What's Happening
1 hour ago

Will Nvidia Soar After Reaching $4 Trillion? History Offers a Strikingly Clear Answer.

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

2 Stocks I'm Still Holding for the Next Decade

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

My Top 2 "No-Brainer" Stocks to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

1 Unstoppable Stock That Could Join Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet in the $2 Trillion Club Before 2028

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

Why I'm Reconsidering Ford's Role in My Portfolio: Is There a Better Investment for Income and Growth?

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

Where Will Lucid Stock Be in 3 Years?

foolfool.com
2 hours ago

$100 Invested In Goldman Sachs Group 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning FactSet Research Systems Stock In The Last 20 Years

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Here's How Much $100 Invested In GFL Environmental 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

benzingabenzinga.com
3 hours ago

$1000 Invested In This Stock 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

benzingabenzinga.com
3 hours ago

Why Netflix Stock Skyrocketed 50% in the First Half of 2025 and Why There Might Be More to Come

foolfool.com
3 hours ago

Denmark Is Taking On AI By Letting People Copyright Their Own Faces. In A World Of Deepfakes, It's A Radical Step

benzingabenzinga.com
3 hours ago

$100 Invested In This Stock 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

benzingabenzinga.com
3 hours ago

This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Is Underappreciated and Undervalued

foolfool.com
3 hours ago

$100 Invested In CyberArk Software 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

benzingabenzinga.com
3 hours ago

Will Nvidia Announce Something Big on July 16?

foolfool.com
3 hours ago

EXCLUSIVE: DeFi Development Issues First Outlook, Targets 1.0 SPS By 2028 (UPDATED)

benzingabenzinga.com
3 hours ago

Why Sam Altman-Backed Oklo Stock Soared Today

foolfool.com
3 hours ago

Why NuScale Power Stock Jumped Today

foolfool.com
3 hours ago

Deep Dive Into Five9 Stock: Analyst Perspectives (13 Ratings)

benzingabenzinga.com

3 Reasons Not to Book a Vacation Through Costco

Smiling traveler walks through airport with luggage in tow.

Image source: Getty Images

The benefits of joining Costco go far beyond savings on groceries and gas. Costco members can save money on everything from home installation services to tires to appliances. You can also take advantage of Costco’s travel service.

The nice thing about using Costco Travel is that you could potentially pay less for popular destinations and theme parks than by booking those trips on your own. Costco’s vacation packages come with perks you may not get elsewhere, like free resort credits you can use on dining or spa services.

Or, you may be eligible for a Costco Shop Card, the store’s version of a gift card, as a thank you for booking a trip. That’s the same as free money for anyone who shops at the store regularly. Plus, Costco vacations are eligible for cash back if you have an Executive membership.

If you pay using the right credit card, you can pocket even more rewards. Click here for a list of credit cards that can give you more cash back on your Costco shopping.

But while there are advantages to booking a vacation through Costco, there are some pitfalls to know about, too. Here are a few reasons not to use Costco for your next trip.

1. You may not find a package for your preferred destination

Costco’s travel packages cover a range of popular destinations, from Disney World to Hawaii to the Caribbean. But if you like to go off the beaten path, you may not have much luck with Costco.

Say you want to hike in the woods of Arkansas, or spend time in a remote beach town in New England. You may not be able to find a flight and hotel room through Costco — it all depends on your timing and specific destination.

And you may not find an actual vacation package — meaning, a complete itinerary you simply click on and add to your cart. An independent travel agent, on the other hand, may be able to help you put together a package based on the destination you want to visit that includes different outings and activities.

2. You might struggle to find a budget trip

You might spend less money booking a vacation through Costco than doing so on your own. But that doesn’t mean Costco vacations are cheap.

A week in Aruba for two adults in early December, including hotel and airfare from the New York City area, could cost you close to $4,000. If you’re on a budget, you may find that you’re largely priced out of Costco’s offerings.

3. You may have to commit to an itinerary far in advance

Since Costco works with its partner hotels to offer good deals, it can sometimes only offer a limited number of slots for a given package on a given date. You may find that if you wait too long to book a trip, it will be sold out on Costco Travel.

If you’re a natural planner and prefer to book your trips way in advance, this may not be a problem. But if you’re a fan of spontaneous last-minute travel or need flexibility due to a demanding job or having kids and needing to see what their school calendar looks like, then you may run into some issues.

It’s worth checking out the deals offered by Costco Travel and seeing if any are right for you. But you should also be aware of these pitfalls, so you can look at other options for planning your next vacation.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Related Posts

My friend Lauren is one of the most responsible people I know. She budgets and avoids flashy spending. But last year, a string of bad

Key Points President Trump promised to end taxes on Social Security and the White House says the One, Big, Beautiful Bill makes good on that

Key Points Social Security’s Trustees just delivered some bad news about the state of the program’s finances. Benefit cuts may be closer than previously anticipated.

Premium credit cards promise a lot — huge welcome offers, travel upgrades, statement credits, and exclusive perks. Looking for a secure place to grow your