Costco’s massive warehouses full of bulk groceries and flat-screen TVs are only part of the story. For many members, one of the most valuable perks is something you never see on the shelves at all: Costco Travel. Through this in-house agency, the retailer sells bundled vacation packages that promise negotiated prices, extra perks and the comfort of booking through a brand many travelers already trust.
Yet the fine print can be confusing, the scope of what is and is not included evolves over time, and changes in specific offerings, such as Disneyland Resort packages, mean it pays to understand the details before you put down your card.
This guide explains how Costco vacation packages work today, what types of trips you can book, how the money and membership rules really function, and how to decide if a Costco package is the smartest move for your next getaway.
What Exactly Is a Costco Vacation Package
Costco Travel is a full-service travel agency owned and operated by Costco Wholesale, available only to active members. A Costco vacation package is typically a bundled trip that combines at least hotel and ground transportation or hotel and rental car, often with extras such as resort credits or included breakfasts.
Many packages also include flights, and some feature activities or tours that would otherwise need to be booked separately. Behind the scenes, Costco negotiates with hotels, cruise lines and tour operators to create these bundles, then passes a mix of lower pricing and added value back to members.
In practical terms, booking a Costco vacation package feels a lot like booking through any major online travel agency, but with a layer of Costco-specific benefits and restrictions. You select your destination, dates and number of travelers, then browse package options that list the hotel, room type, transportation components and detailed inclusions.
Once you pay in full, you receive a confirmation from Costco Travel, along with supplier confirmation numbers for airlines, hotels and other vendors. Costco continues to be your primary point of contact for changes or cancellations, even though the underlying services are provided by third-party travel companies.
The key difference from a do-it-yourself itinerary is that you usually cannot unbundle major components. If your package includes flights and hotel, you are buying them together on a single reservation with shared terms and penalties. That can be either a convenience or a limitation depending on your travel style.
For many Costco members, however, the tradeoff is worth it because of the extras that come with the bundle, such as included transfers, resort fees folded into the price or Digital Costco Shop Cards provided as a booking bonus on selected offers.
That structure becomes clearer once you walk through how Costco vacation packages work in practice, from selecting dates to final confirmation.
Types of Costco Vacation Packages You Can Book
The Costco Travel site is organized by broad trip types, and vacation packages span several of these categories. The most familiar to many members are land-based packages to popular leisure destinations, including Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and some domestic city or resort getaways.
These typically combine hotel stays with either rental cars or airport transfers. In sun-and-sand markets, many of the featured hotels are all-inclusive resorts, so your package may cover meals, drinks and certain activities in addition to accommodations and transport.
For couples weighing convenience against customization, it helps to look at how Costco vacation packages work for couples rather than assuming one approach fits all.
Another major category is cruise packages. Here, Costco sells sailings on large cruise lines, and the package may include pre- or post-cruise hotel nights, transfers between airport, hotel and pier, and extra onboard amenities. Although you can book a bare-bones cruise cabin through Costco, many of the most heavily marketed offers revolve around value-adds such as onboard credits, specialty dining or spa discounts that Costco pre-negotiates for its members.
Costco also offers theme park and family-oriented packages, although the mix has shifted. Historically, Disneyland Resort packages were a cornerstone, with Costco selling bundled hotel and ticket packages that sometimes came with Disney gift cards and collectible extras.
As of mid 2025, Costco Travel is no longer accepting new reservations for Disneyland Resort packages, although existing reservations through 2025 can still be modified by phone. Costco continues to sell packages for other Disney experiences, including Walt Disney World in Florida, Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii and Disney Cruise Line sailings. For families, there are also packages tied to other parks and attractions that can change over time as supplier agreements are renewed or expire.
These bundled trips appeal most strongly to certain travel styles, particularly families, which is why many parents evaluate whether Costco vacation packages make sense for family travel.
Separate from full vacation packages, Costco Travel sells stand-alone rental cars and selected hotel-only bookings, which can be useful for add-on nights or trips where you do not need the complexity of a package. However, many of the richest extras, such as Digital Costco Shop Cards issued as booking incentives, tend to be associated with bundled packages and cruises rather than à la carte hotel or car reservations.
How Membership, Pricing and Payment Really Work
Because Costco Travel is a membership benefit, having an active Costco card is non-negotiable. You must log in with your Costco membership credentials to see complete pricing and to book.
Both standard Gold Star members and higher-tier Executive members are eligible, but Executive members often receive an additional annual 2 percent reward on qualified Costco Travel purchases, subject to the program’s rules and caps. This can make a meaningful difference on higher-priced vacations, effectively rebating part of your trip cost if you are already close to the annual reward limit.
Package pricing is normally displayed on a per-person basis for double occupancy, with the total shown before you confirm. The published price usually includes hotel taxes and mandatory resort fees where Costco is able to bundle them, plus any included transfers or rental cars as described in the itinerary.
It usually does not include optional travel insurance, daily hotel incidentals, gratuities beyond those already baked into all-inclusive plans, fuel, parking charges or add-on tours unless clearly listed as included. Airfare may or may not be part of the default price; in some packages you can add flights during the booking process, while in others you bring your own air.
Payment rules are straightforward but strict. Many Costco vacation packages, especially those involving scheduled airline tickets, require full payment at booking. Others allow an initial deposit followed by a final payment date, particularly for cruises and some land packages booked far in advance.
In recent years, Costco has also introduced partnerships that allow some members to finance larger purchases over time through third-party “buy now, pay later” providers, though eligibility and limits can vary.
Regardless of the method, the critical point is that once you pay, standard airline and supplier rules apply. Airline tickets in packages are often nonrefundable and may be subject to change fees and fare differences if your plans shift.
Costco typically does not add its own booking or service fees on top of the underlying supplier charges. Where fees enter the picture is through penalties for changes and cancellations, which are governed by the terms and conditions of each particular package.
Those are spelled out during booking and again on your invoice, and travelers should read them carefully. For example, some package components may become nonrefundable after a certain date even if your final trip payment is not yet due.
What Is Included (and What Is Not) in a Typical Package
Inclusions are where Costco vacation packages can really stand out. At the core you always have accommodations, usually at a four- or five-star property in major resort destinations.
Many packages partner with familiar hotel brands, giving members reassurance about standards and loyalty program opportunities, although some stays may not earn points or elite nights depending on the agreement between Costco and the hotel chain.
In resort-focused packages, daily breakfast or all-inclusive meal plans are common, as are airport transfers or rental cars that eliminate the need to book ground transportation separately.
A prominent perk in many Costco packages is the Digital Costco Shop Card. On selected offers, especially high-end resorts or longer cruises, Costco will advertise that you will receive a Digital Costco Shop Card after travel is completed, effectively functioning like a rebate. The amount is typically tied to the value of the booking.
The card can be spent on most merchandise at Costco warehouses and online, and in many cases can be used toward future Costco Travel vacation packages as well, though not for every type of travel product. It cannot usually be spent at Costco fuel stations, car washes or certain food court kiosks, and it is not a form of cash back that can be redeemed for currency.
Extras can also include resort credits to be used on property, complimentary spa treatments, waived daily resort fees, early check-in or late check-out where available, and in the case of cruise packages, onboard credits or prepaid gratuities.
These are negotiated on a package-by-package basis, so it is important to compare not just the base price but the full list of added benefits. Some packages include admission tickets to attractions, such as theme parks or cultural sites, while others require you to buy tickets separately even if the hotel is adjacent to the attraction.
On the other hand, there are recurring exclusions that travelers often overlook. Airfare is not always included; when it is, the specific airline, flight times and baggage rules may be less flexible than if you bought tickets independently. Checked baggage fees, seat selection charges and onboard meals on flights are typically not covered unless expressly noted.
Optional tours, excursions and many resort activities such as motorized water sports are outside the bundle. Gratuities for housekeeping, bell staff, tour guides and drivers usually remain at your discretion and expense, except where a resort advertises that all tips are included. Travel insurance is available but sold separately, and its coverage, claim rules and pricing are set by the insurer rather than Costco.
Many travelers misjudge value by overlooking exclusions, which is why understanding what Costco vacation packages actually include and exclude matters before you book.
Change, Cancellation and Refund Policies
One of the most important aspects of Costco vacation packages is how changes and cancellations are handled. Because these are bundled products, modifying one element of your trip can trigger costs across the package. Costco’s overarching policy is that revisions and cancellations are governed by the airlines, hotels, cruise lines and other suppliers that make up your itinerary.
In all cases, failing to show up for a booked component without canceling in advance is treated as a no-show and is generally nonrefundable.
If you need to change or cancel a land-based vacation package, you can often do so online through your Costco Travel account up to a cutoff time, commonly one hour before either your scheduled flight departure or your hotel check-in, whichever comes first.
For changes such as upgrading a room within the same hotel, you may be able to complete the process online as long as the new room type is available and the hotel is not already in a penalty period.
In that case you pay any price difference and keep the rest of the package intact. More complex changes, such as swapping hotels, adding rooms or adding flights, generally require working directly with a Costco Travel agent by phone.
Cancellation policies are spelled out under the terms and conditions of your specific package. Canceling the flight portion of a package is where many travelers face the strictest rules. Airline tickets purchased through a package are often nonrefundable and nontransferable.
In some cases, if you cancel within the airline’s allowed window, the value of the ticket can be held as a future travel credit for the same traveler on the same airline, minus any change fees, and usually must be used within one year of the original ticket issue date.
Hotel and other ground components can have their own sliding penalty schedules, starting with a small fee if you cancel far in advance and escalating to full forfeiture as you approach the check-in date.
For cruise packages, change and cancellation rules can be even more rigid once you pass the cruise line’s penalty deadlines or once the cruise is paid in full. Cruise lines may not allow rate reductions if a better fare appears later, and any exceptions are at the cruise company’s discretion, not Costco’s. If you purchased travel insurance, your ability to recover nonrefundable amounts depends on the policy and your reason for canceling.
If you did not, your credit card might offer limited trip protection, but it is rarely as comprehensive as a standalone policy. The bottom line is that Costco does not charge its own extra penalties beyond what the suppliers impose, but it cannot waive those supplier penalties on your behalf either.
The details behind penalties and refunds deserve close attention, especially when flights are involved, which is why it helps to understand how Costco vacation package cancellations really work.
How Costco Packages Compare to DIY and Other Agencies
For many travelers, the core question is not whether Costco vacation packages exist, but whether they are actually a better deal than alternatives. The answer varies by destination, date and your own flexibility, but there are some patterns. In popular leisure markets such as Hawaii or Mexico, Costco’s volume purchasing power often translates into lower per-night hotel rates or valuable bonuses that would be difficult to replicate on your own.
When you factor in extras such as included breakfast, waived resort fees and a Digital Costco Shop Card issued after travel, the effective value can be substantially higher than a bare rate found on a hotel website or another online travel agency.
Where Costco packages may be less compelling is for highly customized itineraries, especially multi-stop international trips, boutique stays or journeys where loyalty benefits and elite status perks are your priority. Hotel chains sometimes restrict elite credit or points accrual on third-party package bookings, so if your primary goal is to requalify for top-tier status, booking directly with the hotel or through an approved luxury travel advisor may be better.
Similarly, airline tickets inside a package sometimes offer fewer options for fine-tuning routing and seat selection compared with buying your flights separately, particularly if you want to use miles, upgrades or elite benefits in a precise way.
Compared with brick-and-mortar agencies and many online competitors, one of Costco Travel’s strengths is transparency. The site clearly lists what is included, and member reviews appear once enough feedback has been collected to present an aggregate picture of the experience.
On the service side, Costco Travel’s call center keeps defined hours and focuses entirely on members, which can be reassuring if you do not want to navigate a web of small agencies. The tradeoff is that you must accept Costco’s curated selection of hotels and packages; if you prefer tiny inns, homestays or independent rental properties, they largely fall outside Costco’s portfolio.
That comparison becomes clearer when you look closely at Costco vacation packages versus booking everything yourself, including loyalty tradeoffs and flexibility.
Smart Strategies for Getting the Most From Costco Travel
To maximize the value of a Costco vacation package, timing and comparison are crucial. Start by pricing your trip on multiple platforms, including direct hotel and airline websites, then compare the Costco package’s total cost plus its extras. Be sure to account for everything the package includes, particularly airport transfers, daily meals and resort fee coverage that you would otherwise have to pay separately.
Calculate the effective value of any Digital Costco Shop Card you will receive after travel; if you are a regular Costco shopper, you are likely to spend that amount anyway, so it acts much like a post-trip rebate.
Flexible dates can also make a significant difference. Costco frequently features limited-time “hot deals” or seasonal promotions where the bundled price drops or the value of the included shop card or resort credits rises for specific date ranges.
Traveling midweek instead of over a weekend, or pushing your departure a few days away from a major holiday, can sometimes unlock a better package. Pay attention to room categories as well; a modest upgrade to a higher room tier in a Costco package may cost less than it would if you tried to purchase the upgrade on arrival.
Reading the fine print remains essential even when the headline price is attractive. Confirm whether airport transfers are shared or private, whether the all-inclusive label covers premium drinks and specialty dining, and whether children stay and eat free only up to a certain age. Consider how restrictive the change and cancellation timelines are compared with your own risk tolerance, and weigh the cost of optional travel insurance accordingly.
If you plan to stack loyalty benefits, double-check whether the hotel or cruise line credits package bookings toward elite status and whether you can add your loyalty number to the reservation.
Finally, keep an eye on Costco Travel news and product changes. The recent end to new Disneyland Resort vacation packages is a reminder that specific offerings can shift without extended public notice. If a particular destination package matters to you, book when you see it rather than assuming it will always be there.
At the same time, discontinued deals sometimes make room for new partnerships and promotions, so revisiting Costco Travel periodically can reveal fresh opportunities that did not exist the last time you planned a trip.
Many disappointing experiences stem from avoidable assumptions, which is why understanding common mistakes with Costco vacation packages can protect both your plans and your budget.
The Takeaway
Costco vacation packages are designed to do for travel what the warehouse club has long done for groceries and household goods: leverage scale to deliver value. For many members planning straightforward leisure trips to major resort and cruise destinations, these packages can blend competitive pricing with meaningful extras, from Digital Costco Shop Cards and resort credits to bundled airport transfers and included meals.
The convenience of one-stop shopping and a familiar brand name appeals to travelers who would rather not stitch together every component of a trip on their own.
At the same time, a Costco package is not automatically the cheapest or most flexible option. The rigidity of airline tickets within packages, varied cancellation penalties across suppliers and possible limits on loyalty program accrual mean that careful comparison shopping still matters.
Changes in specific offerings, such as the halt to new Disneyland Resort packages, underscore that Costco’s travel portfolio is dynamic rather than permanent. Savvy travelers treat Costco Travel as one powerful tool among several, not as their only source.
If you are already a Costco member and you value simplicity, clear inclusions and tangible extras you can spend back at the warehouse, Costco vacation packages are worth serious consideration.
Just take time to understand what is and is not included, how the money flows if your plans change and how each package stacks up against booking directly. With that context, Costco Travel can become a reliable ally in stretching your vacation budget further without sacrificing comfort or ease.
FAQ
Q1: Do I need to be a Costco member to book a Costco vacation package
Yes. Costco Travel is a membership-only service, so you must have an active Costco membership and log in with your account to view full pricing and complete a booking.
Q2: Are flights always included in Costco vacation packages
No. Some packages are land only and include just hotel and ground transportation or rental car, while others allow you to add flights during booking. Always check whether airfare is part of the package price before you pay.
Q3: What is a Digital Costco Shop Card and how does it work with travel packages
A Digital Costco Shop Card is a stored-value card that functions like a gift card at Costco. Certain vacation and cruise packages offer one as a booking bonus, usually delivered after you complete travel. It can typically be used on most Costco purchases, including some future travel packages, but not on all travel products or at fuel stations and some kiosks.
Q4: Can I earn hotel or airline loyalty points on Costco vacation packages
It depends on the supplier. Some hotels and cruise lines credit stays and sailings booked through Costco toward loyalty programs, while others treat package bookings as ineligible. Airline mileage accrual usually follows the fare rules of the ticket, but elite benefits or upgrade options can be more limited than on tickets booked directly.
Q5: How flexible are Costco vacation packages if my plans change
Flexibility varies by package and supplier. Simple room upgrades may be possible online if the hotel is not in a penalty period, but bigger changes or cancellations often involve fees dictated by airlines, hotels or cruise lines. Costco itself does not add extra penalties beyond those supplier charges.
Q6: Are Costco vacation packages always cheaper than booking everything myself
Not always. In many resort destinations, Costco’s bundles are highly competitive once you factor in extras like transfers, breakfasts and Digital Costco Shop Cards. In other cases, especially for highly customized trips, building your own itinerary can be cheaper or more flexible. It is important to compare total trip costs and inclusions.
Q7: What happened to Costco’s Disneyland Resort vacation packages
As of mid 2025, Costco Travel is no longer accepting new reservations for Disneyland Resort vacation packages, although travelers with existing bookings through 2025 can still modify them by phone. Costco continues to offer travel deals for other Disney products such as Walt Disney World, Aulani and Disney cruises.
Q8: Is travel insurance included in Costco vacation packages
Travel insurance is generally not included by default. Costco Travel offers optional coverage through third-party insurers that you can add during booking, but it is a separate purchase with its own terms, conditions and claim procedures.
Q9: Can I cancel a Costco vacation package online
Many land-based vacation packages can be canceled online through your Costco Travel account up to a cutoff time, often one hour before your first scheduled service. However, penalties may apply based on the supplier’s rules, and certain complex changes or cancellations may require calling a Costco Travel agent.
Q10: Do Costco Executive members get extra benefits on vacation packages
Executive members may earn an annual 2 percent reward on qualified Costco Travel purchases, subject to the overall program rules and maximum payout. This reward is calculated on the pre-tax value of eligible travel and is issued as part of the member’s annual Executive reward, effectively reducing the net cost of qualifying trips.