Costco offers travel packages to members

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. is touting its latest offering to members: its own travel agency.

Costco Connection, the club retailer's monthly member magazine, featured on the cover a profile of Costco Travel, which offers travel packages to destinations ranging from Hawaii and Las Vegas to Europe and Tahiti.

"Costco Travel is designed to enhance the Costco membership value, and we are dedicated to upholding the Costco mission by providing members with the quality vacations they want, the value they expect and the experience they deserve as a Costco member," the magazine quoted Costco Travel general manager Peter Gruening as saying.

The article said the purpose of the service was to take the stress out of the booking experience, offering three primary travel categories in the form of cruises, vacation packages and car rentals, as well as offerings like theme parks, hotels, private villas and guided vacations. One package, for example, includes six nights in at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Hawaii, on the island of Maui and a rental car, for $1,739. Prices at competing agencies can exceed $2,000.

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