When travelling through Asia, especially China, having one platform that handles flights, trains, accommodation and attractions can remove a lot of stress. Trip.com is a China-owned and operated travel booking platform, which gives it a major advantage when booking transport and accommodation within the region. During our travels, it became one of the apps we used the most because it worked reliably where other platforms struggled.
This guide shares what Trip.com does well, where it fits best and when to use it alongside other booking platforms.
Table of Contents
What Is Trip.com & Why We Use It
Trip.com is an all-in-one travel booking platform offering
- Flights
- High-speed trains
- Accommodation
- Attractions and tours
- Airport lounge passes
Because it is China-based, it connects directly with local booking systems, offering better access to trains, clear English translations and strong customer support for travellers moving around Asia.
Reward Points & Lounge Passes
One of the best features of Trip.com is its reward points system.
You earn points for:
- Making bookings
- Writing reviews
Points can be used for:
- Accommodation discounts
- Attractions
- Airport lounge passes
The lounges are budget-friendly but comfortable, offering:
- Soft seating
- Snacks
- Hot drinks and beer
- Up to 2 hours access
No full meals, but far better than sitting at the gate.
Trains, Flights & Transport Booking
Trip.com is especially useful for transport booking, particularly in China.
Trains
- Real-time schedules
- English station names
- Mobile tickets linked to your passport
This avoids station queues and Chinese-only booking sites.
Flights
We booked all our flights through Trip.com and had only one issue, caused by China Southern changing schedules. Trip.com contacted us immediately and worked through the changes with us.
Tohu Tip: For a small fee, Trip.com’s flight insurance can reduce stress if changes happen.
Accommodation & Attractions
Trip.com offers a wide range of hotels and local stays, especially in Asian cities.
We booked most of our accommodation through Trip.com, but still used Booking.com when specific hotels were listed there. For us, both platforms work best together.
For attractions, Trip.com offers the same experiences you will find on Viator and GetYourGuide, making it easy to keep everything in one app.
Where possible, we sometimes book attractions through our accommodation to support them directly. Otherwise, Trip.com fills the gap well.
App Experience & Customer Support
The Trip.com app keeps everything in one place:
- Bookings
- Mobile tickets
- Travel reminders
Customer support is available 24/7 in English, and in our experience, responses were fast, clear and genuinely helpful.
When Trip.com Makes the Most Sense
Trip.com is ideal if you are:
- Travelling through Asia or China
- Booking high-speed trains
- Moving between multiple cities
- Wanting access to local accommodation
- Looking for a single travel app
For other regions, we still combine it with Booking.com, Viator and GetYourGuide.
Final Thoughts
Trip.com is not just another booking platform.
Its China-based system gives it a clear advantage for travel in Asia, especially for transport and local accommodation. Used alongside other trusted tools, it makes travel smoother and more enjoyable.
🔗 More China Travel Guides
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Explore all our China blogs in one place — from ancient towns and national parks to mega-cities and night markets.
👉Read all our China Destination Guides & China Travel Essentials Guides Here
🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.
- ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
- 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
- 🛏️ Stays – Compare hotels on Trip.com and TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
- 🚐 Rental Cars – Compare prices and book through Airport Rentals by Motorhome Republic for trusted brands and easy airport pickup.
- 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
- 🚆12Go Asia – Compare and book trains, buses, and ferries across Asia in one place with 12Go.
- 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
- 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
- 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
- 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
- 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.
🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.
“The real journey begins when planning feels exciting rather than stressful.”