What Is Included and Not Included in Costco International Travel Packages

Costco’s international travel packages are popular with U.S. travelers who like transparent pricing, bundled value and the comfort of booking through a familiar brand. Yet what is and is not included in these packages can be confusing, especially when you compare an all inclusive resort stay with a European city break or a cruise.

Those differences sit inside Costco Travel international booking, and understanding them before you book helps you budget realistically, avoid surprise charges on the road and decide when a Costco package is the smart move versus building a trip on your own.

How Costco International Travel Packages Work

Costco Travel is a member only service that negotiates bundled deals with airlines, hotels, cruise lines and tour operators. For international trips, you will usually see options that combine hotel stays with airport transfers or a rental car, and sometimes airfare as well.

Inclusions are laid out on the individual package page and again on your invoice; that invoice functions as your primary travel document for most land packages.

Unlike traditional travel agencies, Costco Travel focuses on a relatively narrow range of vetted partners rather than offering every hotel and airline on the market. Its buyers aim to secure extra value for members, such as complimentary breakfast, resort credits or Digital Costco Shop Cards, in exchange for volume. Those add ons are a core part of what is “included” that you might not get by booking direct, but the base inclusions differ by package category.

International packages are also priced dynamically. The advertised price reflects a specific set of dates, departure city and room category. If you change your dates, airline, length of stay or room type, both the base price and the included perks can shift. The only inclusions that are guaranteed are those listed on the exact itinerary you book and pay for at the time of purchase.

Core Inclusions in Most International Packages

At the heart of Costco’s international land packages are accommodations plus at least one form of ground or air transport. For hotel based vacations, your package almost always includes your room, hotel taxes and either shared airport transfers or a rental car.

Many international deals also bundle daily breakfast or another meal plan, though this is not universal and should not be assumed unless explicitly stated in the description.

Taxes and mandatory hotel resort fees are typically either baked into the price or clearly flagged in the terms. Costco notes that its package pricing includes all known taxes and fees at the time of booking, although certain government imposed arrival or departure taxes in foreign countries may still be collected at the airport.

It is important to distinguish between hotel resort fees, which are often covered, and other hotel charges such as parking, premium Wi Fi and incidentals, which are not.

Another common inclusion is a Digital Costco Shop Card provided as an extra value. Many featured packages advertise a shop card in a set dollar amount based on the total price of your trip or the specific promotion in effect.

This card is delivered after travel is completed, not at booking, and can be used at Costco warehouses or online in accordance with Costco’s regular shop card rules. It is a perk rather than core trip funding, but for some travelers it effectively rebates part of the package cost.

What Is Typically Excluded From International Packages

Despite the perception that package travel means “everything” is covered, several major trip components are often excluded. The most significant is airfare. Unless your package is labeled as “with airfare” or the booking engine requires you to select flights, the base price is usually land only.

Airfare can almost always be added, but it is an optional add on that increases the total cost. Similarly, seat selection fees, checked baggage charges and airline change penalties fall outside the package price even when airfare is included.

Travel insurance is another important exclusion. Costco makes trip protection plans available through a partner insurer, but they are entirely optional and priced separately.

If you want coverage for medical emergencies abroad, trip cancelation or baggage loss, you must add this protection during or shortly after booking and understand that it is not part of the headline package price. Many travelers also overlook that pre existing medical condition waivers only apply when insurance is purchased within a set window after the initial trip payment.

At the destination level, most packages do not include lunches and dinners unless you are booking an all inclusive resort. Alcoholic beverages, premium coffees and specialty snacks at hotels are almost always extra.

Local activities, guided excursions, spa treatments and tips for tour guides or drivers are generally on your own account unless they appear in an “Included Extras” list for that specific package. City tourist taxes, environmental fees or security charges that must be paid at hotel checkout or the airport can also be excluded from the prepaid total.

All Inclusive Resorts: What “All Inclusive” Really Covers

For many travelers, Costco’s international all inclusive resort packages are the clearest examples of “included means included.” These deals usually bundle resort accommodations, hotel taxes, all meals and snacks, nonalcoholic drinks and at least a selection of alcoholic beverages.

On site entertainment, nonmotorized water sports and kids’ clubs are commonly part of the package as well, especially in Mexico and Caribbean properties.

However, “all inclusive” is defined by each resort, not by Costco, so inclusions can vary. Premium liquor brands, fine dining venues and room service may be limited or carry surcharges.

Motorized water sports, scuba diving, off property excursions and spa services are almost always excluded, even at high end resorts promoted as ultra inclusive. Resort credits or activity vouchers that appear in Costco’s marketing materials can offset some of these costs but rarely cover everything.

Transportation is another nuance. An all inclusive resort package may or may not include private or shared airport transfers. Some featured international deals specify private round trip ground transportation as part of the bundle, while others leave transfers as an optional add on.

Airfare is frequently separate as well. When comparing offers, pay close attention to the line that lists what is included under the resort’s name, and budget for any missing components that you will still need to purchase independently.

Cruise Packages: Inclusions at Sea vs on Land

Costco’s international cruise offerings operate under a different inclusion model than land packages. When you book a cruise through Costco, the base fare normally covers your stateroom, the majority of onboard meals and snacks, access to included entertainment and use of common facilities such as pools and fitness centers. The itinerary, featuring ports of call around the world, is included as well, although shore excursions are not.

On top of the standard cruise line inclusions, Costco often adds its own perks. The most consistent is a Digital Costco Shop Card in varying amounts, delivered after you sail. Selected sailings, branded as Kirkland Signature or Buyer’s Choice departures, may layer on additional extras such as onboard credit, specialty dining experiences or complimentary gratuities, but those are not universal and apply only to specific dates and ships.

Substantial cruise costs are not included in your Costco fare. Government taxes and port fees, administrative charges and daily gratuities are generally separate line items that either appear during booking or are charged to your shipboard account. Alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, soft drinks and bottled water are usually extra unless you purchase a beverage package.

Specialty restaurants, Wi Fi, spa treatments, gambling in the casino and organized shore excursions in international ports are also add ons. Airport transfers and pre or post cruise hotels, where offered through Costco, are separate components with their own pricing.

Taxes, Fees, Gratuities and Other Fine Print

Taxes and fees are one of the trickiest aspects of what is or is not included in a Costco international travel package. For hotel based vacations, Costco’s published prices generally include hotel taxes and any mandatory resort fees known at the time of booking.

For air inclusive packages, airline taxes are typically bundled into the total, but you may still encounter foreign airport exit fees that must be paid in cash before departure. Cruise fares, on the other hand, almost never include government taxes, port expenses or fuel surcharges in the headline price; these are itemized separately and are your responsibility even if the base fare is fully paid.

Gratuities are treated differently across products. At all inclusive resorts, mandatory service charges can be included, but additional tipping for excellent service is often customary and at your discretion.

On cruises, daily service charges for housekeeping and dining staff are usually added automatically to your onboard account, and you may adjust them at the end of the voyage within the cruise line’s policies. For land tours and transfers, tips for drivers, guides and porters are rarely pre paid unless a tour operator specifically states otherwise.

Another detail to note is that governments can increase taxes or introduce new fees after you have booked. Costco’s terms specify that any such government imposed increases remain the traveler’s responsibility even if your trip is fully paid.

Currency fluctuations can also affect local charges that are payable in destination. Building a small buffer into your budget for these variables is wise, particularly for multi country itineraries in regions where tourism taxes are in flux.

Optional Add Ons and Member Benefits

One of the draws of Costco Travel is the menu of extras that members can bolt onto an international package. Airfare is the most obvious; you can often add flights from major U.S. gateways directly within the booking path for a hotel or cruise package, simplifying your planning even though it is technically a separate component.

Car rentals, private airport transfers, attraction tickets and independent excursions can also be added in many destinations, sometimes with member only pricing.

Executive Members receive additional benefits on select travel products, such as increased shop card values, room upgrades or food and beverage credits. These enhancements are tied to the primary cardholder and apply only when that person is traveling.

They are not automatic across every package and must be confirmed in the “Included Extras” or member benefit section of the itinerary you are booking. If those lines are absent, you should not assume an Executive level perk applies.

Despite the availability of add ons, there are limits. Costco does not typically provide group rates on packages, and it does not offer traditional price matching against other travel sellers. Its pricing is based on negotiated contracts and live inventory that can change at any moment.

If you later see a lower price for the same Costco itinerary, an adjustment may require canceling and rebooking, which can trigger penalties from airlines or hotels. Carefully reviewing your options and locking in inclusions you value before final payment helps avoid costly changes.

The Takeaway

Costco international travel packages can deliver strong value when you understand exactly what is built into the price and where you will still need to spend. Inclusions typically cover accommodations, hotel taxes, certain ground transfers or a rental car, and sometimes daily breakfast or even fully inclusive meals at resort properties. Cruise packages add the core shipboard experience and often a Digital Costco Shop Card that extends the value after you return home.

At the same time, key trip elements are frequently left out of the advertised package price. Airfare, travel insurance, many excursions, gratuities, premium dining and drinks, and various local taxes and fees are usually extra.

Even within “all inclusive” resorts and cruises, the boundaries of what is included are shaped by individual property and cruise line policies more than by Costco itself, so the precise list of inclusions and exclusions can shift from one itinerary to another.

For international travelers booking through Costco, the most effective strategy is to read each package description and terms line by line, noting what is called out as included, what is labeled as an add on and what is explicitly excluded. Use that information to build a realistic budget and to compare the Costco offer with pricing from other sources.

When the numbers and benefits align with your priorities, a Costco package can simplify your planning and stretch your travel dollars without sacrificing quality or peace of mind.

FAQ

Q1. Does Costco include international airfare in its travel packages by default?
Most Costco international packages are priced as land only, covering hotels and ground services. Airfare can usually be added during booking, but it is not automatically included unless the package is explicitly labeled as including flights.

Q2. Are hotel taxes and resort fees included in Costco’s international packages?
For hotel based packages, Costco typically includes hotel taxes and any mandatory resort fees in the advertised price. Optional charges such as parking, premium Wi Fi, mini bar purchases and spa services remain your responsibility at checkout.

Q3. What meals are included with a standard international hotel package?
Standard international hotel packages often include daily breakfast but not lunch or dinner. When a resort is marketed as all inclusive, three meals a day plus snacks and drinks are usually covered, but the exact inclusions vary by property.

Q4. Are shore excursions included in Costco cruise packages?
Shore excursions are generally not included in the base cruise fare purchased through Costco. You can book excursions through the cruise line, Costco partners or independent operators, all at additional cost.

Q5. Does Costco Travel include travel insurance in the package price?
No. Trip protection and travel medical insurance are offered as optional add ons but are not part of the standard package. You must actively choose and pay for coverage if you want it.

Q6. Are gratuities included with Costco international trips?
Gratuities are handled differently across products. Some all inclusive resorts build service charges into the price, while cruises add daily gratuities to your onboard account. Tips for guides, drivers and porters are rarely pre paid and should be budgeted separately.

Q7. What is a Digital Costco Shop Card and how does it factor into value?
A Digital Costco Shop Card is a store credit that many travel packages provide as an extra benefit. It is sent after you complete your trip and can be used at Costco, effectively giving you a partial rebate on what you spent for the package.

Q8. Are airport transfers included in international packages?
Many Costco international packages include shared or private airport transfers, but not all do. The inclusion of transfers will be listed clearly in the package details; if it is not mentioned, you should plan to arrange and pay for your own transport.

Q9. Do Costco packages cover local tourist or environmental taxes abroad?
Some local taxes are included in the prepaid price, particularly those applied to hotel stays. However, certain cities and countries require tourist or environmental fees to be paid directly at the hotel or airport, and these may not be covered by your package.

Q10. Can I rely on all inclusive labels to mean everything is covered?
All inclusive labels signal that many core elements such as lodging, meals and basic drinks are included, but they do not guarantee coverage of all activities or premium services. Always review the specific resort or cruise description to see exactly which items are included and which carry extras charges.