Welcome back to Wanderfully Lost, a family travel planning community where we turn vacations into unforgettable family memories. Today, we’re taking a trip to an unexpected destination… Costco!
Costco Travel, a special part of the Costco family, brings you incredible vacation deals. With over 20 years of travel expertise, it operates like a super easy online travel agency. It offers members fantastic travel options with sweet discounts, depending on their membership level.
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Membership
Before you dive into the world of Costco Travel, you’ll need to become a member. There are two main types, and each comes with its own set of advantages:
If you’re going for a personal membership, you’ve got two choices:
1. Gold Star Personal Membership
2. Executive Personal Membership
For business-minded folks, there are options as well:
1. Business Membership
2. Business Executive
Let’s take a closer look at the various membership options available for Costco Travel:
1. Gold Star Personal Membership
The Gold Star Personal Membership is the entry-level tier for individuals. It grants you access to all of Costco’s offerings, including its travel services. While it doesn’t come with some of the extra perks of higher-tier memberships, it’s a solid starting point for anyone looking to take advantage of Costco Travel.
2. Executive Personal Membership
Stepping up to the Executive Personal Membership comes with some fantastic benefits. In addition to everything the Gold Star offers, you’ll also enjoy an exclusive annual reward. This perk alone can make a significant difference, especially for those who plan on using Costco Travel frequently.
3. Business Membership
The Business Membership is tailored for, you guessed it, businesses. This membership type allows business owners and operators to access Costco Travel along with other business-related benefits. It’s an excellent option for entrepreneurs or small business owners who find themselves on the move often.
4. Business Executive Membership
Similar to the Executive Personal Membership, the Business Executive Membership provides a host of advantages for business owners. It includes the same 2% annual reward on qualifying expenses, which can add up to substantial savings for business-related travel.
Taking Flight
Costco Travel is really good at helping you plan a smooth and hassle-free vacation. They put together packages that include flights and accommodations or even everything you need for your trip. This not only makes planning easy but also lets you earn points for your flights.
Booking a flight with Costco Travel is simple. Just go to the Costco Travel website and fill in the details in the search form. If you’re looking for a complete vacation package, type in where you want to go and when. You can add a hotel stay or even a cruise. Just remember, you can only book flights if you’re getting a travel package.
Pick your starting airport and the class you want to fly in. If you’re traveling with kids, mention their ages for the right prices. Click “Find My Vacations” and you’ll see all the options available.
While Costco Travel offers good prices, it’s important to think about things like cancellation fees, which might be different from other places. To get the most out of Costco Travel’s flight options, keep an eye on flight prices with tools like Going. Compare the total cost of packages with and without flights, and think about the convenience and rewards of booking everything in one go versus possibly finding lower prices elsewhere.
Remember these tips, and you’ll get the most value and convenience out of Costco Travel for a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Want more tips? Check out our YouTube channel here.
Costco Travel Vacation Packages
Costco Travel is like a hidden treasure chest of amazing vacation deals. They have four types of vacation packages. These include hotels, flights, transfers, and more:
- Vacation Packages: These are bundles that include stays at hotels or resorts, plus extras like airport transfers. You can mix and match the hotel, flight, and car rental options.
- Specialty Vacations: These are special experiences like African safaris and guided trips, and they’re available at discounted rates for Costco members.
- Cruises: Costco Travel works with 12 different cruise lines to offer great prices, discounts, and rewards for travelers.
- Theme Parks: You can get a package that includes a stay at Disney or Universal Resorts, along with admission tickets. This can save you a lot compared to booking directly.
When you’re thinking about these vacation packages, it’s a good idea to compare prices without the flight. Sometimes, it might be cheaper to book things separately. But don’t forget about the benefits like Costco Shop Cards, discounts, and rewards. For some people, it’s just easier to book everything at once.
If you’re into cruises, Costco Travel has some great deals with different cruise lines. You’ll get good prices, labels to show you how good the deal is, discounts, and rewards. If you’re an Executive Member, you might also get extra perks like a better room or onboard credits.
But keep in mind that not all cruise lines work with Costco Travel, especially the really fancy ones. And if the price goes down after you book, you’ll need to keep track of it yourself.
If you’re dreaming of a theme park vacation, Costco Travel has special deals for places like Disney World and Universal Orlando. The best part is, as an Executive Member, you might score some extra perks.
Going to a theme park can be kind of tricky, especially if it’s your first time. In that case, it might be a good idea to get help from a travel agent who knows all about theme parks.
You can also check out our guide to family vacations here, including family-friendly theme parks.
Costco Travel’s Rental Specialty
Costco Travel is known for offering some of the best deals on rental cars, ensuring travelers get more value for their money. They provide access to top-notch car models at prices lower than what you might find with other travel agents. An extra perk is the inclusion of free additional drivers, a cost that can add up with other providers.
What’s more, there’s no need for an upfront payment, and you won’t face any penalties for cancellations. The price you see is the final price, inclusive of all taxes.
It’s important to keep in mind that Costco Travel exclusively collaborates with four reputable rental car agencies—Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. While this means you have a more limited selection compared to some other platforms, you can trust that you’re getting quality options.
Booking a rental car with Costco Travel is a breeze. Start by visiting the Costco Travel homepage and provide your pick-up and drop-off details, along with your preferred dates and times. After hitting “Find My Car,” you’ll be presented with a range of rental options.
Take your time to review the choices, considering factors like pricing, vehicle type, and any included extras. Once you’ve made your decision, simply log in, provide your contact information, and agree to the terms and conditions to complete your booking.
Costco Travel’s Top-Rated Hotel Selection
Costco Travel offers a selection of hotels, but it’s important to note that they have a limited number of options for each destination. If you find a hotel you like in a place you plan to visit through Costco Travel, you can expect to get a better price, along with some extra perks, rebates, or rewards that you might not find elsewhere.
Booking a hotel through Costco Travel has several advantages:
- Time Savings: Costco Travel simplifies the process by providing a curated list of pre-vetted options. This is helpful for travelers who prefer not to sift through endless choices.
- Better Pricing: In most cases, Costco Travel offers more competitive prices for rooms compared to other vendors, even before factoring in potential extras.
- Partial Payment: Depending on the property and travel date, Costco Travel may only require a deposit to secure a hotel booking.
- Price Reductions: If you notice a price drop in your hotel booking, you can contact Costco Travel to take advantage of the reduced rate.
With that said, keep in mind that Costco Travel may not always have a wide variety of family-friendly accommodation options. If you’re looking for lodging with separate bedrooms or more space for a family, you might need to explore other booking platforms.
Costco Travel partners with four major hotel brands, which include IHG Hotels & Resorts (including brands like Holiday Inn and InterContinental), Hyatt (with various Hyatt brands), Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and Swissotel Hotels & Resorts.
To book a hotel with Costco Travel, you can start by using the main search form on the Costco Travel homepage. Simply enter your destination, travel dates, number of rooms, and number of travelers. If you’re traveling with children, include their ages, as this may affect the pricing. Once you submit your details, click “Find My Hotel” to see the available options. You can also browse hotel brands from the main menu for specific preferences.
Costco Travel offers a wealth of advantages for travelers seeking vacation deals and flight-hotel bundles. With competitive pricing, valuable rebates and rewards, and the convenience of one-stop booking, it doesn’t get much better than this!