How to Use Trip.com

Hotel

Trip.com is the international version of China's largest travel agency (Ctrip). It is the single most essential app for booking hotels in China because it accepts international credit cards, provides 24/7 English customer support, and helps you filter for hotels that are legally authorized to host foreign guests.

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1. Download

iOS/Android: Search for "Trip.com" (Blue icon with a white sea lion/seal logo).

Note: Do not download "Ctrip" unless you read Chinese fluent; Trip.com is the specific international version.

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2. Sign Up

  • Open the app.
  • Log In: Use your email, Google, Apple ID, or phone number.
  • Pro Tip: If you have WeChat installed, you can often use "WeChat Log In" for a faster setup.
Trip Hotel Search
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3. Switch Language & Currency

  • Tap "Account" (bottom right) > Gear Icon (top right).
  • Language: Set to English.
  • Currency: Set to CNY (¥) or your home currency (USD/EUR/AUD).
Tip: Viewing prices in CNY is often better for comparing costs locally, as you will be paying in Yuan at shops/restaurants.
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4. Find Hotels (Crucial Step: The "Foreigner Check")

Search: Enter your destination (e.g., "Beijing"), dates, and guest count.

The "Foreigner" Filter:

In 2024/2025, Chinese laws loosened, requiring all hotels to accept foreigners. However, some small budget inns may still struggle with the registration system.

To be 100% safe: After clicking on a hotel, scroll down to the "Policies" section (often near the bottom or under a "Details" tab). Look for "Guests Accepted". It should say "All nations" or "Foreign guests welcome."

Warning: If it says "Mainland China ID only," do not book.

Trip Hotel List
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5. Booking & Payment

  • Select Room: Pay attention to "Windowless" warnings (common in budget Chinese hotels).
  • Payment: Trip.com accepts Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Apple Pay. This bypasses the issue of hotels not having international card machines.
  • Pre-payment: It is highly recommended to "Pay Now" in the app rather than "Pay at Hotel" to avoid payment hassles at the front desk.
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6. Navigate & The "Taxi Card"

  • Once booked, go to "My Trips".
  • Tap your hotel booking to open the details.
  • Killer Feature: Look for a button that says "Show Taxi Guide", "Taxi Card", or a Map icon with a "Show Address in Chinese" option.

Action: Show this screen directly to your taxi driver. It displays the address in large, bold Chinese characters with an audio button to pronounce it for you.

Trip Taxi Card
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7. 24/7 Support

If a hotel receptionist claims they "cannot register foreigners" (which happens occasionally due to lack of training), do not argue.

Action: Open your Trip.com booking > tap your Profile then tap the Headset Icon (Customer Support).

Call: Use the Internet Call feature. Trip.com support staff speak English and will talk to the hotel receptionist directly to resolve the issue for you immediately.

Trip Customer Support

3 Crucial Tips for Foreigners

1. Name Format Rule

Safest format is SURNAME + GIVENNAME (e.g., "SMITH JOHN"). Remove spaces or hyphens if you get an error.

2. The "Manual Lane" (Ren Gong Tong Dao) for trains

Automated gates often only work for Chinese IDs. Look for the lane with a staff member (usually far left/right) and hand them your passport.

3. Physical Passport Required

You cannot travel with a photocopy or photo on your phone. You must have the original passport used for booking.

How to Use Trip.com in China - Train & Hotel Booking Guide | China Survival Kit