HomeToGo: installation & settings

HomeToGo is a global vacation rental distribution network that helps properties reach millions of potential guests worldwide.

In our App Store you can read more about what HomeToGo can offer you.

How to install the app?

Go to the 'Available apps' index, and use the search bar to find the HomeToGo app. Click the 'Install app' button.
Read more: Getting started with BEX App integrations

After you have installed the app, register your organization with HomeToGo if you have not done so already.

If your administration already has an existing connection with HomeToGo via Belvilla or Interhome, a direct connection with HomeToGo can only be realized when your data is no longer synchronized by Belvilla or Interhome. So, you must first ask Belvilla or Interhome to stop this synchronization. Only then can HomeToGo be connected directly.

Complete the settings

1. Add advertiser

A HomeToGo advertiser contains one or more linked BEX administrations and global settings.

What you'll do:

  1. Click the Commands dropdown menu and select "Manage Advertisers"

  2. Click the '+Advertiser' button to add an advertiser.

    • Set the advertiser to active or inactive status

    • Advertiser ID: Adjust only after consultation with HomeToGo.

    • Select the language for the advertiser
      (Danish, German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, or Dutch)

    • Choose the default currency for pricing display

Important Information:

  • Each advertiser profile represents your properties in HomeToGo's system

  • The language and currency must match your target market

  • You can create multiple advertiser profiles with different languages and currencies

  • Only active advertisers will have listings on HomeToGo

  • Your payment provider must be able to handle payments in the advertiser currency.

What happens after: The setup needs to be completed by adding administrations and linked types. Proceed to add one or more administrations to this advertiser.

2. Add administration to an advertiser

What you'll do:

  1. From the "Manage Advertisers" page in the HomeToGo integration app: Select an advertiser you created earlier.

  2. Click "Linked administrations", and then the '+Linked administration' button to add a new administration.

    • Active/inactive status: To offer your types on HomeToGo, check this box.

    • Advertiser: This is the parent advertiser, and is already filled in.

    • Linked administration: Add the administration that you want to link.

    • Invoicing: Select how guest invoices are to be handled. Booking Experts Collect means you are responsible for invoicing, Advertiser Collect means HomeToGo is responsible for invoicing.
      Read more: The difference between Booking Experts Collect and Advertiser Collect

    • Cancellation policy: Select the cancellation policy that you have agreed on with HomeToGo.

    • Minimum age of the main booker (primary renter): The default is 18 years.

    • Safety margin: this safety margin is a buffer that reduces the chance of double bookings. The default setting is 1, you can leave this setting as it is.

Important Information:

  • An administration cannot be linked to more than one advertiser

  • The advertiser's set currency and language must be available for the administration

  • A new HomeToGo channel will be created for this administration if one doesn't already exist

  • Only administrations that the app has access to can be added (as selected upon installation of the integration app)

  • The cancellation policy applies to the amount the booker has paid at the time of cancellation, not the total amount of the reservation. Take this into account for your security deposit for the HomeToGo channel.

    • Strict: If cancelled > 60 days before the stay, 100% refund. If cancelled later than that, no refund

    • Firm: If cancelled > 60 days before the stay, 100% refund. If cancelled 60 - 30 days before the stay, 50% refund. If cancelled later than that, no refund.

    • Moderate: If cancelled > 30 days before the stay, 100% refund. If cancelled 30 - 14 days before the stay, 50% refund. If cancelled later than that, no refund.

    • Flexible: If cancelled > 14 days before the stay, 100% refund. If cancelled 14 - 7 days before the stay, 50% refund. If cancelled later than that, no refund.

What happens after: The setup needs to be completed by adding linked types. Proceed to add one or more types to this administration.

3. Add linked types to an administration

What you'll do:

  1. From the "Linked administrations" page in the HomeToGo integration app: Select an administration you created earlier.

  2. Click "Linked types", and then the '+Linked type' button to add a new type.

    • Active/inactive status: To offer this type on HomeToGo, check this box.

    • Linked type: Choose the type you want to link from the drop-down menu.

    • Description & Segment: Keep or overwrite. By checking 'Override', you can add a new description and/or segment, specifically for HomeToGo. If you do not do this, HomeToGo will adopt the description and segment as they are set in BEX PMS.

    • House rules: You can add additional house rules and/or restrictions that apply to your type. These will then be displayed in the HomeToGo advertisement under 'House Rules'.

Important Information:

  • Multiple types from the same administration can be linked.

  • Pricing and availability is always synchronized, if the type is published. Check the minimum content requirements for types.

  • Types for which the rent is not invoiced through BEX PMS cannot be published.

  • Synchronization starts after the type (as well as the parent administration and advertiser) are set to 'active'.

What happens after: Pricing updates are sent to HomeToGo daily, and availability changes are synchronized in real-time. Guest inquiries and bookings will appear in BEX PMS. Any later changes to HomeToGo bookings (e.g. departure date) will be communicated back to HomeToGo.

4. Minimum content requirements for types

HomeToGo requires listings to meet certain standards before they can be published. Perform the check from BEX PMS, by opening the relevant type and selecting 'HomeToGo: check type restrictions' from the 'Apps' dropdown.

  • Address details must be complete and accurate, including postal code and geolocation. The administration’s address may also be used, if this is the correct location.

  • A description of at least 400 characters (excluding HTML tags), in the advertiser language.

  • Short description of at least 20 characters, in the advertiser language. The short description is used as a 'headline' on the HomeToGo site, instead of the type name.

  • A minimum of 10 high-quality photos, at least HD format (1920x1080). Watermarks are not allowed.

  • The number of bedrooms specified in the type settings must be 1 or more, or left blank.

  • If the number of bathrooms specified in the type settings is left blank, HomeToGo will list it with 0 bathrooms.

  • Type amenities are synchronized, object-specific amenities are ignored.

  • If one of the objects does not allow pets, the entire type will be listed as 'no pets allowed'.

Daily operation

1. Check restrictions in case of issues

What you'll do:

  • Check administration restrictions: From anywhere in BEX PMS, select 'HomeToGo: check administration restrictions' from the 'Apps' dropdown in the green bar.

  • Check type restrictions: Open the relevant type and select 'HomeToGo: check type restrictions' from the 'Apps' dropdown on this page.

Important Information:

Limited synchronization of discounts

Discounts with guest group limits will not be applied to the HomeToGo channel. Only discounts for complex prices can be applied to the HomeToGo channel. Coupons, packages, or bundles will not be available for the HomeToGo channel.

Unsupported settings in mandatory cost items

If any of your mandatory costs is not synchronized properly due to one of the reasons below:

  1. Exclude the HomeToGo channel from that cost item by editing its applicability settings.

  2. Create a new, similar cost item specifically for HomeToGo that can be supported.

  • HomeToGo has two age groups: children (8 years and under) and adults (9 years and older). Your cost items for adults will also be applied to children older than 8 when booked through HomeToGo.

  • HomeToGo does not process a number of pets. Any cost items of the type 'Per pet' or 'Per pet per night' are always applied for 1 pet, if any pets are present.

  • Cost items that are not included in the all-in price, are not synchronized.

  • Ensure that all cost items related to cleaning have the type 'Cleaning costs'.

  • Cost items related to security deposits must have the type 'Deposit' and must be calculated per stay or per unit, or be percentage-based;

  • Cost items related to tourist tax must have the type 'Tourist tax'. This is important because the HomeToGo 'traveller service fee' and commission are calculated on the total amount minus deposit and tax (incl. VAT).

  • Mandatory cost items with a negative amount are not supported.

  • Planned price adjustments in cost items from a certain date are not synchronized. Only the current price is used, regardless of when the stay is.

2. Manually update pricing or availability for a type

  • Open the integration app for HomeToGo, and navigate to the correct linked type through the advertiser > linked administration > linked types.

  • Click the button for either 'Synchronize current pricing information' or 'Synchronize current availability'.

  • If these buttons cannot be used, the connection for this type (or its administration or advertiser) is not active.