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Get a Costco membership for just $20 right now
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Deals on non-points hotel stays and all-inclusive resorts
Even when you do find availability, you should always price-check what you can find by booking directly or through your credit card travel portal and hotel programs. And since Hotel Wailea isn't a member of any major hotel loyalty program, booking through Costco Travel wouldn't mean missing out on elite night credits or other loyalty program benefits. Zeger explains that Kirkland Signature deals need to represent a value at least 20% better than offers you'd find elsewhere in the market; this applies to travel or anything you'd buy in the warehouse. " Typically these required values are achieved by negotiating exclusive amenities with the cruise lines such as specialty dining, spa treatments, private events, etc.," she says. Like the warehouses, to access Costco's cruise discounts, you'll need to pony up for membership -- $60 per household at the basic level.
Does Costco Travel Save You Money? [2024] - Upgraded Points
Does Costco Travel Save You Money? .
Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
When is Costco Travel not worth it?
Costco does not assign a specific agent to your booking, so you're unlikely to talk to the same call center representative twice. Unlike a typical travel agent, Costco Travel also offers rebates issued as Costco Cash Cards. There's no rebate form to fill out; the cash card arrives in the mail two to four weeks after your cruise, to be used at Costco's warehouses or for online orders. That's been my experience when booking my own cruises, as well as sailings for family and friends. I've booked direct with cruise lines, used traditional brick-and-mortar travel agencies and gone through online travel suppliers like Expedia, Vacations To Go and American Discount Cruises.
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters. Many people think of Costco as a place to buy milk, eggs, meat, and toilet paper in bulk. For me, the $60 annual membership fee to Costco has been more than worth it to utilize Costco Travel. It's worth digging a little deeper on the Costco Travel website for even better deals.
Whether or not you currently have a Costco membership, you shouldn't dismiss Costco Travel as just another online travel agency. While Costco had a deal available for the same resort, we happened to be booking when the resort chain was having a Mother's Day sale for anyone booking directly. But for experienced cruisers who have a good idea of the ships and cabins they want, Costco Travel is worth checking out. The company does not sell some of the more upscale or boutique lines, such as Oceania, Silversea and Windstar, but Costco is definitely looking to expand its selection of cruise lines, according to Zegers. You may be inclined to think that a Costco membership is more suitable for people who live outside of cities. But there's much to be gained by joining Costco even if you live in a tiny apartment with no storage space whatsoever.
Everything you need to know about Costco Travel (and why I love it) - The Points Guy
Everything you need to know about Costco Travel (and why I love it).
Posted: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
However, one thing to note is that you can't book stand-alone flights via Costco Travel. There is an option to book flights through some vacation packages, but if you're only looking for airfare, you'll want to head to Google Flights to check out your options and book. "They aren't active travel agents, they don't proactively check for price drops," noted kleptn. However, Costco does have pre- and post-travel support departments, as well as an after-hours phone number for travel emergencies, to assist travelers once they've booked their cruise. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay.
Let's say you pay $60 for a basic Costco membership and only shop there once during the year. But generally speaking, city dwellers tend to have less room to store things at home than those in suburban and rural areas. So that begs the question -- is a Costco membership worth it if you live in a city?
While the disadvantage of a cash card over a shipboard credit is that Costco hangs onto your rebate for a month longer, the payoff is usually greater. And, as anyone who regularly shops at Costco knows, it doesn't take long to blow through a few hundred dollars in gas fill-ups alone. Savvy cruisers, including many Cruise Critic members, have saved big by booking cruises through Costco. Here are five things you don't know about booking a Costco cruise -- and why Costco Travel is my first -- and usually last -- stop when shopping for a cruise. ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites.
Because the cruise industry aims to enforce pricing parity across all booking channels, discounts don't usually appear in the upfront cruise fare. Another member, RSF Cruiser, has booked about two Princess cruises a year for the past five years and has been "totally pleased." Costco Travel does not sell every cruise line, but it does handle all of the largest brands, including Carnival.
In February, the agency said the proposal at that time would amount to a "hodgepodge of unconnected stores, banners, brands and other assets." The change responds to concerns raised by federal and state antitrust regulators regarding the original agreement. The new package includes more stores to be transferred in Arizona and other states to enable C&S to compete more effectively following the merger. Once you log in to Costco Travel, you can search for specific dates or destinations or browse through available deals and featured destinations.
My favorite thing about booking trips through Costco Travel is the Digital Costco Shop Card I get after booking. The card's value varies from trip to trip (generally depending on how expensive the package you book), but you can get hundreds of dollars back to use at Costco. When planning our annual beach trip back in 2022, my best friend found a few options for Mexican all-inclusive resorts on Costco Travel and shared the links with me. I promptly told her we'd probably be better off booking directly and brushed off the idea of booking through Costco — neither of us even had a membership at the time. If you're new to cruising or unsure of what you want, Costco might not be the best travel agency for you. "I think a first time cruiser would be better off using an agency that walks them through everything," says NoVa Mimi, who books all her cruises exclusively through Costco.
But more often than not, when shipboard credits and other incentives were tallied, Costco Travel came out as low as, or lower than, other options. A basic membership at Costco costs $60 a year, while an Executive membership costs $120 but gives you 2% cash back on your purchases. Whichever membership you choose, it can be more than worth the money when you consider the savings you might reap by being able to purchase groceries and household items in bulk.
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