sam's club travel system

Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test

O ur favorite wholesale clubs aren't just great for your budget on everyday goods. Costco and Sam's Club both offer their own travel portals where you can get discounted travel.

However, Sam's Club Travel differs from Costco Travel quite a lot. Instead of booking travel packages, you book pieces of your trip individually. Also, Sam's Club Travel doesn't include flights, but it does include many attractions, including theme parks and even shows.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

To put Sam's Club Travel to the test, I researched three destinations and Sam's Clubs offerings for them. I then looked up the same hotels, rental cars, and attractions to compare real-world prices. Here's what I found.

Trip 1: New York City, New York

When: Jul. 15, 2024 through July 19, 2024

Who: 2 adults and 1 teen

Hotel: Paramount Times Square

Which room: Superior Two Double

  • Sam's Club Travel: $1,089.24 ($928.60, plus a $160.64 resort fee)
  • Direct Booking: $1,130.54
  • Difference: $41.30 (3%)

Rental car: Thrifty Car Rental

Which vehicle: Compact car

  • Sam's Club Travel: $499.29
  • Direct Booking: $524.80
  • Difference: $25.51 (5%)

Attraction 1: New York CityPASS

What's included: Prepaid admission to five popular attractions

  • Sam's Club Travel: $400.22
  • Direct Booking: $422.00
  • Difference: $21.78 (5%)

Attraction 2: Lion King on Broadway

What's included: Orchestra tickets, Row R

  • Sam's Club Travel: $638.25
  • Direct Booking: $775.50
  • Difference: $137.25 (18%)

Trip 2: Chicago, Illinois

When: Dec. 22, 2024, through Dec. 29, 2024

Who: 1 adult and 2 children

Hotel: Hilton Chicago

Which room: 2 Double Beds

  • Sam's Club Travel: $1,289.92 ($1,149.71, plus $140.21 resort fee)
  • Direct Booking: $1,293.92 (Hilton Honors rate, membership is free)
  • Difference: $4.00 (0.3%)

Rental car: Budget

Which vehicle: Economy car

  • Sam's Club Travel: $452.18
  • Direct Booking: $492.92
  • Difference: $40.74 (8%)

Attraction 1: Big Bus Tours Chicago (Essential)

What's included: Two-day hop-on-hop-off tour passes

  • Sam's Club Travel: $104.00
  • Direct Booking: $138.70
  • Difference: $34.70 (25%)

Attraction 2: Go City Chicago Explorer Pass (3 Choice)

What's included: Prepaid admission to three popular attractions

  • Sam's Club Travel: $219.75
  • Direct Booking: $280.00
  • Difference: $60.25 (22%)

Trip 3: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

When: Feb. 7, 2025, through Feb. 10, 2025

Who: 2 adults

Hotel: Hotel Blu Vancouver

Which room: Loft king suite with terrace

  • Sam's Club Travel: $950.41 USD ($1,309.71 CAD)
  • Direct Booking: $1,110.96 USD ($1,516.94 CAD)
  • Difference: $160.55 (15%)

Rental car: Hertz

Which vehicle: Mid-size SUV

  • Sam's Club Travel: $284.91 USD ($392.62 CAD)
  • Direct Booking: $298.83 USD ($411.80 CAD)
  • Difference: $13.92 (5%)

Attractions

There was a very limited array of attractions available for Vancouver, none of which were available during my test itinerary. Sam's Club Travel does include tickets to various sporting events -- the Canucks are in the NHL playoffs as of writing -- so presumably you could find those during the regular season. If the typical discounts applied, this could be a nice way to score cheaper hockey tickets. Your mileage may vary.

Saves money, but not the best interface

All in all, I can definitely say that Sam's Club Travel saves you money. It's not always a lot of money, but savings is savings, eh?

One big annoyance I want to point out is that the interface for the site is junk. It's hard to navigate. It's very hard to find what you need. Fees are tucked into fine print everywhere (hotel resort fees particularly).

Perhaps the most egregious issue was the lack of a map option when searching for hotels. You may need to look up hotels in your location through Google Maps (or a similar site) and then look those hotels up in Sam's Club Travel for deals.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you won't get your typical travel perks . You won't get hotel status points, and your booking may not code as travel on your credit cards . If you can get past the drawbacks, however, there is a lot of potential for saving money on travel with Sam's Club.

Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card  is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It  features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! 

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test

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Is sam's club travel actually cheaper 3 real itineraries put to the test.

Our favorite wholesale clubs aren't just great for your budget on everyday goods. Costco and Sam's Club both offer their own travel portals where you can get discounted travel.

However, Sam's Club Travel differs from Costco Travel quite a lot. Instead of booking travel packages, you book pieces of your trip individually. Also, Sam's Club Travel doesn't include flights, but it does include many attractions, including theme parks and even shows.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

To put Sam's Club Travel to the test, I researched three destinations and Sam's Clubs offerings for them. I then looked up the same hotels, rental cars, and attractions to compare real-world prices. Here's what I found.

Trip 1: New York City, New York

When: Jul. 15, 2024 through July 19, 2024

Who: 2 adults and 1 teen

Hotel: Paramount Times Square

Which room: Superior Two Double

Sam's Club Travel: $1,089.24 ($928.60, plus a $160.64 resort fee)

Direct Booking: $1,130.54

Difference: $41.30 (3%)

Rental car: Thrifty Car Rental

Which vehicle: Compact car

Sam's Club Travel: $499.29

Direct Booking: $524.80

Difference: $25.51 (5%)

Attraction 1: New York CityPASS

What's included: Prepaid admission to five popular attractions

Sam's Club Travel: $400.22

Direct Booking: $422.00

Difference: $21.78 (5%)

Attraction 2: Lion King on Broadway

What's included: Orchestra tickets, Row R

Sam's Club Travel: $638.25

Direct Booking: $775.50

Difference: $137.25 (18%)

Trip 2: Chicago, Illinois

When: Dec. 22, 2024, through Dec. 29, 2024

Who: 1 adult and 2 children

Hotel: Hilton Chicago

Which room: 2 Double Beds

Sam's Club Travel: $1,289.92 ($1,149.71, plus $140.21 resort fee)

Direct Booking: $1,293.92 (Hilton Honors rate, membership is free)

Difference: $4.00 (0.3%)

Rental car: Budget

Which vehicle: Economy car

Sam's Club Travel: $452.18

Direct Booking: $492.92

Difference: $40.74 (8%)

Attraction 1: Big Bus Tours Chicago (Essential)

What's included: Two-day hop-on-hop-off tour passes

Sam's Club Travel: $104.00

Direct Booking: $138.70

Difference: $34.70 (25%)

Attraction 2: Go City Chicago Explorer Pass (3 Choice)

What's included: Prepaid admission to three popular attractions

Sam's Club Travel: $219.75

Direct Booking: $280.00

Difference: $60.25 (22%)

Trip 3: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

When: Feb. 7, 2025, through Feb. 10, 2025

Who: 2 adults

Hotel: Hotel Blu Vancouver

Which room: Loft king suite with terrace

Sam's Club Travel: $950.41 USD ($1,309.71 CAD)

Direct Booking: $1,110.96 USD ($1,516.94 CAD)

Difference: $160.55 (15%)

Rental car: Hertz

Which vehicle: Mid-size SUV

Sam's Club Travel: $284.91 USD ($392.62 CAD)

Direct Booking: $298.83 USD ($411.80 CAD)

Difference: $13.92 (5%)

Attractions

There was a very limited array of attractions available for Vancouver, none of which were available during my test itinerary. Sam's Club Travel does include tickets to various sporting events -- the Canucks are in the NHL playoffs as of writing -- so presumably you could find those during the regular season. If the typical discounts applied, this could be a nice way to score cheaper hockey tickets. Your mileage may vary.

Saves money, but not the best interface

All in all, I can definitely say that Sam's Club Travel saves you money. It's not always a lot of money, but savings is savings, eh?

One big annoyance I want to point out is that the interface for the site is junk. It's hard to navigate. It's very hard to find what you need. Fees are tucked into fine print everywhere (hotel resort fees particularly).

Perhaps the most egregious issue was the lack of a map option when searching for hotels. You may need to look up hotels in your location through Google Maps (or a similar site) and then look those hotels up in Sam's Club Travel for deals.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you won't get your typical travel perks. You won't get hotel status points, and your booking may not code as travel on your credit cards. If you can get past the drawbacks, however, there is a lot of potential for saving money on travel with Sam's Club.

Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card  is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It  features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! 

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test was originally published by The Motley Fool

IMAGES

  1. Deluxe Jumbo Travel Set

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  2. Sam's Club Launches Travel App for Members

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  3. Sam's Club Travel: An Overview

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  4. Best in class travel savings from Sam's Club Travel

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  5. Sam's Club Travel by Sam’s Club

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  6. Sam's Club Travel: An Overview

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COMMENTS

  1. Sam's Club

    As a Sam's Club Member, you don't have to worry about any hidden charges when you book your travel. The price you see is the price you'll pay.

  2. Travel

    Business Center. Sam's Club Travel and Entertainment offers special members-only pricing on hotels and rental cars, as well as tickets to theme parks, sports events, concerts and more. Explore and save on more than 8,000 travel and entertainment experiences as you plan your next weekend or vacation!

  3. Sam's Club Travel & Entertainment

    Sam's Club provides incredible Travel & Entertainment benefits to its members with exclusive discounts to theme-parks, hotels, attractions, events, movies and more. ... **Savings amount represents the difference between the Sam's Club price and the supplier's retail price.

  4. Baby Stroller Travel Systems

    Whether you need the entire system, or you already have a car seat, you may be able to find a compatible baby stroller travel system at Sam's Club®. Travel systems can make your life easier when you want to transition from driving to walking without taking your child out of the car seat. Jogger Strollers for Runners

  5. Travel and Entertainment FAQ

    Prices are subject to availability and offers are subject to change at any time. Phone. Our Customer Service Representatives are here to assist you with all your entertainment and travel needs and are excited to do so. Available daily from 8:00am EST - 10:00pm EST. Please call us at 1-833-494-SAMS.

  6. Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test

    Sam's Club Travel: $284.91 USD ($392.62 CAD) Direct Booking: $298.83 USD ($411.80 CAD) Difference: $13.92 (5%) Attractions. There was a very limited array of attractions available for Vancouver ...

  7. Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test

    Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards. To put Sam's Club Travel to the test, I researched three destinations and Sam's Clubs ...

  8. Disney Baby Grow and Go Modular Travel System, Choose Color

    The Disney Baby® Grow and Go™ Modular Travel System will be a favorite travel companion for years to come. The stroller seat can accommodate kiddos up to 50 lbs. and has a step-up bar that lets them climb into the seat on their own. Give your little Disney fan shade with the extra-large, 3-panel canopy, and stay connected through the peek-a ...

  9. Sam's Club Travel & Entertainment

    Dave & Buster's / Main Event. WE TAKE GAMEPLAY SERIOUSLY. $20 ARCADE CARD FOR $15. Buy Tickets. Sam's Club provides incredible Travel & Entertainment benefits to its members with exclusive discounts to theme-parks, hotels, attractions, events, movies and more.

  10. Club Services Offered

    Club Services Offered. At Sam's club, our focus is providing value for our members. Find any Sam's Club by zip code or city and state. Select a club to learn about the services offered there. Services vary by club location. How to use Club Locator and find Club Services: 1.) Select the "Your club" dropdown near the top right of the screen.

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    Tell us about your summer travels! We'll do the math to help you pack the right number of diapers, wipes, training pants or nighttime underwear from Sam's Club.

  12. Is Sam's Club Travel Actually Cheaper? 3 Real Itineraries Put to the Test

    Rental car: Hertz. Which vehicle: Mid-size SUV Sam's Club Travel: $284.91 USD ($392.62 CAD) Direct Booking: $298.83 USD ($411.80 CAD) Difference: $13.92 (5%) Attractions. There was a very limited ...

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    The Viaro Travel System includes the #1-rated Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat, accommodating infants from 4 to 30 lbs. and up to 30". The KeyFit 30 is the easiest infant car seat to install simply and accurately, and securely every time. ... Join Sam's Club;

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  16. Benefits of Club & Plus Membership

    Plus membership. Plus membership ($110 for an annual membership) includes all the benefits of Club membership and tons of extra exclusive perks that add even more value. Plus member benefits: Free Delivery from Club on eligible orders of $50 or more. Free shipping on eligible orders of $50 or more for primary and complimentary cardholders.

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    map to travel: Machihino village. Photo: MUR, CC BY-SA 3.0. Notable Places in the Area. Machikhino. Railway stop Photo: MUR, CC BY-SA 3.0. Machikhino is a railway stop situated 3½ km northeast of Machihino village. Posyolok Stantsii Machihino. Residence

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  19. Membership Offers

    Offer is valid for new Sam's Club members only; and is not valid for (i) membership renewals, those with a current membership, those who were Sam's Club members less than six (6) months prior to joining, or Walmart and Sam's Club associates. * Current and former First Responders: Verify and join now via ID.me and receive $30 off Club ...

  20. Tsentralnaya ulitsa, 34А, Moscow and Moscow Oblast

    Tsentralnaya ulitsa, 34А, selo Kamenskoye, Naro-Fominskiy City District, Moscow Region

  21. Membership Services

    Free Delivery from Club.*. For Plus on eligible orders of $50 or more. Earn 5% back in Sam's Cash on gas (on first $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% back on Sam's Club purchases as a Plus member (Club members earn 1%), 3% back on dining and 1% on other purchases.**. Get more out of your membership.

  22. SAMY LUCHSHIY DEN

    Samy Luchshiy Den, Domodedovo, Moscow Oblast: See traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Samy Luchshiy Den, ranked #16 of 17 hotels in Domodedovo, Moscow Oblast and rated 1 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

  23. Club Services

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