This New Gift Card at Costco Is the Best Deal I've Seen in a Long Time

Buying gift cards at Costco is one of the best little-known perks of being a member. Often, Costco will add 10% to 30% of value when you buy its gift cards in a bundle. That means, for a gift card with a $100 value, you would only pay $70 to $90. That's not a bad deal, especially if Costco sells a gift card to a retailer you like. The money you save could pad your savings account balance.

In the past, Costco's best deals have often been restaurants, spas, and airfare. But recently, Costco added one of the most exciting gift cards I've seen in awhile. If you like to travel, or you'll be staying in a short-term rental for the holidays, you'll be excited to know that Costco is now selling an Airbnb gift card. If wanderlust gets your heart pumping, here are the details.

The gift card that can pay for your experiences

The Airbnb E-Gift card at Costco has a $500 value and is priced at $449.99. That's a 10% savings -- all for buying this online at costco.com.

The card will be delivered to your email, after which you can use it on multiple bookings (in other words, you don't have to use it all at once). The gift card doesn't expire, so you could hold on to it indefinitely. The only limitation is that you can't buy more than one per membership.

What could $500 buy you on Airbnb? How about five nights in this Hobbit hole in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Or five nights in this gorgeous Mexican bungalow that comes with a dive pool. Or 18 nights in these dome houses in Sacred Valley, Peru. In all of these options, the extra $50 is more than enough to cover Airbnb's service fee, eliminating a pesky charge that catches many starry-eyed travelers off guard at checkout.

If you're planning a trip to Central America, you could combine this deal with a Southwest Airlines gift card from Costco. These gift cards are also worth $500 but sell for $449.99, offering a 10% discount. Better yet, you can buy up to five gift cards per membership, which could add up to $250 in savings.

Pro tip: If you're planning to travel on Southwest in the future, keep an eye out for Costco's frequent deals on Southwest eGift cards. Often, the warehouse will sell you a $500 gift card not for $449.99, but for $429.99. That gives you a savings of 14% off your airfare.

Always check Costco's gift card racks

You never know what deals you'll find in-store on Costco's gift card racks. At my local Costco, I find these racks at the front of the store, and they're often stocked with cards for local businesses and restaurants. In my experience, the in-store gift cards offer the highest savings, many going as high as 30%. For example, in the Pacific Northwest, we have a paint store called Miller. At my Costco, I've seen $100 gift cards for Miller Paint selling for $69.99.

All in all, if you're traveling for the holidays, this Airbnb gift card is a great deal for your budget and personal finances. It's just one of several reasons why a Costco membership could really pay off for your holiday spending.