Costco’s Hidden Membership Benefit Saves You Up to $546.13 When You Book Your Summer Vacation and Receive ‘VIP Treatment’

A LITTLE-KNOWN membership benefit means some Costco shoppers can score big savings on their summer vacation.

While the wholesale retailer is well-known for its affordable prices, its travel section is less secretive.

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Costco Travel exclusively offers members “the best value in the business” for vacations according to your website.

With the membership benefit, customers can search for various trips, including vacation package deals, car and hotel rentals, and even domestic and international cruises.

Destinations include Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, with some cruises going as far as Western Australia and Bali.

Families can benefit even more from Costco Travel with Universal and Disney theme parks also available to book through the travel agency.

Regular Costco shoppers who are familiar with the retailer’s “Kirkland Signature” brand will be delighted to know that it is also available for travel bookings.

In addition to these benefits, members who book vacations through Costco Travel can even get a Digital Costco Shop Card to offer more in-store discounts.

On an average trip, Costco Travel saves members about 10% compared to other bookings, according to Fool.com.

The news outlet compared Costco’s travel deals with the same trips booked through other agencies to see how much money could be saved.

On a four-night trip from Chicago, Illinois, to Boston, Massachusetts, in mid-July for two adults and one child, Costco Travel can save customers $546.13.

The news outlet compared booking the package to the same flights and hotel rooms booked directly with United Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy.

This process would cost travelers about 15% more than Costco would charge.

Meanwhile, a 14-night vacation package from New York to Portland for two adults traveling first class and staying at a luxury hotel saves Costco members $514.50.

Costco Travel also offers travel insurance, expert travel advice, exclusive limited-time offers and up to 5% cash back on trips booked by Executive Members.

The US Sun previously reported on a loved-up couple who saved $1,000 on their honeymoon thanks to Costco travel packages.

Avery Perkins and her husband John Weakley went to St. Lucia in November for their honeymoon, which cost them $7,700, according to Insider.

Weakley’s pastor told him about the trip to Costco after saving money on a trip to Italy, and to the newlyweds’ shock, they found the same vacation they saw previously offered for a whopping $8,700.

Membership and store cards offered by major retailers

Here’s a breakdown of store cards offered to customers from various retailers and their benefits

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Costco:

• Gold Star Membership: $60 per year, shop at all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your family.
• Executive Member: $120 per year, 2% annual rewards, discounts and additional benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store and get two additional cards for home use.
• Sign up for a Costco Membership here

Sam’s Club:

• Club membership: $50 Per Year, Bonus Offers, Same Day Delivery, Instant Savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, Members Only Fuel Savings, Tire & Battery Center, Free Membership and Complimentary Memberships.
• More membership: $110 per year, all the benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, advance purchases, and pharmacy and optical discounts.
• Sign up for Sam’s Club membership here

Target:

• Target Circle: A free rewards program that allows users to earn 1% in Target Circle Earnings rewards when a qualifying purchase is made, access personalized deals and offers, receive a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps your community .
• Target Circle Card: A credit, debit or reloadable card that offers users 5% off in-store and online, as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping and an additional 30-day return window. Formerly Target RedCard.
• Sign up for Target circle here

Walmart:

• Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with 30-day free trial. It offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, car, Walmart+ travel, home drop-off, mobile scan and store entry, and early access to offers and product launches.
• Sign up for Walmart+ here

“I called the resort itself and said, ‘Hey, is this legit? Is there a caveat or do I need to hear a presentation or something to save that money,” John said.

However, a resort employee said the Costco package for $1,000 less, at $7,700, was legitimate.

“The moment you mention Costco, we just back off and say, look, we can’t match the price, so go ahead and book through Costco,” John added.

“I’m not fooling around. We called the hotel and they said they couldn’t do anything and make a reservation,” Avery added.

“It was crazy. Oh, plus we got a $300 gift card.”

Meanwhile, Costco members have been sharing their excitement about an in-store policy change that will make it easier to get groceries.