Trip.com vs Booking.com: Which Travel Site Saves You More in 2025?

An Honest Take from a Frequent Traveler—Not a Bot or a Marketing Agency

“The consumer isn’t a moron. She’s your wife.”

— David Ogilvy

I've been on the road for years—booking trips across Asia, Europe, and North America. I’ve slept in capsule hotels in Tokyo, boutique apartments in Lisbon, and resort villas in Bali. I’ve missed flights, rebooked on the fly, and hunted down the best last-minute deals at 2 AM. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Where you book your travel makes a difference.

It’s not just about the cheapest price. It’s about support when things go sideways, rewards that actually matter, and ease-of-use when you're juggling layovers and Wi-Fi drops.

That’s why I decided to write this piece—comparing two of the biggest travel platforms in 2025: Trip.com and Booking.com.

Let’s cut the fluff and get into what really matters.

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🧭 Quick Comparison: Trip.com vs Booking.com at a Glance

✈️ Flights: Booking.com Doesn’t Even Try

Let’s start with something simple: Booking.com doesn’t offer flights.

If you want to book airfare, you’ll have to go elsewhere—Google Flights, Skyscanner, maybe your airline directly.

On the other hand, Trip.com is a full-service global flight platform.

It’s fast, intuitive, and often lists options from major carriers and budget airlines. I’ve personally booked over 20 flights through them.

Real example:

• In March 2025, I flew from Bangkok to Seoul:
• Roundtrip on Trip.com: $204
• Included: seat selection + luggage
• Bonus: I earned $12 in Trip Coins

👉 Winner for Flights: Trip.com. No competition.

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🏨 Hotels: West Favors Booking.com, East Favors Trip.com

This is where it gets interesting. Both sites offer millions of hotels globally—but the real difference is regional pricing and loyalty benefits.

Booking.com often wins in Europe and North America.

Their Genius program (more on that in a minute) unlocks good discounts if you’ve used them before.

But in Asia—think Japan, Thailand, Korea, or Vietnam—Trip.com consistently has better rates.

Real test:

• Tokyo hotel, 3 nights, 4 stars
• Trip.com: $298 (with Trip Coins and mobile voucher)
• Booking.com: $326 (with Genius discount)

👉 Winner: Trip.com in Asia-Pacific, Booking.com in the West

🎁 Rewards: Who Actually Gives You Something Back?

Let’s talk loyalty.

Trip.com uses Trip Coins, a kind of digital currency. You earn up to 5% back and can spend it like cash on future bookings. They also offer stackable coupons—especially during holidays or app promos.

Booking.com’s Genius Program gives flat-rate hotel discounts (10–15%), and higher levels unlock perks like breakfast, late checkout, and upgrades. But you don’t earn anything to spend later.

• It’s like this:
• Trip.com rewards active travelers.
• Booking.com rewards repeat hotel guests.

👉 Winner for Frequent Travelers: Trip.com

📱 Apps: One Feels Made for 2025, the Other Still in 2017

Trip.com’s app is simple, clean, and quick. It supports multiple languages and makes tracking flights, bookings, coins, and coupons easy—even on a weak Wi-Fi signal at a train station.

Booking.com’s app is powerful but often feels cluttered. Tons of notifications. Too many filters. And constant “only 1 room left!” urgency messages.

If you’re someone who travels light and fast—Trip.com’s app is a breath of fresh air.

👉 Winner for App Experience: Trip.com

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☎️ Customer Support: This One Might Shock You

You know what’s not fun?

Getting stuck in another country with a cancelled flight and no one to help you.

Trip.com has live chat support 24/7, in multiple languages. I once had a flight issue in Malaysia, messaged them, and had it resolved in under 10 minutes.

Booking.com often tells you to “contact the hotel directly.” You might as well send a paper letter.

👉 Winner for Support: Trip.com

🎟️ Bundles, Activities, & Full-Trip Booking

Booking.com is solid if you want a hotel.

Trip.com goes beyond that. You can book:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Trains
• Airport transfers

• Theme park tickets
• Day tours

And the best part? You can often bundle and save.

Example:

In February 2025, I booked:

• Bangkok → Osaka flight (RT)
• 6 nights in Osaka hotel
• Tickets to Universal Studios

• A Kyoto day tour

Trip.com total (with coupons): $1,048

Booking that all separately on Booking.com & Viator: $1,298

👉 Savings: Over $250. Winner: Trip.com

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🌍 Final Thoughts by Region

🧳 Bottom Line: What Should You Use?

If you mostly travel in the U.S. or Europe and only care about hotels, Booking.com will serve you well—especially if you’re a Genius member.

But if you want an all-in-one booking experience—flights, hotels, deals, rewards, activities, and actual customer service—then Trip.com is the better option in 2025.

I use both. But I start every search on Trip.com now.

🔗 Try Trip.com for yourself—get exclusive 2025 deals and app-only rewards here.