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Costco Travel 101: The Ultimate 2024 Guide (Expert Tips)
August 30, 2024
Costco is well-known for its bulk products and savings, but did you know they also offer travel services? Costco Travel provides members with access to discounted vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, and more. This guide will help you understand how to use Costco Travel, the benefits, and how to get the most out of your Costco membership.
What Is Costco Travel?
Costco Travel is a division of Costco Wholesale that offers a variety of travel services to Costco members. These services include vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, and hotel bookings. By leveraging Costco’s buying power, Costco Travel is able to provide its members with exclusive deals and benefits that are often hard to beat.
Do You Need a Costco Membership to Use Costco Travel?
Yes, a Costco membership is required to book travel through Costco Travel. There are two personal membership levels: Gold Star ($60 per year) and Executive ($120 per year). Executive members receive additional benefits, including a 2% reward on all Costco (and Costco Travel) purchases, which can make the membership fee worthwhile.
How to Book Travel with Costco
Booking travel with Costco is straightforward. Simply visit the Costco Travel website, log in with your membership credentials, and browse the available travel options. You can search for vacation packages, rental cars, cruises, and more. Once you find a deal that suits your needs, you can book directly through the website or by calling Costco Travel customer service.
Can You Apply for a Costco Travel Credit Card?
While Costco Travel doesn’t have its own credit card, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is an excellent option for Costco members. This card offers 3% cash back on travel and restaurant purchases, making it a great choice for those who frequently book travel through Costco.
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Benefits of Using Costco Travel
Do You Save Money Using Costco Travel?
Costco Travel often provides significant savings compared to booking directly through airlines, hotels, or other travel agencies. By bundling services such as flights, hotels, and car rentals into one package, Costco can offer competitive rates. Executive members also earn a 2% reward on all non-taxable travel purchases, adding to the savings.
Exclusive Perks and Benefits
Costco Travel packages often include exclusive perks such as resort credits, free breakfast, and room upgrades. Additionally, some packages come with a Costco Shop Card, which can be used in-store or online at Costco.
Time Savings and Convenience
Booking travel through Costco is convenient and saves time. Instead of searching multiple websites for deals, members can find everything they need in one place. The Costco Travel website is user-friendly and provides detailed information about each package, including what's included and any special offers.
Costco Travel Vacation Packages
Are Costco Vacation Packages a Good Deal?
Costco vacation packages can offer excellent value, especially for destinations like Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Packages often include flights, accommodations, and other extras like resort credits or meal plans. It's always a good idea to compare the total cost of a Costco package with booking each component separately to ensure you're getting the best deal.
Can You Negotiate with Costco Travel?
While you can't negotiate prices with Costco Travel, you can take advantage of their price match policy. If you find a lower price for the same package within 30 days of booking, Costco will match the price. This ensures that you're always getting the best deal available.
Costco Travel Packages
Costco Travel packages typically include lodging and may also include airfare, airport transfers, and car rental, as well as activities—depending on the trip.
Pricing
Costco Travel's package bundling can save hundreds of dollars on your vacation. For example, an eight-night package in a deluxe villa at Palms at Wailea on Maui, including round flights from Tampa, Florida, and a full-size rental car, costs $5,594.15. The package also includes a $116 digital Costco Shop Card and resort fees such as damage protection and cleaning fees. However, there was a cancellation fee of $200. By booking the same stay and rental car separately, the cost is $5,561.90, making the Costco package competitively priced when you factor in the included extras and the digital shop card.
Perks and Savings
Executive members earn a 2% reward on all non-taxable travel purchases, adding to the savings. Some packages come with a Costco Shop Card, which can be used in-store or online at Costco. Additional perks often include resort credits, free breakfast, and room upgrades, providing added value for your booking.
Inclusive Resorts
Costco Travel offers packages to inclusive resorts, which are ideal for families and couples looking for a hassle-free vacation. These packages often include meals, drinks, and various activities, providing excellent value for money. Popular destinations for inclusive resort packages include Mexico’s Riviera Maya and the Caribbean islands.
Do Costco Travel Prices Go Down?
Costco Travel prices are generally competitive and often lower than booking directly with airlines or hotels. However, prices can fluctuate based on demand and availability. Costco also offers price adjustments if you find a lower price for the same package within 30 days of booking.
Kirkland Signature Travel Packages
Kirkland Signature, Costco’s private label brand, extends its reputation for quality and value to travel packages as well. Kirkland Signature travel packages are curated to offer exceptional experiences at competitive prices, often including exclusive perks that enhance your vacation.
What Are Kirkland Signature Travel Packages?
Kirkland Signature travel packages are specially selected vacation deals that provide added value for Costco members. These packages can include a variety of destinations such as inclusive resorts, cruises, and theme park vacations. They often come with extras like resort credits, complimentary meals, and unique experiences exclusive to Costco members.
Benefits of Kirkland Signature Travel Packages
- Exclusive Perks: Kirkland Signature travel packages often include exclusive perks such as room upgrades, free breakfasts, and resort credits, enhancing the overall value of your trip.
- Competitive Pricing: These packages are priced competitively, leveraging Costco’s buying power to offer significant savings compared to booking each component separately.
- High-Quality Accommodations: The packages typically feature high-quality accommodations and services, ensuring a premium travel experience.
Examples of Kirkland Signature Travel Deals
Kirkland Signature deals might include a week-long stay at a luxury inclusive resort in the Caribbean with all meals and drinks included, plus a resort credit for spa services or activities. Another example could be a cruise package with an upgraded cabin, complimentary shore excursions, and a Costco Shop Card.
By choosing Kirkland Signature travel packages, Costco members can enjoy meticulously curated vacations that offer both value and luxury, making their travel experiences more memorable and cost-effective.
Costco Travel Car Rentals
Is Costco the Cheapest Way to Rent a Car?
Costco Travel often offers some of the lowest prices on rental cars. They work with top car rental companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. Benefits of booking through Costco Travel include additional driver fees waived and competitive pricing. However, it's always wise to compare prices with other rental car agencies to ensure you're getting the best deal.
Costco Travel Cruises
Why Book Cruises with Costco Travel?
Costco Travel works with 12 major cruise lines, including Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, and Royal Caribbean. Booking a cruise through Costco Travel can come with significant perks such as onboard credits, free upgrades, and Costco Shop Cards. Additionally, Executive members earn a 2% reward on non-taxable cruise costs.
Costco Travel Flights
Booking Flights with Costco Travel
Costco Travel does not sell standalone flights. Flights must be bundled with a lodging or travel package purchase. This approach can save time and reduce hassle, as you can book all travel needs in one place and receive one itinerary to keep track of everything.
How Costco Travel Compares to Other Booking Methods
Other Travel Websites
While Costco Travel can offer significant savings, it’s still a good idea to compare prices with other travel websites like Priceline, Expedia, and Orbitz. These sites may offer different airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and additional features not available through Costco Travel.
Before buying any travel online, make sure you use Kudos, a free browser extension and AI-powered wallet, to double your credit card rewards at over 15,000 participating stores like Trip.com.
Booking Directly with Travel Providers
Booking directly with airlines with the best airline cards, hotels, or rental car companies can sometimes provide benefits like loyalty program points and elite status benefits that may not be available when booking through third-party sites like Costco Travel. It’s essential to compare prices and benefits to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Is Costco Travel Right for You?
Costco Travel offers a convenient and cost-effective way to book travel, with exclusive perks and benefits for members. Whether you're planning a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a business trip, Costco Travel can help you save money and enjoy a hassle-free booking experience. By taking advantage of their travel packages, car rentals, and cruises, and using tools like Kudos to unlock your credit card rewards and benefits, you can maximize your savings and make the most of your travel budget.
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