One Reason You May Want a Costco Membership -- Even if There's No Store Nearby

As of mid-March 2024, Costco maintained 604 warehouse club locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Despite that, you might still happen to live someplace where there's no Costco location anywhere nearby.

If you don't live near a Costco store, you might assume that joining is a poor financial decision. But actually, there's one service Costco offers that you may be able to use even if you're not able to make it to the store on a regular basis.

When you're someone who enjoys travel

Travel has the potential to be a very expensive hobby. And if it's something you like to do often, you may be eager to find ways to save money in the course of doing it. That's where Costco comes in.

Costco's travel service gives members access to competitively priced vacation packages. You can also look to Costco to save money on things like theme park admissions, cruises, and rental cars.

Plus, many of Costco's travel packages are unique to Costco -- meaning, you won't be able to secure those deals even if you decide to use a travel agent. Costco, for example, often negotiates on-site perks for members who stay at its partner hotels or resorts.

So you might receive a $100 resort credit, for instance, that you can redeem for perks like drinks or spa treatments, if you book a Costco vacation package. Or, you may be eligible for a Costco Shop Card thanks to booking travel. That's a gift card you can redeem for Costco merchandise.

The savings you reap by booking travel through Costco may be enough to pay for your annual membership -- even an Executive one. A Costco Executive membership costs $120 a year, as opposed to $60 for a basic membership. But with that upgraded membership, you get 2% cash back on your Costco purchases.

Meanwhile, let's say you book a vacation package for Costco for $3,000 that would cost $3,500 elsewhere. In that case, you're not only saving $500. As an Executive member, you're also getting 2% of that $3,000, or $60, coming back your way. Book a second package of that price later in the year, and you've just racked up $120 in cash back to pay for your Executive membership in full.

Don't write off Costco just because there's no store nearby

The closer you live to a Costco location, the more often you might get to use your membership. But don't assume you'll be wasting money on a membership if there's no Costco nearby. The chain's travel service alone might offer enough financial benefit to justify a membership.

And remember, as a member, you can always place orders on Costco.com. The online prices are usually higher than those you'll find in stores. But you might still save a bundle compared to the cost of buying goods at a more traditional retailer.

Finally, there's always the option to drive a distance to Costco a few times a year for a major stock-up. It may not be something you can do every month, but you may be surprised at how you're able to work the occasional Costco trip into your schedule.