Travel news and trip hacks

The latest fascinating travel news, flight deals and tips from SFGATE and our resident expert, Chris McGinnis of the TravelSkills blog.

By SFGate

Air Travel
United adding extra flights for techies
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
United Airlines this week started taking reservations for a heavy schedule of flights into Las Vegas during the first and second weeks of January for the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Scheduled
7 hours ago
Hawaii
Hawaii fares plunge for fall & winter trips
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
New Southwest flights to Kauai have sparked a fare war. Pictured: Waimea Canyon State Park on Kauai's north shore The Southwest Effect is back when it comes to fares from the Bay Area to Hawaii, with and
14 hours ago
WOW Air
Routes: Southwest to Hawaii, United, Delta, Contour, JSX, AA, Cathay, WOW, more
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Southwest has schedule details for its new Bay Area-Hawaii flights starting in January. In route news this week, more details emerge about Southwest's expanded Hawaii service from the Bay Area; Delta United
2 days ago
U.S. Government Shutdown
Global Entry expiration dates extended due to backlog
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Benefits now last 12 months after expiration if a renewal application is filed Because of an ongoing backlog in renewal applications from members of Customs & Border Protection's Global Entry trusted program,
4 days ago
Airlines
SFO runway debacle: How much is this going to cost?
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Airlines, airport mum on the tab, but travelers are not The SFO airport runway mess is likely costing millions, but who is paying the tab? As most travelers know by now, San Francisco International Airport
4 days ago
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines takes off from Seattle [PHOTOS]
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
Airline takes cues from SFO service for new Northwest route The Singapore Airlines A350-900XWB loads up for the return flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport. SEATTLE
5 days ago
Amalfi Coast
Eating out in Italy: My advice
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
A delicately chewy octopus starter served with sliced potatoes, arugula and tomatoes served at La Fontelina beach club on Capri. Eating out in Italy is mouthwateringly amazing. Over the last two weeks
6 days ago
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines says seat pitch is 'misleading'
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Carrier’s new bowed seats will have the same pitch but more “useable legroom” Spirit is installing new seats across its all-Airbus fleet. Low-cost Spirit Airlines, which has ranked at or near the bottom
6 days ago
Air Travel
Booked to fly to/from delay plagued SFO? Here's what to do
SFGate - SF Gate
If you are booked to fly to or from San Francisco International Airport between now and September 27 during a massive runway resurfacing project, it's quite likely that you'll face a flight delay or cancellation.
September 9
Air India
International Routes: BA strike, United, Delta to Tokyo, Air India, AA, Lufthansa, Singapore
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Air India now flies its San Francisco route over the North Pole. In Part 2 of our routes update, we're going to focus on all the news that came out in the past few weeks about U.S. overseas markets – there's
September 9
Alaska Airlines
Routes: Big changes at Southwest, Alaska + JetSuiteX, Air Canada, AA, Hawaiian, SFO
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
JetSuiteX has rebranded itself as JSX. Following our August hiatus, we have a lot of catching up to do with our route news roundup – so much that we're breaking it into two parts. Today, we'll look at
September 8
Air Travel
Airlines, fliers brace for SFO runway closures and delays
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
20-day shutdown could spoil travel plans, but airlines say they're ready One of SFO's busiest runways, 28L (lower right) will be closed for 20 days of repairs in September. Runways 01L and 01R (bottom)
September 7
Airbnb
Here’s how old-school bed and breakfasts are surviving in the Airbnb age
SFGate - Madeline Wells
Innkeeper Marty Neely helps guest Don Dolese at the front desk of The Inn San Francisco. It is a longtime B&B located in a spectacular Victorian house on South Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. The Inn
September 6
Nature
Fun things to do in the Bay Area for free or under $5
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
See the gallery above for things to do in the Bay Area that are free or under $5. At this point, the Bay Area is synonymous with expensive. Drinks? Expensive. A nice dinner out? Even pricier. Housing?
September 3
Beaches
Beach vacation on a budget: How to spend a cheap weekend in Santa Cruz
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
Beach getaways don't have to be expensive, especially when you live in the Bay Area, where there are cute beach towns up and down the coast. A personal favorite of mine is Santa Cruz. When I drive down
August 31
Burning Man
The temporary city built for Burning Man is visible from space
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
This Sunday, Aug 25, 2019, satellite image provided by Satellite image �2019 Maxar Technologies shows a view over the Burning Man Festival in Gerlach, Nev. (Satellite image �2019 Maxar Technologies via
August 27
San Francisco, CA
Find the hidden details in San Francisco's most iconic buildings
SFGate - Madeline Wells
We all know San Francisco is an epicenter of architectural genius. Our famous buildings are so iconic they send tourists lumbering like zombies down Muni routes they don't understand, grumbling, "Golden
August 26
Northern California
Northern California's quirkiest beach towns
SFGate - Madeline Wells
There's something about the smell of salty ocean air and the feel of sand between your toes that makes the eccentricity of beach towns seem charming. Yard of creepy dinosaur statues? Cute, take a selfie!
August 25
Burning Man
Wild list of 2019 Burning Man activities: Sensual hot dog eating, Bob Ross and more
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
FILE — Participants at Burning Man 2018. If you're bored at Burning Man, you're doing it wrong. The schedule of activities for the nine-day event in the Nevada desert is stacked. There is something (often
August 23
Air Travel
Airline tests world's longest nonstop flight for effects on human body
SFGate - Madeline Wells
Business Class on the Qantas Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. (Courtesy Qantas Airways) Tired of layovers that keep you from shooting off to the other side of the globe as fast as humanly possible? Australian
August 22
Cool Stuff
Long layover? These are the coolest ways to kill time at SFO
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
Click or swipe through the slideshow above for the coolest ways to kill time at SFO. Whether it's a fog-induced flight delay, a long layover, or you just got to the airport too early, it can be a bummer
August 22
Sweden
Need some privacy to write your novel? This guy's offering his island
SFGate - Dianne de Guzman
Ideas Island is a place for creatives to stay for a week in Sweden to work on their projects — for free — courtesy of owner Fredrik Härén. Finding a place to properly unwind and unplug in order to work
August 22
Maldives
Dream job alert: Beach bookshop in the Maldives looking for next 'barefoot bookseller'
SFGate - Isabela Angus
Applications to be the next Barefoot Bookseller are now open and due on Sept. 1, 2019. Bookworms, look no further for your ultimate dream job. The Soneva Fushi resort in the Maldives just announced that
August 20
Air Travel
Southwest plans to drop Bay Area nonstop routes to 3 destinations
SFGate - Susana Guerrero
Southwest is dropping nonstop flights between all Bay Area airports and three destinations the carrier currently connects them to. Starting January 6, Bay Area residents will no longer have the option
August 20
MacBook Pro
Worried about flying with your MacBook Pro laptop? Here's what you need to know.
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
Reports began circulating this week that the Federal Aviation Administration had banned travelers from bringing certain MacBook Pro laptops on planes due to a battery issue. Those reports, put simply,
August 19
Northern California
The best inn-to-inn hikes in California
SFGate - Dakota Kim, Sunset
An alternative to backpacking, inn-to-inn hiking lets you spend your days in the great outdoors—and your nights in a comfortable bed. Author Tom Courtney tells us about his favorite such hikes. Click the
August 19
'No injuries, but potatoes everywhere': Overturned semi spills spuds across major highway in Oregon
SFGate - Nikki Tran
On Friday Aug. 16 around 2 p.m. in Hillsboro, a city near Portland, Oregon, a semi-truck overturned, scattering potatoes across Highway 26. Driving on open highway roads, there are many scenic views to
August 16
Computer issue creates backups at SFO, other airports nationwide
SFGate - Eric Ting
An issue with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection computer system has San Francisco International Airport and airports nationwide reporting backups and long lines. Officials have been forced to process
August 16
Take the scenic route: Amtrak offering steep discounts on September travel
SFGate - Madeline Wells
Looking for a last-minute weekend getaway? Amtrak is cutting prices for trips all around the country between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30. However, the sale only lasts Friday and Saturday, so deal-seekers need
August 16