Costco

[PrincesCJM]

Are Costco gold members eligible for travel discounts, like car rentals? It looks like the are not but I wanted to double check. Maine just opened its first Costco last month and I am planning to join

 

[Dan Murphy]

All members can use travel services, Executive members get the 2,% rebate on their travel.

 

[gmi3804]

The 2% isn't payable until after the travel is complete.

We're going on a cruise this Thursday, and booked through Costco. We got $2,000 shipboard credit, will get 2% back off the fare paid (through Executive Membership), and a $600 Costco Cash Card. Theirs was the best deal we found (after promos/bonuses) for the same sailing/cabin.

 

[Skippy918]

We’ve booked a lot of trips thru Costco. For the recent one, we got $800 back in store cards and then the cost of the trip counted toward the 2% so we got another 400 back. The last several Costco trips have been paid for using the store credits. plus their gas is always the cheapest around town.

this video is spot on.

 

[fly girl]

Costco Travel is a very nice perk. They definitely had a rough patch during Covid (you couldn't speak to an agent, I think they laid off too many) but I believe that is no longer the case. Every agent I have encountered has been very helpful and friendly. I even had to make an emergency change or forfeit my cruise. They worked with me and the cruise line to rearrange. They were wonderful!

Highly recommend Costco Travel!

 

[SteveH]

We've used Costco Travel for a few vacations, no problems and no regrets. Like anything check your other options, but in our case both were good values and good rooms. We use Costco travel for booking our rental cars, and I rarely bother to price check as they are a good price and I've never had any issues.

We're Executive level members as well as the Costco Visa and we've been very happy with the rewards we get based on our travel and general purchasing.

 

[ajw28]

@Skippy918 You can use the Costco cash that you get from taking the trips to pay for another trip? I thought it had to be used in the club (or online) for things they sell only. I know it can't be used for gas.

 

[bcla]

@Skippy918 You can use the Costco cash that you get from taking the trips to pay for another trip? I thought it had to be used in the club (or online) for things they sell only. I know it can't be used for gas.

Those can be used to make in-person purchases and to buy gas, but I'm thinking using Costco Travel or car rentals requires an active membership number.

There was a time we let our membership lapse but we got my parents to buy some Costco Cash cards for us to buy gas and other stuff. I remember I specifically left just a few cents on a card and then used it to get into a Costco and buy about $100 worth of stuff. As long as there's some balance on it, the remainder can be paid with cash/credit/debit. But once the card was zeroed out, they said they were required to keep it.

 

[Skippy918]

@Skippy918 You can use the Costco cash that you get from taking the trips to pay for another trip? I thought it had to be used in the club (or online) for things they sell only. I know it can't be used for gas.

I meant shopping trips to Costco.

 

[NotUrsula]

The executive membership savings is worth it if you like package travel, such as cruises and resort stays in the Caribbean. If you mostly travel domestically in the US, there really is not much advantage to that level.

The best discounts for Gold Level had been for car rentals, but the pandemic rendered those discounts laughable, and they are only just now getting to the point where they are equivalent to corporate rates on rental cars. I do expect that to improve again as time goes on, but I think that rental car rates are going to stay much higher than they typically were pre-COVID.