3 Reasons Not to Book a Vacation Through Costco

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Booking travel deals is one attractive Costco benefit. But here’s why you may not want to go that route. [[{“value”:”

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.

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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.

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