What Costco Travel Is and Who Can Use It
Costco Travel is a travel booking service run by Costco for its members. You book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages through Costco's website or by calling their travel agents. You do not need a separate membership — your regular Costco membership gives you access. Costco negotiates rates with airlines, hotel chains, and tour operators, and passes those rates to members.
To use Costco Travel, you must have an active Costco membership. Gold Star (basic) and Executive members both have access. You cannot book through Costco Travel without a membership number, and the site will ask for it before you search or book.
Costco Travel operates in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The website and phone line are available 24 hours a day. You can browse prices without logging in, but you cannot complete a booking until you enter your membership information.
Key Takeaways
- Costco Travel is included with any Costco membership and requires no separate fee or enrollment.
- You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages, but prices are only visible to members who log in.
- Costco negotiates rates directly with suppliers, so the same hotel or flight may cost less through Costco than through the supplier's own website.
- Costco Travel does not offer travel insurance, trip cancellation protection, or rebooking information if your plans change.
- You can cancel most bookings for a full refund up to a certain number of days before your trip, depending on the supplier's policy.
How Costco Travel Prices Compare to Other Booking Sites
Costco Travel prices are often lower than what you would pay booking directly with the hotel or airline, because Costco buys in bulk and passes the discount to members. However, the difference varies by destination, season, and how far in advance you book. A flight that costs $50 less through Costco one week might cost the same as a third-party site the next week.
Costco Travel does not always have the lowest price on every trip. Sites like Google Flights, Kayak, and Expedia sometimes show cheaper options, especially for flights booked far in advance or during off-peak travel times. The advantage of Costco Travel is consistency — you know you are getting a member rate, and you can call a live agent if something goes wrong with your booking.
One difference: Costco Travel bundles some packages (flight plus hotel, for example) at a single discounted rate. If you book the flight and hotel separately elsewhere, the total might be higher or lower depending on current rates. Comparing the bundle price to the sum of separate bookings on other sites takes a few minutes but can show you whether the package deal is worth it.
What You Can and Cannot Book Through Costco Travel
Costco Travel books flights on most major airlines, including United, American, Delta, Southwest, and international carriers. You can search by destination, date, and number of passengers. Flights are round-trip or one-way. You cannot book connecting flights separately or mix airlines in a single booking the way you can on some third-party sites.
Hotels range from budget chains to luxury properties in thousands of destinations worldwide. Costco negotiates rates with major chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, as well as independent hotels. The hotel price shown includes taxes and resort fees, so there are no surprise charges at checkout. You still pay directly to the hotel when you arrive (or sometimes when you book, depending on the property).
Car rentals are available through Costco Travel at major agencies like Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. Cruise bookings go through Costco's partnership with cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian. Vacation packages combine flight, hotel, and sometimes activities or meals at a bundled price.
Costco Travel does not sell travel insurance, trip cancellation protection, or travel medical coverage. If you want insurance, you must purchase it separately from an insurance company. Costco also does not offer airline miles, hotel points, or loyalty program credits — you book at a lower price instead of earning rewards.
How to Book and Pay Through Costco Travel
Go to costcotravel.com and log in with your Costco membership number. Search for flights, hotels, or packages by entering your destination, travel dates, and number of travelers. Prices appear only after you log in. Compare options, read the cancellation policy for each property or flight, and click to book.
At checkout, you enter your payment information. Costco Travel accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. You can also pay by phone — call 1-800-774-2678 to speak with a travel agent who can search, compare, and book for you. Phone agents are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
After you book, Costco sends a confirmation email with your booking reference number, itinerary, and the cancellation important date. You do not receive airline tickets or hotel vouchers in the mail — everything is digital. Print your confirmation or save it to your phone. Airlines and hotels will have your reservation in their system when you arrive.
Cancellation and Refund Policies
Cancellation rules depend on the supplier, not on Costco. An airline might allow free cancellation up to 14 days before departure, while a hotel allows cancellation up to 7 days before check-in. Costco's confirmation email lists the specific cancellation important date for your booking. If you cancel before that date, you receive a full refund to your original payment method.
If you cancel after the important date, the supplier keeps the money. Costco cannot override the supplier's policy or issue a refund for a late cancellation. Some suppliers offer non-refundable rates at a lower price — read the rate details before you book to understand what you are paying for.
If you need to change your travel dates rather than cancel, contact the supplier directly (the airline or hotel). Costco does not handle changes. Some suppliers allow date changes for free or a small fee if you change before the cancellation important date; others charge a change fee or require you to cancel and rebook.
What Happens If Something Goes Wrong With Your Booking
If a flight is cancelled, delayed, or oversold, the airline handles rebooking and compensation according to its own policy and federal rules. Costco does not rebook you or negotiate with the airline on your behalf. You contact the airline directly using your confirmation number.
If a hotel cancels your reservation or overbooks, the hotel is responsible for finding you another room or issuing a refund. Again, you work directly with the hotel. Costco's role ends after the booking is confirmed.
If you believe you were charged incorrectly or your booking did not go through, contact Costco Travel at 1-800-774-2678. Costco can review the transaction, confirm what was booked, and help you understand the charges. If there is a genuine error on Costco's side, they will work to fix it. For disputes with the supplier (the airline or hotel), you may need to contact them directly or file a chargeback with your credit card company.
Costco Travel Membership Requirements and Costs
Costco Travel access is included with any Costco membership at no extra cost. A Gold Star membership costs $65 per year (or $130 for a two-year membership). An Executive membership costs $130 per year (or $260 for two years) and includes additional Costco warehouse benefits. Both membership levels include Costco Travel.
If your membership expires, you lose access to Costco Travel prices. You can still view the website, but you cannot book or see member pricing. Renew your membership to regain access.
Costco does not offer a trial period for Costco Travel alone. If you want to try it before committing to a membership, you can browse prices without logging in to see what destinations and dates are available, though you will not see the actual member rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Costco Travel if I have an online-only membership?
Yes. Costco offers both warehouse memberships (which include in-person shopping) and online-only memberships. Both types include Costco Travel access. Online-only memberships cost less than warehouse memberships but do not allow you to shop in the warehouse.
Do I earn Costco rewards or cash back on Costco Travel bookings?
No. Costco Travel bookings do not earn the 2% cash back that Executive members receive on warehouse purchases. You pay a lower upfront price instead of earning rewards.
What if the price drops after I book?
Costco Travel does not offer price matching or refunds if the price drops after you book. Once your booking is confirmed, that rate is locked in. If you want to try for a lower price, you would need to cancel (if allowed) and rebook at the new rate.
Can I book a one-way flight or split my trip between multiple airlines?
Costco Travel allows one-way flights, but you book each leg separately. You cannot book a multi-city trip with different airlines in a single transaction the way you can on some third-party sites. You would need to make separate bookings for each flight segment.
Is Costco Travel available outside the United States?
Yes. Costco Travel operates in Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, as well as the United States. The website and phone number vary by country. Check costcotravel.com for your region's specific site and contact information.