Costco is a warehouse club that offers its customers’ products at very cheap and affordable prices especially on bulk products. However, are you aware that they also have a very comprehensive travel service? Some of the services offered by Costco Travel include affordable hotel and car rental deals, cruise, and vacation packages. In this blog post, however, let me highlight some aspects of the Costco travel savings and explain whether the company really offers the best prices.
Costco Travel Hotel Discounts
But among all the things where Costco assist you in saving money, travel, particularly hotel accommodation, is where you get to benefit most. They have also managed to bargain with thousands of hotels across the globe and provide cheaper prices for Costco card holders. These discounted rates can be as much as 50% lower than what you would otherwise get from other online travel agents.
Here, it is possible to book rooms at hotels in such vacation spots as Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, and more for 20-30% less than the base prices. This is true even if the number of rooms or the number of nights of your stay is significant. Unlike some of the other sites that are tagged ‘mystery deals’ site, you can select your preferred hotel and your preferred type of room through Costco Travel.
There are no extra hotel offers for the executive members; the discount offers are given to all the members regardless of their membership level. This is due to the fact that the prices are discounted and you get the best rates if you book with a valid Costco membership.
COSTCO TRAVEL RENTAL CAR & CRUISE SAVINGS
In addition to hotels, Costco Travel provides members with attractive fares for car rentals in partnership with Avis, Budget, and Hertz. They have partners lined up to guarantee them with 5-15% discount on the rental rates in all parts of the world.
Like with hotels, cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian, and Princess Cruises can be persuaded by Costco Travel’s buying power to offer cheaper rates. Sometimes they have group discounts that can make the cruise up to several hundred dollars cheaper per person.
The additional value includes getting Costco Cash Cards, on board credit, free drink packages, cheaper shore excursions and many other things. These perks add to the overall savings not limited to merely the cheaper cruise fare.
Booking flight and hotel reservations plus transportation and activities as a package also increases your savings compared if you are constructing them one by one. Travel planning can be done easily under one roof with the help of experts in Costco.
What Costco Travel Savings Lack
In general, Costco Travel has great hotel and cruise deals, but in terms of airfare, rental cars, and tours/activities, the prices are not necessarily the best compared to the third-party websites. It benefits those using Costco as a regular buyers of their merchandises, but occasional customers may find more value for their money from individual parts sold in other shops.
For instance, Costco Travel flight rates might not be as cheap as those offered by Southwest Airlines or the no-frills low-cost airlines. But often, the regular rates of car rentals can be cheaper than other online car rental service providers like the Hotwire or the Priceline and yet the prices may be slightly higher in certain cases.
Regarding vacation packages, there are limitations in choosing hotels, duration of stays and departure airports/dates for bundled trips. I think experienced travelers can probably plan similar or even cheaper trips on their own using the Kayak Explore tool if they select the exact flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Of course, that takes more time and work compared to the convenience of having Costco Travel take care of all the arrangements for you. However what is the absolute rock bottom pricing does not come guaranteed for all the products.
Is it Worth Joining Costco Travel?
In this context, since the majority of Costco members purchase groceries and other household products, it only makes sense to use their travel service for hotel and cruise bookings. The additional 20- 50% savings offered on rack room rates or free cruise amenities make this a very attractive package.
They might still get by better with keeping tabs on airfare discount sites or ‘hidden city’ rental car offers than with booking those elements through Costco Travel, as a rule. However, let me tell you that there is no match to this integrated experience for hotels and cruise alone.
Therefore, even if some of the external elements can be mixed and matched, Costco Travel without doubt presents significant saving prospects for committed constituent. Its ability to sway decision of the purchasing company and the large chain hotels and most popular cruise lines makes it essential for vacation planning.
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How much can I save with Costco Travel discounts?
Members can save up to 30% on vacation packages, hotels, and rental cars compared to standard rates. The exact savings depend on the specific booking and available promotions.
Are Costco Travel discounts only for members?
Yes, only Costco members can access the travel discounts and services offered through Costco Travel. Membership is required to book any travel deals.
What types of travel services does Costco Travel provide?
Costco Travel offers a variety of services, including vacation packages, hotel bookings, car rentals, cruises, and theme park tickets.
Is the quality of hotels and services through Costco Travel good?
Costco Travel partners with reputable brands and often features high-quality hotels and services. Many members report positive experiences with their bookings.
Can I combine Costco Travel discounts with other promotions?
Generally, Costco Travel discounts cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts from other travel providers. However, special promotional offers from Costco may be available at times.