does costco have travel services

ULTIMATE Costco Travel Review [2024]: Who It Is & Isn’t For

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TL:DR: After testing Costco Travel, we recommend it if you don’t like planning all of the details of your trip—Costco Travel makes it super simple to purchase a planned vacation package, even though it might not be the cheapest option. Here are the key takeaways from our Costco Travel review:

• Costco Travel offers vacation packages to destinations worldwide, including resorts, cruises, theme parks, and guided tours.
• Pricing can be 20-30% lower compared to other agencies (but you might be able to find cheaper bookings if you enjoy researching travel deals). Executive members get added value like credits and upgrades.
• We had a positive experience booking a Costa Rica package but found extra fees, so make sure that you fully understand what’s included in your package—for example, are meals included in your resort stay?
• You can purchase flights as part of a package, but not on their own. If problems arise with the flight, Costco directs you to the airlines (even if you have trip insurance).
• Cancellations and refunds are available under specific circumstances. Travel insurance provides some protection.

I fell in love with Costco because of their famous $1.50 hotdog and soda combo. But these aren’t the only deals that they have.

When it comes to selling package deals, Costco knows how it’s done. You can’t find better deals than their Kirkland brand products, gas fill-ups, and travel packages!

That’s right; I said travel packages. Costco Travel is a leader in selling vacation packages available only to members.

Costco is different from your ordinary travel search engine. They offer bundles for your favorite theme parks and cruise lines. But is it worth the membership?

Keep reading to determine if the membership is worth springing for.

Table of Contents

What is Costco Travel? 

Costco is a members-only wholesale company that opened its first warehouse in 1983. Their popularity snowballed from there. 

Costco was the first company to reach $3 billion in sales in its first six years. In 2000, they branched out and created Costco Travel . 

The funny thing is that to this day, many people still don’t know Costco also sells travel packages! These packages can include flights, hotels, cruises, cars, and more. 

They work with an individual tour company to sell you the same travel packages as the tour companies but with added benefits.

How Does Costco Travel Work?

You’ll have to become a member to get a Costco Travel package. There are two levels of membership that both allow you to take advantage of these Costco Travel deals. 

The basic “Gold Star” annual membership costs $60. With this level, you’ll be able to receive the unique Costco offers at their warehouses and online. 

The “Executive” membership costs $120. As an executive member, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits of the Gold Star membership and extra perks such as:

• Exclusive deals and benefits on Costco services
• 2% cash back on Costco and Costco Travel purchases

Both membership levels are great deals and help you save money. 

Search for a Travel Package

Start by clicking the travel service you’re looking for on the Costco Travel website. To find a vacation package from there, enter your destination, region, and dates. 

You can adjust the dates in each city for your Costco Travel vacation packages. It’s possible to add flights, but many Costco members book flights separately. 

There’s also no separate search engine for booking flights. You can get a better price and have more control over which flight you take by doing it yourself. 

I suggest creating a Costco Travel account to manage your vacation packages, rental cars, and hotel rooms.

Costco Travel Review: My Experience With Using Costco Travel

Costco Travel Vacation Packages

One of the biggest perks of these travel packages is the convenience of booking your vacation through Costco. I used Costco Travel on one of my recent trips to Costa Rica.

The package I purchased was around $6,000 for two weeks at a resort, which is a reasonable price. 

While searching, you’ll notice that each of the vacation packages provides a list of benefits. 

Some resorts give you breakfast for free and food credits per day. Others won’t include any food at all. Pay close attention–it’s frustrating when you expect everything to be paid, but it’s not.

Costco Travel doesn’t automatically include airport transportation either. When clicking through, you have to choose from multiple transportation options.

Executive members can use their 2% cashback reward on any vacation package. 

Costco Flights

I like to book directly when purchasing a flight. However, Costco Travel airline tickets don’t exist for purchase separately. These flights always come as part of a package.

You can choose from a few options under the packages section that come with a flight: flight + hotel,  flight + hotel + car, and the total vacation package. 

Even if you have trip insurance, that won’t help with flight issues. If a problem arises, they’ll send you to the airline instead. 

Costco Hotels

When booking a hotel room through Costco Travel, you should know a few things.

If you’re looking for a hotel in certain cities, you’ll need a Costco membership to see the total price. 

Some popular cities worldwide aren’t available on Costco Travel, so you’ll only see travel packages without hotels for those cities. 

To book a hotel for New York City, for instance, you’ll have to book the hotel directly. 

Costco Rental Cars

Costco Travel has an easy interface for booking a rental car. However, they show only a select few car rental companies.

When I was looking for car rentals in Italy, I got only four different car rental companies to choose from. Those were Alamo, AVIS, Budget, and Enterprise. 

Car rentals can be expensive, so I suggest comparing prices with other companies before purchasing from Costco Travel. 

Costco Travel Cruises

Costco Travel offers its Costco members the ability to purchase a cruise through their easy-to-use search engine. Most other travel booking sites don’t provide this feature. 

You can choose the destination you want and even a specific cruise line. There are also options to look specifically for Alaskan cruises only.

Depending on how many days you choose for your cruise, several different options will appear. You’ll get the same Costco value when you’ve booked through Costco. 

There will be many reviews for each route, and select cruises are up to 30% off. Below are the different cruise lines you can choose from (not including Alaska cruises):

• Carnival 
• Celebrity Cruises
• Disney Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Even with Costco Travel’s alleged 30% savings, the price still seems the same as booking directly. 

Others are getting certain benefits like a Costco gift card and onboard credit. It’s worth booking through Costo Travel if you get these perks.

Other Deals Through Costco Travel

Theme parks & speciality vacations.

If you look further into the Costco site, you’ll find that they offer even more vacation packages. 

These range from Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood resort packages to an African safari. Costco Travel has it all!

These packages aren’t cheap but are some of the most sought-after bucket list trips. You can choose from many adventures if you want a family-friendly experience.

Going on an African safari has been on my list for many years. Costco Travel has full trips planned for you already. It’s absolutely amazing–like having your own travel agent.

These guided vacations might not have lower prices, but having your trip booked through Costco Travel is more straightforward than other travel sites.

Unique Deals

Costco Travel works with other travel agencies to get travel deals for its members. Executive members enjoy extra perks like free upgrades, food/spa credits, and more.

Costco Travel also offers upgraded Kirkland Signature vacations. It’s the same brand you know and love but with travel. Costco Travel offers deals on these trips for up to 20% off. 

Kirkland Signature has featured deals that last only a short time. You can scroll through pre-built vacation packages with set dates.

These deals often offer other perks and services, making Kirkland Signature deals impressive ways to kick back and relax. 

Cash Back on Purchases

As an executive member, you can enjoy up to 2% cash back on purchases through Costco and Costco Travel. 

There’s also a credit card called “Costco Anywhere Visa,” which gives you 3% cash back. Having their credit card is helpful if you know you’ll purchase from Costco Travel often.

Different Payment Options

When using Costco booking, you’ll be happy to hear there’s a flexible payment option. You’ll only have to pay a small percentage (in comparison) upfront. 

If you’re using Costco Travel booking services, you can also choose a payment plan to spread it out. Who doesn’t love a good payment plan?

Membership is Necessary 

To get Costco Travel exclusive deals, you must be a member. 

This downside might not be a big deal to Costco members who pay the membership solely for Costco Wholesale. And, considering what you get from it, the membership cost isn’t that steep. 

The extra price you’ll pay for a travel agent will cost you more. Plus, you don’t get the other services that Costco offers.

Hidden Extra Expenses

When I chose my vacation package to Costa Rica, I noticed that these resorts didn’t always offer free food and beverages. Instead, some gave you “credits.” 

If you don’t read closely, you might think the food and drinks are free (especially given the prices). 

I saw this less often when purchasing my Costco Hawaii package, but you should still keep an eye out.  

Costco Travel Cancellation & Exchange Policy 

Canceling your vacation package is easy. You can get a refund if you cancel within 48 hours of departure. Each scenario is different, though.

Log into your Costco Travel account. Click ‘bookings,’ then ‘upcoming,’ and ‘cancel.’ There, you’ll see your upcoming trip and how much you’re eligible for in return.

Costco Travel insurance can help if any unforeseen circumstances arise. 

FAQs About Costco Travel

Is Costco Travel the same as Costco?

Costco owns Costco Travel, but they are different business sectors. Costco Wholesale is what most people know Costco for, and Costco Travel is strictly for travel. 

Can Costco save you money on flights?

Costco won’t save you money on flights, but you can get many of the same flights as you usually can find on other websites.

Looking for cheap flights? Read our detailed reviews of Hopper , Skiplagged , Scott’s Cheap Flights (Going) , SnapTravel , Dollar Flight Club , and Momondo .

How far in advance should I book Costco Travel?

When booking a travel package through Costco Travel, purchasing it between three and six months in advance is best. 

Do you get two percent back on Costco Travel?

Purchases through Costco Travel are eligible for 2% cashback. This is a massive perk of an executive membership . Members receive up to $1,000 cashback. 

Do you have to be a Costco member to use Costco Travel?

You must be a Costco member to purchase vacation packages through Costco Travel. One of the downsides to Costco Travel is the entry barrier, but it’s worth the cost. 

Conclusion: So, is Costco Travel worth it?

Using Costco Travel discounts is a no-brainer if you’re already a Costco member. At the very least, it’s worth a search to see if they have any deals that you fancy. 

Costco Travel is a good deal for those who love having someone plan everything for them and do it often. 

Spending $6,000 a year on travel pays for the executive membership solely from the cash back. 

Costco Travel isn’t great for budget travelers. It’s also not the best option for you if you don’t like a strict plan when traveling. 

But, even so, there’s still some value in having Costco Travel car rentals. 

A Costco membership alone is so valuable for most people that it’s worth factoring the travel perks into the equation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phillip Anderson

Phillip Anderson is a freelance travel writer, personal trainer, and adventure enthusiast. With years of travel experience under his belt, Phillip is an expert in finding the best deals through travel apps and websites. He knows how to find cheap domestic and international flights, like a flight to Peru for as low as $350.

When looking for cheap accommodations, Phillip combines his knowledge of websites like Airbnb, Booking.com & Hostelworld with more unique sites like TrustedHousesitters, for even more savings. Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or local experiences, he teaches travelers to make informed decisions, ensuring their adventures are both memorable and economical. For more from Phillip, check out his website, JaywalkTheWorld.com.

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You Can Use Your Costco Membership to Score Major Vacation Deals

Here’s what you need to know before booking with Costco Travel.

What is Costco Travel?

Do you have to have a membership to use costco travel.

• Ways to Book With Costco Travel

Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Shopping at Costco probably conjures up visions of a crowded store with larger-than-life packages of household essentials and snacks. While booking a vacation may not come to mind, in reality, you can purchase travel — and often get great deals — through Costco using its in-house travel agency called Costco Travel.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect when you use Costco Travel to book your next vacation.

Costco Travel is Costco’s in-house travel agency.  It’s open to all Costco members, but a separate Costco Travel account must be made before booking. While anyone can look at the Costco Travel website, only members can see pricing and book travel.

It acts like other online travel agencies, allowing Costco members to book vacation packages, hotels, cruises, rental cars, and theme park tickets. You’ll notice that flights can’t be booked separately through Costco Travel (they must be part of a travel package).

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Lines

Yes, you must have a Costco membership to use Costco Travel. There are two levels of Costco memberships, and either one will work. Gold Star membership costs $60 per year, while an Executive membership costs $120 per year.

The Executive membership may make sense to those who spend a lot at Costco because it earns 2% back each year, up to $1,000 per year, on qualifying Costco purchases, including Costco Travel. 

That means if you spend at least $3,000 per year at Costco (including in-store, online, and Costco Travel purchases), the Executive membership works out to be a better deal than the Gold Star membership.

Executive members are also eligible for extra benefits on select vacation packages. You’ll find these offers by going to the Costco Travel website and navigating to Deals>Member Specials>Executive Member Benefits . The benefits vary by package but can include things like a $100 spa credit, a $100 resort credit, a $100 shipboard credit, a private beach lunch, and more. These bonuses can easily be worth more than the price difference between Gold Star and Executive membership.

Related: The Best Budget Travel Tips — From Saving Money on Air Travel to Spending Less on Hotels

Ways to Book With Costco Travel 

George Tsamakdas/Getty Images

While you can book a hotel stay through Costco Travel, the options are limited unless the hotel is part of a vacation package. In fact, you’ll find some vacation destinations, including Maui, Cancun, and Punta Cana, that don’t offer any stand-alone hotels through Costco Travel.

If you do find a stand-alone hotel to book through Costco, remember that if it is part of a hotel loyalty program (like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, or IHG), you likely won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits, and any status you have won’t be recognized. This makes booking these types of hotels through online travel agencies like Costco Travel unappealing for many travelers.

Costco Travel offers cruises on 11 cruise lines, including some of the industry’s most popular brands like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, and Princess.

There are so many cruise booking websites out there, and they all offer relatively similar pricing. The differences come in the extra perks like drink packages, onboard credit, and, in the case of Costco Travel, complimentary Costco shop cards. The value of the shop card varies based on the cruise and room type but usually falls somewhere between $25 and $95 for shorter cruises and can be as high as $425 for longer cruises.

While Costco Travel can offer great deals on cruises, one of the downsides is that you can only search one month at a time. This could add some extra work for those who have flexibility in their travel dates and want to search for a wide variety of dates at one time.

Theme Parks

Costco members can also purchase Disney (U.S. locations only) and Universal Orlando vacation packages through Costco Travel. These packages include hotel accommodations and theme park tickets and will usually come with extras like early park admission, transportation, waived resort fees, or a food and beverage credit.

Related: Splurge or Save? Here's How to Build the Perfect Walt Disney World Vacation for Your Budget

Katie Rice/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Rental Cars 

Booking a rental car through Costco Travel is straightforward with four rental car companies to pick from — Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise.

The search results are displayed in an easy-to-read grid format with the least expensive price for each car type shown in red. While this is excellent for someone who prefers simplicity, Costco Travel won’t necessarily always have the lowest price since it excludes so many car rental companies. 

Vacation Packages 

A Costco vacation package consists of a hotel with a flight and/or rental car. Packages are available for destinations all over North America as well as the South Pacific, Europe, and Africa. There are also specialty vacation packages available through a small collection of companies, including Contiki, Lion World Travel, Adventures by Disney , and Trafalgar Worldwide Guided Vacations.

Costco Travel vacation packages can offer tremendous savings over booking a hotel and flight separately, and they often come with extras like airport transfers and Costco shop cards. 

These shop cards vary in value and generally increase based on the cost of your vacation. We saw offers for Costco shop cards from about $150 all the way to over $900 for a one-week vacation package.

Some packages come with activities included in the price. While that might be a great deal for some, keep in mind that these activities may increase the price over what you’d pay by booking through another website or booking separately. 

Costco Travel can save you money, especially on vacation packages, but it’s smart to price out your vacation on multiple websites to ensure you’re getting the best price and package for your needs.

Can Costco Travel Save You Money On Your Next Trip?

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Hardcore Costco fans -- myself included -- agree on one thing: Costco doesn't carry every brand or item, but if Costco carries what you're looking for, it almost always has it at an incredible price. So a natural question for Costco fans who like to explore the world is, can you save money with Costco Travel?

Of course, planning a trip for your family is a lot more complicated than buying humongous boxes of cereal, but Costco Travel -- an arm of the big-box chain -- has plenty to offer. It's a bit like being a treasure hunter roaming the aisles: You'll need to work a little to find out if Costco has the best deal -- but we've done some of the legwork for you.

Let's take a look:

Costco Travel currently partners with the following hotel brands:

For the purposes of this article, I started with Fairmont for comparisons. I chose the Fairmont Mayakoba Resort in Riviera Maya (just south of Cancun). The Costco Travel website displayed the cheapest room type as a Deluxe Casita King. A three-night stay, with breakfast included, in November priced out at $844.97.

On the Fairmont website, the same stay priced out at $859.96 but did not appear to include a $22 per night resort fee. In a live chat session, a Costco Travel rep noted the resort fee was included in their price.

However, Fairmont is part of LeClub Accor Hotels. Accor offers up to a 10% discount to members of its loyalty program. In the case of Fairmont Mayakoba, it offers a 5% discount, which would knock about $50 off the reservation, bringing the direct booking cost relatively close to that of Costco Travel.

It's also worth noting that this specific property has a number of different room types. If you're looking for the cheapest room rate at this property, Costco Travel didn't actually have it. Fairmont's website displayed a cheaper room type with a rate that included breakfast like the Costco Travel rate. This is a good example of why you need to check multiple sources to verify you're getting the best deal.

Related: The Best Hotel Chains for Families

Hyatt is a different story. In the past, TPG had found that the Costco discount with Hyatt was 10% at most properties. A customer service agent at Costco Travel told TPG for this story that the discount varies by property -- which we found in our search results as well.

Like Fairmont, we started our search around Cancun. Costco Travel showed significant discounts at Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya . The Hyatt website quoted us a rate of $2,214 for a three-night stay. Costco Travel clocked in at $1,992.90. On top of that, you'd save about another $75 on that stay if you have the Costco Executive Membership plus the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. (Of course, spending 25,000 World Of Hyatt points per night to stay there will sometimes be the best deal of all.)

Priceline, which we checked to see where it stacked up against booking directly with Hyatt or through Costco Travel, came in about $100 cheaper than booking direct with Hyatt but $100+ more than Costco Travel. Hyatt and Costco Travel had much more flexible cancellation policies than Priceline.

We also decided to dig in to the New York market with Hyatt. At the Hyatt Union Square New York, Costco Travel presented a rate of $1,308.66 all-in; I could book the exact same room type from Hyatt on the same flexible booking terms for $1,279.82 for the dates in question. Hyatt also offered a members an advance purchase rate that was another $10 or so cheaper per night. A quick check of Priceline had its rate at almost $1,400.

We also looked at Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South. Our sample dates showed booking directly with Hyatt resulted in the exact same price as Costco Travel. You could save a few bucks if you have an Executive Membership and the Costco credit card, but keep in mind that as of late 2018, Hyatt Place no longer offers free breakfast unless you book directly with Hyatt .

Rental Cars

As with hotels, Costco Travel is not a guaranteed-cheapest, one-stop shop when it comes to car rentals, but it can be a winner if you are looking to rent with Alamo, Avis, Budget or Enterprise. It can also be a winner if you are looking for an included authorized driver. Mommy Points and her dad just used the heck out of that perk on a recent multi-generation trip to Hawaii . (Make sure you pay for the rental with a card that offers primary rental car coverage such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.)

Our first search was in Miami for a three-day weekend. Costco Travel presented Avis as the cheapest for our sample dates, at $171 all-in for a full-size car rental. The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal clocked in at $192.01 with the cheapest option being from Dollar.

Priceline found a rate of $120 from a company called Easirent, which I've never heard of. If you're comfortable renting directly from Sixt (I would be), its rate was $152.

On a search at LAX, we found similar results. Costco Travel had the lowest rate of $170 from Avis for a full-size car rental. The Chase Ultimate Rewards portal found a much higher rate of $219.62 for a full-size car from Dollar.

If you include booking direct from Sixt in the mix, Priceline found a $136 rate for a full-size car rental on our sample dates. Last, we put a request into AutoSlash . It does a great job of not only finding excellent prices on car rentals but also tracking your car rental to find lower prices after you book. AutoSlash found that cheap Sixt rate that Costco Travel didn't have access to. Bottom line, Costco sometimes has the best rate for those rental companies it offers, but those rental companies aren't always the cheapest in a given market.

Theme Parks

Costco Travel can help you save money at Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, as well as at Disneyland in California. As a self-avowed Disney nerd, even I was surprised by the savings on park tickets and hotel rooms. Costco Travel also sells vacation packages for Disney World, both with and without flights.

Related: Best Credit Cards for Theme Parks

For our sample package, we chose a package of a hotel and theme park tickets. We also chose one of the Marriott-affiliated properties, the Dolphin -- though Costco Travel does have other a good mix of other options both on- and off-site.

While you may give up some perks, staying off-site at Disney World and using your hotel points can save you a bunch of money on a Disney World vacation. ( Here's our full report on the best hotels you can book using points for your Disney World vacation .)

But if that's not an option, Costco Travel can save you a lot of money over normal cash rates. On our sample dates, Costco quoted us $3,452.89 for five nights at the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort and five days of Park Hopper tickets for two adults and two kids ages 3–9. When we priced that separately, the hotel would have cost $2,301 and the park tickets would have cost an additional $2,200.34, for a total of $4,501.34. A savings of more than $1,000 for a Disney World vacation? That's a lot of extra cash for Dole Whips and Hei Hei cones.

Costco Travel offers more modest (but still meaningful) savings at Universal Orlando. We priced out five days at the Loews Portofino Hotel, one of the hotels at Universal that include Express Passes, Universal's version of FastPass. The hotel rates are on the expensive side, but if you plan to visit Harry Potter's domain or other popular parts of Universal, the Express Pass benefits are something to strongly consider.

Costco Travel priced out five nights at Loews Portofino with two-park, park-to-park tickets for all five days of the stay at $2,880.75. This price included two adults and two children ages 3–9. Booking directly on the Universal Orlando website was $230 more, for a total of $3,116.52. (Though we have to point out that if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express and book Loews Portofino via the Amex Fine Hotel and Resorts program , you get perks like free breakfast, late check-out, etc.)

Cruises are the one category of travel where you can still reliably save money using a travel agent. That's because most travel agents will rebate you a portion of the total price of your cruise in the form of an onboard credit to spend on the ship. Costco Travel is no different, though its rebate is in the form of a Costco Cash Card.

Costco Travel has a long list of cruise partners. Popular options such as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean are available, along with some more boutique cruise operations like Azamara Club Cruises. Since our own Mommy Points recently returned from a Disney Cruise and I booked a Disney Cruise a couple of months ago via Costco Travel, I focused my attention there.

Disney Cruise Line pricing is fairly standard across most sites. This may give the impression that you're better off booking directly with Disney. However, Costco offers a Costco Cash Card with every Disney cruise we researched. The amounts vary, but generally weigh in at about 8% of your total spending. That's one of the better "rebates" available on a Disney Cruise.

About two weeks after we returned from our Disney cruise this year, we had a Costco Cash Card in the mail for the amount promised. Obviously, if you're not a big spender at Costco, it could take you a while to burn through a big cash card -- but that's not a problem in our household.

In addition to the Costco Cash Card, you can still earn the 2% and 3% discounts, respectively, for Executive Membership and the Costco credit card. With the prices of some Disney Cruises, this can definitely add up. Last, you can save additional money with a Disney cruise when you book through Costco Travel because it allows you to pay with a Disney gift card. There are a number of ways to purchase Disney Gift Cards at a discount .

Related: How to Book a Cruise Using Miles and Points

Cruise Critic and CruiseCompete can be great resources when trying to compare fares that travel agencies are offering, though you generally won't find Costco's pricing advertised on those sites, so check Costco Travel directly.

Royal Caribbean is another popular cruise line I would recommend, both for families and couples. I took a peek at how Costco Travel's pricing for Royal Caribbean compared to other choices. Since an Alaska cruise has been on our family's wish list, I priced out a seven-night cruise from Vancouver to Seward in July 2020 on Radiance of the Seas.

For a family of four with two children ages 3 and 9, Royal Caribbean's website quoted me a price of $4,393.72 for a room with an ocean view. Although I have elite status with Royal Caribbean, I did not include any discounts that status might offer. However, Royal Caribbean was offering a $75 onboard credit if booked directly with them. Royal Caribbean has been running more promotions lately, but I don't generally find their cheapest price all-in via its website.

CruiseDirect.com quoted me the exact same price as Royal Caribbean's website but its price included a $175 onboard credit. (This is typically how I see Royal Caribbean's pricing. It mandates that all travel agencies sell at the same price but don't get too picky if those travel agents offer a rebate in the form of onboard credit.)

Costco Travel's website initially quoted me a price of $4,488.72. That puzzled me, so I used the excellent live chat feature. An agent confirmed that the pricing was a glitch and should be exactly the same as the Royal Caribbean website. Costco Travel's price also included a $260 Costco Cash Card.

If you value the Costco Cash Card as cash (I do), then Costco Travel's price was $85 cheaper than CruiseDirect and $185 cheaper than booking with Royal Caribbean direct. As a general rule, I've seen onboard credit as high as 10% of the booking price of our cruise as a rebate from travel agents when booking Royal Caribbean.

Saving On Travel at Costco Beyond Costco Travel

If you have a Costco membership, Costco Travel isn't the only way to save on travel. You'll also find deals at Costco.com and your local warehouse.

Right now, Costco.com has two interesting Universal Hollywood deals. The first is a three-visit pass for $139.99 . One-day tickets to Universal Hollywood range between $109 and $129 for a single day without Express Passes. Although this deal has a few blackout dates (essentially the week between Christmas and New Year's), this represents a phenomenal saving opportunity. You have 12 months from your first visit to use the additional two days in the park, which is plenty of flexibility.

Costco is also selling discounted 18-month passes that allow unlimited access with some blackout dates. The passes are $219.99 on the Costco website right now. Universal Hollywood doesn't sell this exact pass on its website, but their Gold Pass, which allows for 12 months of access and has similar blackout dates, sells for a higher $319. Check the blackout dates on Costco.com, but this pass can be a great deal for Universal Hollywood regulars.

Warehouse deals are generally geared to regional or local attractions. Living near Washington, DC, we've scored discounted tickets to Hersheypark and lift tickets for nearby ski mountains.

Keep an eye out around the holidays for Gaylord and other hotel gift cards. Marriott owns the small chain and the gift cards are generally valid at most Marriott hotels.

Bottom Line

Costco Travel isn't always the cheapest option out there and doesn't have every travel booking partner you may be interested in, but there are times when it does offer the best publicly available deal we could find. We found the best values were on hotel bookings, travel to Disney World, Disney Cruises and on car rentals when you wanted to use one of the brands available via Costco.

It's also worth a mention that in our tests, the live chat feature was extremely helpful and staffed by Costco Travel reps who know their travel. In most cases, you'll probably want to start your booking searches elsewhere, but be sure to compare Costco Travel before you commit. In the case of Disney Cruises, Costco Travel may be the only stop you'll need.

Savings from Costco Travel can absolutely pay for a Costco membership, currently $60. Remember that it's also possible to earn up to 5% off any of Costco Travel's listed prices. Costco Executive Members earn a 2% rebate on travel while Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cardholders earn an additional 3% rebate on eligible travel expenses.

Edward Pizzarello covers family travel for TPG Family and also blogs at Pizza in Motion . You can find him podcasting at Miles to Go and eating doughnuts on Twitter and Instagram .

You can book luxury hotels, cruises, and vacation packages through Costco for a fraction of the cost

• Costco offers steep discounts on hotels, cruises, rental cars, and vacation packages for members.
• Members can book travel through the Costco Travel website.
• Costco offers perks such as waived fees for additional drivers on rental cars.

Your Costco membership can get you more than bulk packages of toilet paper and $5 rotisserie chickens.

If you're a Costco member, you can book hotels, cruises, rental cars, and all-inclusive packages online through Costco Travel .

The Costco Travel website offers vacation packages at luxury resorts in destinations including Tahiti, French Polynesia; Cancún, Mexico; Costa Rica, and Hawaii, and cruises with companies such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean , and Princess, at heavily discounted prices.

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A Costco Travel vacation package at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Maui, Hawaii, offers five nights for the price of four and includes the flight, rental car, a room with a partial ocean view, and the hotel's daily breakfast buffet.

The entire vacation package costs $4,851.45 when booked through Costco Travel. When booking the same room and dates directly through the Hyatt Regency's website, the hotel reservation costs $5,331.78 — without airfare to Maui or a rental car.

For smaller-scale trips, if you rent a car through Costco, additional driver fees are waived when renters book through Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, or Avis, Costco Travel's rental-car FAQs page says .

To book a trip, members need to make a profile on Costco Travel's website separate from the one they use to shop for other items.

Booking trips through any third-party website is inherently riskier than booking directly. If any unforeseen circumstances come up, it can be difficult to make changes or receive refunds.

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Where can I find information about Costco Travel?

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For more information on our Costco Travel program, please visit our Costco Travel website at www.costcotravel.com .

Costco Travel can also be reached by calling them directly at 1-877-849-2730.

Their hours of operation are as follows:

• Monday - Friday 5 a.m. - 7 p.m. PT
• Saturday - Sunday 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. PT

Further contact information can be found here .

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• Hawaiian Airlines
• United Airlines

Please note, depending on the destination,  pricing, or availability, you may not see all of these airlines offered for your package.

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I Cut My Hotel Price in Half Using Costco Travel and Still Earned Solid Travel Rewards

Brett Holzhauer

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Costco Travel Remains a Staple in My Toolbelt

Booking through costco travel, booking through marriott, final thoughts.

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When you’re a seasoned points and miles fan, it can become a ritual to simply book all your flights and hotel directly through the airline or hotel brand. This is typically more beneficial than not, as you earn loyalty status and also get direct customer service if something goes wrong.

But occasionally, I’ve found it to be beneficial to book through Costco Travel. Although I typically use this service for rental cars only, I’ve found some solid value in the last few months by using Costco’s all-in-one travel portal.

Here’s what you need to know about how I saved money through Costco Travel for my upcoming Mexico trip.

It’s shocking to me when I tell people about Costco Travel since many people don’t even know it’s a benefit. While it’s not always the best route to go, it’s a great resource to keep in mind when you’re looking for the best deal for your next trip.

On the platform, you can book hotels, rental cars, cruises, and theme park-related getaways, and you don’t need a membership to look through the website to see the available deals. However, you do need a membership (or a friend with a membership) to book through Costco Travel .

If you find a Costco Travel deal worth booking and aren’t a member, simply ask a friend or family member with a Costco membership for their login. I’ve booked rental cars, cruises, and hotels for friends and family through Costco Travel plenty of times with no issue at all. The entire booking can be in someone else’s name, and if you have an Executive Membership, you will earn 2% back to your yearly membership reward.

Regardless of how or where you travel, Costco Travel is worth playing around with, as there can be some great deals.

How I Saved Money Through Costco Travel

Although I recently wrote about how travel prices really haven’t jumped all that much when adjusted for inflation , seeing larger numbers never sits well psychologically. To add insult to injury, I’ve been pretty “points broke,” so I found myself using cash rather than credit card rewards for my recent travels.

When an opportunity came up to book a nice 5-day getaway in Cancun (a short 1.5-hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida), I jumped right at it. But wow, some of these hotels are charging absurd prices. So I did some digging and found an incredible deal through Costco Travel. Here’s how the numbers shake out for a 5-night stay at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa and how much it would be if I booked directly through Marriott.

For a 5-night stay for 2 people at the JW Marriott Cancun, I paid $1,905.71, or $381 per night. It was still a bit pricey, but there’s more to take into account.

When booking travel through Costco Travel, you will likely see several promotions or discounts that further incentivize you to book through their portal. And this deal was no different.

For this deal, I’m getting the following perks:

• A $112 Costco gift card
• Private transportation to and from the airport
• $50 daily resort credit during the stay
• $50 spa credit

For the sake of this example, I won’t be counting the resort and spa credits, as booking through Marriott offers the same benefit. But I figure that a $112 Costco Gift Card is essentially a cash rebate. And since I have a Costco Executive Membership, I will earn 2% back on the purchase price, or $38 back. So my out-the-door cost for this stay is $1,755 .

For the $1,905 purchase, I used my Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card , which earns 3x per $1 spent on travel (and select business categories up to the first $150,000 spent each year), netting me 5,715 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. At a 2 cents per point valuation , that’s an additional $114 in value for my next trip.

The way I see it, I paid $1,755 for this trip and earned some valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards along the way.

Here’s the sticker shock if I were to have booked through Marriott directly for the same room. For the same 5-night stay when booking direct, I would have paid double — $4,036.

This is for the Transportation Package in Cancun , and while it may say $3,315 for the stay, it slyly adds in the government taxes and fees at checkout, bringing the total to just over $4,000.

This package comes with roughly the same benefits that Costco Travel was offering, with resort and spa credits and transportation to and from the airport. However, it doesn’t come with the Costco gift card.

But, if I were to book directly with Marriott, I would earn 10 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 — earning me 40,360 Marriott points. And if I used my Ink Business Preferred card for this purchase as well, I would earn 12,108 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. With our points valuation , this would be $282 and $242 in earned value, respectively.

So, with all factors considered, including the rewards I would earn booking the trip, I would have paid $3,512 — double what I paid going through Costco.

The only benefit I would get booking through Marriott and not Costco Travel is earning toward Marriott elite status . But as I rarely stay at Marriott properties and don’t have status, it wasn’t part of my consideration.

Like any purchase you make today, it’s worth shopping around to see if there are better deals out there. Although it may pain you to make a third-party booking where you can’t take advantage of your loyalty status benefits, your wallet will thank you later. With all that money saved, you can definitely afford an extra hot dog on your next trip to Costco.

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About Brett Holzhauer

Brett is a personal finance and travel junkie. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, he’s had over 100 credit cards and earned millions of credit card rewards. He learned the tricks of the trade from his mom, and has taken many steps forward. He wasn’t exposed to much travel as a kid, but now has a goal of reaching 100 countries in his life. In 2019, he sold all of his possessions to become a digital nomad, and he says it was one of the best decisions he ever made. He plans to do it again at some point in his life.

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Costco will offer weight loss program to members through medical partner

Costco and its low-cost health care partner are expanding into weight-loss management.

Costco will begin offering its members in the U.S. access to a weight loss program through Sesame, a health care marketplace, Sesame first told USA TODAY. The service, which will cost $179 every three months, is scheduled to become available April 2.

“We are witnessing important innovations in medically supervised weight loss,” said David Goldhill, Sesame‘s co-founder and CEO. “Sesame’s unique model allows us not only to make high-quality specialty care like weight loss much more accessible and affordable but also to empower clinicians to create care plans that are specific to − and appropriate for − each individual patient.”

Last fall, Costco began offering $29 visits with a primary care physician through its partnership with Sesame. It also offered virtual mental health therapy for $79 a session and health checkups with a standard lab panel and virtual follow-up consultation with a provider for $72.

The expansion into medical weight loss services by Sesame with Costco came as a result of inquiries from patients, Goldhill told USA TODAY.

"The No. 1 search term of Costco members seeking primary care on Sesame was around weight loss," Goldhill said.

Both parties got together about two months after the primary care doctor partnership started to begin looking into offering weight loss management because consumers were coming to Sesame "unprompted and saying 'What do you have?' " he said.

How does Costco's weight loss program work?

This is what's included for $179 every three months for Costco members:

• Three months of clinical consultation.
• Ability to select the clinician of your choice.
• An initial live video consultation with the clinician.
• Ability to message your clinician outside scheduled appointments.
• A nutritional guide and recommendations.
• An individualized, clinically appropriate treatment program.

Sesame clinicians will begin by collecting a detailed medical history from each patient and help patients with appropriate diet, exercise and lifestyle modifications.

Members can get more information at CostcoWeightLoss.com .

Can I get weight loss medication prescriptions like Ozempic?

When clinically appropriate, the clinician may pair these interventions with medications, subject to their availability, Sesame said.

Individual patient eligibility for drug therapies available through Sesame are determined by the assessment of appropriateness of each therapy by the Sesame-listed provider.

The doctor will see you: Costco partners with Sesame to offer members $29 virtual health visits

Can I use Sesame without a Costco membership?

Sesame is a two-way health marketplace for consumers and health care providers to connect for a low fee, Goldhill said. Insurance is not accepted. About two-thirds of Sesame consumers have insurance and may use a Sesame service for quicker access to a medical professional if they can't get an appointment with their regular doctor, Goldhill said.

Consumers without Costco memberships can use Sesame's services, but the price is further discounted for Costco members, he said.

Sesame has primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, more than 40 health specialties and lab and imaging centers. It offers primarily virtual care but has some in-person care available, too.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher . Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.

Costco offers members access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs

Some Costco members may soon have less of a hankering for the retailer's popular $1.50 hot dog and soda meal. 

The warehouse club and health care marketplace Sesame are now teaming to offer access to a weight-loss program that includes clinically approved access to GLP-1 prescription drugs including Ozempic, Sesame said.

 As of April 2, Costco members can sign up for the service, which runs $179 for three months. It includes consultations with a clinician and a medically appropriate treatment program, which can include medications. 

"We are witnessing important innovations in medically-supervised weight loss," David Goldhill, Sesame's co-founder and CEO, said Tuesday in a news release. "Sesame's unique model allows us not only to make high-quality specialty care like weight loss much more accessible and affordable, but also to empower clinicians to create care plans that are specific to — and appropriate for — each individual patient." 

Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The development comes nearly six months after Sesame announced a partnership with Costco offering members virtual primary care for $29 in all 50 states. 

New York-based Sesame is geared to the uninsured and those with high deductibles who need to pay cash. It does not accept health insurance to help keep a lid on prices. 

The move by the big-box retailer follows similar steps by rivals. Amazon provides remote access to third-party health care providers and Walmart runs in-store medical clinics.  

Health | Ozempic at Costco: Store’s new $179 weight loss…

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Health | Ozempic at Costco: Store’s new $179 weight loss plan includes prescription

New York — Costco is now offering $179 Ozempic prescriptions for some of its members.

Costco first partnered with Sesame, a direct-to-consumer health care marketplace that connects medical providers nationwide with consumers, last fall when it began offering its members online health checkups for as low as $29.

Because of customers’ interest in weight loss, Costco and Sesame developed the renewable three-month program, said Sesame co-founder and CEO David Goldhill in an interview with USA Today.

It includes a video consultation with a weight loss doctor or specialist; a GLP-1 or weight loss prescription, if appropriate; and support through unlimited messaging with a health care provider.

The cost of medication is not included in the $179 three-month plan, and Sesame warned on its website that without insurance, GLP-1s can cost between $950 and $1,600 per month.

Sesame says it has an available supply of injectable semaglutide, including Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral weight-loss medications. The company advertises that patients could lose 5% of their body weight in just three months, 10% in six months and 15% in a year.

Sesame, available to most Costco members, advertises services with low out-of-pocket payments. It says some insurance plans will reimburse users for some Sesame services.

US health care providers wrote more than 9 million prescriptions for Wegovy and other injectable drugs used for weight loss during the last three months of 2022 alone. JPMorgan researchers estimate that 30 million people may be taking GLP-1 drugs by 2030, or around 9% of the US population.

WeightWatchers launched a new membership plan that gives members access to doctors who can prescribe these medications. It also made a $100 million-plus deal to buy Sequence, a telehealth business that can offer virtual prescriptions, where appropriate, to patients for these weight loss drugs.

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Trying to lose weight? Costco partners with Sesame to offer weight-loss services in Florida, US

Trying to lose weight? Costco may be able to help.

The warehouse club began offering members in the United States access to a weight-loss program through Sesame , its low-cost health care partner.

Here's everything you need to know.

How much do the Costco, Sesame weight-loss services cost in Florida, US?

The service costs $179 every three months for Costco members.

It was scheduled to become available April 2, 2024.

Consumers without Costco memberships can use Sesame's services, but the price is discounted for Costco members, said David Goldhill, Sesame‘s co-founder and CEO.

What are the weight-loss services offered by Costco and Sesame?

Costco and Sesame said the program offers expert clinical care from weight-loss specialists, along with weight-loss prescriptions — as appropriate — and ongoing support via unlimited messaging, nutrition, and exercise guidance.

Features of the program include:

• A video consulatation with a weight-loss doctor or specialist
• GLP-1 or other weight-loss prescription, as appropriate
• Insurance coordination for prescription authorization
• Ongoing support via unlimited messaging, nutrition and exercise guidance
• Lab orders, if needed

The following are not included:

• Cost of medication
• Cost of lab work, if needed

Sesame clinicians will collect a detailed medical history from each patient and before helping patients with an appropriate diet, exercise and lifestyle modifications.

Members can get more information at  CostcoWeightLoss.com .

How much is a Costco membership?

Costco offers two levels of membership :

Executive Member

• Cost: $120 a year, plus sales tax
• Benefits include:
• Costco services discounts
• Shop online and in warehouse
• Includes two membership cards

Gold Star Member

• Cost: $60 a year, plus sales tax

How many Costco stores are in Florida?

There are 32 warehouses in Florida , according to Costco's website.

Florida is among the top five states when it comes to the number of Costco warehouses:

• California: 137
• Washington: 33
• Florida: 32
• Illinois: 23

Does Sesame accept insurance?

Sesame does not accept insurance in order to keep prices low and transparent, according to Costco's website.

So the cost of the program will not be covered by insurance.

How much do GLP-1 medications like Ozempic cost?

While weight-loss medications can be prescribed during an online weight-loss program visit, GLP-1 medications such as Rybelsus, Wegovy, Ozempic and Saxenda can be expensive, typically ranging between $950 to $1,600 a month.

If you are insured, your provider can assist with insurance pre-authorization paperwork to cover the cost of your medication, Costco and Sesame said.

Are you a good candidate for Sesame’s weight-loss program?

"Sesame’s weight-loss package is a good fit for individuals looking to manage their weight, especially those who have not achieved their desired results through diet and exercise alone.

" Ideal candidates often include those with a BMI of 30 or highe r, or 27 or higher with weight-related health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol," Costco's website said.

Can you get a refund if you decide to cancel the weight-loss services?

You can get a full refund if you want to cancel the program three hours before your visit start time.

A 50% refund is available under specific circumstances.

No refunds are available for disagreeing with the treatment plan.

Costco and Sesame noted the refund policy is subject to change and encourages patients to review it regularly.

More Costco, Sesame medical services available

In September 2023, Costco began offering $29 visits with a primary care physician through its partnership with Sesame.

Sesame listed the following benefits for Costco members:

• Virtual primary care for $29.
• Health checkups with a standard lab panel and virtual follow-up consultation with a provider, for $72.
• Virtual mental health therapy for $79.
• A discount of 10% for other Sesame services, including in-person appointments.

Contributor: Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria , USA TODAY Network

Costco offering members access to weight-loss programs including medication

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Costco Just Started Offering Ozempic & Other Weight Loss Services—Here's What to Know

Costco members can now subscribe to a weight loss program with clinical support and possible prescription medication options.

Kris Osborne is a writer, recipe developer, digital storyteller and professional home economist (PHEc) who has written about food, lifestyle, beauty, shopping, parenting, and health and wellness for over a decade.

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Costco fans have grown to love the warehouse giant for its quality products and discounted prices . Following suit with many other large corporations, Costco is also expanding its services in specialized healthcare. Recently, the retailer announced a new partnership with the online healthcare marketplace Sesame that will allow members to access weight loss management services, including possible prescription medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

What Does Costco's Plan Include?

Through the program, Costco members can subscribe to Sesame's weight loss management plan for a discounted rate of $179 for three months (or $60 per month). The subscription includes a live video consultation with a physician, counseling on diet and exercise, a medical background exam to create an individualized treatment plan and ongoing messaging support. Following this evaluation, the physician may prescribe weight loss medications if deemed appropriate.

While the subscription fee doesn’t cover the cost of any prescribed medications, Ozempic and Wegovy are among the drugs available through the program. Both drugs belong to a class of medications called GLP-1 agonists which work by increasing insulin sensitivity (or how well your cells respond to insulin), reducing appetite and slowing the passage of food through the stomach (helping you feel satisfied for longer after a meal), which can lead to weight loss over time. That said, it’s worth noting that Ozempic is only approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for treating type 2 diabetes, though it has shown to help with weight loss.

Another important consideration is that even if healthcare providers prescribe these medications, patients might face challenges when trying to fill their prescriptions. Pharmacies nationwide have reported shortages of these drugs amidst increased consumer demand. ​​Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy and Ozempic, stated earlier this year that it's trying to increase supply. But, semaglutide—the primary ingredient in both prescriptions—is still identified on a list of drug shortages by the FDA.

Though it might sound appealing to have a "magic pill" prescription, weight loss medications aren't suitable for everyone. Plus, they may have significant side effects and safety concerns , ranging from nausea and gastrointestinal changes to nutrient deficiencies, heart problems and cancer. While they may offer weight loss support in the right circumstances, they're not a one-to-one replacement for healthy habits . Luckily, realistic and science-backed goal-setting , regular movement and balanced nutrition will always be reliable options for better health.

The Bottom Line

Costco’s new weight management program provides an option for members seeking weight loss support, but it's important to approach it with caution. As with any medical treatment, it’s essential to understand all of the considerations associated with these medications before diving in. And it should go without saying, but being transparent with your medical history, practicing open communication and adhering to clinician protocol are necessary for your overall success and well-being. Always talk to your doctor and healthcare team before trying something new. 

Sesame Care. Costco Weight Loss Program.

Food and Drug Administration. Drug Shortages.

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Costco gold bars are a hit with millennials? Not so fast

For those of you who don’t work in the media business, I’ll let you in on a little secret: Editors love trend pieces. These are stories that call attention to a new fad in clothes or dating or whatever. They are easy to write—just find an example or two of someone doing something mildly surprising, and frame it as part of a larger trend in culture or society. And if your evidence is a little thin, well it doesn’t really matter: Readers will gobble up the story all the same. Here’s a case in point from the Wall Street Journal , which has a trend piece about the popularity of Costco’s one-ounce gold bars among younger consumers:

“Craig Beauregard and Julia Edwards were at Costco shopping for groceries in December when they spotted a deal that was too good to pass up: a one-ounce bar of gold. Beauregard, 33 years old, checked his phone and saw the bar’s retail price of $2,069 was $3 below its on-the-spot price in financial markets. They threw it in their shopping cart next to a seven-pound bag of frozen chicken and a carton of Kirkland eggs. Americans can’t get enough gold.”

It’s a great story—millennials are so worried about the future they’re throwing gold into their shopping carts with the eggs!—but, as they say, the plural of anecdote is not data. To be fair, the Journal does make a half-hearted effort to show that Craig and Julia are not just prone to impulse buying, but part of an honest-to-goodness trend. The paper not only quotes two other thirtysomething buyers of Costco gold bars (three examples and you have a trend!) but cites a State Street study that finds the “average millennial allocates 17% of their investments to gold…while Gen X and baby boomers invest 10% of their portfolio in the metal.”

Hmm. I’m not a millennial, but I know plenty of them and I would be very surprised if they are putting 17% of their wealth into gold. I poked into that study to find the methodology , and here’s where that number comes from: an online poll conducted by a gold ETF of 1,000 people who had $250,000 in investments of which 25% were millennials. In other words, that 17% figure is based on 250 affluent people who opted to take a gold company’s survey.

That’s the sort of thing that gets you an F on a statistics paper but, fortunately, this is a trend piece so it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is the Journal story is fun fodder for debate about whether you should buy gold in these uncertain times. And, since this is nominally a column about crypto, whether you should buy Bitcoin instead.

I can see the appeal of gold—it looks cool and has been a store of value across nearly every culture for thousands of years. And if all the banks collapse, well you can always dig up the Costco gold bars you buried in the backyard and try to barter your way through the surrounding anarchy. But there are drawbacks: It’s hard to spend, hard to sell, and, if you live in a state like mine, you’re down over 7% right away because of sales tax. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is easy to divide and more liquid—but it’s been a store of value for barely 15 years and its network has yet to be tested in true Mad Max conditions.

There’s also the question of volatility. Bitcoin fell nearly 80% in its last swoon while, in recent times, the most gold has fallen is around 30%. But more recent, ahem, trends show gold is up around 12% while Bitcoin is up 58% and that no one who has bought and held Bitcoin for three years has suffered a loss. None of this is investment advice, so you’ll have to decide for yourself. For my part, I’m looking forward to the day Costco sells Bitcoin so I can write a trend piece of my own.

Jeff John Roberts [email protected] @jeffjohnroberts

DECENTRALIZED NEWS

A jury sided with the SEC and found Do Kwon and his company liable for civil fraud related to the stablecoin Terra, which collapsed after its peg to the U.S. dollar proved illusory. ( Bloomberg )

Galaxy is raising $100 million of outside money for a new venture fund that will invest in early-stage crypto startups. ( CoinDesk )

The FTX estate sold two-thirds of its $2.6 billion Solana hoard at a massive discount to Galaxy and Pantera , angering small creditors. ( Fortune )

Pantera Capital 's $300 million Liquid Token Fund finished the first quarter with a 66% return. ( Bloomberg )

The crypto industry is responding to recent court losses in New York by suing the SEC in Texas as part of a strategy to force a circuit split to tee up a case for SCOTUS. ( Bloomberg Law )

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