What Is Trip.com?

Trip.com is the international brand of Trip.com Group, China’s largest online travel agency (formerly Ctrip). It operates flights, hotels, train tickets, vacation packages, activities, and even eSIM plans for travelers going to, from, or within Asia-Pacific. While Booking.com and Expedia have historically dominated Western markets, Trip.com has rapidly expanded globally and is now a serious competitor on price, especially for Asia travel.

In side-by-side comparisons across 2025 and 2026, Trip.com regularly comes in 10-25% cheaper than Booking.com or Expedia for flights and hotels in Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and China. Its edge comes from deep supplier relationships with Asian hotels and airlines, plus aggressive new-member discounts and a transparent cash-back rewards program called Trip Coins.

Trip Coins Rewards Program

Trip Coins is Trip.com’s loyalty currency. One Coin equals approximately US $0.01, and Coins are earned automatically on every booking. Unlike many hotel loyalty programs that only work for future stays at the same brand, Trip Coins can be redeemed against any product on the platform — flights, hotels, trains, or activities.

Key Features

• New-member discount: First-time users get up to 20% off their first hotel booking (typically capped at around $28).
• We Price Match: Find a lower price elsewhere and Trip.com matches or refunds the difference.
• App-only coupons: Flat coupons (e.g., €9 off) available only in the mobile app.
• China train tickets: One of the few OTAs where foreigners can book Chinese rail tickets in English.
• eSIM plans: Travel eSIMs available for instant data on arrival.
• 24/7 multilingual support: Customer service in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and more.
• Flash sales: 48-hour member-only deals up to 20-40% off select properties.

Trip.com vs. Booking.com

The two platforms target overlapping markets but diverge on price by region. Trip.com usually wins on Asia-Pacific flights and hotels, with reported savings of 10-25% on routes to Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and China. Booking.com is typically more competitive in Europe, the Middle East, and North America, with a broader Genius loyalty program.

For travelers booking Asia trips, Trip.com’s combination of lower base rates, new-member discounts, and Trip Coins makes it a strong first stop. For European city breaks or U.S. domestic trips, Booking.com’s Genius program and wider inventory often edge it out. The smart play is to search both — the 30 seconds of comparison can save you real money.

Pros & Cons

Who Should Use Trip.com?

• Asia-Pacific travelers booking flights or hotels in Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, or China.
• First-time users who want the new-member discount on their first booking.
• China travelers who need English-language train tickets or eSIM data.
• Loyalty-focused bookers who prefer transparent cash-back over brand-specific points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Trip.com legit?

Yes. Trip.com is the international brand of Trip.com Group (NASDAQ: TCOM), one of the largest travel companies in the world. It is fully licensed and publicly traded.

Is Trip.com cheaper than Booking.com?

For Asia-Pacific flights and hotels, often yes — typically 10-25% cheaper. For Europe and North America, prices are usually comparable, with Booking.com sometimes winning. Always compare both.

How do Trip Coins work?

Trip Coins are earned automatically on every booking (1-3% of booking value depending on tier). One Coin equals about $0.01 and can be redeemed against any Trip.com product, including flights and activities.

Can I book Chinese train tickets on Trip.com?

Yes. Trip.com is one of the few platforms where foreigners can book Chinese rail tickets in English with international payment methods.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Trip.com has emerged as one of the most compelling booking platforms for Asia-Pacific travel, combining genuinely lower prices with a transparent cash-back rewards program, a generous new-member discount, and unique features like Chinese train tickets and travel eSIMs. For travelers heading to Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, or China, it deserves a place in your comparison toolkit.

It is not yet the best choice for every region — Europe and North America remain Booking.com’s stronger turf — but for Asia trips, the combination of base-rate savings, Trip Coins, and Price Match makes it hard to beat. You can explore current Trip.com deals here.