Let Costco Help Melt Away Your Winter Blues at an Affordable PriceBy: Katie Smith

With spring rapidly approaching and this long cold winter falling behind, what most of us long for is a warm, secluded beach somewhere, preferably with a tropical drink in hand. Now what if I told you that Costco could help make this tropical oasis dream a reality?

Yes, that’s right, our large retailer warehouse you seek to fill your kitchen pantry and snag those delicious free samples along the way doesn’t just sell merchandise. We also offer our members vacation packages, cruises, hotels, rental cars and much more at some pretty awesome prices.

We have become aware that although we have been offering our travel services for over 15 years now, many of our members remain unaware. So we have decided to provide these 5 must know facts about Costco Travel:

1. Calling all families, honeymooners, and lone travelers. Whether you’re a college spring breaker, adults looking to relax and distress, or a family seeking to create some memories together as the little ones enjoy some time away from school, Costco makes planning any kind of trip that much easier at an affordable price.

We are currently partnering with 12 different cruise lines, four rental car companies, Hyatt Resorts, Best Western Hotels, and Disney travel. While also offering guided tours and trip packages across six continents. What this means: a whole lot of diverse travel options for any of our travel seeking members.

2. Apparently, our name is kind of a big deal. The Costco brand allows us to drive volume through a limited selection of high-end properties and negotiate savings that we pass along directly to our members. Meaning, we snag lower overall prices and upgrades or bonus amenities because we know some people that know some people.

3. No surprises when your ready to pay.You know what gets us peeved? Hidden fees and pricing that’s packed on at the end of purchases instead up upfront. That’s why we make it a point to present you with quoted prices that include taxes or any other necessary travel costs. Your total price is clearly displayed throughout the booking process, so that you can easily see any revisions as you customize your travel plans and aren’t left with any surprises come payment time.

4. We. Know. Travel. Since starting our travel service in 2000, we have built up a staff of 290 travel know-it-alls who are ready to help members snag the best deals and plan vacations to a variety of different destinations.

5. Quality is to be expected.There is a reason we offer a smaller selection of travel options than some other travel sites, it’s because we aim for quality, not quantity. Costco Travel operates like our warehouse parent. We provide the best value for a selection of high-end travel products. Our team rigorously screens

each and every travel option and exclusively focuses on four-star and five-star trips, so that our members can expect a quality travel experience.

We know that traveling away from home can be expensive and sometimes stressful, so any savings and help along the way can be very beneficial. Just remember that paying for a Costco membership not only helps lower your grocery bills, but your travel bills as well. So when making future travel plans, seek out one of our travel representatives or head to our Costco Travel site and make sure you aren’t missing out on any discounted travel.