For many travelers in the United States, Costco is more than a place to buy bulk snacks and sunscreen. With a robust travel agency, competitive rental car and hotel rates, and a popular co-branded credit card, Costco has quietly become a major player in the travel space. Choosing between a standard Gold Star membership and the pricier Executive tier can have real financial consequences once flights, cruises and resort stays enter the picture.

Understanding how each membership works, what it costs and where the rewards actually show up is essential if you want to squeeze maximum value from every trip. For a broader explanation of how Costco membership, Costco Travel and travel rewards fit together overall, see our Costco Membership and Travel Benefits explained guide.

Gold Star vs Executive: The Basics Travelers Need to Know

Costco currently offers two main consumer membership tiers that matter for leisure travelers: Gold Star and Executive. As of September 1, 2024, the Gold Star membership fee in the United States is 65 dollars per year, while Executive membership costs 130 dollars annually. Both tiers include access to all warehouses, Costco.com, and Costco Travel.

The core difference is that Executive members pay an additional 65 dollars for the chance to earn an annual 2 percent reward on most Costco and Costco Travel purchases, plus a handful of extra perks that increasingly target frequent shoppers and travelers.

A key point for travelers is that both Gold Star and Executive members can book through Costco Travel. You do not need Executive status just to see or reserve Costco vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or theme park deals. However, only Executive members earn the 2 percent annual reward on qualifying Costco Travel purchases once the trip is completed, and only Executive members have access to certain extra values on select packages, such as resort credits, shipboard credits or bonus Costco Shop Cards.

The break-even math on Executive membership is straightforward. Because the Executive tier costs 65 dollars more than Gold Star, you would need to earn at least 65 dollars in annual rewards to justify the upgrade on dollars alone. At a 2 percent reward rate, that means roughly 3,250 dollars in eligible spending at Costco and Costco Travel per membership year.

Travelers who routinely book family vacations, cruises or long resort stays through Costco can hit that threshold surprisingly quickly, while occasional travelers may struggle to make the numbers work.

How the 2 Percent Executive Reward Really Works on Travel

The signature perk of Costco Executive membership is the annual 2 percent reward on qualified spending at Costco warehouses, on Costco.com and through Costco Travel. That reward is capped at 1,250 dollars per 12-month period, which implies a maximum of 62,500 dollars in qualifying purchases.

For most travelers, the cap is generous enough that it is unlikely to be an issue, but high-spending families planning multiple large trips or major home projects should be aware of it.

For travel, the rules are nuanced. Executive members earn the 2 percent reward on eligible Costco Travel purchases once the travel is completed, and you must still be an Executive member when the trip begins for the reward to post. Certain elements of a trip typically do not earn rewards, such as trip protection, some taxes and fees, surcharges or upgrades, and rental car equipment. The reward is calculated on the qualifying base cost of the package, cruise or car rental, not on every single line item related to the trip.

The timing of the reward also matters for planning. Costco issues Executive reward certificates roughly two to three months before your membership renewal date, based on spending during the membership year up to that point.

That means a spring cruise or summer resort package could contribute to a certificate that arrives later in the year, which you can then redeem in warehouses for merchandise or convert indirectly into a Costco Shop Card to spend online. For travelers who like to pre-plan big purchases around renewal dates, this cycle can be used strategically.

It is important to understand the limitations. The 2 percent Executive reward certificate itself cannot be used directly to pay for new Costco Travel bookings or other services. It must first be redeemed at a warehouse register. If you want to put it toward travel, you can use the certificate to purchase a Costco Shop Card at a warehouse, then use that Shop Card online for travel or other Costco.com purchases. This extra step is a small inconvenience but one that matters if you are trying to offset the cost of your next vacation.

Exclusive Executive Extras on Costco Travel Packages

In recent years, Costco has expanded the special add-ons available only to Executive members who book select trips. On certain Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico, cruise and theme park packages, Executive travelers may receive extra value in the form of resort credits, shipboard credits, complimentary breakfast, room upgrades or digital Costco Shop Cards tied specifically to the booking. These extras are separate from, and in addition to, the standard 2 percent Executive reward.

Examples that have appeared on Costco Travel’s Executive Member Benefits page include daily food and beverage credits at upscale Hawaii resorts, resort credits on Caribbean stays, and digital Costco Shop Cards added to cruise packages.

The exact offers rotate frequently and vary by destination, brand and season, but the pattern is consistent: the Executive tier is increasingly used as a lever to bundle small but meaningful extras into higher-value vacations. For a traveler already leaning toward a particular hotel or cruise line, these perks can tilt the comparison decisively in Costco Travel’s favor.

From a value perspective, these Executive-only extras can quickly outstrip the 65 dollar upgrade fee even before you factor in the 2 percent reward. A single resort package that comes with a few hundred dollars in dining or spa credits, plus a bonus Shop Card, can easily justify Executive membership for that year. Travelers who tend to book complex or premium vacations, rather than bare-bones air and hotel, are the ones most likely to benefit from these targeted offers.

However, it is not a given that every Costco Travel booking will include an Executive bonus. Many rental car reservations, simple hotel bookings or basic packages offer the same price and inclusions to Gold Star and Executive members alike, with only the 2 percent reward differentiating the tiers.

Savvy travelers should always check the detailed inclusions of each Costco Travel offer and note whether an Executive-exclusive credit or extra is listed. If your upcoming trips do not feature any such perks and your annual spend is modest, the Executive upgrade may not be warranted.

The Role of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card for Frequent Travelers

Layered on top of Costco membership is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, which functions as both a credit card and your Costco membership card. This card is available to any Costco member regardless of whether they hold Gold Star or Executive status. For travelers, its rewards structure is particularly attractive, especially after updates that took effect in January 2025.

Cardholders now earn 5 percent cash back on gas and electric vehicle charging at Costco up to a yearly cap, 4 percent at other gas stations and EV chargers up to that same cap, 3 percent back on restaurants and eligible travel (including Costco Travel), 2 percent at Costco and Costco.com, and 1 percent on all other purchases.

When paired with Executive membership, the card can create a powerful stack of rewards on travel. An Executive member who pays for a qualifying Costco Travel package with the Costco Anywhere Visa earns both the 2 percent Executive reward and the 3 percent travel category cash back from the credit card, effectively capturing a combined 5 percent return on eligible portions of the booking. For travelers who routinely spend thousands of dollars per year on Costco Travel vacations, this double-dip can be a compelling reason to upgrade to Executive status.

Gold Star members can still benefit significantly from the Costco Anywhere Visa. They earn the same 3 percent cash back on eligible travel and 2 percent at Costco without paying the higher Executive membership fee. For lighter travelers whose total Costco spending falls short of the Executive break-even point, holding the credit card alone can provide much of the value that frequent flyers and road-trippers seek. In that sense, the card allows many Gold Star members to behave like power users without committing to the full Executive tier.

Travelers should also recognize that the credit card rewards and the Executive 2 percent reward are separate systems. The card’s cash back arrives annually as a credit card reward certificate tied to your February billing cycle, while the Executive reward is issued around your Costco membership renewal date. Balancing these timelines and understanding how each certificate can be redeemed helps ensure that you are not leaving value unused, especially if you like to time big travel purchases around when rewards hit.

Early Shopping Hours and In-Warehouse Perks That Matter on the Road

Beyond direct travel rewards, Costco’s evolving set of Executive perks increasingly appeals to people who travel often and rely on warehouse runs to prepare for trips. In 2025, Costco began rolling out expanded early shopping hours for Executive members at many U.S. locations, typically opening warehouses to them at 9:00 a.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays, ahead of regular operating hours. While these times can vary by location and are not yet universal, the trend is clear: Executive members are being offered quieter, less crowded shopping windows.

For travelers, early access can be surprisingly valuable. Heading on a road trip, camping excursion or early flight often means scrambling for last-minute supplies like coolers, snacks, over-the-counter medicines or clothing. Being able to enter a Costco warehouse before the general crowds can reduce stress, shorten checkout lines and make it easier to stock up quickly before hitting the highway or airport. Families with young children, who may already be awake early, can also appreciate the calmer environment when shopping for vacation essentials.

Executive membership may also unlock occasional in-warehouse promotions, such as extra discounts on select services or extended warranty options on big-ticket items like luggage, electronics or appliances that travelers depend on. While many of these perks apply more broadly to home life than to travel itself, they can still influence the overall value calculation for people who view Costco as a central hub for both travel and everyday purchases.

However, these access perks are not universally loved. Some Gold Star members have expressed frustration that early shopping hours effectively create a two-tier experience, with Executive members enjoying preferential treatment in the mornings. For travelers weighing whether to upgrade, it is worth asking how often you realistically shop at Costco right before or after trips, and whether those quieter hours would meaningfully improve your travel routine.

Who Should Stick With Gold Star: Traveler Profiles

Despite the marketing appeal of extra rewards, many travelers are better off staying with a Gold Star membership. If your annual spending at Costco, including Costco Travel, is relatively modest and rarely approaches 3,000 dollars, it will be difficult to make back the 65 dollar Executive upgrade solely through the 2 percent reward. In this case, using the Costco Anywhere Visa for 3 percent back on travel and 2 percent at Costco can replicate much of the financial benefit without the higher membership cost.

Occasional travelers who take one short trip per year, or who usually redeem airline miles and hotel points instead of booking packaged vacations, are classic Gold Star candidates. They may still tap Costco Travel for a rental car or a weekend hotel deal now and then, but their total spend is unlikely to reach Executive break-even levels. For them, the simplicity of a single 65 dollar membership and, optionally, the Costco credit card is often preferable to juggling multiple reward systems.

Another group that may prefer Gold Star membership is travelers who mostly book directly with airlines, hotels or alternative accommodation platforms. While Costco Travel can be extremely competitive on cruises, resort packages and car rentals, it is not always the cheapest or most flexible option, particularly for highly customized itineraries or complex multi-city trips. If Costco is only one of many tools in your travel planning kit, upgrading to Executive strictly for travel benefits may not make sense.

Finally, travelers who place a high value on flexibility in downgrading or canceling memberships might lean toward Gold Star. Although Costco is known for its generous membership guarantee and will typically refund the current year’s membership fee if you are not satisfied, Executive members who downgrade mid-year forfeit any accumulated 2 percent reward that has not yet been issued. Gold Star members do not have to think about that tradeoff.

When Executive Membership Becomes a Clear Win for Travelers

On the other side of the ledger, there are clear traveler profiles for whom Executive membership is not only justified but compelling. High-spend families who regularly book week-long or longer resort stays, cruises or international packages through Costco Travel can easily cross the 3,250 dollar annual threshold needed to earn back the upgrade. Add in large warehouse purchases for home projects, groceries and fuel, and the 2 percent reward can quickly snowball toward the 1,250 dollar annual cap.

Road-trip enthusiasts and frequent flyers who rely heavily on Costco for trip prep and travel itself also tend to see strong returns from Executive membership, especially when paired with the Costco Anywhere Visa. Using the card to pay for eligible Costco Travel bookings while earning the 2 percent Executive reward creates an attractive 5 percent effective rebate on major parts of a trip. For people who favor Costco’s curated set of hotel and cruise partners over hunting for scattered deals across multiple platforms, this stacking can function like a private travel loyalty program.

Executive membership is also well suited to travelers who appreciate predictability and one-stop trip planning. Costco Travel often bundles flights, hotels, transfers and extras into straightforward packages, and Executive members may receive additional resort or shipboard credits on top. If you prefer to avoid managing multiple loyalty programs and promotions and simply want strong value booked through a trusted channel, the Executive tier can feel like a streamlined alternative to juggling various airline and hotel schemes.

Lastly, travelers who are particularly sensitive to crowds and time pressures can place real value on the early warehouse shopping hours that Executive members increasingly enjoy. Being able to load up on snacks, toiletries, clothing and travel accessories in a calmer environment before a long-haul trip or road journey is not easily quantified in dollars, but it contributes to a smoother travel experience. When combined with tangible monetary rewards, this quality-of-life improvement can tip the scales in favor of upgrading.

The Takeaway

Choosing between Costco’s Gold Star and Executive memberships as a traveler comes down to three core questions: how much you spend with Costco in a year, how often you use Costco Travel for significant bookings, and how much you value the softer perks like early shopping hours and Executive-only package extras. The simple mathematical break-even point of about 3,250 dollars in qualifying annual spend is a useful benchmark, but it does not capture the full picture for every traveler.

If you are a light or occasional traveler, or you typically book directly with airlines and hotels, a Gold Star membership complemented by the Costco Anywhere Visa Card can deliver excellent value without the higher membership cost. You still gain access to Costco Travel, competitive rental car rates, and attractive credit card rewards on gas, dining and travel, all while keeping your annual membership fee at 65 dollars.

On the other hand, if Costco has become central to your travel strategy, with regular cruise bookings, resort packages and large pre-trip warehouse runs, the Executive tier can become a powerful tool. The 2 percent reward on Costco and Costco Travel spending, the potential for stacked rewards with the Costco credit card, and the growing menu of Executive-only travel extras can collectively offset the upgrade fee and then some, especially for families and frequent travelers.

Ultimately, the choice between Gold Star and Executive is highly personal. Travelers who take the time to estimate their realistic annual Costco and Costco Travel spending, review current Executive-specific offers, and consider how often they would use early shopping hours will be best positioned to make a confident decision. In a travel landscape filled with complex loyalty schemes and ever-shifting promotions, Costco’s membership options remain refreshingly straightforward. The key is to align them with your actual habits, not your aspirational ones.

FAQ

Q1: Do I need an Executive membership to use Costco Travel?
Gold Star and Executive members both have full access to Costco Travel. The difference is that Executive members earn a 2 percent reward on qualifying Costco Travel purchases and may receive extra perks on select packages.

Q2: How much do I need to spend for an Executive membership to pay off?
Because Executive costs 65 dollars more than Gold Star and earns a 2 percent reward, you generally need about 3,250 dollars in qualifying annual spending at Costco and Costco Travel for the upgrade to break even on rewards alone.

Q3: Does the 2 percent Executive reward apply to all travel costs?
No. The reward applies to eligible base travel costs booked through Costco Travel once the trip is completed. Certain items, such as some taxes, fees, surcharges, trip protection and rental car equipment, typically do not earn rewards.

Q4: Can I use my Executive reward certificate to pay directly for a new trip?
Not directly. You must redeem the certificate at a Costco warehouse register. If you want to use it toward travel, you can convert it into a Costco Shop Card at the warehouse, then use that Shop Card for online purchases, including eligible travel.

Q5: Do Executive members always get cheaper prices on travel than Gold Star members?
Travel base prices are usually the same for Gold Star and Executive members. The difference is that Executive members earn the 2 percent reward and may receive additional credits or extras on select packages, which effectively lowers their net cost.

Q6: How do Executive-only travel perks like resort credits work?
On certain packages, Executive members may receive added value such as resort credits, shipboard credits, complimentary breakfast or digital Costco Shop Cards. These offers are tied to specific deals and destinations, and they are listed in the package details when available.

Q7: Does the Costco Anywhere Visa Card require Executive membership?
No. Any Costco member, Gold Star or Executive, can apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. The card’s cash back structure is the same regardless of membership tier, although Executive members can stack card rewards with their 2 percent Executive reward on eligible travel.

Q8: What happens to my Executive rewards if I downgrade to Gold Star?
If you downgrade or cancel your Executive membership, any unissued 2 percent reward for the current year is forfeited. Costco may refund your Executive upgrade fee under its membership guarantee, but the accumulated reward does not carry over.

Q9: Are the new early shopping hours for Executive members available everywhere?
Expanded early shopping hours have been rolled out at many U.S. warehouses, but not all locations and schedules are identical. Travelers should check with their local warehouse for specific opening times before relying on early access for trip preparation.

Q10: If I mainly travel using airline miles and hotel points, is Executive membership still worth it?
Probably only if you also spend heavily in warehouses or occasionally book larger trips through Costco Travel. If most of your travel is handled through loyalty programs and not through Costco, a standard Gold Star membership plus the Costco credit card is usually sufficient.