Is Costco Travel worth it?

Costco Travel sells vacation packages, cruises, hotels and rental cars to members. It's worth it when the price is close to what you'd pay elsewhere, because of what you get back: Executive members earn 2%, and the Costco Visa pays 3% on top. Enter a trip to see what that adds up to.

How Costco Travel works

You search and book on Costco Travel's site the same way you would on any travel site, choosing from vacation packages, hotels, cruises, rental cars and theme park trips. The value comes from three things:

• The Executive 2% reward. Costco Travel purchases count toward the Executive reward, but only once the trip is complete, and within the same $1,250 yearly cap as everything else. Surcharges, gratuities, trip protection, upgrades, resort charges, port charges, rental car equipment and travel bought through a third party don't count.
• 3% on the Costco Visa. Citi names Costco Travel as eligible travel, so it earns the card's 3% rate, with no yearly limit.
• Package extras. Some packages come with a Digital Costco Shop Card or other extras. They vary by package, so read what each one includes.

Gold Star members can book too, but they don't earn the 2%. Not sure the upgrade pays? Try the Executive calculator, and include your travel spending.

So is it worth it?

Compare the same trip on Costco Travel and somewhere else. If you're an Executive member paying with the Costco Visa, you get about 5% back on most of the price. But the card pays 3% on travel booked anywhere, so the part only Costco Travel gives you is the Executive 2% plus any Shop Card. That's how much more Costco Travel can cost and still come out ahead, and it's the calculator's break-even figure. If Costco Travel is cheaper as well, it's an easy call. If it's a lot more expensive, the rewards won't close the gap.

A few things to keep in mind: the Executive reward arrives with your renewal, not right away, and you only earn it after you travel.

Costco cruises

Costco Travel sells cruises, and some cruise and all-inclusive packages come with a Digital Costco Shop Card; what each package includes is listed on the booking page. Two things matter for the math:

• Not all of the cruise price earns the Executive 2%. Costco's reward terms exclude port charges, gratuities, surcharges and trip protection. Put those in the "taxes, port charges" box in the calculator above.
• Check what's included. On Costco Travel's cruise tours, Costco notes that optional services such as airfare, airport transfers and shore excursions aren't included in the price.

Cancellation rules for a cruise depend on the cruise line and the fare, so read the terms on your booking before you pay.

Costco Travel rental cars

Costco Travel's rental cars come with one additional driver fee waived, no cancellation fees and pay-at-the-counter booking, and Executive members earn the 2% reward. See Costco rental cars to compare a Costco quote with another, including insurance questions.

Common questions

Does Costco Travel do flights?

Costco Travel's search offers flights as an add-on to a package or hotel booking ("Add Flight"). It doesn't list flights as a booking option on their own.

Does Costco offer travel insurance?

Costco Travel's site has a travel insurance section, and Costco's reward terms mention trip protection bought through Costco Travel. Trip protection doesn't earn the Executive 2%. Check the plan details on Costco Travel before you buy.

Does the Costco credit card have travel insurance?

Citi's page for the Costco Anywhere Visa lists rental car theft and damage coverage when you pay with the card, a 24/7 travel and emergency assistance service, and no foreign transaction fees. It doesn't list trip cancellation insurance.

What counts as eligible travel for the Costco Citi card?

Citi lists airfare, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies, cruise lines and Costco Travel, all at 3%. Train and commuter travel, timeshares, campgrounds and bed and breakfasts earn 1% instead. See what the Costco credit card pays you.

Can I buy Disney tickets or packages through Costco?

Costco Travel has a theme parks section alongside its vacation packages; search there for current Disney offers. Executive members earn the 2% on qualifying Costco Travel purchases once the trip is complete. Costco has also sold discounted Disney gift cards on Costco.com; see Shop Cards and gift cards.

Is it cheaper to book a cruise through Costco?

It can be, because of the Executive 2% and any Shop Card in the package. Compare the same ship, sailing and cabin elsewhere, then use the calculator above to see how much more Costco can cost and still come out ahead.

What is a Costco Shop Card on a cruise?

A Digital Costco Shop Card that comes with some Costco Travel packages. You spend it at Costco, not on the ship. See how Shop Cards work.

Do Viator excursions booked through Costco Travel earn the 2% reward?

No. Costco says excursions booked through its Viator partnership, which started June 4, 2026 with a 15% member discount, don't count toward the Executive reward for now.

Do I get the Executive reward on a trip I cancel?

No. Costco adds Costco Travel purchases to your reward only once the travel is complete.

Sources: Costco Travel and its rental car page, Costco's Executive reward terms, and Citi's Costco Anywhere Visa page, checked October 17, 2026. We don't compare individual trip prices, because they change daily. This is general information, not financial advice.