Moving memories

Costco members share their favourite trip experiences through Costco Travel

Remember travelling? When the only thing you might catch was perhaps too much sun, and the mask you had on was for snorkelling? As travel faded to memories in 2020 and 2021, we asked Costco members to share their favourite Costco Travel trips from the past—and provide inspiration for 2022 and beyond.

Costco members showed us that great travel experiences come in many forms, be it the destination; the opportunity to explore, relax, re-energize and reconnect; or the people we travel with or meet along the way.

Members also affirmed that Costco Travel played an integral part in the success of those experiences, from the warmth and expertise of their Costco Travel agent to the pricing and the many value-added extras.

While all of us wait for the opportunity to step out and explore again, we invite you to enjoy the virtual experiences and memories of fellow Costco travellers.—T. Foster Jones

Member: Sharon Tippin / Location: Midland, Ontario / Destination: Hawaii

Myself; my husband, Keith; my sister, Chris; and her husband, Guy, really had a wonderful Costco Travel trip to Hawaii’s Big Island in January 2017. There’s always a lot of snow here in the winter, so we were very glad to get away from it for a bit. We arranged everything through Costco, including our out-of-country medical coverage. We always rely on Costco for service, price and quality, and felt confident that booking through Costco Travel would ensure the same quality product. It was a wonderful trip. We stayed in a two-bedroom condo in a beautiful setting at the Halii Kai at Waikoloa resort. It was a perfect setting, and a wonderful vacation. And the Costco warehouse by the airport was our first stop!

Member: Sari Zelenietz / Location: Ottawa, Ontario / Destination: Orlando, Florida

In February 2020, my husband, Alec; our three children, Eliezer, Kayla and Yehonatan; and I went to Universal Orlando, which we arranged through Costco Travel. It was amazing. We had a three-day park-to-park pass with our Costco booking, which gave us access to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay (the water park).

We loved the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the set-up at the water park was great—you used the TapuTapu bracelets to virtually line up for rides so you could enjoy the other parts of the water park while waiting for your turn on the big rides.

We also had an extra day just to hang out at the pool at our resort, the Cabana Bay Beach. The hotel was just perfect for a family (our three kids were 4, 7 and 9 at the time) and had two amazing pools.

Costco Travel made things really easy. We had the perfect amount of time at the parks, and were set up in by far the best hotel for our family. We’re so glad we got to experience it three weeks before the pandemic brought the world to a halt.

Member: Charlene And Chris Sharpe / Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick / Destination: London, Paris Rome, Athens

My husband, Chris, and I cannot agree on what our favourite Costco travel trip was. My favourite was London and Paris: Your Way. We had never been before, and I thoroughly enjoyed walking around both cities exploring history, the free museums and the iconic landmarks. Our bonus excursion to Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle was incredible. To spend an entire day exploring Versailles was amazing. This was such an incredible trip, we immediately booked Rome and Athens: Your Way when we returned. This was Chris’ favourite, as he enjoyed the ancient history of both locations. To explore the beginning of [Western] civilization and the [empires’] history was incredible. We ate well at little cafes and outdoor dining spaces, and did a day trip to Pompeii. Unfortunately, the pandemic caused us to cancel our third excursion, but we can’t wait to rebook. Every place we stayed made us feel welcome and special. We are looking forward to that wonderful experience again.

Costco Connection: Costco Travel offers cruises, vacation packages and car rentals for destinations in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. To learn more, visit CostcoTravel.ca or give us a call at 1-855-863-0357.