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The general convention with Costco is that whether you're buying groceries, paper towels, clothing, or electronics, you're usually looking at a pretty good deal. It's for this reason that members are willing to pony up $65 or $130 annually for a membership.
As you might imagine, Costco's reputation for helping people save money extends to its travel services. You can book a host of vacation packages through Costco, from resorts to cruises to theme park stays. And if you look around, you may find that Costco's vacation package prices can't be beat.
But that's not the only reason to book your next vacation through Costco. Here are some lesser-known benefits you might appreciate.
Costco doesn't just offer low prices on travel. Many of the packages it sells come with added perks for members that you wouldn't get if you were to book a trip on your own.
You might, for example, get free beverages on a cruise or a free resort credit on an island that you can redeem for spa treatments or room service. In some cases, you might receive a Costco Shop Card (the store's version of a gift card) for booking a trip, which could cover your next shopping trip or, depending on the sum, several weeks' worth of groceries.
2. Access to customer service at all times
When you book a trip through a travel agent, they're there to support you every step of the way -- or at least the good ones are. When you book travel through Costco, you get that same benefit.
Not only can a Costco Travel consultant help you find the right itinerary, but Costco is there to support you if your plans change or things go awry. If you need to cancel a vacation, for example, due to a change in your personal life, you can call Costco and it'll help you sort out your options. And if a trip of yours is canceled due to circumstances outside of your control, Costco will step in to make sure you're reimbursed -- and help you find a suitable replacement itinerary.
3. Cash back with an Executive membership
There's a reason Costco's Executive membership costs double what a Gold Star membership does ($130 vs. $65). The Executive membership gives you 2% cash back on your Costco purchases.
You'd think vacation packages would be excluded from that benefit. But actually, you can earn cash back on travel the same way you can earn it on food purchases at the store. If you're booking a $5,000 trip, that's $100 coming your way, which only adds to your savings.
Costco offers travel deals to a wide range of destinations, so it pays to browse the site or call customer service to see if any of its packages sound appealing to you. You might enjoy benefits that go well beyond basic savings on your itinerary. And you might also end up with a unique itinerary that you'd only be able to experience by booking through Costco.
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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.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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