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How do I show availability only (without taking bookings)?

You can show availability only by embedding the calendar without attaching a booking form. In WP Booking System, that means using the calendar shortcode with only the calendar ID (no form_id). Visitors will see available/unavailable dates, but they will not be able to submit a booking. This is useful if you take bookings by phone/email or if you want a “check availability” page before sending people to another booking channel.

On this page

1. What “availability only” means
2. What you’ll need
3. Step 1: Choose the calendar you want to display
4. Step 2: Embed the calendar without a form
5. Step 3: Customize how availability is displayed
6. Step 4: Add a clear call to action under the calendar
7. Common issues (and quick fixes)
8. Best practices (UX + SEO)
9. Mini FAQ

What “availability only” means

• Visitors can view which dates are available/unavailable.
• Visitors cannot submit bookings from the calendar (no booking form is shown).
• You decide what to do next (for example: “Contact us”, “Call now”, “Request a quote”, or “Book on Airbnb”).

What you’ll need

• WP Booking System installed and activated
• At least one calendar created in WP Booking System
• A WordPress page (or post) where you want the availability calendar to appear

Step 1: Choose the calendar you want to display

Each calendar should represent one resource (for example: Apartment A, Room 1, Service 1). Make sure you select the correct calendar so the availability shown matches what you want visitors to see.

1. Go to WP Booking System → Calendars.
2. Identify the calendar you want to display and note its ID.

Step 2: Embed the calendar without a form

To show availability only, embed the calendar without a form_id. This displays the calendar and legend, but no booking form will appear.

Shortcode (recommended)

[wpbs id="1"]

Replace id with your calendar ID.

Where to paste the shortcode

1. Gutenberg: add a Shortcode block and paste the shortcode.
2. Classic Editor: paste the shortcode in the editor (Text view is safest).
3. Elementor/other builders: add a Shortcode or Code element and paste the shortcode.

Step 3: Customize how availability is displayed

Availability-only pages work best when they are easy to read and match your page layout. You can control common display options directly in the shortcode.

Show multiple months

[wpbs id="1" display="2"]

This shows two months at once, which reduces scrolling for visitors checking longer stays.

Hide the title (if you already have a page heading)

[wpbs id="1" title="no"]

Hide the legend (only if your availability is obvious)

[wpbs id="1" legend="no"]

Example shortcode (practical availability-only layout)

[wpbs id="1" title="no" legend="yes" display="2"]

Step 4: Add a clear call to action under the calendar

An availability-only calendar should tell visitors what to do next, otherwise they may leave after checking dates.

• Add a contact button under the calendar (for example: “Request a booking” or “Contact us”).
• Explain your booking method (phone/email/WhatsApp/other platform) in one short sentence.
• If you require minimum stay, check-in days, or advance notice, mention it near the calendar to avoid confusion.

Common issues (and quick fixes)

I embedded the calendar but the booking form still shows

• Make sure your shortcode does not include form_id.
• If you used a builder widget that auto-attaches a form, switch to the shortcode method and use only [wpbs id="X"].

The calendar doesn’t show on the page

• Confirm the calendar ID is correct and the calendar exists.
• Clear caching and disable minification/optimization plugins temporarily to test.
• Make sure the plugin is active and you used a shortcode block/widget (not plain text).

Availability looks wrong (dates don’t match what I expect)

• Confirm you embedded the correct calendar (resource) and not another one.
• Check that the calendar availability was updated correctly (including any bulk edits).
• If you use external calendar sync (iCal), confirm the sync is configured and has imported the latest events.

Best practices (UX + SEO)

• Use a clear URL like /availability/ or /check-availability/ and link to it from your navigation.
• Add 1–2 sentences above the calendar explaining what the visitor is looking at and what “available” means on your site.
• Show at least two months (display=”2″) if you commonly get multi-night bookings.
• Place the contact method and response time directly under the calendar (for example: “We reply within 2 hours”).

Mini FAQ

Can I still collect booking requests if I show availability only?

Yes, but you would do it outside the calendar, for example with a normal contact form, a phone number, or a “Request booking” button that leads to a separate form page.

Can I show availability for multiple resources on one page?

Yes, but it can slow the page down and make it harder to read. For best results, use one resource per page or provide a clear layout with headings for each calendar.

What is the difference between availability-only and a full booking calendar?

Availability-only displays open/blocked dates but does not accept bookings, while a full booking setup attaches a form (form_id) so visitors can submit a booking request directly from the page.