The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi has become a quiet favorite among value-focused travelers who like to keep things simple. It blends strong everyday rewards, automatic travel protections and no annual fee beyond a Costco membership. Understanding exactly how it works for flights, hotels, rental cars and trips abroad can help you decide whether this cash back card deserves a place in your travel wallet.
For a broader view of how Costco membership tiers, Costco Travel and credit card rewards combine into a single travel strategy, see our Costco Membership and Travel Benefits explained guide.
Key Features of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card for Travelers
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a co-branded cash back credit card issued by Citi, available to Costco members in the United States. It runs on the worldwide Visa network, which gives it broad acceptance for both domestic and international travel purchases. There is no additional annual fee for the card itself, though you must maintain an active paid Costco membership to keep the account open and in good standing.
From a traveler’s perspective, the main draw is its bonus category on travel-related expenses. The card earns elevated cash back on eligible gas and electric vehicle charging worldwide, as well as on restaurant and eligible travel purchases. That combination lets frequent travelers pick up rewards on everything from filling up the car on a road trip to paying for airfare, ride shares, hotels and tours when traveling far from home.
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is primarily a cash back product rather than a flexible points card. That means you will not transfer rewards to airline or hotel loyalty programs. Instead, you accumulate cash back during the year and later redeem that value in a single annual payout through Costco. For many travelers, particularly those who prefer straightforward savings over complex award charts, this structure is a feature rather than a flaw.
Because it is issued by Citi, the card also includes a range of built-in protections that are particularly relevant when you are away from home. These typically include travel accident insurance, rental car coverage and purchase protections, which can help smooth out the financial risk of disrupted trips or damaged items. While these protections do not replace travel insurance, they can meaningfully reduce costs in common travel mishaps.
How Travel Rewards Work on the Costco Anywhere Visa
The rewards structure of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is tiered, with different cash back rates for specific spending categories. For travel planning, the most important tiers are those related to gas and travel. Cardholders earn an elevated cash back rate on the first portion of eligible gas and electric vehicle charging purchases each year, including at Costco gas stations and most stations worldwide. After hitting the annual cap on that high rate, subsequent gas spending earns at the base rate.
In addition to fuel, the card earns an elevated flat rate on all other eligible travel purchases. Travel is defined widely for reward purposes, typically covering airfare, hotels, rental cars, cruises, travel agencies, ride share services, tolls, parking, campgrounds and certain tour operators. This broad definition makes it easy to earn bonus rewards across nearly every stage of a trip, from getting to the airport to paying for city transportation and excursions once you arrive.
Restaurant spending also earns higher cash back, which has obvious appeal when you are eating out three times a day on vacation. Whether you are picking up takeout near a national park or dining at a bistro abroad, qualifying restaurant purchases can yield boosted rewards. For travelers who spend heavily on dining while on the road, this restaurant category can end up contributing a large share of the yearly reward haul.
All other purchases that do not fall into gas, travel or restaurant categories earn a lower base rate. While that may not be as exciting, it ensures that incidental travel costs like souvenirs, small shop purchases or museum gift store items still contribute to your overall rewards. Over the course of a year, these smaller amounts can add up, especially if you frequently use the card both at home and on trips.
Redemption: Turning Travel Spend Into Cash Back
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card’s redemption system is unique compared with many other travel-friendly cards. Instead of allowing redemptions on demand, Citi and Costco combine your earned cash back into an annual reward certificate. Each year, shortly after your February billing statement closes, you receive a certificate representing the cash back you accrued in the previous calendar year.
This certificate is issued by Costco and is typically delivered as part of your February billing statement, either by mail or electronically depending on your statement preference. You can redeem it in person at a Costco warehouse in the United States, including Puerto Rico. When you present the certificate, you can either apply it toward merchandise or request that the entire amount be paid out as cash, subject to the store’s standard cash handling policies.
Because the payout is annual rather than ongoing, the card favors travelers who can plan ahead and do not mind waiting until early in the following year to realize the full value of their rewards. The upside is that the certificate often represents a substantial lump sum that can feel like a mini travel rebate or even a partial trip fund. Many cardholders like to time a big Costco stock-up or use the cash option to help offset upcoming travel costs.
It is important to pay attention to expiration details. The certificate is valid through its printed expiration date, which is typically at the end of the year in which it is issued. If you do not redeem it by that deadline, you forfeit the value. Travelers who spend long periods abroad or away from Costco warehouses should plan to redeem promptly, ideally within a few months of receipt, to avoid losing rewards.
Using the Card for Flights, Hotels and Rental Cars
When booking flights, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns elevated cash back for eligible airfare purchases paid directly with airlines or through many third party travel agencies and online travel agents. Using the card to pay for plane tickets not only earns rewards but can also activate certain included travel protections, such as travel accident insurance. Although these protections are not as comprehensive as full trip insurance, they can offer a backstop in the event of severe incidents like accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier.
For hotels, the card’s travel bonus rate generally applies to qualifying lodging purchases worldwide. Whether you book directly with a hotel, use a major booking platform or pay at a resort, the card can earn elevated cash back. That structure makes it fairly flexible compared with some issuer-specific cards that limit bonuses to bookings through their own portals. If you often book independent hotels or local guesthouses, particularly abroad, that flexibility can be valuable.
Rental cars are another key use case. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card typically offers secondary rental car insurance coverage when you pay for the rental with the card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver. Secondary coverage usually kicks in after your personal auto policy, potentially helping with deductibles or certain costs in covered scenarios. In some regions and with some card configurations, coverage can be primary, but you should always confirm the current benefits guide and exclusions before relying on it.
Using the card for rental cars also earns bonus travel rewards, so the value proposition is twofold. Costco members often book rental cars through Costco Travel, which is known for competitive rates and added benefits like an extra driver with certain brands. Pairing the booking service with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card can stack savings through both negotiated prices and card-based cash back, especially on long road trip rentals.
International Travel, Foreign Transaction Fees and Acceptance
For international travelers, one of the most important credit card features is the absence of foreign transaction fees. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States. That means you can use it in other countries without paying an extra percentage on every purchase, a crucial ingredient in keeping travel costs under control.
The card runs on the Visa network, which has broad global acceptance. In most major cities and tourist areas, especially in Europe, Asia and Latin America, you will find that Visa is widely taken at hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions. However, in some smaller businesses or rural regions, cash or local debit cards may be preferred, so it is still wise to carry a backup payment method and some local currency.
When using the Costco Anywhere Visa Card abroad, cardholders should watch for dynamic currency conversion. Some merchants and ATMs may offer to charge your purchase in US dollars instead of local currency. While this can look convenient, the exchange rate used is often unfavorable. For most travelers, it is better to decline dynamic currency conversion and instead pay in the local currency, letting Visa and Citi handle the conversion at the network rate.
Security features also matter more when you are far from home. The card includes standard chip technology and supports digital wallet payments in many cases, which can add an extra layer of security. Citi’s fraud monitoring systems typically flag unusual patterns, such as sudden overseas transactions, but it is still helpful to notify the issuer through your online account or app before major international trips to reduce the chance of declined charges.
Travel Protections and Insurance Benefits
Beyond rewards, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card carries several protections that can be relevant to travelers. These benefits are subject to the current cardholder agreement and can change, so cardholders should always review the latest Guide to Benefits. That said, typical travel protections have included travel accident insurance when you charge your common carrier fare in full to the card. This type of coverage usually provides a defined benefit in the event of certain catastrophic accidents on airplanes, trains, buses or ferries.
Rental car insurance is a standout feature for many users. By paying for an eligible rental in full with the card and declining the collision damage waiver offered by the rental agency, you may receive coverage for damage or theft of the rental vehicle, subject to exclusions and limits. While this coverage is often secondary to your personal automobile insurance in the United States, it can be especially useful in countries where your regular policy offers less or no protection.
The card may also include protections like purchase protection and extended warranty on eligible items bought with the card. For travelers, that matters when you buy electronics, luggage, cameras or other gear shortly before a trip. If a newly purchased item is stolen or damaged during a covered period, purchase protection could help replace or repair it, and extended warranty may add extra coverage time beyond the manufacturer’s warranty.
These protections are not a substitute for a dedicated travel insurance policy, especially if you want robust trip cancellation, interruption or medical coverage. However, they do offer a baseline layer of security that can ease some of the financial risk tied to travel. Savvy travelers often pair credit card protections with a separate insurance plan for longer, more expensive or complicated trips.
When the Costco Anywhere Visa Card Makes Sense for Travel
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is best suited to travelers who prioritize straightforward cash back over airline miles or hotel points and who already maintain a Costco membership. If you regularly shop at Costco and fill up at Costco gas stations, the card’s strong gas rewards can be a powerful everyday earner. When you add in bonus cash back on travel and dining, it becomes a solid single-card solution for many mainstream travelers.
It also fits those who prefer simplicity in redemptions. There are no transfer partners, no award charts and no special portals to navigate. You use the card, earn cash back as you go and then collect a single reward certificate once a year. If you travel a few times annually and appreciate a once-yearly lump sum that can help offset a Costco run or future trip, this rhythm can be appealing.
On the other hand, the card may not be ideal for travelers who want to maximize premium rewards or luxury perks. It does not offer airport lounge access, annual travel credits, free checked baggage with specific airlines or elite status shortcuts. It is also more limited for those who chase high-value airline or hotel redemptions through transfer partners. If you are aiming to fly international business class on miles or enjoy frequent suite upgrades, a premium travel card or co-branded airline card might be a better primary tool.
Finally, because rewards are tied to a single annual certificate, the card is less flexible than some competitors that let you redeem cash back at any time as statement credits or bank deposits. If you prefer immediate gratification or want to use rewards to offset trip charges as soon as they post, that once-per-year structure may feel restrictive. Evaluating your own travel habits, patience level and Costco usage will help determine whether the strengths outweigh the limitations.
Maximizing the Card on the Road
To get the most from the Costco Anywhere Visa Card as a traveler, the first step is to direct all eligible gas, travel and restaurant spending to the card, at least until you hit any annual category caps. When driving to airports, taking extended road trips or renting cars, prioritize using this card at fuel stations and EV chargers that code properly to ensure you earn the elevated gas rewards.
Next, use the card as your default payment method for airfare, hotels and car rentals, particularly when you do not have a more specialized travel card that would earn superior rewards in those categories. This approach centralizes your trip spending on a single account, making it easier to track expenses while also ensuring that any available travel protections linked to the card are triggered.
When dining out on the road, especially at sit-down restaurants, fast-casual chains and many independent eateries, pay with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card to capture the higher restaurant reward rate. Keep in mind that some establishments that operate inside larger venues, such as certain bars in event stadiums or restaurants within hotels, may code differently, so occasional purchases might not qualify.
Finally, plan ahead for the annual redemption timing. If you know your certificate will arrive around February based on the prior year’s spending, consider how that aligns with your travel calendar. Some travelers like to redeem quickly and use the cash to book spring or summer trips. Others prefer to treat it as a lump sum discount on a major Costco stock-up before a big vacation. Choosing a consistent annual rhythm helps ensure you never miss the certificate expiration and that your rewards meaningfully support your travel lifestyle.
The Takeaway
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi occupies a practical niche in the travel rewards landscape. It is not a premium metal card designed to unlock airport lounges or luxury hotel benefits, and it does not feed into complex airline mileage strategies. Instead, it rewards the way many everyday travelers actually spend, offering elevated cash back at gas stations, restaurants and across a broad range of travel purchases, with no foreign transaction fees and a straightforward annual redemption system.
For Costco members who value clear savings and prefer cash back to points, the card can be an efficient workhorse that fuels road trips, international vacations and daily errands alike. Used strategically, it can transform routine spending on flights, hotels, rental cars and dining into a meaningful yearly payout, reinforcing the sense that your card is genuinely working for you in the background every time you hit the road or head to the airport.
FAQ
Q1. Does the Costco Anywhere Visa Card charge foreign transaction fees when I travel abroad?
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States, which makes it a strong companion for international trips where you plan to use credit rather than cash for most expenses.
Q2. Can I use the Costco Anywhere Visa Card for rental car insurance instead of buying coverage at the counter?
Yes, in many cases you can rely on the card’s rental car coverage by paying for the entire rental with the card and declining the rental company’s collision damage waiver, subject to the limits and exclusions outlined in the current Guide to Benefits.
Q3. How do I redeem the cash back I earn from travel and other purchases?
Your cash back accumulates throughout the calendar year and is issued once annually as a reward certificate with your February billing statement, which you then redeem at a Costco warehouse in the United States for merchandise or cash.
Q4. Do I need a Costco membership to apply for and keep the card?
Yes, an active paid Costco membership is required to apply for and maintain the Costco Anywhere Visa Card account, and if your membership is not renewed your card account can be closed.
Q5. Will my flights and hotel bookings qualify for the travel bonus rate?
Most airfare and hotel purchases paid directly with airlines and lodging providers, as well as many made through third party travel agencies and booking platforms, qualify as eligible travel and earn the elevated rewards rate, though coding can vary by merchant.
Q6. Can I transfer my Costco Anywhere Visa rewards to airline or hotel loyalty programs?
No, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a cash back product and does not offer point transfers to airline or hotel programs; your rewards are only redeemable through the annual certificate issued by Costco.
Q7. What happens if I forget to redeem my annual reward certificate before it expires?
If you do not redeem your certificate at a Costco warehouse by the printed expiration date, you typically forfeit the cash back value, so it is important to plan redemption shortly after you receive it.
Q8. Is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card a good primary travel card for luxury travelers?
It can provide solid everyday value, but it lacks premium perks such as airport lounge access, broad trip cancellation coverage or airline fee credits, so frequent luxury travelers may prefer to pair it with a more benefit-rich travel card.
Q9. Will I earn elevated gas rewards when I use the card at non-Costco gas stations on road trips?
Yes, as long as the station is coded as a gas merchant and you have not exceeded the annual cap for the higher gas rate, you will generally earn the elevated cash back at most gas stations worldwide, including those not affiliated with Costco.
Q10. Is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card worth it if I only travel a few times a year?
For occasional travelers who already belong to Costco and regularly spend on gas, groceries and dining, the card can still be highly worthwhile, with the travel component serving as a valuable bonus on top of strong everyday cash back earnings.