We priced out our first Universal Studios vacation. I looked at lots of places online, and ended up deciding that Costco Travel was by far the best deal. We decided to stay at one of the top three resorts, so we could get the Express passes. They only offered one of each "level" of the Universal hotels on their site (Portofino; Sapphire; Cabana Bay) The initial cost difference: I crunched the numbers, and if you assume flights and park tickets cost the same, Costco Travel cost us $$ less a night on a King Bay View at the Portofino (Universal cost: $306.75 + $38.34 tax per night = $345.09 - Costco Estimated Cost: $264.85 + $33.11 tax = $297.95, or $47.14 less a night than Universal charges.) I had to "reverse engineer" these costs, based on the flight costs + the $100 hotel deposit Costco takes up front.
Also, I have a Costco Citi credit card, which earns us 3% on travel, plus I have a Costco Executive membership, which earns an additional 2%, and Costco threw in a Costco Cash Card of $155.
Plus the savings of the $239.70 (+ 273.26) = savings of $516.02.
I pay $120 a year for the Costco Executive membership (which is $60 more than their base) but it pays for itself and quite a bit more. I do 90% of my shopping there. The cash back % amounts are based on pre-tax figures. We will fly in from Boston, stay 5 nights at the Portofino with a king bay view, have 2 5-day 3-park park-to-park tickets. The following Costco Travel costs includes tix/flights/hotel:
Universal Travel would have cost us $1,725.47 +687.03 for park tickets = $2412.50, not including flights of $516.44 = $2,928.94. So, in essence, going through Costco Travel gave us our flights for "free"
Also, I have a Costco Citi credit card, which earns us 3% on travel, plus I have a Costco Executive membership, which earns an additional 2%, and Costco threw in a Costco Cash Card of $155.
2% Costco Exec Credit | $48.53 |
3% Cash Back | $72.79 |
Costco Cash Card | $155 |
Total Costco Benefits | $276.32* |
I pay $120 a year for the Costco Executive membership (which is $60 more than their base) but it pays for itself and quite a bit more. I do 90% of my shopping there. The cash back % amounts are based on pre-tax figures. We will fly in from Boston, stay 5 nights at the Portofino with a king bay view, have 2 5-day 3-park park-to-park tickets. The following Costco Travel costs includes tix/flights/hotel:
Vacation Package | $2,426.31 |
Taxes and Fees | $266.92 |
Total Package Price | $2,693.23 - 276.32*% back, etc. = $2,416.91 |