3 Costco Vacations You Can Organize Yourself and Save Money
Written by
Seychelle Thomas
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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You go to Costco to save money on everything else, so why not also book your vacation through them? You’ll find tons of deals through Costco Travel, but not all of them are worth the added cost. Below are some of the Costco vacations you can plan on your own to save money without the convenience pricing.
Also here are other Costco services you may not be aware of.
Cancun: The Vine Package at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club
Visiting an all-inclusive resort is a great way to save money and you’d think combining that with Costco savings would rake in even more of a price cut. The truth is, you’d find a more budget-friendly price by booking your resort and flight package directly through Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club in Cancun.
The total cost for two adults departing from Washington D.C. in a deluxe ocean-view room from Jan. 5 to Jan. 9, 2026, was $3,509 through Costco Travel. That included a $190 digital Costco Shop Card, round-trip basic economy flights and shared vehicle transportation to and from the airport.
Through Secrets, you can book the same dates, all-inclusive accommodations, flight and airport transportation package for $3,099.45. The only difference is, you don’t get the $190 digital Costco Shop card, but when you see the price comparison, you may not care about that. Even if you deduct the value of the Costco Shop card from the overall price, it’s still $219.61 more expensive than booking directly through Secrets.
Riviera Maya: Limited-Time Package at Fairmont Mayakoba
If you’ve been considering the Fairmont Mayakoba all-inclusive package through Costco Travel, you may want to give it a second thought before you lock it in. While the promotion on this vacation package boasts $300 to $500 in instant savings and a Costco Shop card, it still might be worth it to DIY instead.
If you’re not a heavy eater or drinker, all-inclusive packages can feel like a waste of money. The all-inclusive package at Fairmont Mayakoba costs an extra $2,726 for two people over 7 days and 6 nights. So you’d need to eat or drink nearly $200 per person each day to recoup your costs. For that price, you could choose à la carte meals or venture off the resort for cheaper, local food options.
One of the other benefits of the Costco Travel package was shared ground transportation between the airport and hotel. Fairmont values this benefit at $300 and there’s no way to remove it from your Costco Travel bundle. For that price, you could just as easily book a separate car rental or stick to using taxis and ride-share services to save money.
Orlando: Ticket and Hotel Bundles at Universal Orlando Resort
Most times, you can find a great deal on Universal Orlando tickets through Costco Travel and this time is no exception. The park passes are still a great deal, but you could save money without booking your flight and hotel bundle through Costco. A family of four with two seven-year-old children would pay over $5,000 for a double queen room with a poolside view at the Universal Stella Nova Resort from May 21 to May 28, 2026. However, that only includes a three-day park pass.
By booking your tickets directly through Universal Orlando for five days, you’d spend $2,067 for a family of four. From there, you can avoid the convenience pricing of the Costco bundle by looking for flash deals on flights or using your airline loyalty points for an extra discount. You could also opt for a nearby hotel instead of the Universal resort for added savings. You may even be able to find accommodations that offer complimentary breakfast, which could save you money on food costs.
Make Sure the Trip Details Work for You
Costco Travel can usually save you a ton on your next vacation, but when you can’t make the most of the benefits in the package, it might be a waste. Organizing the trip on your own means more flexibility, fewer wasted perks and real savings. By piecing together flights, hotels and transportation yourself, you can grab flash fares, loyalty rates and local deals that Costco’s packages can’t match.
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