For many families, Costco is already a staple for bulk groceries and big-ticket household purchases. But tucked beside the pallets of paper towels and snack packs is another potential money saver: Costco Travel. The program promises discounted vacation packages, car rentals, cruises and theme park trips that are available only to members.
For parents staring down the cost of a summer beach week or a once-in-a-decade theme park blowout, the question is simple but important: Is Costco Travel genuinely a good deal for families, or just another loyalty program that sounds better than it is? This article looks at that question specifically through a family lens.
For a broader overview of how Costco Travel works, including pricing, rewards and booking mechanics, see our complete Costco Travel guide for travelers.
How Costco Travel Works for Families
Costco Travel operates as an in-house travel agency reserved for Costco members. Families can book vacation packages that bundle flights, hotels and sometimes transportation, along with standalone hotels, cruises, rental cars and some theme park vacations. The key hook is that Costco uses its bulk-buying power to negotiate extras and competitive rates that are marketed as “member-only values.”
Unlike an online travel agency that serves anyone, you must hold an active Costco membership to book. A standard Gold Star membership typically costs around the mid-double digits per year, while the higher-tier Executive membership is roughly double that. Executive members earn an annual 2 percent reward on qualifying Costco purchases, including eligible Costco Travel bookings, which is applied after travel is completed and can be redeemed at warehouses or converted to a Costco Shop Card.
All members generally see the same base travel rates, but Executive members may receive added perks, such as resort credits, food and beverage vouchers, or room upgrades on select packages. That structure matters for families because many of the richest deals are concentrated in exactly the kinds of trips parents tend to plan: beach resorts, cruise vacations and theme park getaways.
The platform itself is designed to feel familiar to anyone who shops online. You search for dates and destinations, compare room types and inclusions, then pay Costco Travel directly. Behind the scenes, the flights, hotel stays and cars are still handled by major airlines, hotel brands and rental companies, but Costco is the broker and customer-service point of contact for the overall package.
Where Costco Travel Shines for Family Vacations
The value of Costco Travel is most obvious in mainstream family vacation categories: sunny beach escapes, Caribbean and Alaska cruises, Hawaii packages, and large family-friendly resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. These are the areas where Costco can negotiate bulk contracts and pass along tangible extras, which may include daily resort credits, free breakfast, waived resort fees or digital Costco Shop Cards that effectively function as cash back for future shopping.
For example, current Executive-member offers on select Hawaii and Caribbean packages advertise benefits such as daily food and beverage credits, complimentary room upgrades and extras valued in the hundreds of dollars per stay. In practical terms, that might mean breakfast covered for the family each morning, or resort credit that absorbs poolside snacks, a casual dinner or cabana rentals. For a family of four or five, those inclusions can matter more than a small difference in nightly rate, especially in high-cost destinations where every meal can strain the budget.
Cruises are another strong category. Costco Travel frequently bundles digital Costco Shop Cards with many sailings, particularly on major lines that appeal to families, effectively rebating a portion of your fare. Some sailings also come with onboard credits that can be used for specialty dining, shore excursions or gratuities. Because cruises already package lodging, transportation between ports and meals, these credits feel like “found money” for families trying to keep onboard spending in check.
Rental cars are a quieter but consistent area of value. For families that need larger vehicles or car seats, Costco Travel’s contracted rates with major rental brands often compare favorably with booking directly. The ability to reserve with no up-front payment in many cases, and to cancel without fees up to just before pickup, gives parents flexibility if flight times or trip plans change.
Membership Math: Gold Star vs. Executive for Families
To decide whether Costco Travel is “worth it,” families need to weigh membership costs against real savings. A standard Gold Star membership is sufficient to access all travel deals. However, moving up to Executive status is where travel-specific perks enter the picture. Executive members earn an annual 2 percent reward on qualifying purchases across Costco warehouses, online and Costco Travel, subject to terms and exclusions. The reward for travel is calculated on the base travel cost before most taxes and fees and is applied only after travel is completed.
Because the Executive membership fee is significantly higher than Gold Star, the question becomes whether your combined warehouse and travel spending will generate at least that much in rewards over a year. For a family that spends moderately at Costco but books one sizable vacation through Costco Travel, it is realistic to earn back much or all of the upgrade fee, particularly if they also hold the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, which can add additional cash-back rewards on travel and Costco purchases.
It is important to stress that all members, not just Executive members, see the same base travel prices. The difference is in the extras and the 2 percent reward. If you rarely travel, or tend to book niche, off-the-beaten-path trips that Costco Travel does not offer, the Executive upgrade may not make sense strictly on travel savings. On the other hand, if your family regularly books mainstream vacations such as weeklong resort stays or cruises through Costco, the combination of extra perks, Shop Cards and the Executive reward can offset the membership cost relatively quickly.
Families should also consider timing. The Executive 2 percent reward posts annually and is mailed or issued digitally a few months before membership renewal, and only the primary member can view the running balance online or in the app. The 2 percent reward from travel can take up to a couple of months after the trip to appear. That is a manageable delay if you think of it as a bonus for future Costco spending rather than an immediate rebate on the trip itself.
Types of Trips: When Costco Travel Fits and When It Does Not
Costco Travel is strongest in predictable, high-volume vacation types. Think resort-heavy destinations in Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida and certain European or city-break packages, as well as mainstream cruise itineraries and car rentals at major airports. Some packages include airport transfers or rail passes, though you will want to check the inclusions carefully, especially for families with small children who may need car seats or private transfers.
Families looking at big-brand theme park vacations will find notable options, but with some limits. Costco Travel no longer sells new package deals for Disneyland Resort in California, although existing reservations into 2025 can typically still be serviced and modified by phone. For now, Costco continues to offer packages and cruises connected to other Disney products, including Walt Disney World in Florida, Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii and Disney Cruise Line, along with Universal Orlando vacation packages and some other park-focused trips.
Where Costco Travel is less useful is in highly customized or off-grid vacations. If your dream family trip is a multi-week road trip through small towns, an independent villa in rural Europe, or a niche adventure tour, Costco’s inventory will feel limited compared with a full-service travel agent or booking direct across many platforms. The system is designed for scale and reliability, not for tailoring unusual itineraries.
Another limitation is airline choice and flight routing. Many Costco Travel packages use contracted fares and may not show every airline, connection option or low-cost carrier that you can find by searching airline websites or airfare aggregators. If your family is particular about airline loyalty programs, seat selection or non-stop flights, you will want to compare the included flights with what you can book independently. In some cases, taking a Costco hotel or cruise-only deal and booking flights separately can be a better fit for your needs.
Comparing Prices: How Much Can Families Really Save?
For parents juggling budgets, the heart of the matter is actual dollars saved. Costco Travel does not always have the lowest possible sticker price on the internet. Discount airlines, limited-time flash sales or stacking multiple promo codes across different sites may beat the base price you see at Costco. However, family value from Costco Travel often hinges on total trip cost once extras and rewards are factored in, rather than on the lowest nightly rate alone.
Consider a hypothetical seven-night resort stay in Hawaii for a family of four. Booking directly with the hotel might yield a modest member discount or loyalty points, but you are likely paying separately for resort fees, daily breakfast and any incidentals. Costco Travel might package the same property with included breakfast for two each day, a daily resort credit, waived or reduced resort fees and a digital Costco Shop Card issued after travel. Add in the Executive 2 percent reward on the package cost if you qualify, and the effective price difference can swing in Costco’s favor, even if the initial quote looked similar.
The same dynamic holds true for cruises. It is common to see Costco Travel offer a digital Costco Shop Card worth a few hundred dollars on top of competitive cruise fares. For a family already planning to stock up on pantry staples, school lunches or household goods, that Shop Card effectively functions like getting part of your cruise fare back in a usable form. When stacked with any line-specific promotions already bundled into the fare, Costco’s total value can be difficult to match without heavy couponing and comparison shopping.
The best approach for families is to treat Costco Travel as one of several benchmarks. Price your desired trip through Costco, then run the same dates and room or cabin types through the hotel, cruise line and at least one or two major online travel sites. Factor in all taxes, mandatory fees, estimated food costs and any onboard or on-property spending, as well as the value of any credits, vouchers or Shop Cards. The “winner” should be the option that delivers the best overall value and flexibility, not just the lowest sticker price on the screen.
Fine Print, Flexibility and Customer Service
Before committing a multi-thousand-dollar family budget to any vacation provider, it is important to understand the fine print. Costco Travel’s terms and conditions outline standard airline and supplier rules that apply to flights, hotels, car rentals and cruise components. Flights booked as part of packages are subject to airline change and cancellation rules, which may involve nonrefundable fares or credit-only refunds for future travel, often with rebooking deadlines and change fees.
Package cancellations can trigger supplier penalties that escalate as you get closer to the travel date. Some airline tickets within packages are nonrefundable and nontransferable, meaning that canceling might leave you with only a time-limited credit in the traveler’s name. Trip protection products, if added, are usually nonrefundable as well. Families who value maximum flexibility might want to add trip insurance that includes cancel-for-covered-reason benefits or consider whether the standard cancellation terms feel appropriate for their risk tolerance.
On the positive side, many rental car bookings through Costco Travel can be reserved with no up-front payment and canceled without penalty up to the time of pickup, although you still must comply with the rental company’s policies on late returns or location changes. That flexibility can be particularly helpful for families whose travel dates or flight options are not yet locked in.
Customer service is a critical factor for parents managing disruptions with kids in tow. With Costco Travel, you have two layers of support: Costco Travel’s own call center, which keeps extended phone hours most days of the week, and the individual airlines, hotels or cruise lines that ultimately deliver each service. In routine situations, Costco Travel can help adjust reservations and explain options. In irregular operations or weather disruptions, you may also need to liaise directly with airlines or cruise lines, as their policies on rebooking and compensation prevail. Having confirmation numbers and contact details for each supplier handy is wise before you depart.
Is Costco Travel Right for Your Family’s Travel Style?
Whether Costco Travel is “worth it” for families depends heavily on how and how often you travel. If your household tends to plan one or two big vacations a year that fit Costco’s sweet spots, such as Caribbean or Mexico all-inclusive resorts, Hawaii packages, cruises, or major theme-park-focused trips where Costco still has offerings, the combination of negotiated extras, Shop Cards and potential Executive rewards can produce measurable savings without a lot of strategic maneuvering.
Families that prize simplicity will also appreciate having a single, reputable point of contact, along with Costco’s broader culture of member satisfaction. While travel purchases are subject to their own cancellation and refund rules, the brand’s overall orientation toward value and customer care can feel reassuring when you are tying up a substantial share of your yearly budget in a single trip.
On the other hand, highly independent travelers who prefer building their own itineraries piece by piece, leveraging boutique hotels, vacation rentals and low-cost carriers, may find Costco Travel too rigid. Likewise, if you already extract significant value from airline and hotel loyalty programs, elite status perks or credit card transfer partners, a Costco package might not align with your optimization strategy, even if the headline price looks attractive.
The most balanced view is to see Costco Travel as one more powerful tool in a family’s travel planning toolkit. For mainstream, resort-style trips and cruises, particularly when paired with an Executive membership and the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, it often delivers compelling value with relatively little effort. For more niche or customized adventures, it will likely serve as a reference point rather than the final answer.
The Takeaway
For many families in the United States, Costco Travel can indeed be worth it, especially for those booking classic vacations like beach resorts, cruises, Hawaii getaways and big-brand theme park trips that fall within its core offerings. The program’s strength lies not only in competitive base pricing but also in the layered value of extras: resort credits, free breakfasts, waived fees, digital Costco Shop Cards and Executive 2 percent rewards that funnel back into the household budget over time.
However, Costco Travel is not a universal best choice. Families who travel infrequently, focus on highly customized itineraries, or primarily chase loyalty points and status with specific airlines and hotel chains may find its structure less compelling. Membership costs, reward timing, supplier cancellation rules and limitations in inventory must all be part of the calculation.
The smartest strategy is to treat Costco Travel as a high-value option to compare rather than an automatic default. Price out your family’s next trip both with and without Costco, include the value of credits and rewards, and consider your need for flexibility and personalization. If the numbers and inclusions align with your priorities, Costco Travel can transform a big-ticket family vacation from a financial stretch into a more manageable, and sometimes meaningfully discounted, experience.
FAQ
Q1. Do I need an Executive membership to get good deals with Costco Travel?
No. All Costco members, including standard Gold Star members, can access the same base travel prices. Executive members, however, may receive additional benefits such as resort credits, room upgrades and an annual 2 percent reward on qualifying Costco Travel purchases, which can improve the overall value if you travel and shop enough to justify the higher membership fee.
Q2. Can I really save money booking family vacations through Costco Travel instead of going direct?
Often, yes, but not always. The strongest savings typically appear when you factor in included extras such as resort credits, complimentary breakfasts, waived fees, digital Costco Shop Cards and Executive rewards, rather than just comparing nightly rates. It is still wise to price the same trip directly with the hotel, cruise line or car-rental company and with at least one other travel site before deciding.
Q3. Does Costco Travel offer Disneyland vacation packages?
Costco Travel is no longer accepting new reservations for Disneyland Resort vacation packages in California, although it continues to service existing bookings into 2025. Families can still find Costco Travel deals connected to other Disney products, such as Walt Disney World in Florida, Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii and Disney Cruise Line, as well as Universal Orlando packages.
Q4. How does the 2 percent Executive reward work on Costco Travel bookings?
Executive members earn a 2 percent annual reward on qualifying Costco purchases, including eligible Costco Travel bookings, calculated on the base cost before most taxes and fees and subject to certain exclusions. The reward is applied only after travel is completed and can take up to a couple of months to appear. It is later issued as an annual certificate that can be redeemed for merchandise at Costco or converted to a Costco Shop Card.
Q5. Are Costco Travel packages flexible if my family’s plans change?
Flexibility varies by component. Many rental car reservations through Costco Travel can be canceled without penalty before pickup, but flights and package components are generally subject to airline and supplier change and cancellation rules. Some airfares are nonrefundable and may only be rebooked as credits with restrictions. Always review the specific cancellation and change terms for each booking before paying.
Q6. Can I still earn airline or hotel loyalty points when I book through Costco Travel?
In many cases you can, but it depends on the airline, hotel or cruise line and the fare type. Some suppliers will award standard loyalty points and recognize status benefits even when a booking originates through Costco Travel, while others may not. If points and elite perks are central to your travel strategy, check the policies of the specific brands and consider calling to confirm before finalizing your reservation.
Q7. Is Costco Travel a good option for large or multi-generational family trips?
Yes, Costco Travel can work well for multi-generational or large family trips, especially when you are booking multiple rooms at the same resort or several cabins on a cruise. The built-in extras, Shop Cards and Executive rewards can scale with the size of the booking, and having a single point of contact for the overall package can simplify logistics. Just be sure to coordinate room types, bed configurations and accessibility needs carefully during booking.
Q8. What kinds of family trips are not a great fit for Costco Travel?
Costco Travel is less suitable for highly customized itineraries, remote or boutique properties, vacation rentals and trips that rely heavily on low-cost carriers or complex routing. If your ideal family vacation involves small guesthouses, rural destinations, long-term stays or intricate point-to-point plans, you may find more options and flexibility by booking directly or working with a specialized travel advisor.
Q9. How do digital Costco Shop Cards from travel bookings actually help my family budget?
Digital Costco Shop Cards issued as part of certain travel promotions function like stored-value cards for future Costco purchases. For families that already buy groceries, household goods, school supplies and seasonal items at Costco, a Shop Card received after a vacation effectively reduces everyday expenses in the following weeks or months. When combined with Executive rewards, that can meaningfully offset the overall cost of your trip.
Q10. What is the best way for my family to decide if Costco Travel is worth it for us?
Start by estimating how many trips you realistically plan to take in the next year and whether they fit Costco Travel’s strengths, such as resorts, cruises and major theme-park destinations. Price your next planned vacation through Costco, then compare it with at least two alternatives, including any loyalty benefits and credit card rewards you would earn. Finally, factor in the cost and rewards of your Costco membership level. If the combined extras, Shop Cards and rewards clearly outweigh the membership fees and any small trade-offs in flexibility or customization, Costco Travel is likely to be worth it for your family.