1. Set Your Budget and Priorities
Before searching, establish your non-negotiables:
- Location: Do you need to be within walking distance of specific attractions, or is subway access enough?
- Budget per night: Be realistic. A $50/night budget in Tokyo will get you a clean business hotel; the same in Bali will get a private villa.
- Must-haves: Pool, gym, free breakfast, free cancellation, or connecting rooms for families.
- Star rating vs. rating score: A well-reviewed 3-star hotel is often better value than a poorly-reviewed 4-star.
2. Search with the Right Filters
On Trip.com, enter your destination, dates, and number of guests accurately before searching. Use these filters to narrow results:
- Price range: Drag the slider to match your budget
- Guest rating: Filter by 7.0+ to exclude low-quality options
- Free cancellation: Essential if your plans might change
- Breakfast included: Calculate the all-in value
- Property type: Hotel, resort, apartment, guesthouse
3. Read Reviews Properly
The most valuable information in any hotel listing is in the reviews. How to read them effectively:
- Sort by Most Recent: A hotel can change ownership or management. Reviews from 2-3 years ago may describe a different property.
- Filter by traveler type: Couple reviews address different concerns than solo traveler reviews. Family reviews focus on space and kids amenities.
- Look for recurring issues: If multiple reviews mention the same problem (noisy A/C, thin walls, slow WiFi), treat it as a confirmed fact.
- Read the low scores: A hotel with 800 reviews averaging 8.1 is reliable. But read a sample of 6-7 score reviews to understand what they criticize.
4. Understand Cancellation Policies
Trip.com shows cancellation policies clearly on each rate. The main types:
- Free cancellation until [date]: Cancel before that date for a full refund. The safest option for uncertain plans.
- Non-refundable: Cheapest rate, but no refund under any circumstances. Only book this if your dates are absolutely fixed.
- Partial refund: Cancel early enough for a partial refund; cancel late for no refund. Check the exact cut-off time.
Pro tip: free cancellation rates are typically 10-25% more expensive than non-refundable. If booking 2+ months out and your plans are firm, the non-refundable discount is usually worth taking.
5. Check Room Details and Photos
Room size, bedding, and view vary significantly within the same hotel. Always check:
- Room size in square meters (listed on most Trip.com property pages)
- Bed type: King, queen, twin, or double. Twin and double rooms have different configurations — confirm if you are sharing with another adult who needs their own bed.
- Floor level: Some hotels charge more for higher floors with views. Some charge less for lower floors or interior-facing rooms.
- Inclusions: WiFi, breakfast, parking, airport transfer. Each impacts total cost.
6. Book and Get Confirmation
After selecting your room and rate, you will enter guest information and payment details. On Trip.com:
- Enter the name exactly as it appears on the passport you will check in with.
- Enter your mobile number — the hotel needs this for early/late check-in requests.
- Apply any promo codes before confirming.
- Double-check check-in and check-out dates — it is easy to misclick by a day.
- Confirm payment and save or screenshot the booking confirmation page.
You will receive a confirmation email from Trip.com. Save this — you need it at check-in. For prepaid bookings, no additional payment is needed at the hotel.