7 things you should know about booking travel through Costco - The Daily Herald
7 things you should know about booking travel through Costco - The Daily Herald |
- 7 things you should know about booking travel through Costco - The Daily Herald
- WestJet announces 90 new and expanded travel opportunities from Calgary this summer - Yahoo Finance
- Chaa Creek's New Year's Resolution for 2020 - Making Belize Vacations More Interesting, Attractive and Affordable - Yahoo Finance
- 6 Little-Known Ways Costco Can Save You Money on Vacations - Yahoo Lifestyle
| 7 things you should know about booking travel through Costco - The Daily Herald Posted: 02 Feb 2020 01:30 AM PST By Natalie B. Compton / The Washington Post Costco, America's beloved wholesale behemoth best known for its bulk goods and Kirkland Signature private label, has long been one of the country's favorite one-stop shops. Here, you can get high-end perfume and camping gear. Although most people know that Costco has great deals on household paper goods, they may not realize that Costco has been in the travel business since 2000. Costco Travel offers users discounted rental cars, cruises and guided group trips, as well as domestic and international vacations. Because Costco Travel is a division under the regular Costco umbrella, its members can expect the same benefits shopping for a vacation as they would shopping for chicken. Here's how it works: Costco Travel is made up of buying teams, just like the dealmaking foot soldiers who work for regular Costco. These buyers work with travel vendors to negotiate lower prices on a limited number of goods (i.e., hotel rooms or cruise fares), then offer those discounted rates and packages to the many millions of Costco members. Buyers don't work on commission or incentives; their job is simply to secure the best value. Perhaps the nicest part of booking with Costco Travel is that it's straightforward. The prices advertised on the website already include taxes, so you don't end up with a completely different estimate at the end of the process, unlike other online travel agencies (like Booking.com or Hotels.com). Intrigued? Before you book a trip with Costco Travel, here are a few things to keep in mind. 1. There's something for everyone There isn't one kind of Costco Travel vacation. The most popular itineraries usually involve Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and cruising, but there's much more out there to book. Costco Travel has trips for adventure-seekers, for young people ages 18 to 35 who want to travel with fellow young people, or people who want to drink a bunch of wine in a new place. The prices vary, too. Travelers can hunt for packages around $300 in the Under $499 category or splurge on one of the "Costco Vacations of a Lifetime." You don't have to book a big blockbuster vacation to reap the Costco Travel benefits, either. You can use the service to book an individual hotel room, or a hotel and flight. And according to insiders, one of the best-kept secrets is its rental-car business. 2. Look for Buyer's Choice vacations or cruises, or Kirkland Signature vacations Costco Travel insiders say that where the real savings lurk are in Kirkland Signature vacations, Buyer's Choice vacations and Hot Buys, or limited-time deals that are advertised online and in Costco email newsletters. These trips will offer added value and amenities beyond what regular Costco Travel experiences already deliver. 3. Take advantage of flexible payment options Costco members have options when it comes to how to pay, like setting up recurring payments to cover the whole cost. You'll probably have to pay a deposit on packages or pay for your airfare upfront, and some payment requirements may depend on the time of year. If you're able to pay early, you may be eligible for bigger savings. 4. Do your research on airfare before you book Shalen Fairbanks, a Costco member who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, first started using Costco Travel six years ago. She has booked five trips for her family to Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Her advice to potential Costco Travel users would be to shop around for flights before booking a trip, because she has occasionally found better airfare deals than what Costco offered. "You pick where you want to go, (Costco Travel) gives you a bunch of different options of hotels and packages, and then I do look at airfare separately," Fairbanks said. "Sometimes it's cheaper to go buy your own flight and then book the rest of the package" through Costco Travel. If you do go with Costco Travel's airfare option, which often comes with airport transfers, make sure you book any upgrades ahead of time. Charleston, South Carolina, resident Michael Fanning booked an African safari through Costco Travel when he noticed that it cost drastically less than what he had seen elsewhere. "The trip was fantastic," Fanning said. "I mean, it really was extraordinary." But one thing he would've done differently: "The one part that was not as fun was the 14-hour plane ride on African Airways from JFK to Johannesburg," Fanning said. "That's a tough trip. We would have preferred to have upgraded our seats, but we weren't allowed to do that through the package." 5. Get cash back on your vacation purchase Depending on your membership level, you may be able to get even better deals on a vacation when you book with Costco Travel. Executive Members (whose annual fee is $120) earn 2% cash back on their Costco Travel purchases. Members who book their travel with a Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi credit card (a card with no foreign transaction fees, by the way) earn 3% cash back. 6. Costco Travel trips come with perks Executive members are treated to benefits like food and beverage credits, spa credits, room upgrades and more for the primary cardholder booking the trip. The extras that get thrown into vacation packages are one of Fairbanks's favorite parts of using Costco Travel. "They'll give you a $250 Costco Rebate Card," she said. "The (trips) we've been on have a $100 or $200 spa credit per room. The one to Jamaica, we had a spa credit per room, plus we got $200 to use toward the local activity" company. That Jamaica trip also included access to a VIP departure experience at the airport that got the Fairbankses through customs quicker. Accounting for the perks her family of five earned, Fairbanks estimates she saved the cost of one person's trip. Costco can't control everything While the planning and booking can be seamless, keep in mind that Costco Travel trips can have hiccups, like any travel experience. For example, the Fairbankses' airport transfer didn't show up for their scheduled pickup. "But that's a problem on the company that made this transfer," she said — not Costco's. "Their driver didn't show up that day." In the event that anything goes awry, pick up the phone and contact a Costco Travel representative to assist with any issues. |
| WestJet announces 90 new and expanded travel opportunities from Calgary this summer - Yahoo Finance Posted: 07 Feb 2020 08:00 AM PST Calgary's hometown airline continues to invest in convenient and unique travel options CALGARY , Feb. 7, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, WestJet announced its summer schedule featuring more than 90 new flights from Calgary including new non-stop WestJet Link service to Dawson Creek, B.C.  "WestJet is focused on investing in Alberta to build and strengthen our Calgary hub," said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "As WestJet continues on its strategic path of becoming a global network airline, we are pleased to offer our guests the ability to conveniently connect for business or pleasure across Canada , Europe and beyond this summer." With today's announcement of the new service between Calgary and Dawson Creek, B.C. , WestJet Link will operate five routes including between Calgary and Cranbrook , Lethbridge , Lloydminster and Medicine Hat and one between Cranbrook and Vancouver this summer. WestJet Link operations between Calgary and Prince George, B.C. , will shift to year-round service on WestJet Encore's 78-seat Q400 aircraft effective April 26 . In addition, beginning May 14, 2020 WestJet will begin new service between Calgary and Boston . WestJet is offering guests convenient flight times between its extensive hub out of Calgary and the capital of Massachusetts. WestJet also recently announced new four-times weekly service between Calgary and Charlottetown starting June 25, 2020 . The schedule also highlights frequency increases from Calgary to popular destinations including Portland, Ore. , Victoria , Nanaimo , Comox , Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray , Brandon , Winnipeg , Abbotsford and Yellowknife . "WestJet continues to invest in YYC Calgary International Airport as its home base and expansion focus. It is Calgary's largest carrier and we are committed to facilitating their growth. These additional flights will serve more guests bound for more destinations, delivering recreational and business opportunities for our region," said Bob Sartor , President and CEO, The Calgary Airport Authority. Highlights of WestJet's 2020 summer schedule include:
Transborder:
International:
The airline has added more than 300 Dreamliner departures out of Calgary in 2020, an increase of more than 52 per cent over 2019, to key transatlantic Dreamliner routes. The flights are uniquely and conveniently timed in the interest of Albertans and western Canadians with late-day departures and daytime arrivals to suit guests travelling to Europe. Dawson Creek is WestJet's 72nd destination out of Calgary , WestJet's home and largest hub. By June 2020 , the airline will operate more than 1000 flights per week in peak season out of Calgary International Airport. More Calgarians choose WestJet for their air travel than any other airline. About WestJet WestJet is proud to be recognized for three consecutive years as Best Airline in Canada (2017-19) and awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (2019). From 2017-2018, WestJet was also awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines in North America . The airline was also recognized among the Economy Class winners in North America , 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com. Recent recognition includes: Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2020/07/c1182.html |
| Posted: 14 Jan 2020 12:00 AM PST  The Lodge at Chaa Creek just announced a new selection of all-inclusive Belize vacation packages, onsite attractions and activities, including nationwide tours and expeditions that make Belize vacations more attractive - and affordable - than ever. SAN IGNACIO, Belize, Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As if there weren't enough reasons to visit Belize this year, The Lodge at Chaa Creek has just announced some interesting additions to its range of attractions, tours and activities. Bryony Fleming Bradley, the popular Belizean eco-resort's managing director, said management and staff had worked together last year to develop new ideas for 2020. "We felt a new decade deserved some fresh offerings, so we reviewed our guest comments, asked management and staff for their input, and came up with what we think are some exciting new vacation options," she explained. Ms Bradley said the one of the most significant new offerings for 2020 is The Belize Rainforest Retreat. "We designed the Belize Rainforest Retreat to accommodate groups and provide a tranquil venue for meetings, workshops, team building exercises, family get-togethers and other events. "It offers seclusion, but since it's only a short walk from The Lodge at Chaa Creek, guests can have an authentic jungle experience while still being close to all the amenities and casual luxury of the resort. "It's our latest example of providing 'wildly civilised' experiences", Ms Bradley said. Chaa Creek is also responding to a growing interest in Belize cuisine with the "Open Hearth" project, an onsite activity that combines learning about the country's individual cultures with hands-on cooking classes conducted in a traditional Belizean thatched-roof village kitchen. Since it was introduced last year, the Open Hearth has become increasingly popular with visitors, Ms Bradley said. With "Mestizo Mondays", "East Indian Tuesdays", Creole Wednesdays", "Garifuna Thursdays" and "Maya Fridays", visitors receive a brief introduction to Belize's cultures before learning to cook some of their most iconic dishes in a fun and supportive atmosphere, she explained. "The Open Hearth's combination of culture and cuisine grew out of Belize's multiculturalism and my own love of Belizean cooking, and it's been so satisfying to see how many people are also interested in that combination," Ms Bradley said. Combined with Chaa Creek's cultural tours, village visits and expeditions to ancient Maya temple and city sites, guests can come away with a rich cultural experience as well as some unique, interesting recipes, she added. And the new Belize Rainforest Retreat makes it easy for groups with specific interests to enjoy these and other "learning adventures," she said. "The Belize Rainforest Retreat provides simple, comfortable accommodation in ten Eco Pods, each one with private verandas looking out on beautiful jungle views. "A central, thatched-roof palapa serves as a dining and common area, and with complete access to all of The Lodge at Chaa Creek's amenities and the miles of secure trails running through our 400-acre private nature reserve, groups enjoy both seclusion and convenience. "The Belize Rainforest Retreat will suit a wide variety of groups and organisations looking for a unique, cost-effective venue for meetings, workshops, seminars and other events, or people just wanting to get together in a stunning natural setting," Ms Bradley said. Also on offer for 2020 is a range of all-inclusive Belize vacation packages, tours and expeditions, including vacations that combine a rainforest adventure with a Caribbean island or beach holiday, she added. "Chaa Creek's 'Belize Expeditions' touring company, our infrastructure, nationwide network of travel colleagues and 40 years of experience allow us to offer experiences no one else can, and at prices no one else can match," she said. Ms Bradley encouraged families, couples, groups and individuals to visit Chaa Creek's website and Belize Travel Blog, and then speak to their travel agents or contact Chaa Creek directly. "Our Belize travel experts are always available to help plan memorable vacations and visits. And since we always have something in the works, it's a good idea to check our website now and then, or join our mailing list for updates and specials. "We're all really looking forward to a very exciting 2020, and hope our many friends and colleagues around the world are too," Ms Bradley said. The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi-award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize. It was recognised by National Geographic with first place honours at the 2017 World Legacy Awards held in Berlin.
SOURCE The Lodge at Chaa Creek |
| 6 Little-Known Ways Costco Can Save You Money on Vacations - Yahoo Lifestyle Posted: 05 Feb 2020 12:45 PM PST As a destination for saving money, Costco has a fan base around the country. Though many loyal fans know about the perks of buying in bulk and receiving discounts on prescriptions or gas, Costco is also a hidden-secret in the travel industry. Through their members-only hub, you can book deals on vacation packages, rental cars, cruises, amusement parks and more. This makes chasing after wanderlust that much more affordable, especially if you're already a Costco-card-carrying shopper already. Here, are tips you need to know about this savvy way to set sail, take flight, and soak up the sun.  Gary John Norman/Getty Images When you book a cruise, you'll get additional perks.When you land on Costco Travel's hub, you'll see various ways to explore the globe. One of the most popular offerings is cruises, according to travel expert Lisa Niver. When people book through Costco for their getaway-at-sea, Niver says they are often amazed at how many benefits are included, without an additional fee. She gives the example of a current Royal Caribbean 6-Night Oasis of the Sea cruise, which not only includes the stateroom but dinner for up to four at a steakhouse and Johnny Rockets, one spa experience per person and an onboard soda package for two. Related: 9 Tips to Save Money at Costco There are dozens of other options, all depending on what you want the most from your travel: relaxation, family-friendly experiences, or even romance. Niver explains Costco is able to provide these additional perks thanks to partnerships with leaders in the hospitality industry. When you rent a car, you can have more drivers for free.No one wants to be the only driver on vacation, but no one wants to pay for additional drivers, either. While Costco currently only partners with four car rental companies, they are the largest: Alamo, Enterprise, Avis and Budget. Booking through the Costco Travel can often be cheaper than booking directly through a rental company, and could come with added value. Niver explains the biggest perk is the second driver waiver fee. Rather than paying a price per day to have two (or more) drivers, Costco pays the cost so their customers can have it for free. Best of all? Your road-trip buddy doesn't need to be a Costco member to come along for the journey! When you book your hotel, you save cash and receive surprises.In the spirit of transparency, Costco doesn't offer as many hotel partners, as say, Priceline. However, depending on seasonality and location, Niver says you can rely on Costco to come with no hidden fees, additional taxes, resort upcharges or other surprising costs. Currently, Costco partners with all hotels under the Fairmont, Hyatt, Raffles and Swissotel brands, offering both stand-alone hotel booking or vacation planning. For business travelers or frequent fliers who are loyal to specific hotel chains, Niver says you can limit your search to only Fairmont or Hyatt, based on your preference. You can also opt-in to additional perks, like free breakfast and parking. When you go to Disney, you can save by selecting a package.Disney fans pack your bags! Costco has lots of options to meet Mickey and all of his friends. In addition to tickets to Walt Disney World, they also work with the Disney Cruise line, the Hawaii-based AULANI Disney Resort and Spa, as well as Disney Adventures, featuring excursions throughout the world. Niver says for families who enjoy the fairytales, the excitement and wonder, booking via Costco not only results in cheaper multi-day tickets but cuts back on the cost of hotels, and other benefits. As an example, if you decide to opt-in for a Walt Disney World package, you often receive extended hours in the park, cash to spend on food and drink, and other budget-mindful perks. When you're booking any travel, you can opt into a payment plan.For most of us, vacations aren't usually a spontaneous thing. Booking a trip requires matching busy schedules, requesting time off, and of course, figuring out how much to spend. Another benefit of Costco Travel is the ability to make a deposit upfront and pay the rest later. While the deposit requirement varies depending on what you're booking, generally speaking, most options only require a final payment 45 days from departure. For packages and flights, you can book only putting down $100 per person plus applicable hotel and other deposits. Hotel fee depends on the brand, but most of the time is fully paid upon departure. The exception is cruises, which often require a full payment between 90 and 160 days before you hop on board. When you reach Executive Level, you'll get even more.As every Costco shopper knows, there are tiers of membership, with the lowest costing $60 annually. The Executive level is double that at $120, but comes with super-cool traveling benefits for jet setters. You can earn a 2% rebate reward on the first $1,000 in travel purchases. And once you've reached your destination, you may find surprises along the way, says Niver. As an example, this Boca Raton deal through the Executive hub includes a $50 resort credit per day to be used toward food and beverage. Half the vacation fun is the food, right?! Another option is applying for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi the offers 3% back on eligible travel expenses. This is open to anyone, as long as they are a Costco member. Costco travel deals aren't only good in the U.S. either, they offer many international travel discounts that may just be the inspiration you need to book that next long flight. |
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