What is Costco Travel?
Costco Travel is a special service for members that helps you have amazing vacations at great prices. Instead of searching many websites, Costco Travel finds the best deals and puts them together in packages just for Costco members. You also get special benefits with your Costco membership.
No need to worry about high prices, Costco Travel lowers costs using coupons and their strong buying power to get special discounts on hotels, cruises, flights, and activities. They offer all-inclusive resorts at rates just for members, cruises with extra money to spend onboard, and theme park tickets at an amazing discount.
Planning a vacation becomes easy with Costco Travel. They create packages that include flights, places to stay, things to do, and sometimes even meals.
Costco Travel Offerings:
Costco Travel has lots of different travel choices for all kinds of vacations and budgets.
1. Cruises:
Costco Travel has cruises from 11 popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, and Princess.
There are many websites for booking cruises, and they all have similar prices. The differences come in extra luxuries like drink packages, onboard credit, and, with Costco Travel, free Costco shop cards. The value of the shop card depends on the cruise and room type, usually ranging from $25 to $95 for shorter cruises and up to $425 for longer ones.
Costco Travel can get you good cruise deals, one downside of Costco Travel is that you can only search one month at a time. This can be inconvenient for travelers who have flexible dates and want to compare prices across a wider range of options.
2. Vacation Packages:
A Costco vacation package includes a hotel with a flight and/or rental car. You can find these packages for places all over North America, as well as the South Pacific, Europe, and Africa. There are also special vacation packages from a few companies like Contiki, Lion World Travel, Adventures by Disney, and Trafalgar Worldwide Guided Vacations.
Costco Travel vacation package can save you a lot compared to booking a hotel and flight separately. They often give you extras like airport transfers and Costco shop cards. These shop cards can be worth different amounts, going from around $150 to over $900 for a one-week vacation.
Some packages even include activities in the total price. That might be good for some people, but remember that these activities could make the overall cost higher than if you booked through another website or separately.
Costco Travel is a good way to save money, especially on vacation packages. It’s a good idea to check prices on different websites to make sure you’re getting the best deal and package for what you want.
3. Rental Cars and Hotels:
Booking a rental car through Costco Travel is easy because you can choose from four companies – Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise.
The results show up in a simple grid with the cheapest price for each type of car highlighted in red. While this is good for someone who likes things simple, Costco Travel might not always have the cheapest price because it doesn’t include many other car rental companies.
If you want to book a hotel using Costco Travel, your choices are a bit limited unless it’s part of a vacation package. Costco Travel doesn’t have separate hotels for certain vacation spots such as Maui, Cancun, and Punta Cana.
If you do find a separate hotel on Costco, keep in mind that if it’s in a hotel loyalty program (like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, or IHG), you probably won’t earn hotel points or special credits, and your status won’t be recognized. Because of this, many travelers might not prefer booking these types of hotels through online travel agencies like Costco Travel.
4. Theme Parks:
Costco members can buy vacation deals for Disney (only in the U.S.) and Universal Orlando from Costco Travel. These packages include a place to stay and tickets for the theme park. They often come with extra perks like getting into the park early, transportation, no additional fees for staying at the resort, or money to spend on food and drinks.
Do I need a membership to use Costco Travel?
You need to have a Costco membership to use Costco Travel. There are two types of memberships:
Gold Star costs $60 a year, and Executive costs $110 a year.
The Executive membership is good for people who spend a lot at Costco because it gives back 2% each year, up to $1,000, on qualifying Costco purchases, including Costco Travel. So, if you spend at least $3,000 a year at Costco (in-store, online, and on Costco Travel), the Executive membership is a better deal than the Gold Star membership.
If you’re an Executive member at Costco, you get extra benefits on certain vacation packages. Go to the Costco Travel website, click on Deals, then Member Specials, and finally Executive Member Benefits to find these offers. The benefits can be different for each package, like a $100 spa credit, $100 for the resort, $100 to spend on the ship, a private lunch on the beach, and more. These extras can be worth more than the extra cost of being an Executive member instead of a Gold Star member.
How to Book a Hotel on Costco Travel?
Booking a hotel on Costco Travel is very easy:
Step 1: Visit Costco Travel’s website and go to the “Hotels” section. There, you’ll see a user-friendly search bar where you can enter your desired destination, check-in and check-out dates, and the number of rooms and guests.
Step 2: Once you’ve entered your basic details, become a hotel detective by using helpful filters. Make your search better by:
- Star Rating: Choose from budget-friendly 2-star gems to luxurious 5-star palaces.
- Hotel Brand: Choose the hotels you like, such as Hilton, Marriott, or Hyatt, or find special places from smaller independent chains.
- Price Range: Set a budget that suits your desire to travel and save your vacation money.
- Amenities: Prioritize features like pools, spas, fitness centers, or even pet-friendliness If you’re bringing your pet along.
Step 3: Browse through the list of hotels that fit your criteria. Each hotel listing displays:
- Photos: Get a sneak peek of the rooms, common areas, and surrounding scenery.
- Guest Reviews: Read real-life experiences and insights from fellow travelers.
- Costco Member Price: See the exclusive discount you get as a Costco member, remember, that sweet low price is just one of the benefits.
Step 4: Pick the hotel that you like. Once you click, you’ll see a page all about the hotel with details on rooms, things they offer, and cancellation policy. Choose the room you want, pick the dates, and get ready to make your booking.
Step 5: Enter your guest information, review the final price (including taxes and fees), and choose your payment method. Once you click “Book Now,” your hotel reservation is confirmed.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for “Hot Buys” and “Flash Sales” on select hotels for even deeper discounts. Remember, the earlier you book, the more likely you are to catch the best deals and room availability.
Tips for Using Costco Travel:
Costco Travel has good deals, but you can only search for one month at a time. If your dates are flexible, check other sites too for better prices.
Plan, especially for popular places and busy seasons. Booking early with Costco Travel usually gets you the best deals and more choices.
Consider traveling during shoulder seasons (between peak and off-seasons) for lower prices and fewer crowds.
If you’re headed to a specific place, see if nearby airports have cheaper flights. Just remember to factor in any extra travel costs.
Sign up for email alerts from airlines, travel websites, and Costco Travel to stay updated on deals.
Flights and hotels are often cheaper on weekdays. Plan your trip for Tuesday to Thursday for the best savings.
Avoid extra fees by packing light. Save money and breeze through airport security without any trouble or tension.
F. Pros & Cons of Costco Travel:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Big Savings: Costco offers great discounts for its members on various travel options like cruises, hotels, and vacation packages. | 1. Limited Search: You can only search for travel options one month at a time, which can be inconvenient if your dates are flexible and you want to compare prices over a broader range. |
| 2. Easy Packages: Costco Travel makes it simple by bundling flights, hotels, and activities together in carefully planned packages, saving you time and stress. | 2. Members Only: Booking is exclusive to Costco members, so consider the membership fee before deciding. |
| 3. Special Experiences: Enjoy unique adventures with exclusive tours, tastings, and behind-the-scenes access, making your trip extra special. | 3. Not Always the Cheapest: While Costco offers good deals, they might not always have the absolute lowest prices. It’s smart to check other travel websites for comparisons. |
| 4. Bonuses: Depending on your package, you might get bonuses like onboard credit, drink packages, Costco shop cards, or other treats, making the deal even better. | 4. Limited Choices: The variety of hotels, cruises, and destinations may not be as extensive as some other travel platforms. |
| 5. Trusted Name: Costco is known for quality and good customer service, ensuring a reliable and worry-free travel experience. | 5. Package Limits: Bundled packages are convenient, but if you have specific preferences, customizing them might not be an option. |
Costco Travel is super convenient and gives bonuses to members. If you like easy planning and exclusive extras, it’s a great choice.
But if you’re focused on your budget or want more choices, it’s smart to check other places and compare prices before making a decision.
