobu inbox and confirm it's in sync with the Airbnb app — including messages already sent.
Troubleshooting common issues
Airbnb doesn't show up as a connection option in Smoobu, or the login fails
This is usually caused by blocked pop-ups in the browser or an extra two-factor step Airbnb requires during login. Disable pop-up blockers for the Smoobu domain and try again. Also make sure you're logging in as the primary account holder or a co-host with full permissions — restricted co-host access can't authorize third-party apps.
Rates on Airbnb differ from Smoobu
First confirm Smart Pricing is actually disabled in the Airbnb host account. Airbnb-side discounts (weekly, monthly, early-bird) can also be set directly on the listing — these get applied by Airbnb on top of the rate Smoobu pushes and are managed independently of Smoobu.
A booking landed as a double booking on Airbnb and another channel
This usually points to an old iCal connection still running in parallel. Check Settings → Channels for a leftover iCal entry alongside the Airbnb API connection for the same listing, and remove it. Then cancel the duplicate booking manually via Airbnb itself, not only in Smoobu.
Guest messages aren't arriving in the Smoobu inbox
The most common cause is a messaging permission that wasn't granted during the initial connection. Disconnect and reconnect under Settings → Channels → Airbnb, and in the Airbnb authorization window, confirm that access to messages is explicitly included.
Old, already-completed bookings are missing after connecting
Smoobu's initial sync usually only imports future and in-progress bookings, not already-completed stays. That's normal and doesn't affect future syncing — for tax or revenue reporting on past bookings, Airbnb's own export remains the more reliable source.
Note: menu labels in the Airbnb host interface change occasionally. The process described here (direct OAuth connection → listing mapping → disabling Smart Pricing) reflects the state as of July 15, 2026 — confirm the exact menu wording in your own Airbnb account before starting.