Costco Travel, a branch of Costco Wholesale, operates as a prominent player in the leisure travel industry. Headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, with additional offices in Oklahoma City and near Dallas, Texas, Costco Travel stands out as a multibillion-dollar business. Serving millions of Costco members in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Costco Travel’s success is rooted in its unique organizational culture. Focused on delivering stability, exceptional benefits, opportunities for career growth, and a friendly, supportive work environment, Costco Travel redefines the travel experience for its members.
What is Costco Travel?
Costco Travel is like a special travel office just for Costco members. To use it, you need your own Costco Travel account. Only Costco members can see the prices and book trips, but anyone can check out the Costco Travel website.
With Costco Travel, members can plan and book vacations, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and theme park tickets, similar to other travel websites. However, keep in mind that you can only book flights through Costco Travel if it’s part of a bigger travel package; you can’t book flights by themselves.
“What do travelers need to know when using Costco Travel to plan a trip?
“How does Costco Travel function?
If you’re planning a trip, Costco Travel has some great choices for you. They use their buying power to get the best deals and pass on the savings to Costco members.
According to Chris Hendrix, the Assistant Vice President and General Merchandise Manager, they have put together vacation packages for specific places around the world. These packages include travel, accommodations, vehicle rentals, and more.
Hendrix mentioned that in these packages, they carefully choose each resort and component to make sure you get the best quality and value.
How to Create a Costco Travel Account?
Setting up your Costco Travel account is different from your Costco.com account, so you need to register separately. Once you’re registered, you can log in anytime to see your bookings and print your travel plans.
Here’s how to register:
- Enter your Costco membership number (find it on your membership card or Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi).
- Put in your Last Name as it appears on your membership card.
- Type your email address and enter it again to confirm.
- Create a password for your Costco Travel account, following these rules:
- It should be 8-128 characters long without spaces.
- Include at least one big letter and one small letter.
- Have at least one number.
- Add one of these characters: @#$~!
- Don’t use your email address or membership number in the password.
- Tick the “I’m not a robot” box to show you’re a person.
- Click the blue “Create Account” button. That’s it!
What can you book through Costco Travel?
With Costco Travel, you can book cruises, rental cars, plan trips to different U.S. cities, and reserve hotels. You can even bundle hotels with flights and car rentals. You can book online or over the phone, and there are agents available to help you at every step of your journey.
Can you book just flights with Costco Travel?
No, Costco Travel currently doesn’t allow you to purchase flights separately. Flights are included as part of vacation packages.
Do you need a Costco membership for Costco Travel?
Yes, you must be a Costco member to use Costco Travel. Membership fees range from $60 to $120 per year, depending on the type of membership you choose.
Are there extra perks for Costco Executive members using Costco Travel?
Absolutely! Costco Executive members get a 2% annual reward, up to $1,000, for eligible purchases made through Costco Travel.
Costco Travel: What You Need to Know
Costco is known for its good deals and lots of stuff, serving both regular folks and businesses in its big member stores. If you’re thinking of using Costco Travel for your next trip, here’s the lowdown:
- Booking Stuff: Costco Travel lets you book lots of travel stuff all at once. You can get hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, and even trips to theme parks. They offer different plans, like packages for trips within the country or abroad, combos of hotels and flights, deals with flights, hotels, and cars, just hotels, and more. The prices they show you already include taxes and fees.
- Flight Deal: Flights don’t automatically come with the package price, but some holiday and cruise deals might include flights from big cities. But be aware, not all airlines are on Costco Travel, so check prices if your favorite one isn’t there.
- Special Vacations: Costco Travel doesn’t just do regular stuff; they also have special trips. Think safaris in Africa or guided vacations. They cater to different tastes, like folks who want to save money by traveling in groups, those ready to spend a bit more for smaller group adventures, and even young adults who want to mingle with locals. These special options they pick out make planning a breeze and give you cool experiences in different parts of the world.
To sum it up, Costco Travel not only makes it easy to book your trip but also gives you lots of options for different kinds of travel. It’s like a handy and easy-to-use travel helper.
Costco Travel Gives You Cool Vacation Options
Costco Travel offers unique vacation choices, like safaris in Africa and guided trips. Guided trips are for different kinds of people: those who want to travel with friends and save money, those with a bit more cash who prefer exploring in small groups, and even young folks aged 18 to 35 who want to meet locals.
These special options give you cool experiences in different parts of the world. Plus, they take care of all the planning and details, so you just have to enjoy your trip and visit lots of places.
Make Your Car Rental Better and Cheaper with Costco Travel
If you use Costco Travel, you can make your car rental better and save money.
One cool thing is you can add an extra driver for free at some places. You can also do this when renting a car outside the US, depending on the rental company.
You can reserve your car in advance, lock in the price, and pay later when you pick it up. Sometimes, you might even get a better car without paying more. And the best part is, you don’t have to worry about cancellation fees.
If there’s a Costco with a gas station nearby, you might save money on gas because Costco often has lower prices.
Advantages Feature Travel Insurance, Access to Travel Experts, and Limited-Time Offers
Travel insurance, access to travel experts, and time-sensitive promotions are among the advantages offered.
When booking through Costco Travel, you can now avail yourself of travel insurance services, encompassing emergency assistance, trip cancellation coverage, and protection for your baggage, including delays. If you wish to compare insurance rates, that option is also at your disposal.
Should you require assistance in planning your trip or have any queries, a team of travel experts is readily available to help. In the event of a cancellation or emergency, specialized support can be accessed via phone.
Furthermore, members can make the most of exclusive time-limited offers. These discounts may include complimentary daily meals, resort credits, and fee waivers, with a variety of locations covered. To maximize your benefits, it is recommended to visit the specials page and subscribe to Costco newsletters.
Extra Benefit: Refunds of Up to 5% Offered
Another great thing is that Costco members can get back up to 5% on their travel expenses. If you’re a Costco Executive Member and book through Costco Travel, you already get 2% back.
Executive Members can even get an extra 3% back on certain trips, on top of the 2% they get with a Costco Anywhere Visa® Card from Citi. Plus, this Visa card works everywhere, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Using Costco Travel can save you time and money when planning your next trip, but remember, you need an active Costco membership. Even though Costco Travel is convenient, take a moment to check prices for the best deals. To save the most, try combining offers with Costco Travel.
Top Travel Insurance Providers
If you need good travel insurance, try Costco Travel for quick cruise bookings. They work with many cruise lines, so you can pick where you want to go. They even give you a digital card for shopping on your cruise.
Sign Up
When you sign up, remember you’re agreeing to Costco Travel’s rules about privacy and how things work. Just know that some rights, like class action lawsuits and arbitration, might be different.
Costco Travel doesn’t just do cruises – they also plan fun trips to Universal and Disney parks. And the Costco Travel team is there to help you plan the best vacation ever!
Booking Options Through Costco Travel
Hotels: When you use Costco Travel to book hotels, your choices might be limited unless the hotel is part of a vacation package. Some destinations like Maui, Cancun, and Punta Cana may not have standalone hotels through Costco Travel.
If you find a standalone hotel on Costco, keep in mind that you might not earn hotel points or special credits. Also, your status in a hotel loyalty program (like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, or IHG) may not be recognized. This makes it a bit tricky for travelers to book these hotels through Costco Travel.
Cruises: Costco Travel offers cruises from 11 different cruise lines, including popular ones like Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess.
While there are other websites for booking cruises with similar prices, Costco Travel stands out with extras like drink packages, onboard credit, and free Costco shop cards. The shop card’s value varies based on the cruise and accommodation, ranging from $25 to $95 for shorter trips and up to $425 for longer ones.
Even though Costco Travel has great cruise deals, the search is limited to one month at a time. So, if you’re flexible with your travel dates, it might take a bit more effort.
Rental Cars: Costco Travel lets you book rental cars from Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. The search results show the most affordable price for each car type in an easy-to-read grid format. However, Costco Travel might not always have the best deal as it doesn’t include as many rental car companies.
Theme Parks: Costco members can buy Disney (for US locations only) and Universal Orlando vacation packages through Costco Travel. These packages often include extras like transportation, early park admission, discounted resort fees, or a food and beverage credit, in addition to hotel stays and theme park tickets.
Vacation Bundles: Costco vacation packages cover lodging, transportation, and/or flights for destinations in North America, Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific. Some companies, like Contiki, Lion World Travel, Adventures by Disney, and Trafalgar Worldwide Guided Vacations, offer custom holiday packages through Costco Travel.
These packages can save you money compared to booking hotels and flights separately. They often include extras like Costco shop cards and airport transfers. The shop card value varies, from around $150 to over $900 for week-long trips. But, be cautious – some packages with included activities might end up costing more than separate bookings.
While Costco Travel can save you money, especially for vacation packages, it’s a good idea to check other websites to find the best price and package that fits your needs.
Exploring the Ins and Outs of Costco Travel: Where to Find Essential Information
Official Website: www.costcotravel.com
Location: Headquarters in Issaquah, WA
Established: 2000
Specializations: Cruises, Theme Parks, Rental Cars, Hotels and Resorts, Vacation Packages, Leisure Travel, and Guided Travel
For comprehensive details, please explore the Costco Travel website at www.costcotravel.com.
Contact Number: 1-877-849-2730
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Costco Travel Contact Information
General Customer Service – Inquiries and Bookings:
- Phone: 1-866-921-7925
- Service Hours: Mon – Fri: 7 AM to 7 PM; Sat-Sun: 8 AM to 5 PM (PST)
Customer Service While Traveling:
- Phone: 1-866-317-4711
Additional Costco Travel Phone Numbers:
- Customer Care Number: 8714925458
- Toll-Free Number: (866) 921-7925
- For Reservations/Planning Trips, contact customer service.
Send Message:
- For customer service, use the online messaging option.
Customer Service:
- Phone: (855) 863-0357
Canada Customer Service:
- Phone: (866) 317-4711
Assistance While Traveling:
- Phone: (800) 774-2678
Membership Services:
- For inquiries related to Costco membership.
In summary
Costco Travel is a great help for people on a budget. It gives you access to lots of discounts and perks for special trips and vacation packages. While it’s a convenient place to plan your trip, it’s important to check all your options to make sure your vacation is not only affordable but also exactly what you want.
If you’re a Costco Travel member, make the most of your membership benefits. You can go on amazing trips at really good prices, whether you’re booking hotels, cruises, or rental cars.
Questions people often ask about Costco Travel
What is Costco Travel?
Costco Travel is a travel booking service just for Costco members. It helps you find great deals on vacation packages, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and recommended tours.
Do I have to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel?
Yes, you need to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel. If you’re not a member, you can still check out the Costco Travel website, but you can’t make any travel plans unless you become a member.
Is Costco Travel a good deal?
It depends. It’s essential to compare prices independently to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Sometimes, Costco offers a more affordable price, but other times, it might be more expensive or offer fewer choices, like some hotels that are not available unless part of a package.
Where is the Costco Travel login?
You can find the Login button in the upper right corner of the website or any booking login window. Use your password and Costco Travel membership number to log in. Remember, your Costco membership number is different from your Costco Travel membership number.
If you don’t have a Costco Travel account, you can create one by visiting the link on this page. If you prefer not to create an account, you can still plan a trip by choosing “Continue without an account” during the booking process and entering your Costco membership number.
Can I book for someone else on Costco Travel?
Yes, if you’re a Costco member. Just enter the other person’s name when prompted for traveler information.
Can you cancel reservations made through Costco Travel?
It varies. Each reservation may have different terms and conditions, similar to other travel services or direct bookings with hotels or airlines. Always read the rules carefully when making a reservation to see if anything can be canceled or reimbursed.