💰 Forget Expedia — Costco Might Be the Real Travel MVP 💰
Published: Mon, 10/20/25
Updated: Mon, 10/20/25
Turns out Costco isn’t just for bulk snacks — it’s your secret travel hack for cheaper trips.
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.
Price comparison with other companies
Costco is the cheapest
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
The Cuba Libre was invented in Havana, Cuba, around 1900, when American soldiers celebrating Cuba’s independence mixed Coca-Cola, rum, and lime — toasting “¡Por Cuba libre!” (“To a free Cuba!”). This refreshing blend quickly became a symbol of freedom and
international camaraderie.
Ingredients:
2 oz (60 ml) white rum (e.g., Bacardi)
4 oz (120 ml) Coca-Cola
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
Ice cubes
Lime wedge (for
garnish)
How to Prepare:
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
Pour in the white rum.
Add fresh lime juice and top with Coca-Cola.
Gently stir to mix.
Garnish with a lime wedge and
serve immediately.
Random Travel Thought
That Louvre heist is crazy.
Follow me on Instagram.
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.