I’ve shopped at Costco locations in 5 different countries. These 6 things have surprised me most.

Trying different food-court items at Costco may be my favorite vacation activity. The offerings are always affordable, and I never know what local specialty or twist on a classic I might find behind the counter.

When I was at Costco in England, I found heaping scoops of gelato piled high into giant waffle cones and enormous loaded jacket potatoes topped with things like tuna, cheese, and beans.

Costco in Australia offered steak pies and mango boba smoothies at its food court, and the one in South Korea had soups on the menu.

At every Costco I've visited so far, I've seen a hot dog on the food court's menu. Sometimes, the dogs and toppings differ.

In Mexico, I found self-service stations where I could add jalapeño and onion to my hot dog. The Australian hot dog on offer is all-pork, unlike the all-beef option in North America and just about everywhere else.

The value of America's famous $1.50 soda-and-hot-dog combo also varies abroad — especially if you factor in the exchange rate.

The rate varies, but the combo costs £1.50 in England, which is about $1.96. In Mexico, the combo costs 35 pesos, about $1.91. It was a good deal when I was in Australia, and the 1.99 Australian-dollar price converted to about $1.29.

In most countries I've visited, I've been able to easily scan my American Costco card to get access to the store.

So, I was surprised when the outdoor Costco food-court kiosk I visited in Mexico rejected my membership card.

Eventually, I learned that I needed to request a temporary membership card from the membership counter. It didn't cost me extra, but it was a bit of a hassle.

Once that was settled, I was able to use that printed card to order at the food court, gain entry to the store, and purchase groceries.

All that to say, be prepared to stop at the membership desk first in some countries — even if that gooey chocolate-chunk cookie is calling your name.

Costco works with a variety of suppliers, and its stores are typically stocked with the local market and regional shoppers in mind.

For example, I found Kirkland Signature mini cochinita bakes at a Mexican location, and kangaroo dog treats in an Australian one.

While shopping at Costco in South Korea, I was offered a sample-sized "Jäger bomb," which was Jägermeister mixed with a South Korean energy drink. It was just past 10 a.m., but I indulged anyway.

It's always fun to see which American products are distributed to Costco locations worldwide.

In England, I was pleased to find ranch dressing imported from Johnny's Fine Foods, a brand based in Tacoma, Washington. I also spotted massive tubs of Red Vines, one of my favorite American candies that I usually can't find abroad.

Sometimes, products differ slightly. In Australia, I thought I'd found the American classic Kellogg's Rice Krispies — but they were actually a nearly identical-looking cereal packaged as Kellogg's Rice Bubbles.

Costco is one of the most popular retailers in the US, and it certainly feels like a hit in other countries.

Although I've braved many long lines on weekends at Costco back home, I was still unprepared for the crowded stores during my international visits.

Even midafternoon on a weekday in Mexico, long checkout lines weaved all the way to the back of the store.

Eventually, I took the advice from locals and stayed in line, slowly moving alone while my partner retrieved items to add to our cart. All in all, we waited 40 minutes to check out.

Some of the crowds may be attributed to the fact that there are relatively few Costco locations in some countries abroad. There are hundreds in the US, but fewer than 50 in Mexico, Australia, and South Korea.

Truly, there's nothing like shopping at Costco on vacation.

I love that my membership card gives me access to large aisles of massively sized goods all over the world, and I still have many locations on my bucket list.

And with the retailer continuing to expand internationally, I know there will always be opportunities to try new warehouses around the globe.