8 hidden perks you can get if you're a Costco member

A standard membership at Costco is $60 a year. An executive membership will cost you double that, with an annual fee of $120. But if you plan on putting your membership to good use, the executive option might be a better deal.

Five Costco employees told Business Insider that they recommended springing for the executive membership, as it offers a 2% reward of up to $1,000 on your purchases.

Technically, Costco is one of the largest pizza chains in the US. And, while the warehouse club doesn't do delivery, if you call in advance you can swing by and pick up your pies of choice.

Arranging a burial is a grim task, but Costco members may not realize that the warehouse chain has established itself in the funeral business.

Four Costco employees from Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, and Washington previously told Business Insider that caskets were the most "surprising" product sold at the warehouse store.

"They are cheap compared to other places," one worker told Business Insider.

Need a car? Look into Costco's auto program, which hooks you up with discounted vehicles from participating dealerships.

Costco's travel site allows shoppers to peruse bargains on flights, hotels, and cruises. Executive members also get 2% cash back on all travel purchases.

"Come on," said one employee who has worked at the chain for six years. "You get 2% back on travel. Go to Hawaii. Make money."

And once you've booked your trip, you can also skip a jaunt to the sporting goods store and get most of your outdoor gear at Costco itself.

A Costco employee in Princeton, New Jersey, singled out Costco's kayaks as the chain's most "unexpected" product.

The retail chain also sells paddle boards, inflatable sun decks, and pack rafts for the aquatically inclined.

Costco just recently made headlines for its sale of a $419,999.99 10-carat diamond ring.

That mega-expensive piece of bling was no fluke. Costco is known for stocking a few surprises in its jewelry section, a major perk for members on the hunt for flashy gems.