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What is TripAdvisor and How Does It Work?

Using online travel websites can sometimes be daunting, as you are constantly overwhelmed with information. That information is usually provided by hotels or property management staff, and so is sometimes dishonest or just not up to date. Deals are offered, showing images from other sections of a resort, to trick consumers into making quick purchases without fully researching where they are traveling.

Just a heads-up that some of the services we’re reviewing here have affiliate partnerships with us, so we may earn a commission if you visit one of them and buy something. You can read more about how this works at https://techboomers.com/how-to-support-techboomers .

Imagine a website that gives you information about accommodations straight from the travelers who have actually visited those places. You could learn everything about the experiences of people just like you before booking a stay at a hotel. You’d never again be disappointed by false advertising or misrepresentations of hotels! This is what you get with TripAdvisor, but what exactly is TripAdvisor?

TripAdvisor is an online travel information and booking website that has reviews, photographs, and informative forums about various hotels and resorts all over the world. Users review the places they’ve stayed at for other users, so you can learn everything about an accommodation before you book your stay there.

By visiting www.tripadvisor.com , you can search for a hotel you’re thinking of staying at, and learn everything about it from people who have stayed there previously. If you’re not sure where you want to go, you can also search areas and learn about all of the available accommodations nearby. That way, you can figure out where the best places to stay will be.

In this article, we’ll outline how TripAdvisor works, and how you can start using this website effectively to improve your travel and vacationing experiences.

How TripAdvisor works: 5 ways to get started

1. book travel with tripadvisor.

TripAdvisor is not actually itself a booking website. Instead, it began as a website that offered information about travel destinations. As it grew, TripAdvisor began partnerships with existing booking websites, so that it could add prices and availability to the information it presents its users.

You can view prices and see instantly the best deal with TripAdvisor partners, as well as the other available deals at the same price or higher. Click on any link to be taken directly to a partner website and book a vacation, knowing you have found the best deal!

2. Read TripAdvisor traveler reviews

TripAdvisor has millions of reviews written by everyday travelers just like yourself, so you can learn everything possible before making a decision about where to book your next vacation. Filter through reviews and select options that apply to your traveling lifestyle to find out which hotel will be perfect for you!

3. Help other users by writing your own review

After staying at a hotel, log back into TripAdvisor and make your own contribution! You can help other travelers avoid bad accommodations, or give them tips about the best places to stay on a resort (or the best time to visit the beach)! Anything you say will help future travelers, just as they helped you before you took your trip!

4. Instant message other travelers about their experiences

TripAdvisor offers its users a messaging service, so you can communicate with other TripAdvisor travelers. If you read a compelling review online or want more information from a traveler who has been where you’re going, feel free to click on their profile and message them. Learn as much as you can and feel free to ask questions or get tips from those who have done it before you!

5. Save your favorite places and locations

While browsing through TripAdvisor, you can save locations so that you can go back and view them again. This is a great tool, because it helps you remember places you’re interested in as you plan your trip. It can also keep a record of the places you’ve been, so you never forget!

That’s our introduction to TripAdvisor and how it works! In the rest of our TripAdvisor course , we’ll review TripAdvisor, we’ll show you how to sign up for a free account, how to use all of the functions of the website, and much more. Consider reading our next article on how to stay safe while using TripAdvisor.

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• How your TripAdvisor ranking is calculated (and how to improve it)

23 January, 2024

With 490 million monthly users reading 1 billion Tripadvisor reviews and traveller opinions, Tripadvisor has more than earned its place in the hospitality industry. You can’t afford to not show up on your guest’s next search, but how do the Tripadvisor rankings and review scores work, and what can you do to leverage your listing to your advantage? 

Tripadvisor has adapted over the years, introducing new ways of ranking and sorting properties. All aim to improve the guest's experience when searching for hotels. With various algorithm updates, Tripadvisor has finetuned the weighting of various factors such as location, booking popularity, pricing, availability, bubble ratings, and the Popularity Index (more on this later) when determining properties’ scoring and ranking. 

Tripadvisor's Popularity Index 

The ranking of each property is heavily influenced by the Tripadvisor Popularity Index , a carefully crafted algorithm that aims to predict, based on scores and consistency of past reviews, what level of experience a property is likely to provide to a guest.   

Want to learn more about managing your listing? Check out our Guide to Tripadvisor

The purpose of the Popularity Index is to present travellers with the best options first, ensuring that their experience of the Tripadvisor website is useful and positive. It is important to note that the bubble rating is only one of the factors which influences the Popularity Index. Your popularity index is calculated from three factors:

Quality of reviews: The bubble rating given by travellers in reviews and is reflected in a single score of 1-5 based on a summary of both the written reviews and the overall score given by your guests. 

Quantity of reviews: The number of reviews your property has

Recency of reviews: How recently your reviews were submitted

As it stands, the Popularity Index values consistency in score, recency and volume of reviews, it is, therefore, possible for hotels with a lower bubble rating to sometimes rank above hotels with a better bubble rating. Exactly how each of these factors is weighted, only Tripadvisor knows, but as an astute hotelier, you should focus on improving all of them.

The Popularity Ranking algorithm is designed to provide a statistical measure of confidence about the current experience at a business. As we accumulate more reviews on a business over time, we have more insight into the potential experience consumers can expect. Once we've reached a critical mass of reviews, we're able to more accurately predict that business's ranking. – Tripadvisor

It is also important to note that Tripadvisor’s Popularity Index takes into account other related businesses when determining a property's ranking, so your property will be ranked in comparison to the other similar properties in your geographical area. Therefore, this ranking is always in flux, as one property moves up or down in ranking it will affect all of the other properties in the area, similarly as businesses receive reviews it can change the ranking of not just their property but yours as well.

Additionally, depending on which sorting option is selected, rankings can vary considerably. There are currently three main ways of sorting properties:

Ranking and sorting variations

1. best value.

The default sorting option is what Tripadvisor calls “Best Value”. This ranking algorithm collates a multitude of data points available to Tripadvisor including review ratings, pricing, availability, and the specific user’s preferences and recent activity on the site. This sorting option is very detailed and personalised and can deliver different ranking orders to different users. Sorting results by “Best Value” will bring up all properties that match the user's search criteria, regardless of type (i.e. Hotels, Lodges, B&Bs & Inns etc.). 

Only Tripadvisor knows the exact nuances of this algorithm, but what we do know is that the ranking here is influenced by the hotel's bubble rating and the Popularity Index, and can therefore be improved to an extent by working on the Popularity Index factors. Tripadvisor also offers paid promotional options for listing your property first, before the actual ranking list starts. 

2. Traveller Ranked

Tripadvisor users can also choose to sort results by “Traveller Ranked”, which will rank properties according to the Tripadvisor Popularity Index. This ranking is based on the ratings given to properties by travellers in individual reviews, as well as the volume, recency, and consistency of reviews. This score is the best indicator of how your guest experience compares to your competitors in the eyes of guests. 

It is important to note here that the default setting on Tripadvisor’s “Traveller Ranked” sorting will only include hotels. However, users can filter by property type to discover “Traveller Ranked” properties in each category – Hotels, Lodges, B&Bs & Inns, and so on. There are occasionally discrepancies between the total number of properties in a category on the Tripadvisor website and on their app. This appears to be because the browser version excludes properties with no reviews, while the app includes these in the total count. 

3. Distance to city centre

Sorting by “Distance to city centre” will sort the listings by proximity to the centre, taking into account availability data Tripadvisor gets from booking partners. 

Improving your Tripadvisor ranking

In a nutshell, and according to Tripadvisor itself, “Popularity Ranking is based on user feedback, consistently collecting new, high-quality reviews — that reflect levels of service and value that meet expectations — is the best way for businesses to improve their position over time.”

In other words, to improve your overall rating and ranking you need to look at improving all three of the popularity index factors: quality of reviews, the quantity of your reviews, their recency and their consistency. 

QUALITY 

Unfortunately, there are no easy digital tips and tricks for this one, the quality of reviews is determined by good old-fashioned hospitality – how happy your guests are with the experience they are receiving. While there is no surefire way to guarantee top reviews, you can use your historical guest feedback to ensure that your future guests have the best possible experience. This can be in the form of fixing small hiccups in individual rooms or making significant upgrades based on consolidated guest feedback. 

In addition to improving your service offering based on insights from guests, hoteliers should also be mindful of setting the correct expectations. Often, less-than-satisfactory reviews stem from a discrepancy between what the guest expects and what they experience. These gaps can be minimised by looking at guest feedback, adjusting marketing efforts to accurately depict what guests can expect, and targeting your hotel marketing to the customer groups which best suit your property’s offerings. 

QUANTITY 

One of the challenges hoteliers face is getting these satisfied, but not overwhelmed, customers to leave reviews. People post reviews about experiences that they find exceptional, whether that be exceptionally good or exceptionally bad, while acceptably pleasant experiences go unreported.

The number of reviews you get can be bolstered by implementing some simple tools and tricks (but make sure you don't fall on the wrong side of the rules of online review sites ). You need to ensure that you’re asking every guest to leave a review after their stay, and giving them as many opportunities to do so as easily as possible. 

This can be in the form of a QR code positioned around the hotel, or an email reminder designed to prompt the guest to leave you a review. According to a BrightLocal study , “65% of consumers left reviews in response to requests from a business”, so we can see that just asking helps generate reviews. Ideally, you should make it as simple as possible for guests to voice their feedback and to automatically load this onto Tripadvisor. For instance, thanks to our Platinum Partner status , GuestRevu surveys can include an embedded Tripadvisor review section, which allows guests to post a review to Tripadvisor without logging in or even being a member of the site. This has led to many of our clients seeing a significant increase in the volume of thier Tripadvisor reviews. 

The older a review is on Tripadvisor the less weight it carries in your overall scoring, so hoteliers need to have a strategy to actively garner feedback from their guests. Having a Tripadvisor account but not having an online reputation management strategy can often lead to more frustration than joy from the online platform. Whereas those properties who actively request feedback often find that their online reputation can significantly boost their bookings and ultimately their bottom line.

Consistency

These three elements; quality, quantity and recency, work together over time to shape a business's Popularity Ranking. To put it simply, if you consistently receive positive reviews, your ranking will be higher than a property with a mix of glowing and less favourable feedback. Moreover, recent reviews, especially when there's a high volume of them, hold more significance than those from years prior. So, maintaining a positive and current reputation is key to climbing up the ranking ladder. 

Your ranking isn't all that matters

You might be ranked first in your area or you might be ranked hundredth, but remember that people, not numbers, stay at your hotel. You have to be a person as well, someone who is part of the conversation, you have to respond to your reviews.

This does not mean only responding to those reviews which sing your praises, although a ‘Thank-you’ and ‘Hope to see you again’ obviously go a long way in showing appreciation. The real test will come in managing your negative reviews – and manage you must because should you hide or ignore them, you’re going to miss out on the 85% of TripAdvisor users who say that a properly managed response to a negative review actually improves their impression of the establishment.

Make sure you engage, frequently and thoughtfully. As mentioned, management responses are invaluable, but so too is current content. Make sure your listing content is up-to-date and consider seasonal adjustments to ensure you are really appealing to travellers who are thinking about booking right now. Photos are extremely important, especially of the inside of your property so it’s worthwhile investing in some great shots. — Sally Davey, former Head of Industry Relations at TripAdvisor

With a sound reputation management strategy you should be able to put your best foot forward on Tripadvisor and benefit from the increased exposure, boosted popularity and ultimately improve your bottom line. 

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How TripAdvisor’s Algorithm Works & How to Rank Higher

Reading guest reviews has become a standard process in the travel shopping journey. 95% of travelers read travel reviews when planning a trip and 76% of travel shoppers believe that online reviews provide valuable insight. When looking for hotel reviews, most travel shoppers turn to TripAdvisor.

According to comScore, TripAdvisor is the most visited travel website in the world with almost 67 million unique monthly visitors . And new content is constantly being uploaded to the site; users write an average of 280 new reviews every minute !

TripAdvisor is therefore an important channel for hoteliers to keep an eye on. But more than that, there are certain things you can do to ensure your hotel ranks higher on TripAdvisor and attracts more guests. In this article we outline how TripAdvisor’s Popularity Ranking algorithm works and what you can do to improve your ranking.

TripAdvisor’s Popularity Ranking Algorithm

Last year, TripAdvisor made changes to their Popularity Ranking algorithm in an attempt to improve fairness and accuracy. Due to the speed at which travelers are sharing their experiences on the site, TripAdvisor had seen many new properties skyrocket to the top of the rankings based on a relatively small number of 5-bubble reviews. Over time, these “fast risers” would settle into more stable, accurate rankings as more reviews were submitted. However, during this transition period, consumers may not have been seeing the most accurate rankings for their destination. So TripAdvisor changed things.

Like all tech giants, TripAdvisor won’t divulge all the details of how their algorithm works, but we do know the 3 main factors that determine your TripAdvisor ranking.

All other things being equal, the hotel with higher review scores will rank higher. TripAdvisor uses a 5 bubble rating system, instead of stars. Hotels with 4 & 5 bubble ratings will appear higher than hotels with 1 & 2 bubble ratings.

In order to provide a better sense of the experience at a hotel, TripAdvisor gives more recent reviews a higher value than older ones. Your hotel must constantly be meeting guests’ expectations to continue ranking well. Travel shoppers looking to book a hotel don’t care what staying at your hotel was like 5 years ago, they want to know what they can expect if they stayed with you tomorrow.

3. Quantity

This part of the algorithm directly addresses the issue of “fast-risers” on TripAdvisor based off a few glowing reviews. There needs to be volume in these 5-bubble reviews too. That being said, having a couple more reviews than your competitor isn’t going to make much of a difference. TripAdvisor is simply looking for enough reviews to deliver a statistically meaningful comparison to other properties. So a hotel with 165 reviews won’t automatically rank higher than a hotel with 150 reviews over the same period. They both have enough reviews to provide meaning.

How to Improve Your TripAdvisor Ranking

So now that you know how the TripAdvisor algorithm works, how can you improve your ranking? Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. It is a long game that requires consistent attention. However, by adopting some simple strategies, over time you should see your ranking improve.

Set Expectations

Guest’s don’t expect the same experience at a roadside motel as they would at a 5-star resort. Make sure that guests know what to expect from your property before they book. Upload images to your TripAdvisor property page. This not only ensures you’re setting the right expectations, but research has shown that adding photos results in 138% more engagement from travelers, and properties with at least one photo see a 225% increase in the likelihood of a booking inquiry.

Invest in Your Staff

Your staff are the ones interacting with your guests every day. It’s important that they’re passionate and have a positive attitude. One unpleasant guest interaction can lead to a negative review. So spend the time and effort creating a guest-centric culture. Your employees should be your most valuable asset.

Get Ahead of Negative Reviews

Mistakes will happen, and guests will eventually have complaints. By addressing and resolving these complaint immediately, you can turn a negative into a positive. Don’t wait for a guest to become dissatisfied. Be proactive and ask guests how they’re enjoying their stay. They may have a minor issue that doesn’t warrant a complaint, but you can easily address. Empower your staff to go the extra mile and you will see more positive reviews flow in.

Encourage Guests to Leave Reviews

When guests checkout encourage them to leave a review of your property. You would be surprised how many guests would never think to write one. However, do not offer any sort of incentive for leaving a review as TripAdvisor views this as fraud and your ranking will actually be lowered.

Monitor & Respond to Reviews

You should be constantly monitoring the reviews you receive on TripAdvisor. Treat them as learning opportunities to find out where you excel and where you can improve. Make sure you quickly respond to any negative reviews, ideally within 24 hours. While this doesn’t directly improve your ranking, it sets the expectation for future guests that any issues will be addressed, which can actually help drive bookings!

TripAdvisor & Vizlly

TripAdvisor reviews are an important part of the travel shopping journey. You know travel shoppers will seek them out, so why not make it easy for them? TripAdvisor offers several widgets you can embed on your website to pull your TripAdvisor reviews in. This ensures you keep travel shoppers engaged on your website, increasing the likelihood they will book directly.

In addition, hotel websites powered by Vizlly include smart navigation elements designed to lead travel shoppers further down the booking path to your booking engine.

Want to learn more about the importance of providing social proof to drive more bookings? Watch the on-demand video of our Digital Marketing Conference featuring: Ellis Connolly, Chief Revenue Officer for TrustYou and Charlie Osmond, Chief Tease for Triptease.

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10 Insider tips for evaluating TripAdvisor reviews

Evaluating TripAdvisor reviews is often more art than science.  

To plan a vacation, people around the globe are increasingly seeking out insider tips and recommendations from online review sites.  With travel sites in 21 languages and a collection of more than 500 million user-generated traveler reviews, it’s not surprising that TripAdvisor leads the pack.

In fact, TripAdvisor reviews have changed the travel landscape dramatically by giving travelers a public platform on which they can gripe about a lumpy mattress, an overcooked entree, an unexpected fee, or lackluster service. But even the most savvy traveler needs to do due diligence to get the most out of TripAdvisor—or any other online review site.

Earlier this year, New York Times’ frugal traveler, Seth Kugel, penned a column about TripAdvisor that provoked hundreds of reader comments. I’ve culled advice from those comments (and added some of my own) to help you evaluate the reviews you read. Here are 10 insider tips for using Trip Advisor reviews:

1) Look for trends

Don’t be swayed by one or two reviews that are either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. Take the time to read multiple reviews and look for consistent trends.

2) Check dates and timing

Things change. If you are looking at old TripAdvisor reviews, the problems may have been experienced under different management or before a more recent renovation.

Sequence is an important indicator, too.  Bad reviews followed by good ones are more reassuring than good ones followed by bad.

Also, see whether the visits took place during the same season when you plan to travel. Perceptions of a seaside resort in winter may be totally different than in the height of the season.

3) Pay attention to specifics rather than global judgments

Look for useful details. If someone hated (and poorly rated) a hotel because the walls are paper thin, that is more informative than an individual simply saying he/she wasn’t able to sleep.

4) Look for outliers and negative reviews

Pay specific attention to major shortcomings that may compromise your stay. However, recognize that an especially harsh review may simply reflect the mood of a grumpy reviewer or a competitor. You can vet the negative reviewer’s comments by looking at other reviews by the same individual.

5) Evaluate the experience of the reviewer

Give more weight to experienced reviewers. The comments of a seasoned traveler are generally more helpful than someone who rarely travels. Additionally, in the case of restaurants, you may want to give more credence to the experiences of reviewers who are local and know the gastronomic terrain.  

6) Know thyself

Not everyone is looking for the same type of experience. For example, if you are a backpacker, you may be more interested in hostels reviewed by backpackers than hostels dissed by luxury travelers.

Additionally, don’t forget that people of different backgrounds, ages, socioeconomic status, etc. may have different travel expectations, perceptions, and preferences.

7) Evaluate the responsiveness of management

When a negative review appears, does management make a credible attempt to apologize or explain what happened? Or, do they spill out a boilerplate apology or even worse, make believe Trip Advisor doesn’t exist?

8) Check the forums

If you have unanswered questions, check out the forums on Trip Advisor where members may have raised the same concerns and where you can pose new questions.

Don’t hesitate to contact reviewers and commenters to ask them questions as well.

9) Don’t forget to look at the photos

Publicity shots on property websites can be deceiving. On the other hand, photographs taken by real people offer a better glimpse at what a room really looks like. For example, a picture with two suitcases on the floor and toiletries in the bathroom will allow you to better gauge space (or lack thereof) than a room that is staged and photographed with a wide angle lens.  

10) Don’t rely solely on one review site.

While TripAdvisor, the largest and most popular review site, is a wonderful source of crowd-sourced information, check out other edited review sites (e.g. Frommer’s, Fodor’s, Lonely Planet and Zagat) where experts weigh in. Also scour books and websites to be a better-informed and more satisfied traveler. I hope you’ll drop in here, too:-)

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11 Comments

Great tips. I like to narrow things down using Frommers and Fodors then I go to Tripadvisor to read the reviews. I also find that it is helpful to come see what restaurants, attractions are hotel in the top 10 on Tripadvisor. Sometimes these are never mentioned in other guidebooks.

Great idea to look at the Top 10 list, Brette! Thanks~

Thanks, Irene, very informative.

When planning a trip, i research destinations first, go to their website and do some snooping and, then, my very last process is to check out my short list on TripAdvisor to see if I’ve missed anything. One thing that concerns me about Tripadvisor is that one bad review can move a company to the next page of listings thus hurting the company’s visibility. That’s why so many bed and breakfasts, small inns and smaller hotels have become almost aggressive in requesting good views from clients.

Destination websites can be very informative but my experience has been that when it comes to comparing properties or restaurants, for example, everyone gets equal weight. There is no substitute for doing your homework before a trip~

One can also email the reviewers directly for further information and comments. I have been emailed several times by folks who read my reviews and then want further information or to ask specific questions as they relate to their trip.

Thanks for your helpful comment, Florence! It’s a great suggestion.

As the owner of a B&B – I’d like to offer my two cents about the outlier comments… take them with a grain of salt. When you find a property that has 100+ excellent reviews and 2 poor and/or 3 average – read those reviews but take them with a grain of salt. If 50, 60, 80, 100 people found a property to be excellent, then there is a very good chance that the poor or average review was written by someone who simple decided they’re going to set everyone straight, Ha! And when you read those reviews pay close attention to what the critique is focused on – when I read them I quite often can detect between the lines what was really the issue and 9 times out of 10 there was absolutely nothing the lodging facility could have done about it. Again, just my two cents.

Agree totally! I try not to pay too much attention to outliers unless they make very specific complaints that are important to me~

I love reading reviews and usually I average them out, if there are more positives than negatives then it usually is a worth try for me. Thanks for the tips.

Your suggestion to know something about the reviewer is a good one. One person’s luxury splurge is another’s moderately priced accommodation. Some hotel rooms my husband and I were perfectly happy with on our first trip together in 1981, we would find cringeworthy now.

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Reviews 4.2.

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New to me but very good.

Hadn't heard of Trip before needing to book some internal flights in SE Asia. Skyscanner listed them as the cheapest option and in a couple of cases I couldn't buy direct anyway so booked three flights with them. All worked perfectly. App was v good with details about aircraft type, baggage allowance and punctuality. Was reassured to see their logo everywhere when we arrived at Bangkok. Will use again

Date of experience : April 10, 2024

Reply from Trip.com

Hi Graham Hollebon, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback. We appreciate your effort in writing a review for us. At Trip.com, we are committed to providing our customers with the best deals and offers in the market, and we are pleased to hear that you find them interesting and affordable. We will continue to work hard to improve our services and provide even more competitive deals for our customers. We hope that you will continue to use our app/website and find a deal that suits your needs. Thank you once again for choosing Trip.com, and we look forward to serving you in the future. Best regards, Natalie Trip.com

Real --- Apps Trip. for my travel needs

Hi to my super Apps Trip. Thank you so much for the fastest bookings on almost all of transportation needs, attractions, hotels. Also, for the customer Service , It was amazed me for the quick actions when there are any changes on our schedule of travel while we are on the go.

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Hi Patrick WONG, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive comment. We are delighted to hear that you had a smooth booking experience with us. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we are committed to providing you with the best possible service. Our user-friendly application/website is designed to provide you with a range of options to plan your desired travel or vacation. We will continue to improve our services to ensure that you have the best possible experience with us. Thank you once again for choosing Trip.com, and we look forward to embarking on a beautiful journey with you soon. Best regards, Emilia Trip.com

Using this app is easy and convenient

Using this app is easy and convenient. I've booked flights to China and hotels in China and so far so good. This app sends reminders and important details of my bookings at good timing. Cost wise is reasonable and yes, I certainly would recommend to family and friends for travel to China.

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

Hi PL, Thank you for providing your feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you find our APP/Website convenient for our customers. Rest assured, we are committed to maintaining this level of service and striving to offer even more competitive deals and promotions to enhance the experience for our customers. Your continued support means a lot to us, and we can't wait to serve you on your future journeys with us. Thank you once again for choosing us. Best regards, Layla Trip.com

Some feedback after I stayed at the hotel

Kind of older TV device and TV channels. Extra bed may not fitting into your room, for my situation，the bed only fits perfectly after I let the staff take off the bed frame/ bedstead and only put the mattress between the area of bed and the window(it's the biggest and the only space for fitting the bed inside the room). Toilet paper were thinner and softer than normal toilet paper that we can buy at general shop, supermarket or store. For the room I stay this time, the water flow of sink is slower and seems have some blockage inside the pipeline which make the water flow that drain away become slower than usual. Maybe harder to find a car park when it's at the peak period of day or time.

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Hi YAN RUI/WONG, Thank you for your feedback. Please be advised that we have taken note of your review and forwarded it to the hotel management. Please know that we encourage any review for our improvement. Also, know that we intend to continue providing good service to all our customers by striving to improve every day. Thank you for your time! Have a wonderful day! Regards, Mavic Trip.com

Today, I canceled my booking flight No. 31602109091/31602996195 because of trip.com team alerted me to cancel it because they told me that it was a name error. I already canceled my booking flight. However, I received many emails with different meanings. I hope I can get my full refund money by next week. Thank you very much for your kind cooperation.

Hi KH-Chanserey Yin, Thank you for the time to leave this lovely review. We are grateful that you shared your experience with our customer support. Please know that we are striving every day to provide the best customer experience to our customers. Your feedback motivates us to continue our best practices and exceed our customer's expectations. We look forward to our next trip with you. Thank you for choosing us. Have a wonderful day. Best regards, Layla Trip.com

Mr Pan, an excellent Tourist Guide

Mr. Pan is a nice Tour Guide. He is a very caring and responsible guide. We enjoyed his guided tour very much. He elaborated the tour well all the way. I would recommend friends and relatives to join his guided tour in the future. Overall, he delivered an excellent service. Rate: 10/10 Satisfied Tourists, Tan

Date of experience : March 31, 2024

Hi MING, Thank you for your kind words. We are so glad to hear that you are satisfied with our service. Here at Trip.com, we strive to provide the best customer service experience possible and your feedback is invaluable to us. We look forward to continuing to provide you with great service in the future. Best regards, Ariana Trip.com

The best booking app from our experience over several years

Trip.com not only manages to give the best rates (better than booking.com) in comparison to so many others (sometimes even better than hotels own booking platforms), but the entire UX of the app and booking + confirmation is delightful. They also have trip coins, where every booking makes you earn, but also every review makes you earn that I’ve redeem for future bookings (making it better than TripAdvisor). It’s a community in making and I’ve become a Diamond member already with more benefits.

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

Hi Rohit, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive comment. We are delighted to hear that you had a smooth booking experience with us. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we are committed to providing you with the best possible service. Our user-friendly application/website is designed to provide you with a range of options to plan your desired travel or vacation. We will continue to improve our services to ensure that you have the best possible experience with us. Thank you once again for choosing Trip.com, and we look forward to embarking on a beautiful journey with you soon. Best regards, Ellie Trip.com

Great Service, but Currency needed!

Overall I was very happy with the service I received. the fact that I could pay on the app/site and have it confirmed is great rather than arriving at the venue and still having to pay. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is that I was unable to pay in my country's currency. Considering I'm booking for places in my country, and there are countless venues that I could choose from, I'm not sure why you wouldn't have their (and my) currency on the site.

Hi Jerryn /Fosteras, Thank you for your precious time to leave this comment. We also appreciate your point of improvement. Rest assured, we are working constantly to improve our service. Know that we intend to continue providing excellent service to all our customers by striving to improve every day. Please continue to use our website or app to find the best deals suitable for your needs. Please know that we value your feedback as it motivates us to improve every day. Thank you for your time! Have a wonderful day! Best regards, Jess Trip.com

Thank you to Trip.com for Fantastic Customer Service

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Scarlztt in the Customer Services /Customer success team at Trip.com who promptly responded to an issue I had with purchasing a railcard via the Trip.com app Scarlett was helpful and ensured that my complaint was dealt with satisfactorily and promptly Thanks again

Date of experience : March 29, 2024

Hi Chris Hannon, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with such a wonderful review. We appreciate you sharing your experience with our customer support. Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences, and your feedback serves as a great source of motivation for us to maintain our high standards and exceed our customers' expectations. We are grateful for your choice in selecting our services, and we hope you have a fantastic day. Best regards, Madeline Trip.com

Trip.com has the best and best customer service…

Trip.com has the best and best customer service team, they take care of their customers very well, originally it was airline mistake but still trip.com offered me help and resolved my issue, I will never forget the helping hand of trip.com at this time

Hi Traveller, We greatly appreciate the time you've taken to share this review. We are delighted to hear about your positive experience with our customer support team. We deeply understand the importance of delivering exceptional customer service, and we strive tirelessly each day to provide an unmatched experience for our customers. Your feedback is an inspiration for us to continue our unwavering commitment to providing the best services and exceeding the expectations of our valued customers. Once again, we express our gratitude for choosing us, and we sincerely hope you have a truly fantastic day. Best regards, Emilia Trip.com

This is a very good place to stay…

This is a very good place to stay conviently while travelling in greatwall, hub of the city and ancient citynof Beijing. Easy to access by Metro line 5. Close to Beijing Olympic Village. Restuarents and shopping areas are nearby. Staff is very friendly and supportive and we stayed three days with nice experiences.

Hi Rukmal Nishantha/Weerasinghe, Thank you so much for your time in leaving this positive review. I am delighted to know that you are satisfied with your stay. Our user-friendly application/website is designed to provide you with a range of options to plan your desired travel or vacation. We will continue to improve our services to ensure that you have the best possible experience with us. Thank you once again for choosing Trip.com, and we look forward to embarking on a beautiful journey with you soon. Best regards, Avery Trip.com

Never would I book with these con…

Never would I book with these con artists again be careful when you’re picking your flights they were say departure flight from Gatwick and the next one will be return flight to London if you think oh I will be going back to Gatwick no you won’t. You’ll go back to a completely different airport, then buying the luggage through these jokers just do not bother wait and book with the airline. You should always just book with the airlines not these jokers. Nothing’s ever refundable they use trickery they’re not trustworthy horrible

Dear Philip Hare, We acknowledge your concern and appreciate you bringing it to our attention. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and assure you that we will check it further and reach out to you directly. Your feedback is of great importance to us, and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness. We thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter. Best regards, Angelina Trip.com

Add confirmed email to Google calendar.

If booking confirmed email is appointment type like the Air Asia apps. It's can automatic add to Google calendar. Increase convenient to visible. You'll the best. 💪

Hi CHATCHAI KONGBUASORN, Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to learn that you had a seamless booking experience. Your satisfaction motivates us to keep improving our services. Your continued support means a lot to us, and we can't wait to serve you on your future journeys with us. Thank you once again for choosing us. Best regards, Angelina Trip.com

We had experienced this hotel many…

We had experienced this hotel many years ago. Environment of the hotel look more pleasant including swimming pool trees and many others.Hotel buildings may be look a bit old need more attention to repair

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Hi Panom , Thank you so much for your time in leaving this positive review. I am delighted to know that you are satisfied with your stay. Our user-friendly application/website is designed to provide you with a range of options to plan your desired travel or vacation. We will continue to improve our services to ensure that you have the best possible experience with us. Thank you once again for choosing Trip.com, and we look forward to embarking on a beautiful journey with you soon. Best regards, Morgan Trip.com

The customer service on Trip.com is…

The customer service on Trip.com is above and beyond my expectation. This platform really knows how to service customers...a human and personal touch. Very very responsive. It's quite extraordinary actually. Platforms usually drive me mad going round in circles or hopeless customer service bots...but not Trip. The more I use them, the more I like them. In this case, the airline changed my ticket three times. The third time I took Trips offer of free cancellation. Sally Xiao from Trip contacted me almost immediately and explained what will happen and what I need to do. I wish the airlines were as caring and responsive as Sally and Trip are. First class Sally...I hope Trip give you due reward and recognition for your service excellence to customers! If you havent tried Trip.com, I strongly suggest you give them a try. And their customer care is quite phenomenal in todays world. You wont be disappointed!

Hi Jame B, Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a fantastic review. We truly value hearing about your experience with our customer support team. Providing exceptional customer service is of utmost importance to us, and we make every effort to deliver an unmatched experience to our customers. Your feedback encourages us to continue our dedication to providing the best services and going above and beyond to exceed the expectations of our valued customers. Once again, we express our gratitude for choosing us, and we hope you have a wonderful day. Best regards, Ella Trip.com

Some suggestions to the team

This app really helpful. But one thing is . I hope the app got the hotel latest update. Last time when I go penang. I book the wassup youth hostel via this app. But the hostel in under renovation. The price is still expensive. Trip.com still put in recommend place . This time furama swimming pool is closed and under maintenance. Trip.com no update to me also. So I hope next time when I find a place with facilities. Trip.com can update the hotel with latest news. Not under maintenance or renovation place.

Hi YONG CHUNG/HO, Thanks for your feedback. It's great to hear that you appreciate the convenience our APP/Website brings to our customers. We are dedicated to maintaining this level of service and continuously improving to provide even better deals and offers for our customers. We truly value your continued support and are excited to be of service on your next journey with us. Thank you again for choosing us. Best regards, Kaitlyn Trip.com

Good experience

So far so good. I am happy to get a good deal and everything run smooth, even after i erroneously interchange my first name and last name while booking, when i requested for modification, it is instant and i did not even bat an eye! Thank you!

Hi Jan Gzmn, Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We genuinely appreciate you sharing your experience with our customer support. At our company, we are committed to delivering excellent customer experiences every day. Your feedback motivates us to maintain our best practices and go above and beyond to exceed our customer's expectations. We are eagerly looking forward to our next trip with you, and we thank you for choosing us. Have a wonderful day. Best regards, Victoria Trip.com

Trip.com is not safe apps for booking! they scam your money and waste your time . I higly recommended use Agoda , even the agoda is have non-cancellation policy if your reason is valid they can refund

Trip.com is not safe apps for booking! they scam your money and waste your time when you contact the support. I higly recommended use Agoda , even the agoda is have non-cancellation policy if your reason is valid, they can a full refund. And the customer support is fast smooth. For me best to use Agoda for future issue booking they responsible , aware and understanding consider you situation.

Dear book here, We appreciate your effort in bringing this matter to our attention. We apologize sincerely for any inconvenience caused. Please be assured that we will check it further and reach out to you directly. Your feedback is highly valued, and we are taking it seriously. We thank you for your patience and understanding in this concern. Best regards, Ariana Trip.com

Fast, efficient , competitive and easy to use the app!!

Great company offering excellent service that can’t be beaten . Have used Trip very many time in the last 12 months for international and within Asia

Date of experience : March 01, 2024

Hi Geoff, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We appreciate the effort and time you took to write a review for us. Please rest assured that we are fully committed to consistently providing our customers with captivating yet affordable offers found in the market. We encourage you to continue using our app/website, as there may be a deal that perfectly caters to your preferences. Again, thank you for your valuable feedback, and we hope you have a wonderful day. Best regards, Skylar Trip.com

All good, easy access to hotel booking with good discounted price but not all though. Overall I am happy with trip com hotel booking experience.

Date of experience : April 03, 2024

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Is Trip.com Legit? [Unbiased Review For 2023]

Travel has have been made easier to access for the past few years through online travel agencies. One of these online travel agencies is Trip.com. It’s quite well known due to it’s discounts on hotel reservations, flights, and other travel-related services.

In this review, we will take a deep dive into Trip.com to find out what it is about, how it works and whether it is the right fit for you. We will also look at other people’s experiences with the company and finally determine if trip.com is legit.

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Trip.com Review

Table of Contents

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What is Trip.com?

Trip.com is an international online travel agency that offers travel services to help you plan and book your perfect trip. It is owned by by Trip Group, the world’s leading online travel company with over 400 million users globally.

The agency acts as an intermediary between the customer and the travel provider and provides booking services for flights, hotels, trains, car rentals, airport transfers, tours and attraction tickets.

They also claim to have access to more than 1.2 million hotels in 200 countries and regions, as well as over 2 million flight routes connecting more than 5,000 cities. One can purchase train tickets to use in UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Mainland China

Trip.com is available in 19 different languages, including English, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Turkish, Polish, Greek, Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai.

They also have a mobile application that features all the languages mentioned above plus Vietnamese and Filipino. Furthermore, there are localized English versions available for Australia, Singapore, the United States and Hong Kong.

Trip.com uses SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information to ensure online safety for its customers. Its headquarters are in Singapore. Encryption is always important when you are transferring vital information you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong hands. You even see it on sites like  InvestorPlace ,  Brownstone Research ,  Banyan Hill , and pretty much any site that takes your financial information.

Who founded Trip.com?

Trip.com is headed by the Trip group which was originally founded by James Liang, Neil Shen, Min Fan and Qi Ji in June 1999.

Trip.com was originally a domain that was first purchased in 1996 by Trip Software Systems, and later sold to TheTrip.com founder Antoine Toffa in 1998. In 1999, Galileo International purchased a 19% stake in Toffa’s Trip.com and in 2000, acquired the remaining stake of Trip.com for $214.4 million.

Cendant acquired Galileo and combined Trip.com with another acquisition, CheapTickets, to create Trip Network Inc in 2001. In 2003, Cendant stopped operating the Trip.com domain.

Orbitz Worldwide, a company acquired by Cendant in 2004 and later split into a separate publicly traded entity, resumed use Trip.com in 2009. They then later stopped operation of the website in 2013.

Expedia acquired Orbitz Worldwide in 2015 then proceeded to inherit the Trip.com domain. A travel booking and research company founded by entrepreneurs Travis Katz and Ori Zaltzman in 2010 known as Gogobot acquired the Trip.com brand from Expedia and rebranded it as Trip.com.

Eventually the Trip Group, also known as Ctrip, acquired Trip.com and repositioned the company as a global online travel agency in 2017.

How does Trip.com work?

Trip.com helps you find the best deals through its website when planning your travels. Their website is interactive and offers you a variety of options to choose from when deciding on your desired destination.

The agency works as an intermediary between you, the traveler, and the travel providers like hotels, airlines, car rentals and many more. Once you sign in to the website, you can input your destination, departure date or check-in date, if it is a round trip flight or one way, number of nights, rooms and guests, and any keywords into the search bar. Furthermore, you can specify your preferred hotel amenities, such as “WIFI”, “pool”, ”free breakfast.”

When you click the search button shown in the image above, a results list will appear. From there, there is a filter available that sorts your results by price, rating or Trip.com user reviews.

Once you have found the hotel or flight you’re interested in, clicking on the “Details” button will give more information so you can learn more about it. The information is mostly on pricing, amenities and user reviews.

If you are satisfied with the hotel or flight and want to book it, click on the “Book Now” button. From there, you’ll be taken to a page where you can enter your contact and payment information including your credit card details. However, you must be aware of the hidden charges by your credit company for the charges.

When you are done booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Trip.com with your booking number and details. Be sure to save this email, star it or print it out, as you’ll need your booking details when checking in to your hotel or flight.

Flexibility with your travel dates and destination will give you a better chance of finding low prices. Before making a reservation, ensure the hotel you are considering has the amenities you need. And finally, confirm your booking from the hotel as soon as you book and before arriving at the property. This is to avoid being stranded due to lack of rooms as the hotel you’re booked with might not receive your booking confirmation from Trip.com.

Trip.com also has a mobile app that gives you access to their booking services through your phone or tablet. It allows you to search for hotels and flights, compare prices, read reviews and much more. You can keep track of your booking reference and receive notifications about changes or updates to your flight ticket, hotel room or itinerary.

Keep in mind that there are some risks involved in booking with a travel agency instead of booking directly as some information may be lost through miscommunications which leads to inconvenience for you, the customer.

How much does it cost to join Trip.com?

Signing up for the Trip.com services is free of charge. However you will be required to input your credit card details which may lead to hidden charges from your credit card company.

The agency also provides a loyalty plan called Trip Coins. Subscribing to it gives you access to discounts, depending on your travel habits. Earning Trip coins that give you discounted rates is by booking hotels, flights and activities through the site often.

How to join Trip.com

To sign up for Trip.com services, all you have to do is click the ‘sign up’ button on the far right of their webpage. You may also sign in through the app.

You will see a pop up that will prompt you to enter your email address.

Once you have entered your email address, you will be prompted to create a password for your new account before the registration is complete.

You can also choose to sign in with your Facebook, google or twitter account.

Trip.com Reviews

Trip.com has a 3.7 out of 5 star rating on TrustPilot with a mixture of positive and negative reviews (from one star reviews to 5 star reviews) across the board. Below is what some people have to say:

The price of tickets is cheap compared to others. The booking system is really simple and easy. There are areas of improvement in customer service. I called to clarify my doubts about tickets because I used trip.com the first time. The customer service representative was in rush to answer my question, but instead of clarification I was been offered to cancel my bookings and asked for a refund. I was ready to cancel but I used the app and resolved my doubts by using the app. My suggestion to everyone please make sure you go through the terms and conditions first before you finalize your booking. Once you made payment there will be no help available. Thank you -Bijendra

I searched a ticket price in skyscanner, the best price was in trip.com. Then, I tried to purchase the ticket directly on the airline website but the price was a lot more expensive. It made me doubt, so I researched trip.com and had really good reviews. I went ahead and purchase the ticket through their website and I must say the communication was excellent. It says the ticket from the airline should arrive within 2 hours but I got it in less than 30 mins. I downloaded the app and all my ticket info was already captured there. Very good experience. -Mel

Complaint The airline cancelled my flight while I was in the plane and I received an official letter from the airline confirming the flight cancellation. By law I should be reimbursed in a week by the agent (trip.com), however, it has been 5 months and trip.com is not returning my money and is saying that the airline is not confirming the flight cancellation (even though I talked with the airline and have an official letter from them). They are scammers that steal your money – you should avoid this company. I am now giving all the documents to my lawyer Julia Olivson

First time made a bookjng thu Trip.com. am not tech savvy so fumbled n unprepared with details. Called Firefly direct but no help as made tru Trip.com. called n spoke to a very friendly n efficient lady who very efficiently furnished me with my itinerary n pnr. As bkg for my bro n wife fm sin-kul able to adv. Thank you for saving me the trouble to go Subang airport to get my print out itinery.🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍❤❤ -Sophia

our experience with Trip.com has been the worst and took a long time to solve our issue, dealing a good blow to our mental state, However, Miss Kimberly took the initiative to assist us with the best of her abilities. She handled our frustrations with a pleasing manner and managed to pull our situation through. She is excellent with her job both writing and on voice calls. She offered us options as well to manage the situation, although there may be gaps such as detailed explanations over emails, but she is quite skilled in explaning it over the Phone. She updates us quite frequently as well if there are new updates. Overall, I am quite thankful with her assistance and to congratulate her for a Job well done. -Camille

Hi. The short form is that Trip.com was bought by a mainland Chinese company, so buyer beware of all that implies, as they operate on different principles than a Western business. For instance, as soon as you click on the button, there is NO REFUND or CHANGE policy on any air ticket, even though there is no note or mention of that at any point on their site. Since it was a Tripadvisor flight search that brought me to this site, I expected it to be more legitimate, and would ask TripAdvisor if they have any influence, to try and conform to higher standards expected of other flight sites. For those that want to read the long form the following is my experience with them. I bought a couple of air tickets Calgary-Shanghai, through Trip.com. They showed up on the Tripadvisor flight search, and were twenty five percent lower than anyone else. I immediately bought one ticket, really wanting two tickets but it could have been my mistake. Then trying to buy a second ticket (for my wife), did the everything the same as before but at the very end was told it was sold out. So I went online chat with them, and asked them, asking for a second ticket or a refund. The rep sent me a weblink, the same one I booked my first ticket with. I told him it was the same and said sold out at the end, but I tried to buy the second ticket as before on this link, and did get a second ticket for my wife. By this time the online rep had hung up the chat. Upon closer inspection, however, the second air ticket for my wife was for a different departure time on the same day from Calgary, and meant she was on a different flight to Shanghai from San Francisco, arriving 12 hours later on a different day (the return flight was the same). So I immediately went back online chat, and asked the rep to change both to the same flight or cancel both tickets, and it was so soon that the flight booking didn’t even show up on her computer. When it eventually showed up, she said that I couldn’t cancel without paying 90% of the ticket price for some booking fee. She said sorry this was the airlines booking policy. I asked to just change the departure flight of either ticket to match the other, or else refund them both, that airlines normally had a 24 refund policy. She said no. I said could you please ask a supervisor. The following is the supervisor’s return e-mail: Dear VICTOR (Account: D254041****), I tried to call you but was transferred to voice mail. So I am writing to you about the questions you mentioned on chat regarding Flight Booking. 5374325469. First of all, you mentioned Mark gave you the link which caused the second flight . I checked the link and the link he sent to you is the online search page on which many flight packages are listed. This link does not indicate only one specific flight . And after the link was sent to you , you answered,” Yes I did all the fill in the blanks up till the end when it said flight sold out.” When Mark wanted more details from you, there was no reply from you. So the window was closed. And When you book the ticket online, the flight details are listed on each page. Secondly, when you started chat with Victoria, the ticket was not issued but was paid successfully. The booking status was in processing. When Victoria was confirming the booking details with you for booking security, the ticket was issued successfully. Please kindly noted that even if the ticket is not issued after we verify the booking detail with you, we apply the free cancellation but cannot guarantee. So now according to your booking policy, this ticket is non-refundable and unchangeable. Now Booking 5374325469 and 5374077873 are still kept. If you have question, welcome to contact us. Best regards, Ann I didn’t quite know what to make of that. So I contacted both Air Canada and United Airlines by phone, the airlines on the tickets, and BOTH SAID THEY HAVE A 24 HOUR FULL CANCELLATION POLICY, but that the foreign booking companies formed their own rules. Very lucky for me, the United Airlines phone representative (Connie, and a big thank you if you read this), changed the departure flight of my wife to match my own. I am an overseas Chinese, but so glad to be living in North America. Thanks, again, to United Airlines. -J Fung

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is trip.com reliable.

The agency is a part of the Trip.com Group, a publicly traded Chinese company and one of the world’s leading providers of travel services. Furthermore, Trip.com has been in business for over 20 years and has earned a solid reputation for customer satisfaction.

Why is trip.com cheap?

Trip.com is one of the leading travel websites as they consistently offer low prices on airfare, hotels and more. This is due to their low overhead costs. They sell directly to consumers online, thus avoiding the high costs associated with traditional travel agencies on the high street.

Furthermore, they pass some of the commission they receive from hotels and airlines on to their customers in the form of lower prices, meaning that you can often find even better deals on Trip.com than anywhere else.

Is it possible to cancel or change flights made through trip.com?

If you booked flights through Trip.com, things are going to be complicated because of the third party involvement. Having an intermediary can complicate issues because airlines will tell you to coordinate any problems through Trip.com rather than offering you direct assistance.

Moreover, the travel provider gives high priority to customers who booked directly with them rather than those who booked through Trip.com. This is because they make more profits from direct sales over those made through Trip.com since they won’t have to pay any fees.

It is also much easier for them to manage the customers who booked directly rather than those who booked through online travel agencies like Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia etc.

For example, hotel rooms may end up overbooked because the hotel did not receive the booking details and confirmation from the agency. This leads to a guest being stranded in a strange city without any room availability in the hotel, despite making an advance booking with them through Trip.com.

How can you contact trip.com?

To contact trip.com in case of an issue, google “trip.com contact number” followed by your country, and you should be able to find their contact number. Unfortunately, there have been reports of poor customer service from the agency where the customers are not provided with solutions or worse, they fail to reach the Trip.com team. This unsatisfactory service has brought about an amount of distrust of the agency by potential customers.

However, they seem to have offered further assistance to most of the people who have left bad reviews meaning that they are working on improving their services.

How can I get the most out of trip.com?

To get the most out of Trip.com, there are a couple of tips I would recommend you follow. These include:

• Planning ahead in order to land better deals.
• Thoroughly research your travel destination to ensure that it is safe and free of scams and violent political issues.
• Read the reviews of the hotel or airline or travel provider you intend to use in order to get an idea of the experience of other travelers
• Be aware of the refund policies while booking to avoid cases of unsuccessful cancellations or a refund request later on.
• Compare the prices of the hotel or flight you are interested in with other websites to ensure that you are getting the best deals.
• Sign up for the Trip.com loyalty program known as Trip Coins. To sign up is free and it gives you access to discounts, depending on your travel habits. To add to that, you can earn Trip Coins by booking hotels, flights and activities through the site. Therefore, if you book hotel rooms regularly, you get extra discounts on your next journey.
• Using their mobile app makes booking easier as the app allows you to search for hotels and flights, compare prices, read reviews and more. Furthermore, you can use the app to keep track of your booking reference and receive notifications about changes or updates to your itinerary.
• Once Trip.com sends you a confirmation email outlining the details of your stay, what’s included in your package, cancellation and refund policies together with other important information. Be sure to print out your itinerary before you begin your vacation to avoid any problems.

Pros of Trip.com

They offer good deals.

Trip.com is famous for all the good deals and discounted rates that they offer for travel. The prices are fair and this is one of their main selling points.

Lessen the load of travel planning

Having an agency do all the tedious work of searching and booking for flights can be especially convenient. Furthermore, it’s cheaper!

Have filters that provide specifics

The search option is quite convenient as you can narrow it down to specific details like price, reviews, amenities and the number of guests.

Free sign up

Signing up to be a Trip.com member is free of charge and the registration process is quite simple

Cons of Trip.com

There is a lot of risk involved in booking with a travel agency as there might be some miscommunication that may eventually inconvenience you. Many have found themselves stranded due to overbooking of rooms or lack of confirmation of a plane ticket.

It has many bad reviews

There have been a number of negative reviews about Trip.com due to unsatisfactory customer service. The reviews are quite discouraging and the agency is not even rated on the better business bureau.

Poor customer service has been reported by some clients

Many of the one star reviews have been about the poor customer service offered whenever they had an issue. Many have apparently had an unpleasant experience with the channels provided and their chat bot feature is not as effective

Trip.com is a legit company that offers travel related services. They offer discounted rates and act as intermediary between you and travel providers.

However, this can be a risky channel to take due to high chances of facing inconveniences. Though it may be a cheaper channel, you might end up stranded due to lack of proper communication between the agency and your travel provider.

Trip.com appears to work best for people who are new to traveling and are not conversant with the places they are traveling to. If you know the place you are going to, it makes more sense to do your bookings directly if you find that cheaper or more convenient.

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What Is Travel Protection?

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Little things are worse than going through all the work of planning a trip only to have something change on you at the last minute. Whether it’s a broken bone, a canceled flight or a sudden sickness, a lot is on the line when you’re making vacation plans. That’s why many travel companies offer travel protection.

If you’re wondering what travel protection is, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll also talk about how vacation protection works, what it covers and the difference between travel insurance versus travel protection.

What is trip protection?

Trip or travel protection is a limited type of cancellation coverage that you purchase directly from a travel provider. The coverage is typically self-insured by the company through which you buy the protection.

For example, a cruise line may offer its own trip protection option when booking a cruise to allow you to recoup costs if you need to cancel. Likewise, an online travel agency (OTA) might offer protection for a flight and provide you with a voucher in case of cancellation.

Travel protection vs. travel insurance

The terms travel protection and travel insurance are often used interchangeably, and both aim to protect you financially if you have issues during your travel.

Although it can offer some of the same benefits as travel insurance, trip protection is not insurance, and it doesn’t have the same regulatory oversight that insurance policies do. Therefore, it’s important to know what the protection plan covers before you purchase it so you don’t have any unpleasant surprises down the road.

The coverage that trip protection offers is usually quite specific — often, it’s limited only to cancellation. While it may help you out if your trip needs to be canceled, it typically won’t cover medical expenses or reimburse you for lost baggage. For this reason, many travelers opt for more comprehensive coverage in the form of travel insurance.

» Learn more: Trip cancellation insurance explained

What does trip protection cover?

The coverage on any trip protection plan you purchase will vary with your individual policy.

For example, Carnival Cruise Line offers Carnival Vacation Protection. This plan provides both insurance and non-insurance coverage at once. The plan includes trip cancellation coverage, provided by Carnival, along with travel insurance underwritten by Nationwide.

If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, you’ll receive a full refund in cash. If you cancel for any other reason, you’ll receive 75% of your trip cost in the form of a Carnival voucher.

But what is travel protection for flights? Is there such a thing? While many airlines offer you the option to purchase insurance when you book your flight, some travel providers still offer trip protection instead.

For example, until recently, the OTA company GoToGate offered its own self-funded cancellation protection that reimbursed airfare expenses for covered events. However, it has now switched to a regulated travel insurance provider.

Another common trip protection offering is travel assistance services. These can include referrals to medical services, help with translation, managing travel documentation and aiding with lost or damaged luggage.

» Learn more: How flight insurance works

How does travel protection work?

The way your travel protection plan works depends on the specific policy. If you need to use it, you’ll likely coordinate directly with the travel provider for a claim.

For example, Carnival’s plan will give you a cash reimbursement or a voucher for future travel, depending on the reason for your cancellation. Either way, you’ll work directly with Carnival to obtain your compensation — not a third-party insurance agency.

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

Should you buy travel protection?

It can be tempting to purchase travel protection, especially if your vacation includes many moving parts or is expensive. This is especially true if your plans aren’t solid — cancellation protection can provide reimbursement if you need to alter your bookings.

However, travel insurance is a better option if you’re looking for more comprehensive coverage. This is because there tends to be a much broader scope of protection included with travel insurance.

Here are some of the most common travel insurance inclusions that you won’t find in most trip protection plans:

Accidental death insurance .

Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .

Cancel for Any Reason insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Medical insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

Check your credit cards for complimentary coverage

Before buying either trip protection or travel insurance, check the benefits of your credit cards. Many travel credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance as a perk of being a cardholder.

To be eligible for this insurance, you’ll need to charge the trip to your card. Once done, you’ll be covered automatically. The types of insurance and the policy limits you’ll receive will depend on which card you hold.

The Platinum Card® from American Express , for example, provides trip cancellation coverage, trip delay reimbursement , lost luggage insurance, trip interruption insurance, rental car insurance and Premium Global Assist services. Note AmEx will reimburse you for expenses incurred due to a lost bag, it doesn’t cover instances where your luggage is simply delayed.

This contrasts the coverage offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® ​, another premium travel credit card. Like AmEx, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides reimbursement for a bag that’s lost or damaged, but it’ll also cover delayed luggage by providing up to $100 per day for five days to purchase necessities.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: Credit cards that provide travel insurance

If you’d like to purchase travel protection

Purchasing trip protection may be tempting if you’ve made a lot of travel plans or you’re worried you’ll need to cancel your trip.

However, because travel protection isn’t actually insurance, it’s not subject to the same regulations as standard travel insurance policies. You’ll want to be sure that any trip protection coverage you purchase is from a legitimate company — read the fine print to be sure.

Otherwise, consider purchasing comprehensive travel insurance for your vacation or using your travel credit card’s complimentary travel insurance offerings for coverage.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

‘Fallout’ an awesome, sometimes gruesome trip into America’s wild future

On prime video, the hit video game transforms into a clever mix of action, social commentary and constant plot twists..

In a post-apocalyptic America, Lucy (Ella Purnell) is forced to leave the safety of the underground shelters and venture into the outdoor wasteland in “Fallout.”

Prime Video

Much has been written about Quentin Tarantino’s, um, predilection for feet scenes, to the point where there’s a Reddit thread titled, “ The Tarantino Foot Fetish Timeline ” and a YouTube video called “ All Feet Scenes in Quentin Tarantino Movies ,” and folks, it’s nearly 18 minutes long. The reason I bring this up in a review of the eight-part Prime Video series “Fallout” is that the show also has something of a fixation with feet — but in this boisterous adaptation of the iconic role-playing video game series, the visuals are visceral and wince-inducing.

There are a number of scenes in which various characters sustain serious foot injuries — in one case, losing a foot altogether. Not that the violence, which is often played for gruesome laughs, is solely concentrated to areas below the knees. There are stabbings and slashings and beatings and shootings and bombings and oh yeah, watch out for that sea-dwelling monster who would very much like to consume you.

With “Westworld” (and real-life) partners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy taking the reins and Nolan directing the first three episodes, “Fallout” is a clever and volatile cocktail consisting of social commentary, over-the-top action sequences, quirky dialogue and a steady stream of surprising twists, set against the backdrop of the obligatory dystopian Future.

In a storyline that takes place within the video game’s universe but is original and separate, “Fallout” is set 219 years after a nuclear war that destroyed most of the planet. We also get flashbacks to a couple of key periods along the timeline — including the world just before that war, which looks like the future as envisioned in a 1950s movie, e.g., the fashions and cars and TVs and radios are mid-20th century in appearance, but the Los Angeles skyline is “Jetsons”-like, and there are talking robot servants.

In “present day,” thousands of Americans live in a series of numbered luxury fallout shelters, which on the surface (or should we say, below the surface) appear to be utopian communities where everyone follows the rules and knows their roles, and conflict is almost non-existent. Nobody knows exactly what’s happening above ground, but the hope is that radiation levels soon will fall to a level where the Vault dwellers can return to the surface and rebuild the world.

• Prime Video’s rebooted ‘Road House,’ with Jake Gyllenhaal, doesn’t pass inspection

In Vault 33, Kyle MacLachlan’s Hank is the benevolent Overseer in charge of the community, and Hank’s daughter Lucy (Ella Purnell from “Yellowjackets”) is “an active contributor to the well-being of my community,” as she puts it, who is trained in a number of skills and specializes in teaching “American history with a focus on ethics.” Lucy loves life in Vault 33 and she’s looking forward to her wedding day.

And then, just like that, everything changes. We’ll say no more.

For the first time in Lucy’s life, she exits the Vault, with no idea of what awaits on the surface. (We’ll also leave the nature of her mission for you to discover.) Oh, Lucy! It’s the Wild West gone Mad Max up there — a wretched wasteland populated by scavengers, traders, hunters, paramilitary groups and mutant creatures. (To say cockroaches have thrived is an understatement).

In addition to the Lucy storyline, we get two other main threads: one involving The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), a legendary bounty hunter who walks and talks and thinks like a human but is essentially a zombie and has survived for more than two centuries, and the other focusing on Maximus (Aaron Moten), a soldier-in-training who is a member of the militaristic “Brotherhood of Steel.” (The brilliant supporting cast includes Leslie Uggams, Sarita Choudhury, Mosés Arias, Frances Turner and Michael Emerson.)

Walton Goggins plays a bounty hunter who’s been around more than 200 years.

The three storylines often interconnect, and while Lucy is the primary protagonist who is pure of heart — she reacts to just about everything by saying, “Okey dokey!” and believes in abiding by the Golden Rule — nearly every other major character in “Fallout” could be a villain, or could be a hero, or might be a little bit of both, depending on the circumstances. Meanwhile, Lucy is going to have to wise up, suck it up and toughen up.

Throughout Lucy’s mission, “Fallout” delivers as an action series, a character study and a deep dive into the nature of family and trust. The graphic scenes of violence are often counterbalanced by needle drops of songs from the middle of the 20th century, e.g., “Orange Colored Sky” by Nat King Cole, “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” by Perry Como, “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford, and “We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)” by The Ink Spots. The production design is nomination-worthy, whether we’re in the Vaults or above ground, and the blending of VFX and practical effects is seamless. “Fallout” is a wild ride, with Ella Purnell absolutely killing it as a sweet soul who must discover her inner badass.

What to stream: Take a sci-fi trip with works of ‘Civil War’ director Alex Garland

English writer and filmmaker Alex Garland’s latest film “Civil War” takes on American politics this weekend, with the provocative epic that imagines a war-torn United States as seen through the eyes of a team of photojournalists capturing the action.

While “Civil War” takes place in an imaginary near or alternate future that looks quite like our reality, Garland is known for his searing sci-fi films that have captivated audiences in the past decade. But before he directed, he was a novelist and screenwriter who frequently collaborated with fellow Brit Danny Boyle.

His novel “The Beach” was adapted by John Hodge into the Boyle-directed thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio in 2000 (streaming on Starz or available to rent elsewhere). His film career soon kicked off, writing the script for the boundary-pushing zombie film “28 Days Later,” also directed by Boyle, and starring Cillian Murphy, a project that would essentially jump-start the zombie craze of the aughts. Unfortunately, “28 Days Later” is not currently streaming, so check out your local library or DVD sales for a disc.

Garland also wrote the scripts for the dystopian romantic tragedy “Never Let Me Go” in 2010, adapted from the book by Kazuo Ishiguro, directed by Mark Romanek (streaming on Starz or rent) and the 2012 script for “Dredd,” directed by Pete Travis and starring Karl Urban (stream it on Starz, Peacock, AMC+ or rent it on other digital platforms).

He made his directorial debut in 2015 with the artificial intelligence drama “Ex Machina,” starring Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander and Domhnall Gleeson, which he also wrote. This sexy, mysterious sci-fi, focuses on a young programmer (Gleeson) who is hired by a mercurial tech mogul (Isaac) to administer a Turing test to his humanoid robot (Vikander) to surprising results. The film won the Academy Award for best visual effects, and the screenplay earned Garland a nomination for best original screenplay. Stream it on Max, Kanopy or rent it on other digital platforms.

Since then, he’s also directed the 2018 film “Annihilation,” which he adapted from Jeff VanderMeer’s hallucinatory sci-fi novel, about a group of four female scientists who enter a mysterious quarantine zone called “The Shimmer.” Starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson, “Annihilation” is available to rent on all digital platforms.

His 2020 series “Devs” is set at a software company called Amaya, where a young engineer investigates the death of her boyfriend, who died on the first day of his job as a developer. The series stars Sonoya Mizuno, who has acted in every one of Garland’s projects, and also features a cast who star in “Civil War,” including Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nick Offerman, Karl Glusman and Jin Ha. Stream “Devs” on Hulu.

Garland went the folk horror route with his wildly polarizing 2022 film “Men,” starring Jessie Buckley as a grieving woman who seeks solace in a small village in the Cotswolds, seemingly only populated by men, who are all played by Rory Kinnear. It’s a surreal, utterly bone-chilling film of body horror, suspense, home invasion and something else entirely, utterly original and disturbing. “Men,” Garland’s exploration of gender, is not for everyone but it is perhaps his most daring work. Stream “Men” on Showtime, Paramount+ or rent it on other available platforms.

During the holidays, you may have noticed your parents need more help

After the holidays, you may find yourself facing the challenging reality that a beloved elderly family member or friend is experiencing cognitive or health decline.

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In Open Roads, you either explore everything or miss out

The good news is that it’s not hard to explore everything

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There are some secrets that feel too big or too painful to share. It’s easier to take on the burden yourself, you say, to withhold knowledge in the desperate desire to prevent someone else’s pain. Open Roads , the Gone Home -style road trip game published by Annapurna Interactive, is about those secrets, and what happens when those secrets slip — no, explode — out into the world.

Open Roads begins at home — specifically, a home that once held three generations of women: the grandmother, Helen, recently deceased; her daughter, Opal; and Opal’s daughter, Tess. Much of the simple, two-story house has been picked through by estate sale shoppers by the time the game begins, but the stuff left behind reveals a whole lot of secrets. Players begin in Tess’ room, where you’re encouraged to pack up her things, since with Helen gone, the house will be sold.

It’s also where developer Open Roads Team defines the next two hours. Like Gone Home before it, this story rewards curiosity, because the narrative is told mostly through the objects you pick up. You’ll learn about the family by checking out items in Tess’ room, and then elsewhere in the house — namely, the basement and attic — many objects untouched by strangers’ hands. Helen was a single mother and an accomplished potter, and she kept her business close to her chest. Opal, on the brink of a divorce, is struggling to keep her community theater alive. Tess has a different idea of success than her mother and, like most teenagers, feels misunderstood. Each of these women has her own secrets that define her, but it’s one major revelation, discovered in an old suitcase in the attic, that sets Opal and Tess out on the titular highways.

For a game called Open Roads , you don’t spend much time physically on the road. Each small but important location — the secret family summer house, a mobile home, a motel room, and a houseboat — is stitched together with a brief segment in the car, where you, as Tess, fiddle with your phone and talk (or argue!) with your mom. While these moments are just a small part of the two-hour experience, they’re at its core. Through text messages to Tess’ friends and father, we learn about her and her mom’s strained relationship and, again, those secrets. Sometimes, Opal and Tess work through things during their road trip stops, but at other times, they seem to be talking through each other, unable to fully understand the other’s perspective.

You’ll have a lot of stuff to pick up at each of these locations, but the most important items will often provide a “Hey mom!” option, which lets Tess call Opal over. Opal’s role in these situations is to provide context about her childhood, how she experienced the past, and what these items (and the secrets that come with them) do to color those memories. They’re all essential conversations related to the big, overarching mystery, but they sometimes feel stilted; the “Hey mom!” button gets repetitive, making all the potential sincerity feel cheapened.

There are very few items in Open Roads that you have to pick up. Those are largely keys, which are what literally unlock a lot of the story’s secrets. If you aren’t curious enough to pick up other items, let alone call your mom over, then you’ll miss some of the crucial context that builds out Tess’ and Opal’s worlds. Open Roads rewards that curiosity, both for the player, who gets a more nuanced story, and narratively, with Tess’ and Opal’s understanding of each other. For instance, in Tess’ room, there’s a printout of a forum post about how to cope with a grandparent’s dementia; Open Roads Team, therefore, didn’t have to say anything about the last several years of Helen’s life, with Tess and Opal caring for her.

One of the best usages of this sort of gameplay comes when Tess is alone at the motel while her mother is picking up takeout. Playing as Tess, you move around the room alone, rifling through your mom’s things. If you’ve got your flip phone on you, you can text your best friend about your discoveries: I found some pills in my mom’s bag. What do you think it’s for? If you choose to snoop and get this moment, it widens the split between mother and daughter, with Tess feeling like her mom doesn’t trust her. But for the player, it’s also some important context: The pills are antidepressants, and they set the tone that Opal is struggling, too. The game is about picking things up, but it’s also about choice. Because you found the antidepressants, you’ll later be able to ask Opal about them. But, again, you don’t have to — there’s another option to turn the conversation toward a different secret.

The tension between the two characters — and what the player knows but the characters don’t — is both poignant and mundane. Most people with strained parental relationships will see the authenticity of the conversations, played out with brilliant voice acting by Kaitlyn Dever ( Booksmart ), who plays Tess, and Keri Russell ( The Americans ), who plays Opal. (Unfortunately, Open Roads ’ conversations are only semi-animated, so eventually mouths will stop moving while the voice actors talk over a static screen. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it can be jarring.) It’s so rare for a video game to explore the nuanced, everyday experiences of women, let alone a mother and daughter. The video game industry has spent a lot of time thinking about fathers and sons , but very little about mothers and daughters. Regardless of how they pan out, Open Roads ’ car scenes are short, but crucial. I almost wish they were longer and more drawn out, allowing you to revel in the boredom, tension, and awkward moments. (I may be alone in this conclusion!)

At just two hours long, Open Roads moves too fast through its most impactful moments. Still, it’s a game that I’m so glad exists. It’s a touching, sweet introspection on the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the secrets that families keep from one another. It can be a bumpy road at times, both narratively and control-wise — playing on Nintendo Switch, I found it hard to find the exact right place to trigger a prompt to pick things up. But at the end of the trip, it’s easy to look back at the game and know that Open Roads ’ sentimentality was worth the ride.

Open Roads was released March 28 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed using a pre-release download code provided by Annapurna Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here .

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Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers come up short, end road trip with 1-run…

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Los angeles dodgers | dodgers come up short, end road trip with 1-run loss to twins, shohei ohtani tried to score the tying run in the seventh inning on a double by freddie freeman, but he was thrown out at home plate on a call changed by replay review in a 3-2 loss.

Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Dodgers star Mookie Betts, right, celebrates his base hit during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs from first to third base on an RBI double by Teoscar Hernandez during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Paddack (20) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Dodgers, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas turns a double play during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins’ Edouard Julien celebrates his solo home run as he rounds the bases during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller reacts after giving up a solo home run to the Minnesota Twins’ Edouard Julien during the first inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Paddack throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, takes a lead from first base during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton hits an RBI single during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa, left, celebrates his single in front of Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman during the third inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Kody Funderburk throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ Max Muncy stands at the plate after striking out to end the top of the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins’ Edouard Julien crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Dodgers, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia (51) waits as Manager Dave Roberts walks to the mound to make a pitching change during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, left, tags out the Dodgers’ James Outman as he attempts to steal second base during the sixth inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ James Outman reacts to being tagged out on a stolen base attempt at second base by Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa during the sixth inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton watches play during the sixth inning of a game against the Dodgers, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is tagged out at home plate by Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez to end the top of the seventh inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is tagged out at home plate by Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez to end the top of the seventh inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after being tagged out at home plate by Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez to end the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts to being tagged out at home plate by Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez during the seventh inning on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after being tagged out at home plate by Minnesota Twins catcher Christian Vázquez to end the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Steven Okert (16) delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Dodgers on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Steven Okert, right, and catcher Christian Vázquez hug after their 3-2 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins players celebrate after a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stands on the field before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, right, works with team members before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani warms up before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani gestures on the field before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, right, interacts with coaches prior to their game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS — Among his many athletic attributes, Shohei Ohtani might be the fastest runner on the Dodgers this season.

Paired with the fact that he won’t be expending energy as a pitcher, the expectation is Ohtani will run the bases more aggressively this season. Third base coach Dino Ebel took that to heart Wednesday afternoon.

On first with two outs in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins, Ohtani represented the tying run when Freddie Freeman lashed a double into the right field corner. Ebel waved Ohtani home and the long-striding DH executed a pop-up slide at the plate, spreading his arms wide in a safe sign.

Home plate umpire Marvin Hudson agreed. But replay review showed Twins catcher Christian Vazquez’s diving tag after an excellent relay throw by shortstop Carlos Correa caught Ohtani’s foot just before it reached home plate. The call was overturned and the Dodgers went on to lose, 3-2.

“Shohei (on base), two outs, Freddie hits a ball down in the corner, it kind of gives a little bobble down there (against the wall), down the line,” Ebel said. “Two outs, late in the game like that, you gotta send him.

“Shohei is fast. Just the situation, game, scoreboard – we’re down a run, two outs – I thought it was the right play. And it was bang-bang. You guys saw it. And hey, Correa made a great throw at home. So tip your hat.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed it was the right decision to try and take advantage of Ohtani’s speed on the bases.

“I don’t think he would’ve sent him if it wasn’t Shohei. I think just the sheer foot speed,” Roberts said. “It was a great baseball play (by the Twins). He’s going to start running more as far as stealing, but on that play for me, with two outs, you’ve got to make them make the play.”

The Twins did and avoided a sweep by the Dodgers. The loss ended the Dodgers’ first stateside road trip of the season having split the six games.

The trip started with Bobby Miller getting roughed up on his birthday at Wrigley Field for five runs in just 1⅔ innings. It ended with a laborious four-inning effort from Miller at Target Field.

Miller gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Edouard Julien, and had baserunners in each of those four innings, giving up five hits and walking three. A pair of double plays helped him avoid more damage than the two runs he allowed.

“Not super happy about the outing,” Miller said. “With only two runs, given the amount of baserunners I had and amount of times I fell behind in the count, that gives me more confidence because I could easily have given in and made it a four- or five-run game.

“My delivery wasn’t at its best. But like I said, I could easily have crashed out there and made it a four- or five-run game. But just trying to do my best to give my team a chance to win.”

The Dodgers scored in the first inning on an RBI double by Teoscar Hernandez then tied it in the fourth on a solo home run by Max Muncy.

But Alex Vesia gave up a second home run to Julien on his second pitch in the fifth and the Twins made the one-run lead stand up over the final four innings – with the help of replay.

“I’m the hardest person on myself. So I’ve been going over different mechanics and pitches and stuff,” Vesia said. “Today I missed my spot, and he got me.”

In seven outings this season, Vesia has faced 30 batters. Ten of them have reached base – six walks, one hit batter and three hits (including home runs in each of the past two games).

“It was close to him, it was thigh-high – a good pitch for him to hit. To his credit, obviously the kid (Julien) had a big day,” Roberts said. “But you’ve got to be able to mix and match your sequence. You just can’t pitch with just your fastball. If you look at this outing, they didn’t have to honor the breaking ball. So if you can’t make them honor your breaking ball, they can sell out and that’s clearly what they were doing.”

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Is trip.com legit? - Bargain Travel Forum

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So I'm browsing for hotels and found one I've been eyeing offered at trip.com for about 30% lower than Booking and Agoda. That doesn't seem too good to be true, but I've also never used this site. Anyone with any experience with trip.com?

1,492 replies to this topic

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12290-k11091854-Anyone_used_trip_com-Bargain_Travel.html

For those that want to read the long form the following is my experience with them.

I bought a couple of air tickets Calgary-Shanghai, through Trip.com. They showed up on the Tripadvisor flight search, and were twenty five percent lower than anyone else. I immediately bought one ticket, really wanting two tickets but it could have been my mistake. Then trying to buy a second ticket (for my wife), did the everything the same as before but at the very end was told it was sold out.

So I went online chat with them, and asked them, asking for a second ticket or a refund. The rep sent me a weblink, the same one I booked my first ticket with. I told him it was the same and said sold out at the end, but I tried to buy the second ticket as before on this link, and did get a second ticket for my wife. By this time the online rep had hung up the chat.

Upon closer inspection, however, the second air ticket for my wife was for a different departure time on the same day from Calgary, and meant she was on a different flight to Shanghai from San Francisco, arriving 12 hours later on a different day (the return flight was the same). So I immediately went back online chat, and asked the rep to change both to the same flight or cancel both tickets, and it was so soon that the flight booking didn't even show up on her computer. When it eventually showed up, she said that I couldn't cancel without paying 90% of the ticket price for some booking fee. She said sorry this was the airlines booking policy. I asked to just change the departure flight of either ticket to match the other, or else refund them both, that airlines normally had a 24 refund policy. She said no. I said could you please ask a supervisor. The following is the supervisor's return e-mail.

Dear VICTOR (Account: D254041****),

I tried to call you but was transferred to voice mail. So I am writing to you about the questions you mentioned on chat regarding Flight Booking. 5374325469.

First of all, you mentioned Mark gave you the link which caused the second flight . I checked the link and the link he sent to you is the online search page on which many flight packages are listed. This link does not indicate only one specific flight . And after the link was sent to you , you answered,” Yes I did all the fill in the blanks up till the end when it said flight sold out." When Mark wanted more details from you, there was no reply from you. So the window was closed. And When you book the ticket online, the flight details are listed on each page.

Secondly, when you started chat with Victoria, the ticket was not issued but was paid successfully. The booking status was in processing. When Victoria was confirming the booking details with you for booking security, the ticket was issued successfully. Please kindly noted that even if the ticket is not issued after we verify the booking detail with you, we apply the free cancellation but cannot guarantee. So now according to your booking policy, this ticket is non-refundable and unchangeable.

Now Booking 5374325469 and 5374077873 are still kept. If you have question, welcome to contact us.

Best regards,

I didn't quite know what to make of that. So I contacted both Air Canada and United Airlines by phone, the airlines on the tickets, and BOTH SAID THEY HAVE A 24 HOUR FULL CANCELLATION POLICY, but that the foreign booking companies formed their own rules. Very lucky for me, the United Airlines phone representative (Connie, and a big thank you if you read this), changed the departure flight of my wife to match my own.

I am an overseas Chinese, but so glad to be living in North America. Thanks, again, to United Airlines.

Not one regular on Trip Advisor would recommend booking anything through TA, and there are much better search engines for flights than TA. A search engine merely searches the net for you and then presents the results, and you chose the cheapest option without doing any further research first.

I never ticked any such thing. Check the site.

Nor was there any notification on ther site of such a policy, ie non-cancellable or refundable.

I just used it and am having buyer's remorse. I booked a room and had to give my credit card but it's not "booked" until you get a confirmation email that can take up to 12-hours later (at least my email said it could take that long, but it only took about 10 minutes). The check-in time they listed wasn't until 7 PM when I accepted the terms but when I received the confirmation, there was a 3:00 check-in. If trip.com is not able to book it, you won't be charged. However, once you give them your credit card and they book it, your money is gone.

Be careful on the late check-ins because you will not be able to use the hotel's amenities until you check-in since you didn't book through the hotel's website. So basically you have to be watchful of the check-in time (because it can be later than a normal check-in time) and not need it right away because you pay and then wait to see if it's accepted.

I did check the site. For hotels, after you make your selection to book, comes the page where you enter your personal information. There's a red BOOK button to go on. Immediately under that button, almost touching it, is "By submitting this booking you agree to the Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy ." with a link to the Terms & Conditions and the Privacy Policy.

The site does not treat me any different from you, so you did indeed tick it.

I can't know about notification of cancellation policy, because that's different for different hotels, but I see that it appears beside each of the possible room selections under "Policies."

Now, I agree there is no notice in the T&C or otherwise about fares being non-refundable, but it is naive to imagine that a cheapo site can do anything to offer a cheap fare but sell the cheapest available fare, which is always, including direct through the airline , non-refundable. In fact, the complete lack of information about cancels and refunds would put me off using them at all. So I take the uninformative T&C to, in fact, be highly informative in terms of whether I would use this site, which I would not, but imagining that their Asian base is why they behave as they do and contrasting that with "western" practices is absurd. Look around this forum at the many "western" travel sites with tons of complaints of the same kind.

Hence my belief that people who don't have a pretty solid grasp of the travel industry shouldn't let some web site make their decisions for them and should book direct with suppliers where the supplier web site makes them make knowing choices.

one of the conditions was that the ticket would not be issued straight away after booking, but within 72 hours of the flight departure. To get your ticket immediately was almost double the price.

once everything was paid, i received a payment confirmation to my email and held my breath waiting for the ticket to be issued within the week.

Pleasantly surprised to find that after 3 hours, the ticket was issued complete with a Virgin booking number. i looked up the flight on the Virgin website and was relieved to find it on their system, with correct details and everything.

i was nervous as trip.com doesnt have any published reviews and reading bad reviews on tripadvisor didnt help. the four star rating on skyscanner.com is a bit annoying as i cant find a way to see what other users experience was like and their recommendations. skyscanner shouldn't show the star rating if they cant back it up with a review system similar to what tripadvisor has.

if you choose to use trip.com, sign up for an account as all your ticketing info is held there, and get the app. it was an easy and quick method to book a cheap flight , especially with a deal that couldnt be missed.

i found the booking terms and conditions to be very clear. they have a booking and price guarantee if the airline has a change, however if you change your mind or cancel your flight , thats when it becomes non-negotiable and there is no refund.

I just ran AKL/MEL through SkyScanner, selected a Virgin, and booking with Virgin direct was $1 cheaper than trip.com. Why insert a third party between yourself and the supplier?

I would not choose to trip.com, and I certainly wouldn't want to add the complication of a third party and pay more for he privilege.

I booked, received a confirmation and a week later received a phone call asking my nationality, which is American. Half an hour later they called back to tell me only Chinese people may book and my reservation has to be cancelled, if I agreed within 3 hours they would refund me in full. I accepted as I saw no real option. I called trip.com to ask for an explanation which they are investigating. I provided a phone number and address from America, it was clear where I was from. This is fraud.

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Want to see the next total solar eclipse in 2026? An expert recommends booking travel now.

• 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years.
• Travelers worldwide will likely head to Spain, Iceland, and Greenland for the event.
• A hotel expert encouraged travelers to start planning and booking their trips now.

It'll be two decades before the next total solar eclipse hits the US .

Another option: hop on a plane to Europe and turn the 2026 total solar eclipse into a viewing vacation.

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler at GreatAmericanEclipse.com told Space.com that up to 3.7 million people likely traveled for the solar eclipse on Monday.

HotelPlanner's chief communication officer, Philip Ballard, told Business Insider that the eclipse was a major revenue generator for many cities. For places like Austin, Texas, and Rochester, New York, it could have created $1 billion in revenue, Vox reported.

"I would say the total solar eclipse has become a global phenomenon," Ballard said.

Ballard added that the next solar eclipse , which will pass through Iceland, Greenland, and Spain on August 12, 2026, could result in similar tourism and revenue influxes.

And if travelers are considering a trip to Europe for the solar eclipse, Ballard recommends planning your trip now.

Determine your eclipse viewing destination

According to Space.com , 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Its path will go through Greenland, parts of western Iceland, and northern Spain.

Choosing where to watch the eclipse will be a tough and important decision for travelers.

Iceland and Greenland have some positives. These regions will experience longer totality times, so viewers can watch the eclipse longer. Plus, the sun will be higher in the sky, so finding a spot to watch the eclipse will be less challenging, Space.com reported.

The downside is that these regions are more likely to be cloudy, according to the outlet.

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While parts of Spain are likely to offer clearer skies, the eclipse's timing will be shorter and closer to the horizon, which means travelers will need to plan and track down a viewing location with unobstructed views of the western horizon, Space.com reported.

Regardless of the destination, according to the outlet, one bonus is that the strongest meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere will happen the following night, so travelers can pack two events into one trip.

Book flights and hotels far in advance

Ballard encouraged people to book their hotels in their destination of choice as far in advance as possible.

"You should start looking now and booking hotels now because those cities in the path are already going to be at peak season," Ballard said.

Ballard said it's similar to when a Super Bowl city is determined or a Taylor Swift tour date is announced — you immediately see spikes in bookings. He predicts hotel occupancy rates will hit near-record highs, and room prices may double around the solar eclipse date.

Ballard's general rule of thumb is to book international travel at least three months in advance, but since this is such an anticipated event, booking earlier is smart. His advice is to start discussing plans with friends and family. If you decide on a destination, book a refundable room to keep your options open if plans change.

Regarding purchasing a plane ticket, a study from Expedia states that international travel's sweet spot is at least six months in advance.

According to Expedia, travelers who book six months in advance save an average of 10% more than travelers booking within two months or less.

Skip the hassle of planning altogether and book a solar eclipse tour

Another option is to let a tour operator do the work for you. A handful of tour companies have seen the increased interest in the solar eclipse and launched tours designed around the event.

These tours will have predetermined locations to view the eclipse, hotel blocks reserved, and itineraries highlighting both the region and the eclipse.

However, these can sell out quickly. For example, Space and Telescope created an 11-day tour of Spain around viewing the 2026 solar eclipse. The tour has already sold out as of Wednesday, and the waitlist is full.

Other operators, such as Wilderness Travel and Eclipse Traveler, have similar itineraries for the total eclipse in 2026.

Watch: A small Australian town was treated to a rare hybrid solar eclipse

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