For many couples, travel is one of the biggest shared splurges of the year. Between flights, hotels, rental cars and excursions, even a quick long weekend can run into the thousands of dollars. Costco Travel, the lesser known arm of the warehouse giant, promises to bundle many of those costs and deliver members-only value.

But are those savings and perks actually worthwhile for couples planning getaways, or is it just clever branding? Looking at current pricing structures, member rewards and real-world examples, Costco Travel can be a smart tool for certain types of couples, but it is far from a universal slam dunk.

This article looks at Costco Travel from a specific angle. For a full breakdown of its pricing, rewards and overall value, see our complete Costco Travel guide for travelers.

How Costco Travel Works in 2025

Costco Travel is a separate division from Costco’s warehouses, but it is only available to members. It sells vacation packages, cruises, rental cars and select hotel-only deals, all built on pre-negotiated group rates. Couples book online or over the phone using their Costco membership number, then manage their itinerary much as they would through a traditional online travel agency.

Travel inventory is not unique to Costco. The company primarily partners with major brands in each category: widely known hotel chains and resorts, large cruise lines, and the familiar names in rental cars. The draw is the package pricing and built-in extras rather than access to obscure boutique properties or ultra-niche tours. That setup suits couples who like mainstream comfort and predictable standards more than those who prioritize highly customized, offbeat itineraries.

Costco does not charge additional booking fees for its travel products. Instead, it earns money via negotiated margins with partners and the overall membership ecosystem. The pricing you see is typically per person, based on double occupancy, which fits couples naturally. For many packages, taxes and some fees are included, but resort fees, tips, and add-ons such as excursions often remain separate, which is important to factor into the true cost.

Customer support is handled through Costco Travel agents by phone, especially for changes and cancellations. That can be a relative advantage compared with some discount online agencies where customer service is heavily automated or outsourced, though the experience still varies by agent and call volume. For couples who value being able to talk to a human if something goes wrong mid-trip, this is a meaningful plus.

Membership, Executive Status and What Couples Really Earn

To access Costco Travel rates at all, couples need at least a standard membership, which in the United States currently costs 65 dollars per year and includes a free household card. Many couples already have this for warehouse shopping and simply extend its use into travel bookings. The more complicated question is whether upgrading to Executive Membership makes sense specifically to maximize travel value.

Executive Membership adds an extra 65 dollars annually, bringing the total to 130 dollars. Executive members earn an annual 2 percent reward on qualifying Costco purchases, including most Costco Travel bookings once travel is completed, with rewards capped at 1,250 dollars per year. Corporate materials and financial writers note that the breakeven point on the upgrade fee is about 3,250 dollars in qualifying annual spend. Beyond that threshold, the 2 percent becomes net savings.

For couples, it helps to think across the whole year, not just one trip. A pair who spends around 2,500 dollars per year at Costco warehouses and another 2,000 dollars on a single Costco Travel vacation would reach roughly 4,500 dollars in combined qualifying purchases. At 2 percent, that yields around 90 dollars in rewards, more than offsetting the 65 dollar Executive upgrade and effectively turning Costco Travel into a part-time rebate engine.

Costco has also layered on newer Executive perks that indirectly benefit travel-focused couples: early warehouse hours for Executive members, extended Saturday hours, and monthly credits for same-day delivery services on qualifying minimum orders. While those extras do not change trip prices, they enhance the overall membership value. Importantly, Costco maintains a satisfaction guarantee on memberships, allowing members who do not feel they are getting enough value to downgrade or cancel and receive a refund of membership fees, which reduces the risk of trying Executive status for a travel-heavy year.

Where Costco Travel Shines for Couples

Costco Travel is not a universal bargain, but for certain trip types, couples can see clear, measurable advantages. One standout is rental cars. Recent viral examples and consumer reports have highlighted dramatic price differences between retail bookings and Costco Travel rates for identical vehicles and dates. In one widely discussed instance, a family that paid over 670 dollars for a weeklong rental later found the same intermediate SUV through Costco Travel for about 290 dollars, complete with a free additional driver and no cancellation fee. While not every rental will be half price, Costco’s pre-negotiated car rates frequently include perks that couples would otherwise pay for, such as extra drivers or enhanced mileage policies.

Vacation packages to classic couple destinations also tend to provide strong value. Costco Travel curates bundles to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico and certain U.S. theme park destinations that combine flights, hotel stays and sometimes ground transfers. Many of these packages come with extras such as daily breakfast for two, resort credits, or digital Costco Shop Cards that effectively lower the trip’s net cost. Executive members often receive additional bonuses on select packages, such as higher resort credits or upgraded rooms, which can translate into hundreds of dollars in added value for a weeklong stay.

Cruises are another sweet spot. Couples considering mainstream cruise lines can often find Costco pricing that matches or slightly undercuts public fares, but with the addition of Costco Shop Cards valid after sailing. Those cards function like cash within Costco’s ecosystem and can be applied to groceries, gas or future travel, yielding what amounts to a deferred rebate on the trip. For couples who regularly shop at Costco, this is nearly as good as a direct discount, and in some cases more flexible.

Finally, couples who prefer simplicity and predictability benefit from Costco Travel’s packaging. Rather than piecing together flights, hotels and transfers across several sites, they can select an all-in-one option. This is particularly attractive for busy professionals planning a honeymoon, anniversary week or babymoon who are willing to trade intricate customization for a stress-reduced planning experience and the confidence of a major retailer standing behind the reservation.

Limitations and When Couples Should Look Elsewhere

Despite its strengths, Costco Travel is not built for every traveling couple. One structural limitation is inventory. The platform focuses heavily on major resorts, large hotel brands and mainstream cruise lines. Couples drawn to boutique hotels, small guesthouses, or unusual itineraries such as multi-country overland trips or deeply rural stays will generally find less to work with. In many cases, those properties are not offered at all through Costco’s channels.

Geographically, Costco Travel is particularly strong in areas like Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, select European cities and major U.S. destinations. Couples planning more specialized trips, such as extended rail journeys, safaris, or multi-week backpacking routes, will have a harder time building their dream itinerary solely within Costco’s offerings. Even when partial options exist, mixing Costco components with independent bookings sometimes erodes the package pricing advantage and complicates customer support.

Another limitation is that Costco Travel rarely offers the lowest possible price on flights alone or hotel-only bookings when compared with flash sale sites, opaque booking platforms, or highly targeted loyalty member rates. If a couple is laser-focused on shaving every possible dollar off a single component and is willing to invest significant time in research, they may beat Costco’s packaged price by combining niche discounts. However, this often comes at the cost of reduced flexibility and weaker support if plans change.

Finally, the requirement of a Costco membership itself is a barrier for some. Couples who do not shop at Costco regularly must evaluate whether the annual membership fee is justified solely by potential travel savings. If a couple only takes one modest trip every year or two, and their total Costco Travel spend stays far below the Executive breakeven threshold, the membership may not be the most efficient route to discounts, especially if they do not value Costco’s non-travel offerings.

Doing the Math: Sample Scenarios for Different Couples

To evaluate whether Costco Travel is worth it, couples should run through realistic scenarios instead of relying on a single headline discount. Consider a pair planning a seven-night all-inclusive trip to Mexico priced at 3,000 dollars total through Costco Travel, including flights, transfers and most meals. If they are Executive members, the 2 percent reward on that trip alone would be about 60 dollars, nearly covering the incremental cost of the Executive upgrade for the entire year. If they also spend at least 1,000 dollars in a year at Costco warehouses, they are firmly in net savings territory.

Now compare a couple planning a lower budget, largely independent vacation: perhaps 900 dollars in domestic flights booked with airline miles and 1,100 dollars in direct hotel reservations sourced via a mix of loyalty program discounts and boutique stays not available through Costco Travel. Their total direct travel spend that could run through Costco might be limited to a 400 dollar rental car. In this scenario, any Costco Travel advantage is minimal, and the membership fee would need to be justified primarily by warehouse shopping rather than the trip itself.

For road-trip heavy couples, Costco Travel’s rental car deals can tilt the math. Suppose a couple takes two weeklong trips a year, each requiring a mid-size SUV. If the public rate averages 500 dollars per week and Costco Travel secures a comparative 380 dollars rate with a free additional driver each time, that is 240 dollars in direct savings across two trips. Even after paying the base Costco membership fee, that gap is meaningful, and does not include any extra rebate an Executive member might earn on those rentals.

It is also important to compare not only raw price but total value. For example, if a non-Costco package is 150 dollars cheaper but does not include daily breakfast for two and a resort credit, a couple could easily spend more out of pocket during the stay. Conversely, if a hotel’s website offers a members-only promotion with complimentary airport transfers and a late checkout guarantee, that might surpass a near-identical Costco package that omits those features. The smartest approach for couples is to choose one or two actual trip ideas and price them simultaneously through Costco Travel, the brands’ own sites, and at least one large online agency to see which platform yields the best overall package of price, perks and flexibility.

Perks, Protections and Peace of Mind

Beyond simple dollars, Costco Travel can offer couples a sense of security and structure that is hard to quantify but easy to appreciate when something goes wrong. Because Costco has a reputation for member-centric policies, many travelers feel more comfortable knowing that a large, familiar retailer is involved in their booking. The Executive membership’s satisfaction guarantee, while primarily about the membership fee, reinforces the broader perception that Costco will work to resolve issues fairly.

Many Costco Travel offerings come with flexible cancellation or modification policies that compare favorably to some deep-discount competitors. For rental cars in particular, Costco often allows free cancellations up to the pickup time. For couples juggling uncertain schedules, caregiving responsibilities or volatile work demands, that flexibility can be a deciding factor. On package vacations and cruises, the terms vary by supplier, but Costco agents can often help interpret and navigate those policies more clearly than a generic online booking engine.

Executive members also occasionally receive exclusive on-property perks, such as resort credits, complimentary breakfasts or spa discounts, that improve the qualitative experience of the trip. While these do not always change the base price, they can make a special couples’ getaway feel more indulgent without increasing spending at the destination. For example, a package that includes a daily breakfast for two at a resort where that meal normally costs 30 or 40 dollars per person quickly translates into hundreds of dollars in avoided expenses over a week.

Couples who use the Costco Anywhere Visa card introduced through a major banking partner can stack rewards further by earning additional cash back on Costco purchases, including travel, on top of the Executive 2 percent reward. Though the specifics of that card’s rewards program are subject to change and should be checked in the latest terms, the ability to layer multiple rebates on the same trip is a unique angle that budget-conscious couples may find compelling.

The Takeaway

Costco Travel can be well worth it for couples, but only under certain conditions. The service tends to deliver the strongest value for mainstream vacations where Costco has leverage: resort packages to popular sun destinations, cruises, and rental cars. In these categories, couples can often secure competitive prices, substantial add-on benefits and flexible cancellation terms, all while earning a 2 percent Executive reward on top of any warehouse-based spending they already do throughout the year.

On the other hand, couples seeking boutique accommodations, complex itineraries, or absolute rock-bottom prices on isolated travel components may find Costco Travel too blunt an instrument. The required membership and the focus on large partners limit its appeal for those who prize ultra-tailored experiences or who rarely, if ever, set foot in a warehouse store. For them, niche online agencies, brand-direct bookings and loyalty programs could provide greater overall value.

The most reliable way for couples to decide is not to ask whether Costco Travel is good in the abstract, but to pick a real destination and date range they care about, then price that trip through multiple channels. If Costco Travel comes in with a strong package, meaningful perks and the comfort of Costco’s customer support at a similar or better net cost, the answer is likely yes. If it does not, the couple has lost nothing except a few minutes of comparison shopping. In travel, as in the aisles of the warehouse, Costco is at its best when you already know what you want, and you are prepared to do a quick check to see if the member price really is a bargain.

FAQ

Q1: Do both partners in a couple need their own Costco membership to use Costco Travel?
Only one person in the couple needs to be a primary Costco member to book through Costco Travel. The standard membership includes a free household card, so both partners can share access, but trips are booked under a single membership number.

Q2: Is Executive Membership required to get good deals with Costco Travel?
No. All Costco members, including standard Gold Star members, see the same base travel prices. Executive members, however, earn a 2 percent annual reward on qualifying travel purchases and may receive extra perks on select packages, which can enhance value for couples who travel or shop frequently.

Q3: Can Costco Travel really save couples money on rental cars?
Often yes, especially for weeklong rentals or larger vehicle classes. Costco Travel frequently negotiates lower base rates and includes extras like a free additional driver and flexible cancellation. Savings vary by destination and dates, so couples should still compare with at least one other booking site.

Q4: Are Costco Travel vacation packages all-inclusive?
Some are, particularly in destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean, but many are not fully all-inclusive. Packages might include flights, hotel, transfers and certain meals or credits, while resort fees, gratuities and optional excursions remain separate. Couples should read the inclusions carefully to avoid surprise costs.

Q5: How do Costco Travel rewards work for couples with Executive Membership?
Executive members earn a 2 percent reward on qualifying Costco Travel purchases after travel is completed, up to an annual cap. This reward joins the rest of their Costco rewards and is typically issued as a certificate before membership renewal. The reward can be redeemed on warehouse purchases or converted into a Costco Shop Card.

Q6: What happens if a couple needs to cancel or change a Costco Travel booking?
Policies vary by supplier and trip type, but many rental car bookings through Costco Travel allow free cancellation up to pickup, and some packages offer flexible change terms. Couples should review the specific cancellation rules shown during booking and may call Costco Travel agents for help with changes.

Q7: Does Costco Travel offer boutique or luxury properties suitable for special occasions?
Costco Travel leans toward major brands and larger resorts rather than small boutique hotels. Some upscale and luxury properties are included, especially in resort destinations, but selection is more limited than on specialized luxury travel sites. Couples planning a highly bespoke honeymoon or anniversary trip may want to combine Costco options with other sources.

Q8: Can couples earn hotel or airline loyalty points on Costco Travel bookings?
In many cases, yes, but it depends on the airline, hotel and specific fare or rate class. Some loyalty programs award points for third-party bookings, while others limit benefits. Couples should add their loyalty numbers to reservations where possible, but they should prioritize the total value of the Costco package over points alone.

Q9: Is Costco Travel a good option for last-minute couple getaways?
It can be, particularly for rental cars and some packages where inventory remains, but Costco Travel is strongest when couples plan at least a few weeks to months in advance. Last-minute deals do appear, yet availability and choice may be limited compared with early bookings.

Q10: How should couples decide if Costco Travel is worth it for them personally?
The best method is to take one or two real trip ideas, price them through Costco Travel and compare with the same or similar itineraries on hotel sites, airline portals and a major online agency. Couples should consider not only the total price but also included perks, cancellation flexibility and the added 2 percent Executive reward if applicable. If Costco’s offer is equal or better on most of those fronts, Costco Travel is likely worth using.