This Costco Travel Perk Can Help You Save Money On Vacation Packages

If you're considering a trip, but you don't want the stress of planning every detail, vacation packages are a great option. They take some of the guesswork out of where to go, how to get there, and where to stay. If you're a Costco member, you can use Costco Travel to book your next getaway with their vacation packages from full trips, to resorts, to cruises. Not only does the company have packages that feature discounts or flat rates for dream trips, but they sometimes come with a special travel perk: a Costco Shop Card. These are gift cards that can come in a digital format for up to $2,000, and can be exchanged for a physical card at the store if you prefer. These bonus items can be used for the warehouse, on the website, or to book a future Costco Travel vacation. They're emailed to you 10 days after the beginning of your trip. 

If you're not a member yet, you can join as a Gold Star member for $65 per year, or an Executive Member for $130 per year with a number of benefits including things like a 2% annual reward and exclusive shopping hours. In fact, at the time of this writing, Costco Shop Cards are being offered for new members who enroll in auto-renew, with a $40 card for new Executive Members, and a $20 card for new Gold Star Members. If you have the Executive Membership, travel packages do count toward your 2% annual reward. 

There is one caveat with the bonus Costco Shop Card that comes along with some Costco Travel trips. You can't find out how much they're for unless you start inputting your details. The website explains, "The exact amount of the Digital Costco Shop Card will be calculated during the booking process." At the time of this writing, there are a few different packages that include Costco Shop Cards, like the Live Aqua Cancun Package. This is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort vacation, with one card per room or stateroom stay. I put in my own travel details, grabbing the first flights from my location (Los Angeles), and when it took me to the hotel page, I saw the card valued at $91 for the hotel choices that were included, and $101 for the first hotel option that required an extra fee. (The option for this one is two nights or more, and I selected two nights.)

Another current offer that includes a card is Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica, which is another adults-only, all-inclusive package. This one is a two-night minimum, but I selected five nights to see what it offered, and once again, picked the first flights that were suggested. This time the bonus on the hotel page was a $252 Costco Shop Card. While you don't have to actually book the trip to see the amount offered on the card, you can try out a few options to see what number comes up. Once you have your trip booked, Costco can help with packing, too, with items like their affordable 8-piece hard-shell luggage set. Finally, if your future vacation plans include a road trip, your Costco membership can help you level up with snacks and supplies for the journey.