is bj's travel a good deal

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Should You Buy Your Vacation or Honeymoon From BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club?

These warehouse clubs may not be the first place you think of to buy travel, but they can offer big savings compared with booking directly with a hotel or car rental company

At a time of high fuel prices and skyrocketing inflation , the savings BJ’s, Costco, and Sam’s Club offer on gasoline , groceries, and other purchases may be especially appealing. But many people may not realize that they can also find great deals on travel at warehouse clubs along with their rotisserie chickens and 12-packs of paper towels.

And the benefits of buying travel from warehouse clubs aren’t limited to savings. In a December 2021 nationally representative CR survey of 2,073 U.S. adults (PDF), far fewer people reported booking travel through a big box store in the past three years (9 percent) than reported using a travel booking website like Expedia or Travelocity (42 percent). But when we asked people who had used each kind of service how they felt about it, big box stores had about twice as high a percentage saying the value and customer service were "excellent" compared with travel booking websites.

To find out how the stores compare with one another in terms of offerings and savings, we recently priced out a handful of car rentals, hotel bookings, and vacation packages. (BJ’s and Costco both also sell cruises, but we did not evaluate cruise offerings for this article.)

All of the warehouse clubs offered savings over booking directly in certain cases, but some of the clubs were clearly better than others, depending on the type of travel being purchased. (Note that hotel, air, and rental car prices change quickly and frequently. The prices and packages we found are a snapshot in time and may no longer be available.)

Rental Cars

According to CR’s December 2021 survey, rental cars were the most common travel purchase made through big box stores, with nearly half of Americans who had booked travel through one saying they had rented a car—compared with just one-third of those who booked anything through a travel booking website. 

To get an idea of the savings warehouse clubs might offer on car rentals, we first searched for the cheapest rental offered by each warehouse club for a given location and time period and then compared that price with the lowest one offered when booking the same vehicle type at the same location and for the same time period directly with the car rental company.

All of the warehouse clubs offer cars from a variety of rental companies. Based on our experience, warehouse clubs do sometimes offer savings over booking directly and frequently offer prices that match the lowest offered by the rental car company’s website. But even when a warehouse club does not offer a lower rate, it may offer more generous terms than booking directly with a car rental company. For example, warehouse clubs may have more lenient cancellation policies than those offered when booking directly with a car rental company and the clubs may also not require advanced payment when rental companies do. (As with any travel purchase, always read the fine print before booking to avoid surprise charges.)

Scenario #1

An eight-day rental of an intermediate car (a Toyota Corolla or similar) from Miami International Airport (returning to the same location) with unlimited miles. 

Scenario #2

A 7-day rental of an intermediate car (a Toyota Corolla or similar) from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (returning to the same location), with unlimited miles.

Hotels and Travel Packages

Travel packages offer the convenience of one-stop-shopping for the major components of many vacations: air, hotel, and rental car. When we compared the prices warehouse clubs offered when bundling some or all of these elements, we found that you can save significantly compared with booking directly with the hotels, airlines, and rental car companies. We also discovered savings when we tried booking only a hotel.

A Luxury Holiday in Hawaii

The details: Seven nights in an ocean view room at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea for two adults, with full-sized rental car and round-trip economy air from a New York City-area airport.

Booking directly Total: $23,741

The Four Seasons hotel site quoted a rate of $21,658, including taxes and fees. Alamo quoted a rate of $881, including taxes and fees. Economy class tickets on United from Newark to Maui for two (one stopover outbound and a direct return) cost $1,202, including taxes and fees ($601 per person).

Buying From BJ’s

Total: $23,425 (from JFK, returning to Newark) Savings over booking directly: $316 (plus a $1,000 in-store credit)

BJ’s initial package offered a different room with no ocean view, but the same ocean view room was $529 extra. Free cancellation insurance was available for a fee. There were round-trip flight options to and from JFK and LaGuardia, but not Newark. To choose the same Newark flight Costco offered was an additional $1,836 per person. The rental car (through Dollar) added up to another $6 per day. As a perk, BJ’s gave a 5 percent gift card on the total cost, which in this case comes out to roughly $1,000 to use in the store.

Buying From Costco

Total: $16,056 (for air, hotel, and rental car) Savings over booking directly: $7,684 (plus a $961 gift card)

Costco presented this in a nicely bundled package, with a flight from Newark to Maui via Chicago on the way there; nonstop on the way back. The car through Alamo included unlimited mileage and a second named driver. As a perk, Costco threw in a $961 store gift card.

Buying From Sam’s Club

Total: $23,705 (for hotel and rental car); $24,907 (including separately purchased airfare) Savings over booking directly: $0

Sam’s charged $22,660 for the room. The car was through Dollar ($1,045) with limited mileage and free cancellation. Sam’s does not offer flight booking. When we added the $1,202 cost of the flight, this option cost $1,166 more than booking directl y.

A Luxury Hotel in London 

The details: Four nights in a superior queen room at the Savoy in London for two adults. 

Booking directly Total: $4,087

The best price we found on the Savoy website was $ 4,087 , after converting from GBP, with penalty-free cancellation until 24 hours before arrival.

Buying From BJ’s Total: $3,129 Savings over booking directly: $958

BJ’s also offered considerable savings, though not as much as Sam’s. The rate is also fully refundable until three days before arrival

Buying From Costco Total: $4,306 Savings over booking directly: $0

The price is actually $219 more than booking directly with the hotel, though it includes round-trip private car transfers between London Heathrow airport and the hotel, and a $400 credit toward excursions with Golden Tours, which can be applied to anything from a hop-on, hop-off bus around London to a visit to Stonehenge. So, you could end up saving, depending on whether or not you would purchase private transfers and a tour or two anyway.

Buying From Sam’s Club Total: $2,868 Savings over booking directly: $1,219

Sam’s offered a deeply discounted room rate and the stay was fully refundable until three days before arrival.

A Midlevel Honeymoon Package in the Bahamas

The details: Seven nights at the Royal at Atlantis on Paradise Island in a premium double queen terrace view room, departing from Chicago.

Booking directly Total: $4,149

The Atlantis website offered a rate of $2,698 for the room alone (no airport transfers included). Adding economy class main cabin flights on American Airlines with a layover in each direction brought the total to $4,149.

Buying From BJ’s Total: $4,063 Savings over booking directly: $86

BJ’s first showed a rate of $3,844, but that price included a return flight of just over 12 hours with a nearly 4-hour layover in Panama City. Changing to the same, more convenient, American Airlines flights with a main cabin fare we used for all of these scenarios raised the price to $4,063. BJ’s offered a private van transfer to and from the airport in the Bahamas for an additional $120, which would bring the total to $4,183. Because this package cost $69 more than Costco’s when transfers were factored in, we deemed it less of a value.

Buying From Costco Total: $4,114 Savings over booking directly: $35

The package on the Costco website included private car transfers to and from the airport in the Bahamas and the same American Airlines flights we used to price booking directly. The included airport transfers mean you would likely save much more compared with booking directly, unless you found a way to get to and from the airport at no charge.

Buying From Sam’s Club Total: $4,149 Savings over booking directly: $0

Sam’s offered the room for $2,698, identical to booking directly. Sam’s does not offer flights. Separately booking the same American Airlines flight itinerary we used for the other itineraries added $1,451 to the price, for a total of $4,149.

How the Warehouse Clubs Compare

While you can find travel savings at all three stores that will easily cover the cost of joining (typically $45 to $60 for a basic membership), each store excels in different areas. Here are the pros, cons, and extra perks you can find. 

BJ’s BJ’s offers a vast selection of hotel and flight options and is best for savvy or flexible travelers who are willing to scour the multitude of options for the best value and most convenience. If savings is a priority over convenience, BJ’s sometimes has the advantage. 

Pros: We found that the BJ’s travel site was the easiest to navigate and had the nicest interface, with plenty of useful filters to help you find what you want. In terms of value, BJ’s sits right in the middle. It’s rarely the cheapest, but it may offer fully refundable options when other sites do not. BJ’s offers 5 percent cash back on “qualifying” travel bookings in the form of a store e-gift card. (The company did not respond to repeated requests for further information on this program, including specifically what travel bookings qualify.) According to its website, BJ’s offers a 110 percent Best Price Guarantee on vacation and cruise bookings within 48 hours of purchase. You must meet several conditions for the guarantee to apply, so read the fine print carefully.

Cons: Sometimes the cheapest option is completely impractical, like the one-stop, 18-hour journey from Miami to Aruba the site offered us. To avoid a nightmare itinerary like that, you need to pay close attention to search results. 

Costco Costco is a good choice for those who want a one-stop shop for ready-made trips to popular destinations like Hawaii, the South Pacific, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It wasn’t always the cheapest (though it did offer thousands of dollars of savings in one instance), but it adds on a lot of extra perks, like airport transportation, room upgrades, or a store credit. Sometimes these justify a higher rate compared with its competition, but sometimes they don’t. 

Pros: Costco has the most price transparency of the warehouse clubs we evaluated. It gives the total price up front, including taxes and fees (which can change the total cost significantly). We didn’t find any hidden fees or other surprises on the final itinerary. If the hotel requires any fees paid to them directly (like parking or a resort fee), Costco flags that clearly when you try to book. Their refund policies vary from booking to booking, but those are very clear as well. Costco Executive Members qualify for 2 percent rewards on Costco Travel purchases. The Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi card earns 3% cash back on eligible travel purchases. 

Cons: We found that Costco offers fewer hotel options than Sam’s and BJ’s, and that it does not offer any hotel-only options in certain destinations. Travelers looking only for a hotel room and who want the widest selection of hotels to choose from may be disappointed. 

Sam’s Club In our experience, Sam’s is best for hotel bookings. In one instance, it offered a savings of more than $1,000 compared with booking directly with a luxury London hotel, though it did not deliver savings consistently. According to a spokesperson, Sam’s core members are families with children who tend to buy tickets to major theme parks like Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Studios. We did not evaluate these offerings.

Pros: Sam’s offers a very wide variety of well-priced hotel options around the world, as well as tickets (some of them discounted) for day tours, Broadway shows, Disney, entertainment options (like movies, theme parks, concerts), and other tourist attractions. With a Sam’s Club Mastercard, members receive an extra 3 percent cash back on any travel or entertainment purchase to use at the store. According to Sam’s website, it offers a Best Rate Guarantee within 24 hours of booking, but with a $150 maximum refund and a lot of fine print.

Cons : Sam’s does not offer flights, so anyone looking for ready-made vacation packages that include air will need to shop elsewhere. Some of the rental car offerings we found did not include unlimited mileage. Sam’s doesn’t include the taxes and fees until check out, so if you’re comparison shopping, it’s harder to get the full picture until the very end. Sam’s also doesn’t include resort fees (or anything else payable to the hotel, like parking), which is explained in the fine print but, again, may make it difficult to know how much you’re going to pay in the end. 

Keep In Mind When buying travel from any third party, including a warehouse club, assistance may be limited if you run into a problem, such as a flight cancellation. Customer service representatives aren’t travel agents and, though a company may say that travel experts are available around the clock, that was not our experience. Bottom line: If you need to reschedule a flight or there is an issue with the hotel, you should be prepared to deal with the travel provider directly and not assume that the warehouse club will come to the rescue. 

Always compare rates with the hotel directly. A hotel website may offer special packages that could include extras like breakfast or spa credits that could actually make them a better deal than comparing the room rate alone.

Finally, always check the fine print. Cancellation and refund policies may differ between sites and even among different travel purchases on the same site. Double-check the terms of any booking before you pay.

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Buying travel at Costco? What to know about wholesale club deals.

Cruises and car rentals are among the top deals.

Brian O’Connor and his wife joined Costco after their son, Casey, was born, expecting to use their membership in the warehouse club to save money on diapers and formula. But then they discovered something even better: They could also book their trips through Costco.

During last year’s car rental shortage, O’Connor found a $380 weekly car rental through Budget, a 52 percent savings. Late last year, he booked a vacation package to Orlando that included a hotel suite with a full kitchen and a rental car for $980. O’Connor priced the items a la carte and calculated he was paying just $400 for four nights at the Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort Villas.

“That was quite a feat during high season,” says O’Connor, a freelance financial writer from Sylvan Lake, Mich.

This cheap flights expert thinks you should be booking trips earlier

In an economy where inflation continues to run hot, warehouse clubs have become go-tos for travelers trying to save money. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco and Sam’s Club offers deals such as Hawaiian resorts and deep discounted Caribbean cruises. But is it worth joining one of the warehouse clubs to buy travel?

What do wholesale clubs offer for travelers?

BJ’s offers options like cruises, vacation packages (including escorted tours, all-inclusive resorts and build-your-own outings), chain and boutique hotels, car rentals and day tours. BJ’s Travel has one of the widest selections of cruises among the warehouse stores — more than 30 — and most cruise purchases qualify for a BJ’s gift card of up to $500. The membership club also offers a 110 percent “Best Price Guarantee” on vacation and cruise bookings, meaning that if you see a lower price, BJ’s will match it, then add another 10 percent discount, according to BJ’s spokesman Peter Frangie. You must be a member to qualify for the discounts, and you can book through its site, via the BJ’s app or by phone.

Costco offers what it calls “buyer-curated” vacations to destinations such as Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. “We feature cities across the United States, such as Orlando and Las Vegas, and also offer hotel-only stays and build-your-own bundles to hundreds of cities in the U.S. and Canada,” says Costco website merchandising manager Penny Anderson. Costco is well known for its cruises and car rentals. It offers sailings on 11 cruise lines and a rental car “low price finder” that lets customers compare prices between four rental car companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise), then select the one that’s right for them. Membership is required to qualify for the deals, and you can book online or by calling.

Sam’s Club offers hotels stays, rental cars, tickets for theme parks and experiences such as water parks and ski resorts. You can also buy add-ons to your vacations, such as CityPass tickets and day tours. Sam’s is best known for its hotel and theme park discounts. Members can get discounts of up to $35 on gate prices at Disneyland, $100 off gate prices at Disney World and up to $65 off gate prices at Universal Studios. Hotel discounts may be as high as 60 percent, according to Doris Davis, a senior merchant at Sam’s Club. The discounts are only available to Sam’s Club members and are accessible online (you must be logged in), through the Sam’s Club app or by calling.

What are the perks of buying travel through BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club?

BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club leverage their buying power to negotiate lower prices on cruises, hotels and rental cars. Then they pass those savings along to their customers. “Warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club offer exceptional deals on travel to help you save big,” says Andrea Woroch, a budgeting expert .

7 things to know about booking travel through Costco

Buying through one of the membership stores allows you to lower your travel costs in several ways. For example, in addition to discounts, hotels often waive their resort fees for members who buy through BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club.

Woroch recently booked a hotel on Kauai through Costco, saving $300 off the listed room rate. The hotel also dropped its $35 per day resort fee, and she received a $230 Costco Shop Card, which she used to buy groceries and sunscreen. Costco bundled a rental car for $50 per day through Budget — far less than the going rate of $130 per day on the Hawaiian island.

How to budget for your dream trip this year

Are there disadvantages of buying travel through BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club?

The travel products you find from BJ’s, Costco or Sam’s Club are limited — or “curated,” as they like to call them. You won’t find every hotel or tour operator, but rather a selection of the most popular ones.

Although the prices are often lower, you get service levels that are comparable to those of an online travel agency, such as Expedia or Booking.com, but not the same level as those of a human travel adviser, experts say.

“You’re buying a ticket — and that’s all,” says Dan Leonard, a travel planner with Key to the World Travel . “They’re unable to help with the more detailed planning services that travel advisers provide. They’re also unable to help you if a problem arises with your booking, before or during travel.”

Brandi Taylor, a travel adviser who runs Brandi the Travel Genie , says that, for many travelers just looking for an inexpensive hotel or airline ticket, that’s fine.

“However, for a specialized location, I wouldn’t recommend it,” she adds. She says a warehouse sales agent can’t match the years of experience travel advisers like her have in terms of product knowledge and personal service.

She also said travel products booked through warehouse clubs can have terms that differ from those booked through an online agency. They are sometimes more favorable and flexible, but it helps to be aware of them.

What are the best deals at Costco and other clubs?

When the topic of saving money through one of these companies comes up, it invariably leads to Costco’s rental cars and cruise deals.

Jill Kaiserman, a retired teacher from Wayne, Pa., always does her homework before booking a rental car. She has discounts through AARP and is a frequent renter with several companies.

“Costco is always the best deal,” she says.

You can buy a private jet membership at Costco

Kaiserman estimates that she routinely saves between 30 and 40 percent off the cost of a vehicle when she rents through Costco.

Also, members rave about the cruise discounts and some of the perks they receive, such as a BJ’s gift card. All of the warehouse clubs offer deep discounts on cruises, but BJ’s is known to have one of the widest selections.

I’ve shopped at all three warehouse clubs but am not a member, because I live abroad. But one story I hear repeatedly is that members were saving hundreds of dollars per rental during the rental car shortage, which more than paid for their memberships.

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Choosing the best warehouse club membership for you

Buying groceries in bulk can net you huge savings in the long run — warehouse clubs like Costco , BJ’s and Sam’s Club regularly offer steep discounts per unit when you buy large quantities of items. However, these stores require memberships with dues up to $60 per year for a basic membership (you may be able to shop online as a non-member but without access to the same discounts). We looked through each wholesaler’s membership tiers and summarized the main takeaways below, so you can decide which membership is best for you.

SKIP AHEAD Choosing the best warehouse club membership for you

Shopping How to make a Costco membership work for two

Ultimately, your ideal membership depends on what services you need and how much you’re willing to pay. Costco’s memberships are the most expensive across the board, but they also have a robust benefits package. Sam’s Club is more affordable, however, you don’t get as many perks. BJ’s price and benefits are comparable to Costco , though the chain has a more restrictive return policy and exclusively operates in the eastern half of the U.S. (and has considerably fewer locations than the other two wholesalers). Chances are, the membership you choose may have more to do with what warehouse club operates in your area. But all three wholesalers are likely to offer you solid value for your money. And they each have their own generic brands that offer solid value on groceries and more (Kirkland Signature for Costco, Member’s Mark for Sam’s Club and both Berkley Jensen and Wellsley Farms for BJ’s). Here is an overview of each membership:

Costco Membership

Costco has two memberships available to the general public: The Gold Star membership for $60 per year and the Executive membership, which costs $120. The Gold Star is the first tier that gives you and one other member of your household access to the warehouse and online deals. Double the price, the Executive tier offers perks like additional savings on Costco Travel and 2% back on qualified purchases. There’s also a business membership available for $60 per year — you need to show a valid business license/identification to qualify for this tier. You can also purchase the Business Executive membership for $120 per year (the same qualifications apply)

All Costco members have access to the following:

• Food and grocery discounts (including Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand)
• Discounts on Kirkland Signature gasoline
• Clothing and home goods discounts
• Travel and auto discounts
• Insurance discounts
• Access to Costco Pharmacy
• Home product installation discounts
• Access to Costco’s Photo Center
• Access to the Costco Visa Anywhere Card

Costco’s return policy is exceedingly shopper friendly — you can return most items for any reason at any time for a full refund, save for a few exceptions like these:

• Most electronics need to be returned within 90 days
• If you return diamonds 1 carat or larger, you can receive a credit for other jewelry
• Some mobile devices have carrier-specific return policies
• Products like tires or batteries (that have a finite usable life) can have their own warranties
• Alcohol and cigarettes cannot be returned

Costco Gold Star Membership

Bj’s membership.

BJ’s has similar membership tiers as Costco, though their annual dues are slightly cheaper. The Inner Circle and Perks Rewards memberships are $55 and $110, respectively. The Inner Circle membership gives you access to the warehouse and member services (like access to the tire center), whereas the Perks Rewards tier also provides 2% cash back, double and/or triple cashback events and travel benefits. There’s also a Business version of each tier that offers “tax-exempt and resale privileges.” BJ’s also allows you to use manufacturer's coupons on their bulk items — which makes it unique among the warehouse clubs —so you can net even more savings.

All BJ’s members get access to exclusive services including the following:

• Food and groceries from Wellsley Farms
• Home products from Berkley Jensen
• Access to BJ’s Tire Center
• Access to BJ’s Optical
• Discounts with BJ’s Travel
• Home improvement projects by BJ’s contractors
• Free installation and assembly (furniture, TV mounting, etc.)
• Discounts on rental cars
• Special discounts on AT&T mobile service
• Access to BJ’s Photo

BJ’s will generally accept returns on most non-grocery items within one year of purchase, though there are some exceptions, including:

• Returnable within 90 days: computers, electronics, home theater displays, patio sets, TVs (if undamaged)
• Returnable within 30 days: large appliances like dishwashers, washers, dryers, ranges and refrigerators
• If “damaged upon initial inspection,” home theater displays, laptops, tablets and TVs are returnable within 14 days
• Some items cant be returned at all, like tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, gift cards, items with gas or fuel included or opened DVDs and video games

BJ’s Inner Circle Membership

Sam’s club membership.

Sam’s Club has the lowest priced membership, with two tiers — Club and Plus — that cost $50 and $110, respectively. The Club tier is the standard membership that provides access to the store and certain benefits. The Plus membership offers 2% back on qualifying purchases (up to $500 a year), free shipping for online orders, plus pharmacy and optical savings, you’ll need the Plus membership.

All Sam’s Club members get access to these benefits:

• Savings on Member’s Mark products
• Access to special discounts
• Curbside pickup ($4 for Club, free for Plus)
• Access to the Sam’s Club Mastercard
• Fuel savings
• Access to the tire and battery center

You can return most items to Sam’s Club at any time, though there are some exceptions:

• Returnable within 90 days: electronics and major appliances
• Returnable within 30 days: motorsports items and commercial heavy equipment
• Returnable within 14 days: mobile phones
• Non-returnable: gift or prepaid cards, custom-made items, Sam's Club Wholesale Trading Program purchases, tickets and prescriptions

Sam’s Club Plus Membership

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The single best deal for your money at bj’s wholesale club in may.

There’s good news if you’re a member at BJ’s Wholesale Club and going on a shopping trip this May. Not only will you be able to save money through sales on various items, but some of these purchases put a little extra money back into your pocket.

GOBankingRates spoke to a BJ’s Wholesale Club representative who shared their top recommendations to shop this month. Check out these runner-up and winning items that are among some of the best to shop for at BJ’s .

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Runner-Up: Berkley Jensen 5-Burner Gas Grill

May is a good month to shop for grills, like the Berkley Jensen 5-Burner Gas Grill , if you plan to host cookouts to celebrate holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day or the graduation season.

According to the BJ’s representative, BJ’s members that spend $200-plus on patio and grilling supplies will receive $20 off their purchase. Priced at $599.00, the Berkley Jensen grill features a 738-square-inch cooking area and 80,000-BTU cooking power which is enough to feed a large group whether you’re cooking steaks, hot dogs, vegetables or all of the above.

The gas grill also includes four main burners, a foldable side table, an enclosed cabinet and a grill cover. A two-year warranty is also included with this purchase.

Discover Next: These 10 Aldi Brand Products Are Worth Every Penny

Runner-Up: Duracell Coppertop AA Alkaline Batteries, 48-Count

Why are Duracell Coppertop AA Alkaline Batteries one of our runner-up best buys to make at BJ’s this month? As we head into the summer months, many people will begin saving the dates for travel plans including camping and spending time out in nature. If you don’t plan to take a generator for every trip, it’s a good idea to have plenty of batteries handy for flashlights and any emergency lighting sources.

These Duracell AA alkaline batteries are priced at $29.99 for 48 batteries, It’s also one of the qualifying items BJ’s members can purchase where they will receive a $20 BJ’s reward.

The BJ’s representative told GOBankingRates that when BJ’s members spend $100 on qualifying items in one transaction, such as these batteries, they will receive a $20 BJ’s reward now through May 27. This reward will be loaded to their membership card and may be redeemed May 31 through June 17.

Winner: Wholly Guacamole Minis

Our pick for the best item to buy at BJ’s Wholesale Club in May are the Wholly Guacamole Minis .

Originally priced at $11.79, the BJ’s representative told GOBankingRates these will be $2.50 off which brings the sale price done to $9.29. With 16 individually portioned cups inside every package, BJ’s members will only be paying about 58 cents per guacamole mini.

These minis will be a hit with everyone, whether you’re bringing them along to complement chips served at a Cinco de Mayo or Memorial Day party, packing a few for the kids as easy snacks on-the-go or enjoy a midday snack break while you work from home.

As a bonus, these dips stay good in your freezer for up to three months. If you’re not able to enjoy them all at once, just freeze the leftovers and thaw to enjoy at a later date.

More From GOBankingRates

I'm a Shopping Expert: 9 Items I'd Never Put in My Grocery Cart

10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle

This is One of the Best Ways to Boost Your Retirement Savings in 2024

7 Things You'll Be Happy You Downgraded in Retirement

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : The Single Best Deal for Your Money at BJ’s Wholesale Club in May

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The Single Best Deal for Your Money at BJ’s Wholesale Club in May

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There’s good news if you’re a member at BJ’s Wholesale Club and going on a shopping trip this May. Not only will you be able to save money through sales on various items, but some of these purchases put a little extra money back into your pocket. 

GOBankingRates spoke to a BJ’s Wholesale Club representative who shared their top recommendations to shop this month. Check out these runner-up and winning items that are among some of the best to shop for at BJ’s .

Runner-Up: Berkley Jensen 5-Burner Gas Grill

May is a good month to shop for grills, like the Berkley Jensen 5-Burner Gas Grill , if you plan to host cookouts to celebrate holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day or the graduation season. 

According to the BJ’s representative, BJ’s members that spend $200-plus on patio and grilling supplies will receive $20 off their purchase. Priced at $599.00, the Berkley Jensen grill features a 738-square-inch cooking area and 80,000-BTU cooking power which is enough to feed a large group whether you’re cooking steaks, hot dogs, vegetables or all of the above. 

The gas grill also includes four main burners, a foldable side table, an enclosed cabinet and a grill cover. A two-year warranty is also included with this purchase.

Runner-Up: Duracell Coppertop AA Alkaline Batteries, 48-Count

Why are Duracell Coppertop AA Alkaline Batteries one of our runner-up best buys to make at BJ’s this month? As we head into the summer months, many people will begin saving the dates for travel plans including camping and spending time out in nature. If you don’t plan to take a generator for every trip, it’s a good idea to have plenty of batteries handy for flashlights and any emergency lighting sources.

These Duracell AA alkaline batteries are priced at $29.99 for 48 batteries, It’s also one of the qualifying items BJ’s members can purchase where they will receive a $20 BJ’s reward. 

The BJ’s representative told GOBankingRates that when BJ’s members spend $100 on qualifying items in one transaction, such as these batteries, they will receive a $20 BJ’s reward now through May 27. This reward will be loaded to their membership card and may be redeemed May 31 through June 17.

Winner: Wholly Guacamole Minis

Our pick for the best item to buy at BJ’s Wholesale Club in May are the Wholly Guacamole Minis . 

Originally priced at $11.79, the BJ’s representative told GOBankingRates these will be $2.50 off which brings the sale price done to $9.29. With 16 individually portioned cups inside every package, BJ’s members will only be paying about 58 cents per guacamole mini.

These minis will be a hit with everyone, whether you’re bringing them along to complement chips served at a Cinco de Mayo or Memorial Day party, packing a few for the kids as easy snacks on-the-go or enjoy a midday snack break while you work from home. 

As a bonus, these dips stay good in your freezer for up to three months. If you’re not able to enjoy them all at once, just freeze the leftovers and thaw to enjoy at a later date.

More From GOBankingRates

• I'm a Shopping Expert: 9 Items I'd Never Put in My Grocery Cart
• 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle
• This is One of the Best Ways to Boost Your Retirement Savings in 2024
• 7 Things You'll Be Happy You Downgraded in Retirement

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Tips to travel Iceland on a budget, plus travel expert-approved gear

Where to get local deals, take a dip in a hot spring and more.

Need some summer vacation ideas that won't break the bank? "Good Morning America" is off to Iceland and packing expert tips to help create the perfect travel bucket list on a budget.

From free dips in hot springs to the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, ABC News' Ashan Singh explored the Nordic island nation and shared the top ways to enjoy every stop of the trip without overspending.

"Iceland is a tremendous deal from the Boston area in particular -- flights are only about five hours in each direction -- you could take just a long weekend there and still get an action-packed trip," Eric Rosen director of travel content for The Points Guy, told "GMA."

TPG has seen deals for as low as $400 and for travelers who don't care where they're seated on the plane, some fares drop as low as $230.

When it comes to hotels, Rosen offered another simple tip, spend now on credit cards from brands like Hilton or Marriott that, once the spending threshold is reached, offer large bonus points.

"Hilton cards for instance, offer anywhere from 130 to 180,000 points typically as part of their bonus," he said. "And that's going to be good enough for two maybe even three nights at some of these hotels in Reykjavik. And that could be your whole trip right there."

Iceland activities on a budget

Get a taste of the city's culture with the Reykjavík City Card, which gives visitors access to multiple museums, art galleries, pools and even bus transportation for free.

Enjoy going home with a fashionable souvenir? Local knits are quintessentially Iceland, but with handmade sweaters priced up to $500, Singh sought out second hand store, Extraloppan to score a sweater as low as $50.

Rent a car. Singh found deals for as low as $86 a day.

Save on a more extravagant meal by finding a deal through the Dineout Iceland app, which for a small fee offers discounts all over the land of fire and ice.

Looking for a cheap and quick local bite? Try a roadside hot dog for just $4.

Visit the free National Parks and take in sights like waterfalls and geysers, but Singh suggests skipping the Blue Lagoon, which can cost $350 for a family of four, instead opt for taking a dip in a local, free hot spring.

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Amazon Prime Day 2024: Here's what to expect, tips, and tricks

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Amazon Prime Day has grown into one of the biggest sales events of the year, with discounts rivaling those of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With so many retailers selling on Amazon, Prime members can save on just about anything, from viral beauty products to new unlocked smartphones.

The best Prime Day deals we saw last year included all-time lows on brands like Apple, Vitamix, iRobot, Dyson, Crocs, and, of course, Amazon-owned products like the Fire TV , Kindle e-reader , and Echo smart speakers . We expect to see more of the same this year as well.

It'll be the first major deal holiday of the year, so it's an awesome chance to score summer discounts on big-ticket items and household staples. The retailer's 10th Prime Day event has officially been announced to arrive in July, but the actual days are still unknown. In the meantime, we're keeping tabs on all of the latest Prime Day news, and we'll keep you updated with our findings here.

• Shop the latest deals at Amazon

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

Amazon Prime Day is officially coming this July, though the exact days have not yet been announced. In past years, it kicked off on the second Tuesday of the month. If Amazon follows the same trend, it will take place on July 9 and 10. We'll keep this story updated as more details are announced.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is the retailer's annual mega sale and one of the major benefits of Prime membership. It's a two-day sales event, usually during the summer, that features products from every category, from fashion staples to hot new tech. 

Though it used to be a deal holiday of a much smaller scale, Prime Day has grown exponentially since the first one in 2015. Now, you can find almost everything on sale for all-time low prices, matching discounts we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

What should I buy during Amazon Prime Day?

Everything is fair game to buy during Amazon Prime Day. Whether you've been holding out on a pricey new TV or just need to stock up on toiletries, Prime Day is a good time to make your move. 

Last year, we saw incredible prices on tech, including 4K TVs , Fire TV streaming devices , Apple products, Kindle e-readers , PC gaming accessories, Echo smart speakers , and top headphones picks. Prime Day tech deals featured brands like Logitech, Bose, Jabra, Sony, Roku, Samsung, TCL, and more. 

If you're looking for style and beauty deals during Prime Day, last year, brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Tatcha, Laneige, Levi's, Carhartt, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Adidas, and Marc Jacobs all featured products at rare low prices. That means skincare, makeup, shoes, men's clothing, women's fashion, and accessories will all be available for less. 

Home and kitchen products saw no shortage of Prime Day deals either, with big names like Dyson, Shark, iRobot, Philips, KitchenAid, Nespresso, Casper, Leesa, and OXO down to all-time lows for the event. So, whether you need an air fryer , robot vacuum , mattress , or just some sturdy mixing bowls, Prime Day is a good time to buy. 

You don't need to be focused on fancy new gadgets or treatments to shop smart during Amazon Prime Day either. We also catch tons of affordable household essentials available for even less every year, like toilet paper, dish soap, doggy bags, and makeup wipes. These deals are sweet, since they save you money on stuff you needed to buy anyway. 

How long do Prime Day deals last?

How long a Prime Day deal lasts differs between items, but in general, the best discounts will start during the event and end before the 48-hour holiday is over. Some will last the whole two days while others will only last one, so it's always wise to act on a good sale when you see it. Lightning deals especially go fast, the most popular of which dwindle away in less than an hour.

I always recommend buying a product you've had your eye on as soon as it's highlighted as a Prime Day deal. Regardless of how long it's set to last, oftentimes the best sales run out of stock, resulting in shipping dates being pushed out, or the deal no longer being offered at all. We'll be providing all of the deal context you need to shop confidently and quickly, so be sure to check our roundups of the best discounts when the event rolls around. 

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is locked to Prime members only. It's one of the major benefits of subscribing to the service, in addition to other perks like free two-day shipping and Prime Video streaming. 

If you have yet to become a member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to test it out. Once the official Prime Day dates have been announced, you can even time your free period to overlap with the sale, but it's not a guarantee since sometimes retailers will lock out free members from shopping the best deals.

Do other stores participate in Prime Day?

Although Prime Day is an Amazon-specific event, it's grown so large that other major retailers have started kicking off competing sales to overlap with it. No one has announced a competing Prime Day sale just yet, but if past years are any indication, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy will likely be holding their own events.

These are definitely worth checking out; they often match the best deals on popular items you can find from Prime Day. We'll also be rounding these deals up so you can shop from the retailer that best suits you, whether you're a Target Circle cardholder, My Best Buy Plus member, or Walmart Plus subscriber. 

Is Prime Day an international event?

Prime Day occurs in several other countries, but not all of them. Here's a list of countries where Prime Day will be available to shop:

• Netherlands
• Saudi Arabia
• The United Arab Emirates
• The United States
• The United Kingdom

Want to see what Amazon has on sale right now? We've spotted some hefty price cuts on electronics, fashion, home, kitchen, laptops, and more on its main deals page .

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