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Build your own Costco Travel vacations online

By T. Foster Jones

A FEW ISSUES back, I described some of the changes that had taken place on Costco Travel’s new Web page at costco.com (“A new place to (re)visit,” July 2008). The newly formatted Web site, which went live in March, has an exciting new look and enhanced information, including more photos, detailed maps, thorough hotel overviews, room category descriptions, cruise line and ship overviews, and destination information provided by Fodor’s Travel. In the center of the page, under the heading Hot Deals, is a selection of vacation packages and destinations listed as Buyer’s Choice or Your Way, which provide vacation packages that run the gamut of planning flexibility.

The folks at Costco Travel assured me that this was just the beginning, and they’ve already made good on their promise.

“Our biggest endeavor to date has been the launch of our own online booking engine in August 2008, which enables members to book Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico packages online,” says Shannon Parker, general merchandise manager of Costco Travel. “These are in addition to the offerings that have been available for members to book online for several years. These offerings include Las Vegas and desert vacations with US Airways; stays at the Disneyland Resort; Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz rental cars; Trafalgar escorted vacations; and Best Western lodgings.”

Both options offer Costco members great value on vacations. The difference, according to Shannon, is that the new booking engine gives Costco Travel even greater flexibility to take advantage of price fluctuations in the travel market, create special offers and promote great prices and special value packages at a moment’s notice.

Packages fall into the two previously mentioned categories: Buyer’s Choice, in which the package components are selected by Costco

ISTOCKPHOTO/EGOR MOPANKO

 

Travel buyers as the best possible value for that hotel and travel period; and Your Way, in which members can pick and choose elements to suit their needs, and the final price will depend on the options they select.

In many cases, the packages may be booked with or without airfare and other options, such as airport transfers, a rental car, a variety of room categories and trip protection. Members can plug in variations and the price will be calculated automatically, allowing them to easily see the differences in price and choose what’s best for their budget.

“To ensure the best possible experience and service for Costco members, we began by offering a selection of our most popular packages and our hottest deals,” says Shannon. “These packages are always changing, so we encourage members to keep watching the Travel section of costco.com. As our development proceeds, we’ll gradually bring on our other vacation choices to book online.”

As the holidays and the new year approach, Shannon advises members to check out new vacation products online, including Costco Travel gift certificates (ideal for that hard-to-buy-for traveler), Trafalgar escorted vacations in the U.S. and Canada, Orlando theme-park vacations, stays at new Caribbean hotels, new Kirkland Signature™ vacations, cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, and other inaugural ships and sailings.

Says Shannon, “With the vacations members want at the value they expect, from the comfort of their own computer, we’ve made vacation planning almost as enjoyable as the vacation itself!” C

 

The Costco Connection For information on Costco Travel’s complete product line, visit costco.com and click on “Travel,” or call toll-free 1-877-849-2730.