Forget Expedia — Costco Might Be the Real Travel MVP

I just got back from Portland, and on the plane, I already started planning my next trip.

The cycle never stops, but I love it.

My last few trips have all been to food-focused places. So after I get off the plane, I have to hit the gym…hard.

You're going to kick yourself after reading this issue.

Because you're about to realize how much money you've been leaving on the table.

I was talking to a rental car employee in Portland during my stay, and they told me something wild: they don't even use their employee discount. 

They use the Costco discount because it's cheaper.

I already knew about the travel section at Costco, but that statement made me dig deeper.

And what I found was pure gold:

Here's the deal: Costco has a ton of travel benefits that you're probably not using.

Seriously, you could be saving hundreds of dollars.

Here's a list of benefits from Costco:

Resorts and cruises — Back before the Busy Traveler knew he had superpowers of travel planning, he would go on all-inclusive resorts through Costco because they're literally that good. Side note: Part of me misses going on vacation and doing nothing for a week. Honestly, I'm not sure I could do that anymore. I'd probably be too busy shooting vibe videos or researching future trips.

City passes — Go to places like San Diego where you can visit multiple attractions at an extreme discount. And there are international city passes to places like Rome!

Rental cars — You get the cheapest prices around. Not only do you get the lowest prices, but you can add a free driver to your account! That free driver discount is clutch because you'd otherwise have to pay extra money PER DAY.

If you have a Costco membership and you're not using the travel benefits, you're missing out.

The travel benefits alone more than pay for the cost of a membership. 

I love Costco.

Try it out and thank me later.

Keep traveling,

Andrew

Have you ever used Costco Travel before? If so, where did you go — and was it actually cheaper?

Cocktail of the Week

Random Travel Thought

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The Plug

Cheap flights:

• Going.com : This might be the only discounted flights website you need. It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!! 
• Secret Flying 🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
• Skyscanner : An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.

Insurance:

• Safety Wing : I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.

Travel Gear

• Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep yourself healthy enough to go on more trips. Link
• Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
• Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
• Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
• Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it. Link
• Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
• Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
• Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
• Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
• Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling, it's time to live it up!  Link
  
  *Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

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