Want to know which booking platform best suits your travel needs? Find out right here in this article where we’ll be comparing Trip.com, Agoda, Booking.com, and Expedia!
The ability to plan the ideal holiday is now more accessible than ever thanks to developments in the travel and hospitality sectors. Travellers can easily find and reserve hotels, schedule flights, and buy attraction tickets online. It’s no surprise that online booking platforms are getting more popular due to their competitive pricing and deals, range of payment options and currencies, as well as online customer support. But with so many travel booking platforms to choose from, each offering its own unique advantages, it can get pretty confusing deciding which is the best fit for you. So in this article, we’ll be looking at four of the most popular booking sites: Trip.com, Agoda, Booking.com, and Expedia to help you decide which one is right for your travel needs.
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Let’s Start With A Side-By-Side Comparison
| Factors To Consider | Trip.com | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia |
| Number of Listings | Over 1.4 million | Over 2 million | Over 28 million | Over 1 million |
| Number of Flights | Over 2 million | Over 2 million | Over 1.2 million | Over 500 airlines |
| Global Presence | Yes, operates in over 50 countries | Yes, operates in over 200 countries | Yes, operates in over 220 countries | Yes, operates in over 70 countries |
| Loyalty Program | Yes, TripPLUS | Yes, Agoda Rewards | Yes, Genius loyalty program | Yes, Expedia Rewards |
| Language Support | About 20 languages | About 30 languages | About 40 languages | About 40 languages |
| Payment Methods | Credit cards, Paypal, WeChat Pay, Alipay, Apple Pay, and other local payment methods | Credit cards, PayPal, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and other local payment methods | Credit cards, PayPal, and other local payment methods | Credit cards, PayPal, and other local payment methods |
| Special Deals | Offers daily deals and promotional offers on flights, hotels, and other travel services, with discounts up to 50% off | Offers daily deals and promotional offers on flights, hotels, and other travel services, with discounts up to 70% off | Offers special deals and promotional offers on flights, hotels, and other travel services, with discounts up to 50% off, as well as exclusive deals through the Genius program | Offers special deals and promotional offers on flights, hotels, and other travel services, with discounts up to 50% off, as well as exclusive deals for Expedia Rewards members |
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Trip.com
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Trip.com is an online travel agency that offers a comprehensive range of services for travellers, including flights, accommodations, car rentals, attractions, activities, and more. Users can easily search for and book hotels and flights, as well as compare costs and get the best offers. Trip.com also offers a ‘Lowest Price Guarantee’, which means that if you find a better price elsewhere, Trip.com will match it.
When looking for flights, Trip.com has two useful features — Price Graph, where you can check the average prices for the past two months, and Price Alert which notifies you through email when the price of the flight you want has dropped. Trip.com also offers a wide variety of alternative payment methods. In addition to credit cards, Apple Pay and PayPal, Trip.com accepts popular Chinese payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay, making it a convenient option for Chinese travellers.
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Agoda
Image credits: Agoda
Another popular online travel agency, Agoda specialises in providing accommodations for travellers. Did you know it’s actually a subsidiary of Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com? Putting that aside, Agoda offers daily special deals and promotional offers to help customers save more on their travel expenses. With Agoda, you can quickly and easily find and book rooms in hotels and resorts all over the world. It features different types of stays for users — long stays, private, and even regular hotels and homes.
For pricing, Agoda offers special discounts and exclusive deals as well as a ‘Best Price Guarantee’, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal. They also have 24/7 chat support if you need assistance. Fun fact, Agoda is actually based in Singapore!
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Booking.com
Image credits: Booking.com
Booking.com is a well-established travel agency that specialises in lodging reservations and other travel-related services. With over 400 million visits per month, the platform is indisputably one of the largest and most popular online travel booking sites. It offers a wide selection of accommodations of over 28 million listings, including hotels, homes, and apartments worldwide. Customers can book single deals such as flights, car rentals, and hotels, as well as bundle deals that offer savings when two or more items are booked together. Of course, Booking.com also has its fair share of discounts.
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Expedia
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Expedia is a one-stop-shop online travel booking site for millions of users, providing car rentals, accommodations, and flight bookings, along with premium services essential for booking a trip. Customers can also book individual items such as flights, car rentals, or hotels, or get them in a bundle deal to enjoy significant savings.
Along with bundle deals, Expedia also has an itinerary planning feature to make your purchasing and planning journey seamless. Additionally, Expedia offers wholesale rates for groups or events like sports teams, weddings, and corporate meetings.
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Rewards:
Image credits: Trip.com
Trip.com’s loyalty program — TripPLUS — allows customers to earn points by booking flights, hotels, and other travel services through their platform. Customers can then redeem these points for discounts on future bookings. TripPLUS even offers exclusive perks, such as airport lounge access and free hotel room upgrades to members at higher tiers
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Image credits: Point Hacks
Agoda’s loyalty program is called PointsMAX, which allows customers to earn points or miles from their preferred loyalty program when they book accommodations through Agoda. Customers can choose from over 40 loyalty programs to earn points or miles, which can then be used for future travel bookings or redeemed for other rewards. PointsMAX also offers exclusive promotions and deals for members.
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Image credits: ViaTravelers
Booking.com’s loyalty program, Genius, offers customers discounts on selected properties and free room upgrades. To qualify for membership, customers must complete at least two bookings within the past two years. The program has three tiers: Genius Level 1, Genius Level 2, and Genius Level 3.
🏨 Genius Level 1 is the entry-level tier, which guests can qualify for by completing two stays in the past two years. As a Genius Level 1 member, guests can enjoy 10% off on selected properties and free perks such as early check-in, late check-out, and free breakfast at participating hotels.
🏨 Genius Level 2 is the next tier, which guests can achieve by completing five stays in the past two years. In addition to the benefits of Genius Level 1, Genius Level 2 members can also get an extra 10-15% off on selected properties and access to exclusive deals and discounts.
🏨 Genius Level 3 is the highest level of the Booking.com loyalty program. It is achieved by completing five stays or spending at least SGD7.2K within a two-year period. Once a member reaches Genius Level 3, they can unlock additional benefits such as a 10-20% discount on select properties, free room upgrades, and access to exclusive deals. In addition, Genius Level 3 members are prioritised for customer service support and have access to a dedicated phone line for assistance.
Users can move up the tiers by completing more bookings, with each level offering additional perks and benefits.
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Image credits: Milesopedia
Expedia Rewards is a loyalty program that allows customers to earn points for every eligible booking made through the Expedia platform. These points can then be used to redeem discounts on future bookings, with no blackout dates. Expedia Rewards has three tiers — Blue, Silver, and Gold — and members can move up the tiers by completing more bookings or spending more on their bookings.
- 🟦 Blue: This is the entry-level tier, and customers automatically become Blue members upon signing up for the program. Blue members can earn points on eligible bookings and redeem them for future discounts. They can also enjoy exclusive member-only deals and promotions.
- ⬛ Silver: Customers can qualify for Silver status by booking and completing seven qualifying hotel stays or spending a minimum of SGD 5,000 on eligible bookings within a calendar year. Silver members can earn 10% more points on eligible bookings than Blue members, and they receive access to a dedicated customer service line.
- 🟨 Gold: Customers can qualify for Gold status by booking and completing 15 qualifying hotel stays or spending a minimum of SGD 10,000 on eligible bookings within a calendar year. Gold members can earn 30% more points on eligible bookings than Blue members, and they receive all the benefits of Silver status, as well as access to exclusive amenities such as spa credits and free breakfast at VIP Access hotels.
Members can also enjoy exclusive perks such as free room upgrades and access to VIP access hotels.
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So, What Are The Key Differences?
Image credits: Travel + Leisure
When it comes to comparing the four sites, there are some key differences. Trip.com has more international flight options, Agoda has more options for hotels and resorts, Booking.com has the largest selection of accommodations and Expedia is well-recognised for its planner feature, which enables users to systematically plan their trips.
There are also differences in the way they charge for their services. Trip.com, Agoda and Expedia charge a fee for some services, while Booking.com does not charge customers a fee.
Trip.com and Agoda would have better listings and deals for Asian regions while Booking.com and Expedia would be stronger in areas around Europe and North America.
Battle Of The Booking Platforms: Expedia Vs Booking.com Vs Agoda Vs Trip.com: For more on how to save on your flights bookings, click here
Which Site Best Caters To Your Needs?
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So which one should you choose? Each of these sites has its own unique advantages and it’s up to you to decide which one is best for your needs.
If you like to wait and time for competitive prices, then Trip.com is the way to go. For different stay experiences and activities, try Agoda. For the largest selection of accommodations and bundle deals, try Booking.com. If you’re too lazy to plan your trip, the bundle deals and itinerary coordination from Expedia would the most ideal for you.
Battle Of The Booking Platforms: Expedia Vs Booking.com Vs Agoda Vs Trip.com — Check out our guide on where you should travel to in 2023 based on your star sign here
How To Get Extra Discounts On Your Bookings?
Image credits: TripCanvas
Don’t forget to use your YouTrip Perks to get additional discounts on your online travel bookings from these platforms. With your YouTrip card you can get:
| YouTrip Perks | Deals |
| Agoda | ✅ 7% off |
| Booking.com | ✅ Upsized 15% cashback for stays only |
| Trip.com | ✅ Up to 5% cashback |
| Expedia | ✅ 10% off |
Battle Of The Booking Platforms: Expedia Vs Booking.com Vs Agoda Vs Trip.com — For more information on YouTrip Perks, click here
Final Thoughts
In general, all four platforms are user-friendly and easy to navigate, with similar layouts and features. Users can filter their search results by location, price range, amenities, and rating, among other criteria. They can also view photos, read reviews, and compare prices for different properties.
That being said, some users have encountered issues while using these platforms. For example, some have reported discrepancies in the pricing displayed on the platform versus the final price charged when making a booking. Others have reported issues with cancellations or modifications to their bookings, or difficulty reaching customer support when they encounter problems.
With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is the right choice. To make the right decision, consider your budget, travel style, and the type of accommodations you need to make the best decision to have a great trip!
Start Booking Now!
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With this guide, you’re all set to secure your flight, accommodation, and activity bookings your way. And while securing those bookings, don’t forget to make use of your YouTrip Card to lock in those wholesale exchange rates and skip those pesky bank fees!
As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.
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