How to Use Costco Travel: Your Ultimate Guide

Are you looking to maximize your Costco membership benefits? Costco Travel is a fantastic way to snag deals on vacations, cruises, car rentals, and more, bringing exclusive savings and perks to members like you. TRAVELS.EDU.VN is here to guide you through every step of using Costco Travel, unlocking incredible travel experiences. Explore how to navigate this platform for great travel deals, exclusive travel benefits and amazing discounts.

1. Understanding Costco Travel: An Overview

Costco Travel is a travel service exclusively for Costco members, operating since 2000. Leveraging Costco’s group-buying power, it offers attractive pricing and perks on a variety of travel products. Think of it as a curated online travel agency providing quality, bundled trip options with rebates and member-specific advantages. For those seeking convenient package trips and especially car rentals, Costco Travel presents significant value. Keep in mind, a valid Costco membership is required to access these deals.

2. Costco Membership Options: Which One is Right for You?

Costco offers two primary membership types, each with different levels of benefits and pricing. Let’s break them down:

2.1. Personal Membership

This is designed for individual consumers and comes in two tiers:

Gold Star: Priced at $60 annually, this membership provides access to Costco warehouses and the ability to purchase items and services, including those offered through Costco Travel.
Executive: At $120 per year, the Executive membership includes all the benefits of the Gold Star membership, plus a 2% annual reward (up to $1,000) on eligible Costco and Costco Travel purchases. Executive members also often receive additional travel perks.

Costco membership types

2.2. Business Membership

Tailored for business owners, this option also has two levels:

Business: Costing $60 per year, it allows businesses to purchase items for resale, as well as personal use.
Business Executive: For $120 annually, this provides the same benefits as the Business membership, along with the 2% reward on qualifying purchases.

2.3. Choosing the Right Membership

The best membership depends on your spending habits. If you spend a significant amount at Costco or plan to book expensive trips, the Executive membership’s 2% reward can easily offset the higher annual fee. For example, a $3,000 vacation package booked through Costco Travel with an Executive membership generates a $60 reward. Plus, Executive members often qualify for exclusive travel benefits and upgrades. The 2% reward applies to most Costco purchases, not just travel, making it a worthwhile investment for frequent shoppers.

Costco rewards earnings

3. Booking Flights with Costco Travel: What You Need to Know

Costco Travel doesn’t offer standalone flight bookings. You can only purchase flights when they are bundled with a lodging or vacation package. While this may seem restrictive, there are some advantages:

Convenience: Book your entire trip, including flights, in one place, simplifying the planning process.
Frequent Flyer Miles: Continue earning miles on your preferred airlines by entering your membership number during booking.
Rewards: Executive members earn a 2% reward on the airfare portion of their Costco Travel package (excluding taxes).

However, there are also potential drawbacks:

Cancellation Fees: Flights booked through Costco Travel may be subject to cancellation fees that wouldn’t apply if booked directly with the airline.
Pricing: While sometimes competitive, Costco’s flight prices may not always be the lowest. It’s wise to compare prices independently.
Limited Airline Choices: Costco Travel doesn’t partner with all airlines, notably excluding Southwest Airlines for U.S. travelers.
Seat Selection: Limited seating choices and unavailable seating maps are sometimes reported. As a workaround, try using your flight confirmation number on the airline’s website to select seats.
No Mileage Redemption: You can’t use frequent flyer miles to purchase flights through Costco Travel.
Customer Service: Any flight-related issues must be resolved through Costco Travel’s customer service, which some members have found slow.

3.1. Step-by-Step Guide to Booking a Flight with Costco Travel

Visit the Costco Travel website.
Use the search form to find a vacation package. Enter your desired destination, region, and travel dates. You can search for packages including hotel stays or cruises.

Selecting a vacation package search on Costco3. Specify your departure airport, class of service, and the ages of any children traveling. Click “Find My Vacations.”
4. Browse the available packages. The lowest price is usually highlighted.

Package on Costco Travel5. Select a package and click “View Details & Customize.” Accept the Travel Advisory.
6. Review the included flight options. You can view additional flights or filter your search. There can be hundreds of matching flights.

If you find a cheaper flight you prefer, select it. Costco Travel will display a notification confirming the price change.

Price info on Costco Travel8. To continue with the included flight, click “Continue to Hotel” to complete your booking.

3.2. Are Costco Travel Flights a Good Deal?

While some Costco Travel users report getting great deals on bundled flights, comparing prices is essential. Since Costco Travel doesn’t itemize package pricing, determining the exact flight cost requires some work. Compare the package price with and without the flight by unchecking the “Flying From” box.

Example: A week-long Costco Travel package to Cancun for a family of four at an all-inclusive resort costs $4,968 with airfare. The same package without airfare costs $2,849. The difference ($2,119) represents the airfare cost. Compare this to booking flights separately.

3.3. How to Combine Costco Travel with TRAVELS.EDU.VN for the Best Flight Deals

For savvy travelers, combining Costco Travel with resources like TRAVELS.EDU.VN can unlock even better deals. Here’s how:

Stay informed about the best flight deals by subscribing to the TRAVELS.EDU.VN newsletter and setting up fare alerts.
When you receive an alert for a great flight price, check Costco Travel for packages to that destination.
Compare the package price with and without airfare to determine the flight cost.
If the Costco Travel package offers a better overall price and you’re comfortable with the potential drawbacks, book it.
If not, book the flight separately and purchase the land-only package from Costco Travel.

3.4. Airlines Used by Costco Travel

Costco Travel partners with a variety of airlines, including:

Aegean Airlines
Aer Lingus
Air Canada
Air Europa
Air France
Air New Zealand
Air Tahiti
Air Tahiti Nui
Air Transat
Alaska Airlines
Alitalia
American Airlines
Bahamas Air
British Airways
Cayman Airways
Delta Air Lines
Fiji Airways
Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia
Lufthansa
Olympic Air
Sky Express
United Airlines
WestJet
Virgin Atlantic

4. Renting Cars with Costco Travel: Savings and Perks

Costco Travel is known for providing excellent deals on rental cars, offering competitive prices and better models from reputable agencies.

The benefits of renting a car with Costco Travel include:

Competitive Pricing: Generally offers the lowest prices from high-quality vendors.
Reputable Agencies: Partners only with well-known and trusted car rental companies.
Free Additional Drivers: A significant perk, as additional drivers often cost extra per day.
No Upfront Payment: Reserve rental cars without a deposit or prepayment.
Free Cancellation: Cancel your reservation without penalties.
No Hidden Fees: Pricing includes all taxes, eliminating surprises at the rental counter.
Easy Comparison: Website displays options in a grid, making it easy to compare deals.
Loyalty Program Points: Earn points by entering your loyalty program number during booking.
Rebates: Some rentals include a Costco Shop Card.
Rewards: Executive Members earn a 2% reward on car rental bookings.

The primary drawback is:

Limited Choice: Costco Travel only works with a select few rental car agencies.

4.1. Are Costco Car Rentals a Good Deal?

To determine if Costco car rentals offer the best value, compare them with other booking sites.

Example: A week-long car rental in Honolulu costs $610 through Costco Travel, including taxes and an additional driver, available through Alamo and Enterprise. The cheapest car on CarRentals.com for the same period is $577 from ACE Rent a Car, including tax.

At first glance, ACE appears cheaper. However, ACE charges extra for additional drivers. Adding a driver at $11 per day increases the ACE rate by $88 over eight days, making the Costco rental a better deal for those needing multiple drivers.

4.2. Car Rental Companies Partnered with Costco Travel

Costco Travel partners with the following rental car agencies:

Alamo
Avis
Budget
Enterprise

4.3. How to Book a Car Rental with Costco

Visit the Costco Travel website.
Start a car rental booking from the “Rental Car” tab in the main search box or from “Rental Cars” in the main menu.

Selecting rental cars on Costco Travel3. Enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, dates, and times. For one-way rentals, select “Drop-Off At a Different Location.”
4. Click “Find My Car” to view rental options.

Example search results for car rental on Costco5. Click on a price to see more details about the rental car.

Select the vehicle you like and click “Continue” to book.
Choose optional equipment, such as booster seats or Wi-Fi, and click “Continue.”
You may have an option to upgrade your vehicle. Skip this step if you’re happy with your original choice and click “Continue.”
Log in to your Costco account to complete the booking. Enter your contact information, accept the terms and conditions, and click “Finalize Booking.”

5. Costco Travel Packages: Bundled Savings

Costco Travel packages often include lodging and may also include airfare, airport transfers, car rentals, and activities, providing some of the best pricing available. Packages are divided into four main categories:

Vacation Packages: Stays at resorts or hotels, airport transfers, and extras. You can include airfare or book without it. Build your own package by combining hotel, airfare, and car rental.
Specialty Vacations: African safaris and guided tours booked through external providers, exclusively priced for Costco members.
Cruises: Available on various cruise lines, offering value and rebates.
Theme Parks: Discounted stays bundled with admission tickets at Disney or Universal properties.

Costco Travel assigns value labels to some packages:

Kirkland Signature: Expect the most extras and best rooms at the lowest prices.
Buyer’s Choice: Generally one tier below Kirkland Signature in value.
Limited-Time Deals: Savings and perks available for bookings made by a specific date.

5.1. Advantages of Booking a Travel Package with Costco Travel

Competitive Pricing: Package bundling can save significant money.
Time Savings: Simplifies trip planning by offering pre-vetted providers and a single booking process.
Travel Advisories: Alerts members to travel advisories and important visitor information.
Partial Payments: Allows securing your booking with a partial payment.
Price Reductions: May pass on price reductions for the land portion of your Vacation Package.
Rebates: Offers Costco Shop Cards valued at 5-8% of lodging costs on many packages.
Rewards and Extras: Executive Members earn a 2% Reward and may be eligible for perks like room upgrades or resort credits.

The main disadvantage is:

Limited Choice: Works with a limited number of lodging vendors, restricting destination choices.

5.2. Are Costco Vacation Packages a Good Deal?

Research pricing to ensure you’re getting the best value.

Example: An Xcaret package including roundtrip airfare for a family of four at an all-inclusive resort costs $4,968. Without airfare, the tickets cost approximately $1,900 when bought directly from the carrier. The room booked directly from the resort costs $2,422. The total for the independently booked trip is $4,336, $622 less than the Costco Travel package.

However, the Costco package includes a $229 Costco Shop Card and a 2% Executive Member reward. Higher-tier members can expect a return of over $300, narrowing the price difference to about $300. For some, the convenience of booking everything at once may be worth it. Price-conscious travelers may prefer booking separately, especially if they can find a great flight deal through TRAVELS.EDU.VN.

5.3. Cruises on Costco Travel: Value and Rebates

Experienced cruisers often start and end their planning with Costco Travel due to competitive pricing, rebates, and rewards.

Example: A five-night Western Caribbean Disney cruise for a family of four in the most affordable room costs $7,303 on Costco Travel, including tax and a $595 Costco Shop Card. The same trip costs $7,358 on the Disney Cruise website. Factoring in the rebate and 2% Executive Member rewards, Costco Travel offers a better deal.

Costco Travel works with the following cruise lines:

Azamara
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Cunard
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Benefits of booking a cruise with Costco Travel include:

Competitive Pricing: Offers highly competitive cruise pricing.
Value Labeling: Kirkland Signature and Buyer’s Choice cruises offer the best value.
Price Reductions: Members can track price drops and contact Costco to honor the lower price.
Rebates: Provides a 5-8% rebate on non-taxable cruise costs in the form of a Costco Shop Card.
Rewards and Perks: Executive Members earn a 2% reward and may be eligible for extras like room upgrades or shipboard credits.

Drawbacks include:

Limited Choice: Doesn’t partner with all cruise lines, including higher-end options.
Rebates Instead of Shipboard Credits: Offers rebates on a Costco Shop Card instead of shipboard credits, requiring cruisers to wait four to six weeks after the trip to receive them.
No Proactive Price Tracking: Doesn’t proactively track and share price reductions. Cruisers must monitor prices themselves and request adjustments.
Less Personalized Service: Customer service agents are not cruise specialists. First-time cruisers may prefer booking directly with a dedicated specialist.

5.4. Theme Parks on Costco Travel

Costco partners with the following theme parks:

Walt Disney World
Universal Orlando
Disneyland Resorts

Example: A one-week trip for a family of four including five-day Park Hopper tickets staying at The Art Of Animation in Walt Disney World costs $5,139 on Costco Travel. The same package booked directly on Disney’s Art Of Animation website costs $6,985.

Benefits of booking theme park packages include better pricing and reward earnings for Executive Members.

The main drawback is that theme park visits can be confusing. Inexperienced visitors may benefit from booking with a dedicated theme park travel agent who can answer questions about reservations, dining, and special events.

6. Costco Travel Hotels: Pre-Selected Options and Added Value

Costco Travel works with a limited number of pre-selected hotel brands, offering fewer lodging choices but potentially better prices, perks, rebates, or rewards.

Benefits of booking a hotel through Costco Travel include:

Time Savings: Streamlines the decision-making process with a smaller list of pre-vetted options.
Competitive Pricing: Nearly always offers better prices for rooms with their vendors.
Partial Payment: May require only a deposit to secure a hotel booking.
Price Reductions: May pass on price reductions for hotel bookings.
Rebates: May offer rebates valued at 5-8% of lodging costs in the form of a Costco Shop Card.
Extras: May include airport transfers or late checkout at no cost. Executive Members may be eligible for additional perks.
Rewards: Executive Members earn a 2% reward on hotel spending.

Drawbacks include:

Limited Selection: Partners with a few major hotel brands, some with middling ratings. Travelers seeking exemplary service or boutique lodging may need to look elsewhere.
Fewer Family-Friendly Options: May not offer many accommodations with separate bedrooms or easy search options for such properties.

6.1. Are Costco Hotels a Good Deal?

Even before considering rebates, rewards, and extras, Costco Travel nearly always offers better prices on hotel stays for the properties it sells.

Example: Costco Travel prices a 7-night stay in a San Juan, PR hotel for a family of four at $3,621. The same room costs $3,900 on the hotel website.

In addition to the lower price, Costco Travel offers complimentary roundtrip airport transfers, a $235 Costco Shop Card, and a $15 resort credit per day for Executive Members.

6.2. Hotel Companies Partnered with Costco

Costco Travel partners with the following hotel brands:

IHG Hotels & Resorts (includes Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Kimpton Hotel, and others)
Hyatt (includes 11 Hyatt brands across North and South America)
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Swissotel Hotels & Resorts

6.3. How to Book a Hotel with Costco

Visit the Costco Travel website.
Use the main search form and click on the hotel icon.

Selecting hotel search on Costco3. Alternatively, browse hotel brands from Costco Travel’s main menu dropdown.

Fill in your destination, travel dates, number of rooms, and number of travelers. Enter the ages of any children, as this may affect pricing. Click “Find My Hotel.”

Hotel search info on Costco5. Review the search results, including the total price, included extras, property photos, and reviews. Click “View Details & Customize.”
6. Read and agree to the Travel Advisory.
7. On the hotel detail page, you can learn more about the property, dining options, room types, and member reviews. Review rate details, cancellation policies, and included extras.

Room details on Costco8. Explore other room options by clicking “Modify Room.” If you want to keep your original room, click “Keep Current Selection.”
9. Note the total price and the amount due today (the deposit required).
10. Click “Continue To Transportation” if transportation is part of your package. Otherwise, select “Continue to Recap” to log in and complete the booking.

7. Maximizing the Perks of Booking with Costco Travel

Booking with Costco Travel comes with numerous advantages that can enhance your travel experience and save you money:

Competitive Pricing: Costco Travel consistently offers competitive prices on its travel products.
Rebates: Many vacation packages and some hotel bookings include a complimentary Costco Shop Card (gift card) worth 5-8% of the lodging value. This card is mailed to members four to six weeks after the trip.
Rewards: Executive Members earn an additional 2% reward on all non-taxable trip costs. This reward is paid annually in one certificate, approximately three months before membership renewal.
Credit Card Savings: Paying for your trip with a Costco Anywhere Visa card earns you an additional 3% cashback on travel. Combining this with a Costco Shop Card and an Executive Membership can yield a 10% return on your travel spending.
Extras: Some trips offer extras like late checkouts or complimentary airport transfers, regardless of membership status. Executive Members may receive additional perks like complimentary meals, spa credits, room upgrades, or VIP airport experiences.
Price Reduction Pass-Through: Costco Travel will pass on lodging price reductions. Travelers who see a lower price on the land portion of their trips can contact Customer Service to request the savings.
Informed Travel: Costco Travel provides information about travel advisories, government taxes, and fees for international trips.
No Surprises: Costco Travel package pricing includes all taxes and fees, except for departure taxes and local taxes collected by local governments.
Convenience: Keep all your travel documents and bookings organized with one vendor.

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9. Costco Travel Insurance

Costco Travel doesn’t directly sell travel insurance. However, it offers member-only rates through its preferred partner, Zurich Travel Insurance.

Members can purchase plans through Zurich that may include coverage for:

Trip Cancellation
Trip Interruption
Travel Delay
Baggage Loss or Delay
Emergency Medical Expense (including COVID-19 related expenses)
Rental Car Damage (including accidental collision, theft, and vandalism)

10. Costco Travel Contact Information

Main Customer Service (Questions/Bookings): 1-866-921-7925
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7 AM to 7 PM; Sat – Sun: 8 AM to 5 PM (PST)
Customer Service (While Traveling): 1-866-317-4711

By understanding How To Use Costco Travel and its various offerings, you can maximize your membership benefits and enjoy incredible savings on your next vacation. Remember to compare prices, consider the potential drawbacks, and leverage resources like travels.edu.vn to find the best deals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Costco Travel

Q1: Is Costco Travel only for Costco members?

Yes, you must be a Costco member to book travel through Costco Travel.

Q2: Does Costco Travel offer price matching?

Costco Travel doesn’t officially offer price matching. However, if you see a lower price on the land portion of your trip after booking, you can contact customer service to request the savings.

Q3: Can I use my Costco Shop Card to pay for a Costco Travel booking?

Yes, you can use your Costco Shop Card to pay for your trip.

Q4: Are Costco Travel packages refundable?

Refund policies vary depending on the specific package and vendor. Be sure to review the cancellation policy before booking.

Q5: Can I book Costco Travel for someone else who is not a member?

The primary member’s name must be on the reservation, but other travelers do not need to be members.

Q6: Does Costco Travel offer payment plans?

For some bookings, Costco Travel may only require a deposit to secure the reservation, with the remaining balance due later.

Q7: How far in advance can I book with Costco Travel?

This varies depending on the type of travel, but generally, you can book several months in advance.

Q8: Does Costco Travel offer group discounts?

Costco Travel doesn’t typically offer specific group discounts, but its package pricing can be competitive for groups.

Q9: How do I redeem my Costco Shop Card from a Costco Travel package?

The Costco Shop Card is mailed to you four to six weeks after you complete your trip.

Q10: What happens if I need to change or cancel my Costco Travel booking?

Contact Costco Travel customer service as soon as possible. Change and cancellation policies vary depending on the vendor and the specifics of your booking. Be aware of potential cancellation fees.