Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

Does your travel credit card qualify you for rate discounts, complimentary amenities, and booking flexibility at luxury hotels and resorts? For many travel cardholders, the answer is yes, but certain American Express cardholders are treated to even more. This bank is known for having prestigious credit cards and being particularly travel-friendly, and it continues to set itself apart with its elite travel program.

The American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program is an exclusive platform that allows members to book discounted travel and earn more rewards per stay than they would if they purchased travel elsewhere. Find out what this program is all about and who is eligible to join in this article.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

What is The Fine Hotels & Resorts Program by American Express

The Fine Hotels and Resorts program is a Platinum Travel Service available to elite cardmembers through American Express.

The platform includes more than 1,200 luxury properties with discounted room rates and complimentary amenities available exclusively to Fine Hotels and Resorts guests. The benefits of this program are estimated to be worth $550 in total for every member based on average rates for properties.

To become a part of this program, you have to have a premium American Express card. We’ll cover which travel cards qualify later on. And if you do have one of these cards, you’re automatically enrolled in the Fine Hotels and Resorts program and all you have to do is create a free account. This program does not cost anything to join and you’ll stay enrolled as long as your qualifying card remains in good standing.

You can book travel through the platform for yourself and members of your family as long as you are one of the guests traveling. 

Program Benefits

To start off, every booking made through the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program is backed by a Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee. This means that if you find the same room at the same property available at a lower rate through a different booking site, American Express will refund you the difference in price when you book through the Fine Hotels platform.

Please Note: You must submit the lower rate you found with another site here.

Besides rate discounts, the Fine Hotels and Resorts Program includes six different travel benefits that are available for most bookings.

These include:

• Noon check-in, when available
• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Daily complimentary breakfast for two people
• Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Experience credit

These benefits show up on your bookings when you go to check out. A property’s experience credit must be valued at a minimum of $100 but could be as high as $300. This could be for anything from spa treatments to dining experiences to private tours, but often, it’s a general food and beverage voucher. You will need to check with each hotel or resort about what their experience credit includes.

Some benefits such as early check-in and room upgrades are subject to availability and others such as late check-out and breakfast are guaranteed. 

This program also features special offers for select properties. These hotels and resorts may include complimentary nights or increased points-earning potential—it just depends on the property. 

The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort and Club in Dana Point, California, for example, is offering members the following:

• $150 resort credit per night
• 15,000 Hilton Honors bonus points per night
• Complimentary parking each night ($60 value each night)
• Waived resort fee ($55 value each night)
• Guaranteed 1 p.m. late checkout

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida, is including a complimentary $250 property credit on every member booking of four consecutive nights or more made and completed between now and the end of May 2022.

Terms and Conditions

Some hotels or resorts may not offer early check-in on certain room types or cannot guarantee the type of room you prefer. If you have any questions about what benefits will be available for a particular destination, you can call Platinum Travel services at +44 (0) 1273 576 454 for help with a booking.

Note that you can’t may not be able to combine these offers with other offers or promotions and you can’t redeem these benefits for cash. Some locations may have their own rules about how to redeem these benefits, so it’s always a good idea to check before staying.

Only one benefits package can be applied to a single booking and cardmembers are limited to booking only three rooms at a time with these perks. The cardmember who makes and pays for a booking must stay at the hotel or resort to be eligible to receive these exclusive benefits. Also, the stay must be paid for in full with the qualifying American Express credit card. Back-to-back stays within a 24-hour period are considered one stay.

You might not be eligible for the Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee if you are comparing American Express prices to promotional prices elsewhere, trying to use coupons or loyalty points to reduce the price of the comparable offer, or trying to access an offer not available to the general public.

Fine Hotels & Resorts VS The Hotel Collection

The Hotel Collection is a separate travel program offered by American Express that offers similar but different benefits and its own set of hotels to choose from. You may be eligible to become a member of both programs, though.

Earn Points booking with Fine Hotels & Resorts

Yes, you can absolutely earn Amex points when booking through Fine Hotels and Resorts. In fact, you might be eligible to earn up to 5x Membership Rewards points on 5-star hotel bookings, depending on your card. You can use points to pay for bookings as well.

Participating Hotels and Resorts

There are 68 luxury hotel brands featured in the Fine Hotels and Resorts platform. These include:

• Alila
• Autograph Collection Hotels
• Baglioni Hotels and Resorts
• Conrad Hotels and Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
• Gran Melia Hotels and Resorts
• Grand Hyatt
• Hilton Hotels and Resorts
• Hyatt Regency
• Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
• JW Marriott
• The Leading Hotels of the World
• The Luxury Collection
• MGM Resorts International
• Montage
• Omni Hotels and Resorts
• Park Hyatt
• Regent Hotels and Resorts
• Ritz-Carlton Reserve
• The Ritz-Carlton 
• Rosewood
• Six Senses
• Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts
• The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
• W Hotels Worldwide
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts

This is not a comprehensive list, but you should see some of your favorite luxury brands here. To see all hotel brands, go here.

When you click on a property, you will be taken to a page that describes unique features of that property. You’ll see a description of the hotel, Insider Tips, dining suggestions, relaxation suggestions, and leisure suggestions.

For example, the famous La Reserve Paris Hotel and Spa features a view of the Eiffel Tower and is home to the Michelin-starred Le Gabriel French restaurant. You will also find La Reserve Spa here, which includes three treatment rooms, hammam, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. Guests are encouraged to visit the nearby Passages of Paris or take a private river ride on the Seine River.

How Prices Compare

After doing some comparisons, we can say that American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts doesn’t actually have the best prices. You can often save a bit of money booking directly through a property or with another travel site. The Special Offers category, however, often has some of the best deals when you factor in the complimentary nights and credits.

The benefits you get booking with American Express, including an experience credit worth at least $100 and late check-out, often surpass price differences in value as well. Plus, you’ll earn Amex Membership Rewards points on your bookings. So really, Fine Hotels bookings aren’t always cheaper up front, but they could save you money. 

Let’s take a look at an example to give you an idea of what you’ll spend.

You’re booking a stay at the Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a five-star property. You choose a Garden View room at Founders Cove.

Through the Fine Hotels and Resorts platform, prices start at $442 a night. Booking direct with the Half Moon, prices start at $431 a night. Neither price includes tax or fees, but the Amex booking comes with complimentary benefits and the Half Moon booking comes with only standard amenities (e.g. no experience credit, standard check-in and check-out, etc.). 

Pros and Cons

There is a lot to love about this exclusive program, but there are also a lot of stipulations that come with it. Here are the top advantages and disadvantages.

✅ Pros

Obviously one of the top benefits is that you can save money. If you can manage to get a complimentary night with a Special Offer, you can instantly save hundreds. And on top of that, you’ll get an experience credit worth at least $100. It’s a good idea, though, to search for better credits if you can. The average total value of this program is estimated to be around $550, but some members save considerably more. 

Another advantage is the $200 Hotel Credit. If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express you can also earn a $200 annual statement credit when they prepay for Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings with their qualifying card or American Express points. A booking paid in full at the time of reservation is considered to be prepaid and may qualify you for this credit (you will be able to see for sure when checking out). There is no minimum required payment to qualify. You’ll receive this credit automatically and it renews each year, so make sure you spend it while you have it because it won’t roll over to the next year.

The platform is also just generally easy to use and navigate. It’s possible to find and book a hotel in just a few minutes (unless you like to shop around and compare your options), and you can always call the dedicated Platinum Travel services line for help.

🛑 Cons

One of the biggest disadvantages is that you can’t use hotel loyalty points to book travel through this platform. Say you’re a devoted member of World of Hyatt, for example, and you’ve managed to stash away enough points for a booking. If you want to get the benefits of the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, you must use your American Express card or your American Express points to book. You can’t use your hotel loyalty points and there’s a chance you won’t receive points on your stay either (every hotel is different—some let you earn loyalty points on Fine Hotels bookings and others do not).

This program is also fairly limited. With less than 1,200 locations, you’ll run into problems finding hotels from time to time and may need to choose a type of room you normally wouldn’t. On top of this, some benefits are not guaranteed, and you may not want to have to call every hotel or resort beforehand to see exactly which benefits you qualify for.

You can’t book travel for other people either unless you’re on the itinerary. 

Overall, we definitely recommend using this program if you have access to it. Amex Platinum cards aren’t cheap, so you can try to make some of your annual fees back this way. However, always do your research before booking a stay to make sure you’re getting the absolute best prices and perks available. Also, always filter results on the Fine Hotels platform for the best credits and discounts when you have the traveling flexibility to do so, and remember to browse the Special Offers section for promotions.

How to Find a Hotel

There are a few ways you can start your search when preparing to book a stay.

One option is to explore by location using the Hotel Finder tool, which shows you hotels that check all of your boxes. Using this tool, you can select a region—United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, or Asia Pacific—and then select for the following factors: Ambiance, Environment, Guest Experience, and Features and Activities. Here are the choices for each of those categories.

Ambiance

• Romantic
• Historic
• Artistic
• Environmental Certifications
• Boutique

Environment

• Metropolitan
• Tropical
• Beachfront
• Secluded
• Private Stays

Guest Experience

• All-inclusive
• Family-friendly
• Pet-friendly
• Business-friendly
• Adults-only

Features and Activities

• Spa On-Site
• Fitness Center On-Site
• Restaurant and/or Bar
• Ski Destination
• Safari Excursions
• Pool On-Site
• Casino On-Site
• Golf Course
• Culinary Classes
• Guided Adventures

You can select for as many of these interests as you want then click to see how many hotels match your search.

You can also search Platinum Card Member Favorites or browse within the Get Inspired category. The Get Inspired category includes articles and travel guides to help you plan the perfect getaway.

If you prefer to keep things simple, you can just use the hotel search tool on the Fine Hotels and Resorts platform. This asks for the name of a hotel or destination, the dates you’ll be traveling, and the number of travelers. You can search by hotel brand if you’re partial to one, but this will limit your location options.

Many people choose to filter their search by which properties offer the best, highest-value experience credits; which properties offer free nights for longer stays; or which properties are the most highly-rated.

How to Book a Hotel

Log in to your American Express account and navigate to the Travel section.

Then, choose a hotel.

Once you’ve decided on a property by following the guidance in the section above, enter your travel dates and number of travelers if you haven’t already.

Then click View Rates or scroll down to see your room options.

The featured room, the one shown at the top of the list, is often the least expensive option, with larger and more inclusive rooms shown at the bottom. Note the prices, shown in dollars and points, and view the cancellation policy before selecting “Book.” On the next page, you will see all of the benefits included with your chosen room and be able to make special requests. Pay in full when booking to qualify for the $200 Hotel Credit or opt to pay a portion of the price now and the rest when you check in.

You can pay using your American Express premium credit card or you can actually use Amex Membership Rewards to book as well. Every booking will show the price in both dollars and points, and members are often able to save money by using points to pay some or all of the price. Generally, 50,000 points are equal to roughly $500.

Amex Credit Cards That Qualify

An American Express premium card is your ticket to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program. There are four that qualify you for Fine Hotels:

1. the Amex Platinum card,
2. the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express,
3. the Amex Corporate Platinum card, and
4. the Amex Centurion Card.

Below is a breakdown of each (terms apply):

• Amex Platinum

American Express Platinum credit card offers a $300 Equinox Credit, good for any type of club membership or Equinox+ purchases; a $200 Airline Fee Credit for incidental fees you incur flying any airline; and access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Plus, earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book directly with an airline or through American Express Travel. The annual fee for this card is $695.

New members can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points and 10x points on dining when they use their card to spend $6,000 in the first 6 months of opening. Restaurant and small business purchases qualify for the 10x points.

See credit score requirements here.

• Amex Business Platinum

The American Express Business Platinum credit card offers a statement credit of up to $400 for purchases made from Dell Technologies (enrollment required), 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, 1.5x points on eligible purchases worth $5,000 or more, and $200 Airline Fee Credit. The annual fee for this card is $595.

New members can earn up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points when they use their card to spend $15,000 in the first 3 months of opening. Qualifying purchases include those made by the card holders or an employee for goods and services.

• Amex Corporate Platinum

The American Express Corporate Platinum credit card offers a variety of travel benefits including Uber Perks (2x points on rides and 3x points on Uber Eats orders), Trip Delay Insurance (reimbursement up to $500 for covered trips delayed more than 6 hours), up to $179 per year in CLEAR statement credits, complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status, a $200 Airline Fee Credit, and a $100 statement credit for Global Entry fees or $85 credit for TSA Pre-check fees. The annual fee for this card is $550.

• Amex Centurion Card

The American Express Centurion credit card, often referred to as the black card, can only be obtained by invitation (your chances are higher if you’re already an Amex member and you have a high net-worth). Complimentary Platinum Medallion status with the Delta Air Lines loyalty program, private lounge access, and hefty travel fee credits are just a few of the benefits offered to members. There is a $10,000 initiation fee for this card and a $5,000 annual fee.

📍 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card holders: This card does not provide eligibility for the Fine Hotels and Resorts program. 

Every Platinum card holder is offered the same travel benefits through the Fine Hotels and Resorts program.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

Final Thoughts

Considering that the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program is completely free to use (unless you count the annual fee of having a Platinum credit card) and full of opportunities for members to save on luxury travel bookings, we’d say it’s well worth using. This platform gives you access to premium hotels and resorts across the world with exclusive complimentary benefits and amenities, and lucky Platinum Amex cardholders that qualify to use it are saving hundreds every year.

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

Costco keeps managing to collect new members to the tune of a 6%+ increase every year for the past several years, so it only makes sense that new stores are popping up all over the country and even on other continents. And Costco’s deals aren’t confined to their 150,000-square-foot-or-more warehouses—any Costco member can tell you that. 

But while people seem to love Kirkland products and Costco’s infamous rotisserie chicken, Costco Travel doesn’t get as much recognition as you might think. That is, unless you know just how much time and money you can save on vacation packages, hotel stays, and more through Costco’s very own travel platform.

We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to Costco Travel to make planning your next trip a bit easier and help you get the best possible deals on travel next time you take to the road, skies, or seas.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

What Is Costco Travel

Costco Travel is Costco’s travel department promising deals on trips and the winning service long-time customers have come to expect from the Costco Wholesale Corporation. Costco Travel employs travel experts to help customers plan trips and features a suite of discounted travel products including flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.

To find out if Costco has the lowest prices on travel, we’ll compare costs with Expedia, a well-known online booking platform, throughout this article.

Who Is Eligible to Use Costco Travel?

As you might expect, you need to be a Cotsco member to be eligible to book travel services through this retailer. You also need to be a U.S. resident.

A Costco membership will cost you at least $60. There are three types of Costco memberships, and these are:

Gold Star Membership: 

• Membership fee of $60 annually
• Valid at all U.S. locations and online
• Includes one card for the primary cardholder and one Household Card (eligible to be used by family members)

Business Membership:

• Membership fee of $60 annually
• Valid at all U.S. locations
• Includes one card for the primary cardholder and one Household Card free
• Can add more cardholders for $60 each
• Can be used for resale 

Gold Star Executive Membership:

• Membership fee of $120 annually
• 2% annual reward on all Costco Wholesale and Costco Travel purchases, limit $1,000
• Exclusive discounts
• Costco Connection magazine subscription

Please note that all Costco membership levels have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Many Costco Travel packages and bookings are extra-discounted for Executive members and may come with complimentary perks and benefits on top of this. Plus, elite members earn 2% annually on all Costco purchases including travel (with exceptions for fees and service charges), so it may be worth it to splurge on that higher membership level if you do a lot of traveling. 

Costco does not, unfortunately, price match its travel products.

How to Open a Costco Travel Account

You do not automatically have a Costco Travel account when you are a Costco member, so you need to sign up. And while not you’re not required to have a Travel account when booking travel and can check out as a guest, you can make things a lot easier on yourself in the future by opening an account and saving your information and preferences.

To create a Travel account, you need to go to the Costco Travel website and first enter your membership ID number. You can find this 12-digit number on the back side of your membership card or on your Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, if you have one.

Then, you will need to provide the email address linked to your Costco account and create a unique password just for Costco Travel purposes. To finish, just select “Create Account.” You will receive an email to confirm your registration. There is no additional fee for a Costco Travel account and your account will stay active as long as your Costco membership remains open and in good standing.

Can You Book Travel for Someone Else?

Yes, Costco Travel lets members use their accounts to book some travel, such as vacation packages and rental cars, for non-Costco members. This is allowed even if you will not be traveling with them. And, such trips are still eligible to receive the annual reward of 2%.

You just need to provide a name and date of birth for everyone in the party and you will be responsible for any fees your travelers may incur by failing to provide the necessary travel documents. Otherwise, there are no additional costs when you book for someone else.

Vacation Packages

Vacation Packages are Costco Travel’s bread and butter. With an impressive range of package types and locations, there’s something for everyone. You need to be 25 years old or older to book most packages.

Costco vacation packages include everything from air travel to hotel or resort bookings. Each package comes with unique perks, like complimentary massages, and exclusive discounts and coupons such as food and beverage credits, Costco Shop Cards, and recreation credits.

Vacation packages are priced per person and default to double occupancy. However, many are family-friendly, and some even let kids stay at discounted rates or for free.

With all vacation packages, the prices you see are based on a preselected room type. You can change this or even add additional destinations and excursions not included in the base vacation, but you will almost definitely end up paying more.

Where Will You Go?

Want to travel but don’t know where to go? There are several ways to go about narrowing down your choices.

To book a vacation package, you can start by choosing your destination. Curated packages are available in the following locations:

• California (including Disneyland)
• Las Vegas
• Arizona
• New York 
• Florida (including Universal Studios and Walt Disney World)
• Mexico
• Canada
• Costa Rica
• Caribbean
• Cook Islands
• Fiji 
• Tahiti
• Europe and
• Africa

Alternatively, you can search packages by vacation type. For example, you can filter for only getaways that are family-friendly, search the limited-time deals section, or see what’s most popular. 

The “What’s New at Costco Travel” section will show you the most recently added vacation packages. These vacations won’t have as many member reviews yet, but there’s a chance they won’t sell out as quickly and you save a bit of money.

Popular Destinations

All-Inclusive Resorts, Adult Escapes, Hidden Gems, and Romantic Getaways are favorites among travelers. 

All-Inclusive Resorts

All-inclusive resorts promise comfort and convenience in exotic destinations. Many of these vacation packages come with Costco Shop Cards and added perks such as free nights for kids and tour credits.

Some also come with benefits just for Executive members. For example, a stay at Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, a 5-star hotel in the Dominican Republic, includes a $100 spa credit for Executive cardholders (per room). 

We’ll also tell you more about all-inclusive cruise packages, with durations from seven to 16 nights, later on in this article.

Each all-inclusive vacation package has a minimum number of nights you must stay and may specify a date range you must travel within.

Some of these packages are family-friendly and others are exclusively for adults. If you’re looking for an adult-only experience, you probably want to browse the Adult Escapes category. 

Adult Escapes

Vacations in the Adult Escapes category are exclusively for people over the age of 18. Available resorts include but are not limited to the Hotel wailea, Relais & Chateaux resort in Maui, the Hammock Cove Resort & Spa in Antigua and Barbuda, and the Grand at Moon Palace resort in Cancun.

Possible perks such as $100 tour credits, $50 resort credit per day, Costco Shop Cards, and complimentary breakfasts may come free with your booking. Some but not all Adult Escapes are all-inclusive.

Hidden Gems

Hidden Gems vacation packages are for travelers who want to have remarkable experiences in places near and far. 

From New York City to the Caribbean, these packages tend to be a bit more luxurious than others but still come with benefits like massage and tour credits, Costco Shop Cards, and complimentary meals.

Romantic Getaways

Finally, there’s the Romantic Getaways category. These packages feature experiences curated specifically for two adults in tropical locations such as Costa Rica, Jamaica, Maui, and Aruba. 

If you’d rather stay stateside, check out the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Phoenix package or the W Fort Lauderdale luxury hotel package in Fort Lauderdale.

How to Book a Vacation Package

Once you’ve decided where you’re going, you’ll select your package and read through all of the package details to make sure you’re happy with your choice. You’ll see what’s included in the reservation and any additional Costco member benefits that may apply. 

Then, scroll down to the “Available Dates and Prices” section. If the “Valid for Travel Through ___” date works for you and the minimum number of nights you must stay is good, you can click “Continue.” 

Word of Caution

Pay close attention to the “Valid for Travel Through ___” date . If you need to make a change to your reservation later on, Costco does not guarantee that you will get your money back and you will need to adhere to rules set by the hotel or resort you’re booking with. This goes for flights too.

Flight

Next the system will take you to the Flights section. If you don’t want a flight included in your package, uncheck the top box that says “Include Flights with your package.” If you do want a flight, enter your departure city and choose your service class, if you have a preference (otherwise, the site will show you all available flights). All flights are round-trip for vacation packages. Finally, select your dates and the number of adults and children in your party and hit “Search.”

Costco will automatically select a flight for you by choosing the option with the least amount of stops and layovers and the shortest duration. You can see this flight at the top. If you want this one, just select “Continue to Hotel” in the top right corner of the screen and you will get this flight. Please note that this is not necessarily the most affordable option.

But if you don’t like the one chosen for you, just scroll down to see your choices. The section that reads “Additional Flights Available” includes a number of filters you can use to customize your flight. You can select a narrower departure and/or arrival time window, specify which airlines you want to use, and choose how many stops you are willing to make.

Flights other than the one pre-selected for you may cost more, less, or the same as the one Costco recommends. You can find the price difference by looking for “+$” or “-$” next to the Select button. If you see a negative number, it means that flight is cheaper than the one in your bag. If you see a positive number, it means that flight is going to cost you more. Some will say “No Change in Price.” 

Under each available flight, you can select the link “Preview Seat Availability, View Details and Baggage Fees” for a complete description of flight times and layovers. Airline taxes are included in the prices for all flights.

Costco Travel lets you buy flight tickets from American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and many other major carriers. If an airline you like is not available or doesn’t have your desired flight class, try choosing a different airport for your departure. After booking a flight, you may have the option to reserve seats, but not all airlines allow you to make pre-reserved seating arrangements.

Hotel or Resort

Once you’ve picked a flight, select “Continue to Hotel” in the top right corner of the screen. The option that you see at the top is the room that is included in the booking at the price shown when you selected the package. In almost every instance, this is the best possible price. To see other options, select “Modify Room.” This will show a list of larger or more deluxe rooms with the added cost to the right.

The Costco Shop Card included in many vacation packages is calculated based on the price of your room. You will be able to see what the total amount of your card would be under “Included Extras” for each room. Please note that any room other than the one included in the original vacation package may have different cancellation and refund policies.

Transportation

Finally, select “Continue to Transportation.” This section shows you how you will be getting to your hotel from the airport. Most of the time, the pre-selected choice is in a Shared Vehicle, which is the most affordable option and will not increase the price of your trip. But if you prefer a private vehicle, you can scroll down to “Additional Transportation Options.” If a private vehicle is available, it will show up here.

All that’s left to do is select “Continue to Recap.” Take your time reviewing your entire reservation, from the Flight to the Required Documents you’ll need to take with you (note: COVID-19 restrictions require all international travelers to test negative for coronavirus and bring their test results when arriving at their airport).

Costco also arranges for free ground transportation such as shuttles and taxi cabs from your flight to your hotel and back on packages.

Can You Use Airline Points?

Unfortunately, you can’t use your airline points when booking through Costco. The booking process doesn’t allow it.

How to Build Your Own Vacation Packages

If the premade vacation packages just aren’t doing it for you, you can always create your own. All you have to do is choose what you want your bundle to include. The choices are:

• Hotel, flight, and car
• Hotel and flight
• Hotel and car

Then, enter your destination and departure locations and your date. There are more than 2,000 destination cities to choose from. Some major cities such as Chicago, Boston, and Seattle are eligible to be bundled for discounts.

If you’d rather start your search with the best Costco Travel has to offer, scroll down the web page to the featured sections. Featured Hotels and Featured Cities highlight unique, tourist-friendly destinations—like Key West, Florida, and Los Angeles, California—and award-winning hotels and resorts like the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa and Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach in California.

The Interests section lets you explore your options according to what you most want to do on your trip, whether that’s hiking national parks, lounging on the beach, or exploring historic sites. You can even sort by Hotel Brands, which would be a good move if you’re an elite hotel rewards member (who ever said no to more rewards?). You may be eligible to earn points on these stays, but you won’t be able to use your points when booking with Costco (see “Can You Use Hotel Reward Points?”).

The process of creating the perfect vacation package yourself is much the same as when booking a pre-made package in terms of choosing your flight, room, etc.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

Best Deals on Vacations

Does Costco have the best deals on vacation packages? We compared a few Costco trips with trips you can book through Expedia to find out.

Atelier Playa Mujeres is an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico. It is a popular and highly-rated vacation package on both Costco Travel and Expedia. This 5-star hotel is family- and even pet-friendly and has beach access as well as a massic pool. 

Here’s what you will pay for a basic economy flight ticket from JFK airport through American Airlines and four-night stay in a Junior Suite (two queen beds), non-ocean view room when you book with either travel site at the end of August.

Costco	Expedia
– $2827.55 (including some tax and resort fees)	– $3,431.78 (including tax and resort fees)
Includes: – Room service and housekeeping – Unlimited food, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and snacks – WiFi – Parking on the premises – Gym access – Bathrobes and slippers – 1 50-minute massage (limit one per room, per trip)	Includes: – Room service and housekeeping – Unlimited food, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and snacks – WiFi – Parking on the premises – Gym access – Bathrobes and slippers

These two packages are almost identical. As you can see, Costco Travel is the more economical option by not an insignificant amount. The Costco booking also comes with more complimentary upgrades and perks than the Expedia package. 

However, because Costco’s price is a limited-time deal based on a negotiated room rate, the cancellation policy is stringent. You must cancel no later than two weeks before you are scheduled to travel to get your money back. Otherwise, you’ll owe a 100% fee.

But are Costco vacation packages always less expensive? Let’s take a look by comparing a trip to New York City and a stay at the luxurious Towers at Lotte New York Palace hotel. If you were to stay for two nights, checking in on September 16 and checking out on September 18, in a room with two queen beds, this is what you can expect to pay.

Costco	Expedia
$1,318.73 (including tax)	$2,583.14 (including tax)
Includes: – WiFi – Shuttle – Transport in private vehicle from EWR airport to hotel – $25 food and beverage credit (limit one per room, per stay)	Includes: – WiFi – Shuttle

At the contracted rate Costco managed to negotiate for this particular room, you can save over $1,000 by booking through Costco rather than Expedia or the hotel itself. Plus, you’ll get a food and beverage credit and transportation from the airport if you need it. If you modify your room, you will not get this rate.

Say you’re going to be taking a trip in early October to the W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal, a sprawling top-rated resort. You’ll be taking a non-stop, round-trip flight through Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles (LAX) to Liberia (LIR) in economy class and you’ll stay at the hotel for seven nights in the Wonderful Escape Room with one king bed. For the same exact trip, flight, and room, here’s what you’ll pay.

Costco	Expedia
$3,311.05 (including tax and daily resort fee of $40)	$3,986.43 (including tax but not including daily resort fee)
Includes: – Free parking – Free – WiFi – $75 spa credit (limit one per room, per stay) – Unlimited access to driving range – Ground transportation to and from airport	Includes: – Free parking – Free WiFi

Again, the Costco vacation package is cheaper and comes with more perks. But at the end of the day, it makes the most sense to compare all of your options before booking a vacation. There will be times when Costco costs a lot less than Expedia and times when it costs more. 

Keep in mind that sometimes what you gain in savings you lose in flexibility when booking Costco vacation packages. Costco doesn’t book flights on budget carriers, doesn’t let you use rewards points to save money, and often has very limited times and availability on its best-priced vacation packages.

Limited-Time Deals

There is a Limited-Time Deals category where you can see all of the discounted vacation packages on one screen. Deals might come in the form of complimentary added perks or discounted rates. These trips have short booking windows, so you have to act fast. Here are a few examples of the discounts running now: 

• Four nights for the price of three at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa in Oahu
• Complimentary room upgrade at the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa in Cancun
• $200 instant savings on a tour through Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete (in free amenities and experiences and reduced booking rates)

H2. Save More With the Costco Credit Card

To save even more on Costco vacation packages, you can open a Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. This credit card offers:

• 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases for the first $7,000, followed by 1% thereafter
• 3% on dining and travel
• 2% on all Costco purchases
• 1% on all other non-Costco purchases

There is no annual fee for this card. You must be a Costco member of any tier to sign up.

Hotels

If you’re just looking for a place to stay and don’t need the whole package, head over to the Hotels section of the Costco Travel website. Costco Travel lets you book hotels by four different brands: IHG (including Holiday Inn, Regent, and more), Fairmont, Hyatt, and Swissotel. 

With thousands of locations including luxury resorts and more modest hotels, you won’t have any trouble finding a place to stay.

How to Book Hotel Stays

The first thing you’re going to want to do when booking a hotel through Costco Travel is enter your destination and dates into the search tool. A page will automatically populate with hotels that have rooms available when you will be traveling and in close proximity to your destination.

From the results page, you can enter minimum and maximum prices to see only hotels that fit your budget and sort results by distance to city center, price high to low, or price low to high. You can also filter results by distance from your destination, member reviews, hotel star rating, hotel brand, or area. 

Once you’ve chosen a hotel, the next screen will auto-select a room type for you at the price point shown when you chose the hotel. But if you want a different room, just select “Modify Room.” This will show you all of the available rooms for your stay and how much they cost in relation to the total price in the top right of your screen. Once you’ve chosen a room, select “Continue to Travelers.” 

But before moving on, make note of two things: how and when you will be required to pay for your room (i.e. advance purchase, non-refundable or reserve with credit card and pay later) and included extras such as food and beverage credits or complimentary breakfasts. Advance purchase rates are always lower but may not allow for cancellations or changes.

On the next page, you will enter the names of each person traveling in your party including the Lead Traveler whose name will appear on the booking (this must be a Costco member). Be sure to enter your hotel rewards ID number if applicable. 

Then, select “Continue to Special Requests.” If anyone in your party needs a specific room type such as accessible or non-smoking or you want to let the hotel know that you’re celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon, make those requests here by checking the corresponding boxes and entering comments. Costco Agents monitor requests for accessible rooms and contact members for additional details. 

Finally, you can select “Continue to Payment.” If your booking requires you to pay in advance, you will need to pay in full online before finalizing the booking. Otherwise, just enter your credit card information and personal details to reserve your room and bring the same card with you to pay for your room in person.

Does Costco Have the Best Hotel Prices?

You will need to log in to your Costco account to see prices and availability on hotels. If you have a Costco Travel account, use your login information to sign in. If you don’t have a Travel account, you can choose “Continue without an account” on the right and enter your Costco membership ID and last name. Again, let’s make a side-by-side comparison of Costco and Expedia’s prices.

This time, you’ll be staying at the Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort and Convention Center in sunny California. This booking is for an accessible room with one king bed where you will be staying for two nights.

Costco	Expedia
$396.21 (including taxes)	$449 (including taxes)
Includes: – Free WiFi – Daily buffet breakfast – $12 food and beverage credit to be used at the hotel’s bar or pantry (limit one per room, per stay)	Includes: – Free WiFi – Daily buffet breakfast

If you were to book this reservation through Costco, you’d be about $50 richer. However, one thing to note about the Costco booking is that it is non-refundable. This is an advance purchase rate that is not eligible to be modified or refunded in the event of cancelation. 

Adding Flights and Car Rentals to Your Hotel Booking

You can easily add other travel items onto your hotel booking if you’ve found your ideal hotel by following the above steps. Just go back to the search tool and this time choose the “Hotel + Flight,” “Hotel + Flight + Car,” or “Hotel + Car” option from the top. Then input your destination, dates, etc. to create a package. 

This is the same as creating your own vacation package except that you can center the whole trip around your hotel of choice instead of viewing all of your choices at once. Just enter the name of the hotel you want in the “Hotel Name” filter on the second page and add a flight or car rental to the booking.

Featured Hotels and Cities

If you’d prefer to leave your options open, you can look through Featured Hotels, Featured Cities, or National Parks sections. This is where this site starts to feel a little like a travel agency and can help you decide where to go. 

Costco also makes it easy to book stays in areas surrounding the following national parks: Yellowstone, Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Indiana Dunes, and Joshua Tree. Just choose a park to see nearby accommodations. 

Can You Use Hotel Reward Points?

Costco Travel does not allow users to use hotel rewards points when booking hotel reservations, but some hotels such as Hyatt do allow you to enter your loyalty number to earn points on your stays. You can also use your Costco credit card to make sure to get 2% cash back on your hotel bookings.

Cruises

Don’t skip cruises if you like sightseeing and packed itineraries. Costco cruise packages are available in every corner of the globe, with many family-friendly options and opportunities to save money.

Cruise Packages

Sail to destinations around the world including domestic waters, international waters, and even rivers. Choose from the following destinations:

• Asia
• Alaska
• Hawaii and the South Pacific
• Australia and New Zealand
• North America
• Mexico
• Panama Canal
• South America
• Caribbean
• Bahamas
• Bermuda
• Transatlantic
• Europe and Mediterranean
• Africa

And of course, you don’t have to choose just one location—these are cruises, after all. Choose “World Cruise” from the destination dropdown in the search tool for trips featuring multiple stops.

Costco Travel supports travel through 12 major cruise lines. These include:

• Azamara
• Carnival
• Celebrity Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess
• Regent
• Royal Caribbean International
• Uniworld River Cruises 

How to Book Cruise Trips

As with other bookings offered by Costco Travel, there are a few ways to go about booking cruise travel. You can start with the trusty search tool and select a destination and your departure month. Keep in mind that cruise dates are not as flexible as other trips and are dependent on when a ship is scheduled to arrive and depart; Costco has no control over these dates.

Or, you can browse by category: Kirkland Signature, Buyer’s Choice, Explore Alaska, Grand Voyages and World Cruises, Discover a Private Island Paradise, and Getaway Cruises. Kirkland Signature and Buyer’s Choice cruises have some of the best discounts and exclusives for Costco members.

You can also search cruises by six major Departure Ports in the U.S. and Canada: Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Vancouver. Finally, you can explore by cruise line to get started.

If you choose to begin with an “explore” category, the site will take you to the top deals in that category. These cruises are discounted and may include complimentary amenities.

Click on a cruise and scroll down first to the “Sailing Itinerary.” This gives a general schedule for your trip. Then go to the “Onboard the ___” section and expand the list items to get a better idea of what will be included on your trip. 

Finally, view the “Available Dates & Prices” section. Confirm that these dates work for you then sign in to view prices. The rooms will be arranged from least expensive on the left to most expensive and inclusive on the right. Choose a date then a room and select “Continue.” On the next screen, select the number of staterooms you need and provide the age of each person in your party.

Don’t forget to fill in the “Savings Opportunities” section to see if you qualify for additional savings. Then hit “Continue to Stateroom Type.” This page will automatically highlight the room you already chose when you began booking, so feel free to just continue on to Stateroom Location to pick which part of the boat you want your rooms to be on (a room should already be selected for you; if you don’t like it, you may need to choose a different kind of room). 

To complete the booking, just choose “Continue to Add-Ons.” Here, you can add items such as flights onto your package. After this, just continue through the steps on the screen to finalize your trip.

Can You Book Group Cruises?

Cruises are actually the only type of travel that allow for group bookings. You can book travel for large groups on most cruise trips. And in fact, you may get freebies and perks on group cruises such as a guest sailing free, extra amenities, and private dining experiences.

How many staterooms you can book at once depends on the cruise line. Uniworld Boutique River cruises allow for bookings of five or more rooms; Crystal Cruises and regent Seven Seas Cruises allow for bookings of six or more rooms; and Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International allow for bookings of eight or more rooms.

Only the lead traveler needs to be a Costco member.

Best Deals on Cruises

Enter your Cruise Line Loyalty information when booking for additional savings.

Rental Cars

Costco works with four different car rental agencies to provide customers with cars when traveling: Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise.

How to Book Car Rentals

Booking a rental car through Costco Travel is simple. Just enter your dates and locations into the Low Price Finder and the site will find you the most inexpensive cars available.

From this page, you can choose up to four different locations to easily compare prices across brands. This will bring you to a chart that shows you different car types and rates for each brand. You can also see what make and model of vehicle to expect. Choose a car and hit “Continue” to see Optional Equipment and Upgrades. Add the renter’s personal and contact information to finalize the reservation.

Best Deals on Car Rentals

Let’s compare prices once more, this time for car rentals. Here’s what it would cost you per day to rent a Midsize/Intermediate SUV (Mazda Cx-5 or similar) from the same Avis location in New York City.

Costco	Expedia
$179.02	$210.20

Costco Travel wins again, and its optional upgrades are cheaper too ($14 for an infant child seat from Costco compared to $17 from Expedia). Just note that this price doesn’t include any additional fees for additional drivers, drivers under the age of 25, etc.

AARP members may be offered extra savings.

Can You Use Car Rewards Points?

Unlike flights and hotel bookings, you actually can use loyalty points when reserving car rentals through Costco Travel. However, only Enterprise, Avis, and Budget are eligible (sorry, Alamo loyalty members).

Theme Parks and Specialty

Theme park and specialty vacation packages are the last kind of trip you can take through Costco Travel. These packages include everything from flights to car rentals and may also include VIP experiences such as tours, photo opportunities, and private dining.

How to Book Specialty Travel

Specialty trips include African Safaris and Guided Vacations. Choose from Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Universal Orlando for a theme park vacation. Or, go to the Vacations of a Lifetime category for luxury experiences currently being offered.

Booking many specialty trips is the same as booking any vacation package, so head back to that section of this article for a detailed, step-by-step guide through the process. 

However, for some specialty travel such as Adventures by Disney packages, you may need to call for details and help booking. Other trips such as African Safaris may require you to visit an external website and work with an agent to put together a package.

User Experience

Costco is known for delivering a positive consumer experience overall, and its travel agency is no exception. 

If you ever want to reach a customer support representative for questions about your booking or help scheduling a trip, call one of the following numbers.

Before your trip/during booking: 1-866-921-7925 between 7 am and 7 pm Monday through Friday or between 8 am and 5 pm PT Saturday and Sunday

During your trip: 1-866-317-4711 (same hours as above)

If you need to report an issue with your trip after the fact, submit a form through this page.

Pros and Cons of Costco Travel

One of the primary benefits of Costco Travel is convenience. You can book an entire trip from start to finish through one website (for almost every trip) in a matter of minutes without having to worry about arranging for a car to pick you up from the airport or reserving a room with the accommodations you need. 

But this brings us to our first disadvantage, which is that there isn’t a lot of wiggle room when booking packages through this agency. You can’t shop around for the cheapest flights or bookings to the same extent that you’d be able to if you were making individual reservations for each item. So even though a package from Costco may cost less than a package from another travel shopping company like Expedia, you may not be getting the best price possible across the board.

You can, though, score some pretty amazing prices in the limited-time deals and sale sections of Costco Travel. For this reason, it makes a lot of sense to use this service when you can play around with your dates and destinations. However, the good prices you can get when booking travel through Costco don’t come without some drawbacks. Sometimes you’ll sacrifice reservation flexibility to save money and other times you may need to fly much earlier or later than you’d prefer in order to cut costs.

After reviewing prices, we think it makes the most sense to leave flights out of your Costco Travel purchases. You’re better off shopping around for flights and booking these with travel points whenever possible, and reserving Costco for hotel bookings and rental cars. 

Your best bet, if you have the time, is to build vacations from scratch and compare prices on each component from the flight to the rental car rather than comparing vacation packages (which tend to come with a lot of upgrades you may not actually want to pay for).

Another advantage of Costco Travel is the annual reward. If you’re going to be using Costco Travel, it’s probably worth the added price of $60 to be a Gold Star Executive member so you can cash in on that 2% travel reward. Unfortunately, there are no membership tiers within Costco Travel, so you won’t save more the more you travel. 

Final Thoughts

Costco Travel is impressive in a lot of ways. Booking travel through the warehouse’s travel agency can save you big money and a lot of hassle that often comes with going on trips. Flexibility is going to be your friend when booking trips through Costco Travel. The more flexible you can be with your dates, departure locations and times, and room types, the more you can save. Otherwise, it’s always best to hunt around for the best deals.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

JetBlue’s Travel Bank is an online account used to store travel credits. If you have been issued travel credits with JetBlue for one reason or another, you have your own personal Travel Bank account. You don’t need to be a TrueBlue loyalty member to have a Travel Bank account. 

This account is created automatically for you the first time you receive travel credits. If you have travel credits, you will need to know more about this “bank” account in order to cash in your credits before they expire and understand what they can be used for.

Below is a comprehensive guide on the JetBlue Travel Bank in 2022.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

What is the JetBlue Travel Bank

A JetBlue Travel Bank account is where your travel credits go, which are issued when you cancel a flight, miss a flight, or are otherwise unable to use your flight ticket for when it was scheduled. Each flyer gets their own Travel Bank account with their own travel credits, even if they were originally traveling in a party. You will receive a Travel Bank account immediately after the first time you are issued credits.

Customers flying through JetBlue airlines may end up with travel credits for any number of reasons.

You can get them for:

• canceling a nonrefundable flight within 24 hours of the departure time,
• canceling a refundable flight at any time,
• not showing up for your flight, or
• missing your flight (for refundable fare).

Please note that travel credits will likely not be equal to the full cost of your ticket after cancellation fees are applied and that you forfeit the full amount of your ticket for nonrefundable tickets that you do not cancel or change before your flight’s departure. 

This is how customers receive travel credits when they need to cancel or change a flight, but you can also get travel credits if JetBlue needs to cancel or change your flight (this has happened many times this year as travel restrictions have been put in place due to the pandemic).

If your flight is canceled by JetBlue, you may choose to either take the next available flight to your destination, receive a refund in the form of travel credit, or receive a full refund issued to the original payment method. 

If your flight is changed by JetBlue, you may choose to cancel and receive a refund in the form of the original payment method or travel credit if it’s changed within more than 2 hours of the departure time, cancel and receive a travel credit refund if it’s changed within less than 2 hours but more than 1 hour of the departure time, or travel on the next available flight at no additional charge. If your flight is changed in less than 60 minutes from the time it was set to depart, you are not eligible for a refund or to travel on the next available flight without incurring typical change fees.

Who is the JetBlue Travel Bank For

Travel Bank is for anyone with JetBlue travel credits. You don’t need to open an account for yourself once you have credits—JetBlue will do that for you.

Travel credits are not to be confused with JetBlue Vacation travel credits, which are eligible to be used for any part of a Vacations package. This may include travel fare, hotel bookings, or VIP experiences. These credits are issued when a Vacations package is canceled or changed. Travel credits, on the other hand, are issued when a flight is canceled, changed, or missed and are only eligible to be used on future airfare.

Unfortunately for many, travel credits are issued per flyer rather than per party. This can quickly make things complicated as JetBlue allows only one Travel Bank to be used on each reservation. So if, for example, you’re flying in a party of four and all receive travel credit for canceling your flight, you will be able to use only one person’s travel credit when rebooking if you still wish to remain in your party. This policy is strict but JetBlue can help you to book everyone in your party separately within the same reservation if you give their help desk a call at 1-800-538-2583.

How Do I Access My JetBlue Travel Bank

From this login screen, use the username and password provided to you via two separate emails sent when you initially received travel credits to access your account for the first time. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to see the balance and expiration date of each travel credit. Hold onto this login information for future use as this is how you will access your Travel Bank each time (if you don’t have a TrueBlue account).

If you have a TrueBlue account, the loyalty rewards program through JetBlue airlines, you can access your Travel Bank account through this. Just use your regular email and password combo to login and navigate to the Travel Bank section by clicking the dropdown menu next to your name on the dashboard and selecting “Travel Bank.”

Can I Transfer My JetBlue Travel Bank

Travel Bank accounts are non-transferable, but you may choose to use the credits in your Travel Bank to book flights for someone else. The name on a booking does not need to match the name on the Travel Bank account, but only the person for which travel credits were issued may book travel with said credits.

How Long do the Travel Credits Last

The deadline to use travel credits is typically 12 months after disbursal. They are valid for one year after the date they are issued, which is usually immediately upon cancellation, and you are able to see the expiration date for each credit through your Travel Bank account. As mentioned, credits will be put toward reservation costs in order of which ones are nearest their expiration dates.

Another nice thing to be aware of when it comes to the expiration date is that you do not need to actually travel before credits expire in order to travel on credit. As long as you book a reservation with credits that are still valid, you can fly at any time after the credits were set to expire. Something to be cautious about, however, is canceling flights booked with travel credit. This can be done, but your credits’ expiration dates will not reset—they will expire when they were originally set to expire.

COVID-19 Updates and Extensions

There are no current COVID-19 extensions for JetBlue Travel Bank credits. In the past, due to travel complications caused by COVID-19, JetBlue has extended the deadline for credits issued during certain time periods. We will update this section if any such extensions return due to the Omicron variant.

Final Thoughts

Overall, JetBlue’s Travel Bank is fairly user-friendly, but it has its limitations. The biggest of these is the fact that credits are issued per individual rather than per party, rendering them inconvenient when rebooking travel for more than one person. Otherwise, however, this Bank is straightforward to access and navigate and the travel credits are fairly typical.

If you’re turned off by the idea of Travel Bank of JetBlue’s travel credit program in general, try to avoid missing flights or canceling if at all possible and don’t choose credits over refunds or flights.

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

Don’t believe the lie that you’re out of luck for big travel savings if you live in a small town.

Yes, it is admittedly harder to snag cheap flights if you’re not within driving distance of a major hub. There’s also the issue of limited availability for certain routes.

However, there are some savings to be found even if you live in a flyover spot. Just be prepared to get creative, have a willingness to take the road less traveled and the ability to lengthen travel times if you want to pocket some savings when departing your pocket-sized town.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

Take a look at these five tips for how to get cheap flights if you live in a small town.

Get Acquainted With Your Local Airport’s Website

Third-party booking sites might not show you the whole story on the routes available out of your city. While those platforms are great when you’re comparing options for multiple airports, they’re less helpful when you already know the airport you want to fly out of for your next trip.

Why? The good flights near you might not make the front page.

It’s actually smarter to go directly to your local airport’s website to take a look at the carriers that serve your city.

Scan the list to check for budget carriers before going deeper to check out actual destinations.

Next, plug in some different dates and times to see just how low you can get the price to go based on your travel needs.

You’ll likely want to go with whatever budget carrier offers the best rates out of your airport.

Embrace Connecting Flights

You have to be realistic enough to understand that flying directly to Paris on a dime from your sparsely populated town might not be happening on the cheap.

However, an inexpensive connecting flight or two can be the next best thing to actually living near a major hub.

What’s more, connecting flights out of smaller airports can actually be less expensive than the cost of paying for a ride to an airport located a few hours away from you.

It’s also just a lot easier than asking family members or friends to shuttle you to a faraway airport.

Longer connecting flights can actually save you a surprising amount of money when you’re able to book international fares out of major hubs.

Taking a connecting flight to one of the coasts to snag a rock-bottom fare for an international departure may give you access to the cheapest flights around if you’re willing to invest just a little bit of time and money on the front end.

Consider Ground Transportation

Are you really going to let yourself pass up a $79 fare to the Bahamas? Those flash deals that you see advertised by airlines don’t have to be the exclusive bounty of those lucky enough to live near major airports. Thinking outside the box to save money on travel sometimes comes down to thinking inside the boxcar. Consider taking a train or bus to get to a major airport if connecting flights out of your area aren’t affordable.

Pivot From Airline Points to Rental Car Points

Airline rewards definitely steal the thunder when it comes to redeeming your credit card points for travel perks.

However, you might want to consider a slightly tweaked strategy if you live in a small town.

First, focus on using hubs to book rock-bottom fares without even taking into account the travel points you’ve accumulated with your favorite credit card. The savings you’ll get from booking through a hub can easily be greater than the savings you’d get from trying to make your points do anything for you when booking a pricier fare out of a smaller airport.

Next, focus on using those points you have stocked away to redeem rewards that can be used for a cheap rental car. Finally, use that next-to-nothing price for a rental car to simply drive to the hub you want to fly out of to get to your destination.

Play “Travel Agent” With Some Different Flight Combinations

Don’t be so married to using roundtrip flights for your trips.

This requires a bit of a time investment because you’ll be playing around with all kinds of different configurations to get to the right price point.

First, look for inexpensive one-way tickets from your city to a big hub that’s offering lots of cheap fares to your destination. Is it cheaper to book two flights to-and-from a departure city featuring a great deal on a trip you want to take, rather than getting a roundtrip flight from your local airport?

The perk here is that you can really choose any departure city you want because distance really isn’t an object when you’re flying before you fly.

The trick is that closer doesn’t mean cheaper. You may not mind flying an extra hour to get to a departure hub if it means saving hundreds of dollars.

The math here just needs to work out so that your cost of each connecting flight combined with your main roundtrip flight is cheaper than a roundtrip flight to your destination from your original starting point.

This can actually be really fun if you’re willing to take on the mindset that there are no rules when it comes to the where, when and why of how you travel. You’re willing to put in a little time and planning to get rates that elude others!

Bonus Tip: Consider a Different Type of Vacation

The truth is that paying more for flights is one of the most frustrating parts of living in a small town that’s several hours away from any major hubs.

This frustration might be inspiring you to think about annual vacations a little differently.

One good strategy for taking a good vacation every year without necessarily needing to do a complicated dance of the fares is to simply identify an airline serving your local airport that offers affordable flights to a spot that’s a big departure point for cruise lines.

You’ll get the benefit of booking what is essentially a cheap connecting flight while also skipping the need for a “main” roundtrip flight because you’ll be hopping on a cruise ship that bundles your costs for transport, food and hotel room in one.

Final Thoughts

Small-town living can be compatible with a jet-setting lifestyle if you’re willing to put a little more planning into how you book your trips.

Of course, it’s inevitable that you’ll simply need to pay more to get to destinations some of the time if you live in a place where flight offerings are sparse.

The first step to flying for less when you live in a small town is to start keeping up with the offerings at your local airport. Focusing on routes offered by the resident budget carrier is the starting point because this airline will become your gateway to better fares at bigger airports around the country.