Should You Book With Costco Travel? The Truth About Savings And Fine Print

Nicole Hunter Travel Updated on 12/15/2025 at 12:43 pm

Costco Travel review — Let’s find out if Costco Travel is really that profitable.

Everyone knows the allure of Costco: walking in for a rotisserie chicken and walking out with a kayak and a year’s supply of vitamins. But does that same magic apply when you are spending thousands on a vacation rather than $1.50 on a hot dog?

Costco Travel has developed a cult following among members who swear by its unbeatable value. However, savvy travelers know that “value” doesn’t always mean the absolute lowest price on the sticker. The real savings often lie in the perks, the waived fees, and the famous Digital Shop Cards.

We analyzed member reviews and the latest “Hot Buys” to reveal whether Costco Travel is actually worth it—and to expose the fine print you need to know before you book.

The “Real” Savings: It’s Not Just About the Price Tag

According to seasoned Costco members, if you are strictly comparing the upfront price of a hotel room on Expedia versus Costco, the numbers might look similar. The “Costco difference” is found in what happens after you book.

1. The Secret Weapon: Digital Shop Cards

The most distinct advantage of Costco Travel is the “Cash Back” card. Instead of a direct discount, Costco often rebates a significant portion of your trip cost in the form of a Digital Costco Shop Card.

A prime example from the current “Hot Buys” list is the Super Bowl LX Package.

The Deal: Two 400-Level tickets, a 3-night stay in San Francisco, and entry to the NFL On Location Tailgate.
The Price: A hefty $24,999.
The Twist: It includes a $4,000 Digital Costco Shop Card. While the upfront cost is high, receiving $4,000 back for groceries or electronics changes the math significantly.

2. Waived Fees and “Freebies”

Members frequently report that Costco packages eliminate the annoying “resort fees” that plague travelers in destinations like Las Vegas or Hawaii. Additionally, while other sites charge for extras, Costco often includes them.

Rental Cars: One of the most praised perks is the free second driver added to rentals—a fee that usually costs typical travelers $13-$15 per day elsewhere.
Moving Deals: Currently, members can even save 25% on Budget Truck rentals, proving the savings extend beyond leisure travel.

The Costco Auto Program offers exclusive car prices without the stress and unnecessary bargaining.

Inside the “Hot Buys”: Analyzing Current Offers

To understand if the savings are real, we looked at what is available to book right now. The consensus? Cruises and bundled packages offer the highest ROI (Return on Investment).

The Cruise Deals (Member Favorites)

Cruises are often cited as the “sweet spot” for Costco Travel.

For the Long Haul: The Circle Caribbean Cruise on the Enchanted Princess® is currently offering 14 nights starting from just $1,268. This itinerary visits Harvest Caye and Cozumel and includes a Digital Shop Card. At roughly $90 per night for a premium cruise line, this is hard to beat.
For a Quick Getaway: A 7-Night Key West, Mexico & Cayman Cruise on the Celebrity Apex® starts at $758.

The “Blink and You’ll Miss It” Deals

Costco uses scarcity to drive deals. Their current “12 Days of Travel Deals” promotion offers a new exclusive discount every day, but each is available for 3 days only. This requires members to be vigilant, but the savings on these flash sales are typically deeper than standard catalog prices.

The Disney Difference

Costco is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and for families, this is a major draw.

The Value: Costco’s Disney Destinations packages (Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line) are rarely discounted by Disney directly. However, Costco bundles often include waived resort fees at area hotels and, critically, a Disney Gift Card or Costco Shop Card to use for food and merchandise inside the parks.

Disneyland Monorail — Take a ride on the legendary monorail to enjoy the best views of the park from above and quickly reach the magic.

The Fine Print: What the Ads Don’t Tell You

Before you hand over your credit card, you need to understand the limitations. Costco Travel is not for everyone, and member reviews highlight several “cons.”

1. The “Curated” Limitation

Costco does not list every hotel in existence. They curate a specific list of partners (usually 4-star and above). If you are looking for a budget hostel, a specific boutique hotel, or an Airbnb-style stay, you won’t find it here. You are limited to their choices.

2. Strict Cancellation Policies

While hotel chains often offer flexible rates that allow cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival, Costco’s packages—especially those including airfare—can be stricter. Many packages are non-refundable or require significant deposits. Always read the cancellation terms on the final checkout screen.

4. Flight Logistics

Some members note that when bundling flights, the default option might be a “Basic Economy” seat or a flight with awkward layovers. You can usually upgrade or change flight times during the booking process, but keep an eye on how that affects the final total.

United Express airline — United Express’ convenient and fast regional flights perfectly connect small cities with a global travel network.

4. The Membership Paywall

You cannot see specific pricing for many high-value deals without logging in. This means you must already be a paying member ($60 for Gold Star, $120 for Executive).

Pro Tip: Executive Members get an additional 2% reward on Costco Travel purchases. If you book that $24,999 Super Bowl trip, the Executive reward alone covers your membership fee for years.

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?

YES, you should book with Costco Travel if:

You are planning a cruise, a rental car, or a package vacation to a major tourist hub (Hawaii, Orlando, Caribbean).
You shop at Costco regularly and view the Shop Card as good as cash.
You value convenience and perks (like free breakfast or waived resort fees) over the absolute lowest hostel-level price.

NO, look elsewhere if:

You need extreme flexibility with dates and cancellations.
You are a budget solo traveler looking for the cheapest possible accommodation.
You are loyal to a specific hotel brand and want to earn their specific points (booking via third parties like Costco often voids hotel status benefits).

Bottom Line: Costco Travel lives up to the hype for “bundled” luxury. Always compare the final price with the direct provider, but don’t forget to subtract the value of that Shop Card from the total—that is usually where the unbeatable deal is hiding.