The Best Travel Packages You Can Only Get Through Costco
Updated: Jul. 11, 2023
Booking travel packages through Costco may seem unconventional, but experts say it's one of the best ways to get personalized service at a major discount. We rounded up some of our favorite trips you can book for less through the famous wholesale warehouse.
Costco Vacations: South Africa
Yes, Costco Travel has some of the best deals on giant bottles of ketchup, but they also offer some truly spectacular and hard-to-come-by travel experiences. Take, for example, their partnership with Lion World Travel, which offers those who book through Costco a seven-night South African tour that includes Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, the Cape Peninsula, and Table Mountain, dinner at a top local brasserie, a stay at Jackalberry Lodge in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve at the edge of Kruger National Park, and game drives twice every day. Rates start at under $4,000 per person, thanks to the Costco vacations deal-style pricing. And did we mention airfare is included?
Costco Vacations: Cruises
Picking the right cruise for your family is hard when travel agents work on commissions that vary greatly from cruise line to cruise line. If you book a trip through Costco, their customer service agents actually don’t work on commission, so you get the most honest advice on which ship and route is right for you. You’ll find popular large-scale ships like Carnival Vista available for booking online as well, with rates being especially affordable for Costco members.
Costco Vacations: Costa Rica
Seeing the pristine jungles of Costa Rica may be high on your list, but it’s hard to know which beach to hit, where the food is the most delicious, and exactly how to travel through remote parts of nature’s most beautiful treasures. Costco Travel has all-inclusive packages for popular Guanacaste, Costa Rica, that include oceanfront accommodations at the JW Marriott, access to nature tours, sight-seeing, daily buffet breakfasts, and a kids-stay-free policy. Booking through Costco also helps score you a $100 resort credit, which you can happily use at the spa.
Costco Vacations: London
You probably didn’t think Costco vacations could make you feel like royalty—but you’ll feel like Meghan and Harry when you book the Milestone Romance Package to London. It includes a visit to Kensington Palace (get your tiaras ready, friends), daily breakfast, a $400 London tour credit, a champagne afternoon tea service with all the trimmings, romantic turn down service, a three-course dinner for two at The Milestone Hotel, and a private appointment with the hotel concierge.
Costco Vacations: Paris and Rome
Why stop at just one? The beauty of booking Costco vacations is that they are masters of packaging trips that people actually want to take. If you’re already flying across the pond to Paris, what’s another hop, skip, and jump to Rome? This deal includes all travel taxes, four nights in Paris, four nights in Rome, and a list of goodies almost too long to name.
In Paris, you’ll be treated to a welcome drink at the hotel bar of Hotel du Collectionneur, free admission to the Musée Picasso at Le Meridien Etoile, almond chocolates, and a bottle of wine. In Rome, you’ll be treated to a bottle of wine at each hotel you stay at, welcome drinks, and in-room fruit platters at the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese.
Costco Vacations: Hawaii (for beer lovers!)
Get your tiki torches ready, because Costco Travel is offering a fairly unique way to see Hawaii: a Hilton Waikoloa Village Kona Brewing Co. package. The resort is located on Hawaii Island’s scenic Kohala Coast and boasts always-rich gardens, photo-worthy wildlife, surreal waters, and craft brews thanks to Kona Brewing Co.’s partnership with the hotel. Sounds perfect, because we know science has proven beer and vacations actually lift your spirits.
Booking this package gets you daily buffet breakfast for two, included resort charges, three flights of Kona Brewing Co. beer from the on-site Kona Tap Room, brewery tours, and souvenirs. Before you finally pull the trigger on your Hawaii vacation, read up on what you need to know before booking.
Costco Vacations: Cancun (but better)
Sure, anyone can book a trip to Cancun, but staying at the right place makes all the difference. Costco is offering a Palace Resorts Moon Palace package, which includes gorgeous Cancun beach access and top-notch hotel amenities. The resort also offers eight pools, 13 restaurants, several bars and lounges, a kids’ club, spa, and a near-endless supply of on-site activities for all ages.
The package includes unlimited meals, wine, and spirits, access to the FlowRider wave simulator, Playroom Kids’ Club for ages four through 12, a teen lounge, nightclub access, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, unlimited phone calls to the continental United States, and at least $500 in resort credits depending on the length of your stay. Get your bathing suit ready. If you want to venture outside of Cancun, consider visiting the other most popular travel destinations in Mexico.
Costco Vacations: Cook Islands
If you’re into beach breezes, swaying palm trees, and off-the-beaten-path destinations, you definitely need to add the Cook Islands to your travel bucket list. The Sea Change Villas package includes round-trip airfare from New Zealand, free late checkout, a free night, a breakfast starter pack for your own romantic and private meal for two, a bottle of wine, some water sports, and a voucher for Wi-Fi. Did we mention you’ll be staying in a private waterfront villa? That’s really the best part of the Costco vacation package.
Costco Vacations: Disney
If you thought you had to book Disney vacations direct, think again—and Costco Travel is one of the best ways to get in on the action at a discounted rate. Their BoardWalk package (one of many) includes accommodations at the turn-of-the-century-themed waterfront hotel for five or more nights, access to Disney’s Magical Express Airport Service, extra hours in the park before all the crowds, a Disney FastPass+, MagicBands, and more.
Costco Vacations: The Bahamas at Atlantis
Just about every one of the Atlantis hotel towers is on sale through Costco, but the newly-renovated Coral at Atlantis package is a real standout because the entire experience is all-ages-friendly, so bring the whole crew. Included extras are resort credits of up to $225, Aquaventure, a complimentary marine-life viewing experience in 15 exhibits, children ages 11 and younger stay and play free, Wi-Fi, a Costco Cash Car, ground transportation to and from the resort, and all resort fees and hotel taxes.
Costco Vacations: Vegas
Our list on great Costco vacations wouldn’t be complete without a posh Las Vegas addition, would it? Hardly, which is why Costco’s The Cosmopolitan Package is sure to dazzle lovers of Las Vegas with a sense of sophistication and glamour. The five-star hotel features world-class dining, shopping, and three distinct pool experiences.
The package boasts more than just pool access, though, and gives you free buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner for two at on-site Wicked Spoon, invited guest check-in, accommodations in a terrace studio, and applicable hotel taxes. See you at the high roller table. Grow your travel destination list, and check off these other vacations you should take before you turn 50.
Costco Vacations: Spain
The Barcelona and Madrid: Your Way package is a true feast for those looking to explore one of Europe’s most sought-after locations: Spain. Daily breakfast is included in both cities, and complimentary admission to the Palau Guell at Le Meridien Barcelona, welcome cocktails, a culinary treat upon check-in in each city, complimentary access to Metropolitan Abascal fitness center and spa in Madrid, and all hotel taxes and fees. Aside from amazing vacations, here are more things you aren’t buying at Costco—but should.
Other things you should know about Costco vacations
Costco Travel insurance is available for most trips, except for a few select options such as Trafalgar, Contiki, or Disneyland Resort vacation packages, according to the official website. The cancellation and refund policies vary by airline, cruise line, and hotel, so read the fine print before booking.
Note that cancelation of the Costco Travel flights portion of a cruise is nonrefundable. The same goes for flights that are part of other vacation packages. In some cases, these flights may not be transferable, either. Keep in mind that cruise bookings require full payment 90 to 160 days before sailing, and Visa and Mastercard are the only acceptable forms of payment at Costco Travel for cruise or vacation package bookings. Booking one of these Costco vacations is one of the 50 ways to save on summer travel.
