Is Costco Travel A Good Deal?

Published On : 21 Oct 2024

Everyone loves good discounts as much as Finding great offers on everything from bulk cereal boxes to car tires is something that everyone loves about Costco. But does their travel site provide good value for money as well when it comes to booking hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages? Let me now highlight some of the advantages and disadvantages of booking your travel through Costco Travel.

The following are the benefits of booking through Costco Travel.

Members Only Discounts - Many hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines or tour operators offer special discount for Costco Travel that are not available for the general public. The company is a popular wholesaler, retailer, and distributor of flowers, and you can get them at a 10-20% discount to the market prices.

Extra Savings and Offers – Sometimes, customers are offered even more with 20%-off base fares with freebies like dinner or spa vouchers, free breakfasts, Wi-Fi, and room upgrades. These are typically worth $50-$150 in additional value per booking.

Flexibility – Majority of the online travel sites do not allow the refunding of deposits, but with Costco Travel, you can get a full refund of your deposit on a hotel, cruise or vacation package booking up to two days to the date of travel. This significantly minimizes the risk that is associated with pre-paying.

Great Customer Relations – Another impressive aspect of Costco Travel is the quality of customer service, which is provided by live travel agents from the United States, who are available by phone 24/7. Any questions or concerns that may arise before or during the trip are addressed promptly.

2% Cash Rebate – Anything that you book with Costco Travel also earns you 2% cash back in Costco cash rebates that you can use to get your next Costco purchase.

The pros and the cons when booking through Costco Travel

Fewer Options – Although Costco’s travel services offer very low prices, they do not always have as large of a selection of hotels, flights, and cruises as the most popular travel websites. Accessibility, however, may be limited for some destinations.

Packages Only – You cannot combine various travel parts and parcel. Costco Travel offers only complete vacation packages for purchase online, not individual hotel rooms or rental cars.

Cruise Oriented – Costco Travel has its’ key competency in areas that are inclined more towards cruise. The hotel prices and deals are out competed by other online travel sites in terms of flight and rental car prices.

Other Members Can See Hotel Deals – Any member who logs into their account will be able to view all the current pricing of the hotels and the amount of room inventory available on Costco Travel. Unlike the cloaked nature of Closed User Group travel sites, the deals are not only available just for you.

Must Be a Costco Member – This one is obvious, as you can only get the Costco Travel rates and book via their site if you’re an active Costco member and perhaps enjoy some member only promotions.

So – Is Costco Travel a Good Deal or Not?

Yes, Costco Travel is a great option if one is looking for deep discounts on cruises, resort/flight packages, and rental cars that come with a lot of extra value in the form of credits, better upgrades, and flexible cancellation policies. Families in particular can save hundreds of dollars when booking all-inclusive packages with them. However, for individual hotel bookings or for those who prefer to plan their vacation according to their own preferences, the major OTAs still offer wider selection at the same or lower rates depending on the location. Again, the exceptional Costco Travel customer care is helpful when one needs to make new arrangements due to cancelled flights, adverse weather conditions or other inconveniences during the trip.

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FAQ

Is Costco Travel available to non-members?

No, Costco Travel is exclusively for Costco members. Anyone can book travel through the site as long as they hold a valid Costco membership, which costs between $60 to $120 annually

How does Costco Travel compare in price to other travel booking sites?

Costco Travel often offers competitive pricing on vacation packages, sometimes saving members around 10% compared to other services. However, prices can vary depending on the destination and time of year, and Costco may not always have the lowest fare due to not partnering with all airlines

What types of travel does Costco Travel offer?

Costco Travel provides a range of options, including vacation packages that combine hotels, flights, and car rentals. They also offer exclusive deals on cruises and access to over 8,000 hotels across the U.S., Canada, and select international locations

What are the benefits of booking through Costco Travel?

Members benefit from exclusive offers, such as onboard credits for cruises and discounts on vacation packages. The site is designed for convenience, allowing travelers to book multiple components of their trip in one place. Customer service is noted to be strong, with accessible support available

Are there any drawbacks to using Costco Travel?

One limitation is that Costco Travel does not allow users to book flights separately; flights are bundled with other services. Additionally, while the platform offers great deals, members have reported issues with the customer service experience, especially when needing to make changes