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KEY POINTS
- Stocking your vacation kitchen with snacks, drinks, and even a rotisserie chicken can keep your food budget lower.
- Buying family essentials like diapers and sunscreen after you arrive means you can save space in your luggage while you travel.
- Filling up your gas tank at Costco can save you $0.30 per gallon, if not more.
You’ve booked your transportation and accommodations, you’ve spent hours researching your destination, and you’ve perfected your itinerary. Or maybe you just bought a flight deal or packed the car on a whim and are headed out the door. Either way, it’s vacation time.
The trickiest part about planning the perfect getaway can be the expense. In 2024, the average cost of a weeklong vacation in the U.S. for one person was close to $2,000. With the price of seemingly everything rising over the past few years thanks to increased rates of inflation, you’re probably looking for ways to save while traveling.
If you have a Costco membership, you can do just that. If the town you’re vacationing in has a Costco location nearby, make that your first stop when you arrive to pick up these items.
1. Rotisserie chicken
As you grab any groceries you need for your stay, toss a golden bird in your cart. For $4.99, you can pick up a rotisserie chicken at Costco that will set you up with a base for several meals. You can make tacos, rice bowls, sandwiches, chicken salad, or even just a simple chicken plate. Three pounds of chicken can stretch to several tasty meals, and since it’s already cooked, there’s minimal prep time and cleanup for you.
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2. Travel snacks
There’s a good chance you have activities, day trips, or sightseeing in your plans while you’re on vacation. If so, it’s a smart idea to have a good supply of snacks on hand to keep from getting peckish between meals, since your normal schedule is usually out the window while on a trip.
Buying trail mix or granola bars at Costco can save you money and keep your energy up while on the go. Just be sure you don’t buy more than you think you can eat during your trip or fit in your suitcase to bring home.
3. Diapers
Have little ones in tow? You have my respect, because traveling with children is a whole other level of patience and preparedness. I know you already have bags and bags of kids’ essentials with you, so why not save some luggage space and buy supplies like diapers at your destination? Some of my family members did this on a recent trip to Hawaii, and they loved not having to haul that bulky necessity along with them through the airports.
4. Beverages
Whether you’re looking for sodas, sports drinks, or alcohol, swipe your credit card at Costco rather than the grocery store or liquor store when you start your vacation. You can buy enough to stock your rental kitchen for a week, and you’ll avoid overpaying for as many pricey cocktails if you can build your own bar.
5. Sunscreen
Whether you’re lounging on the beach, hitting the ski slopes, or walking around a city, you’re going to need sun protection. Rather than packing a giant bottle and having to check a suitcase for your flight, just pick up your sunscreen at Costco when you arrive. Bonus: You’ll have one fewer liquid item to worry about spilling in your suitcase while you fly.
6. Gas
Whether you’re road-tripping or flying to your destination and renting a car, check whether there’s a Costco location convenient to you. Gas at Costco, on average, can be as much $0.30 cheaper per gallon than at regular gas stations. That can save you several bucks per fill-up, meaning you can stretch your vacation budget further.
And the savings might be even more significant than returning your rental car with an empty tank, as the rental company could then charge you at its own fuel price, which is typically higher than at local gas stations.
Not just for home supplies
Costco is a well-loved store where millions of people go to stock their pantries and cupboards, but don’t rule out a visit when you’re away from home, too. The savings can be just as sweet when you’re on vacation. Use this list as a springboard for your vacation grocery list and consider what else you could buy to help you save.
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