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.

JetBlue
Harvey Milk Terminal 1 officially opens at SFO
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
An enormous 380-foot temporary wall with a memorial to the life and times of Harvey B Milk, a local civil rights pioneer assassinated in 1978 at SFO. Today, San Francisco International Airport opened gates
Burning Man
Burning Man releases 10-year environmental sustainability roadmap
SFGate - Isabela Angus
FILE -- Participants beneath the Tree of Ténéré by Zachary Smith at Burning Man 2017. Burning Man Project released a 10-year roadmap on July 20, 2019 with aims to "develop, proliferate, and scale environmental
Train Travel
7 reasons to take the train instead of the plane in Europe
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Taking the train in Frankfurt, Germany Planning a trip to Europe this summer? The expansion of U.S. service by low-cost airlines like Norwegian and Air Italy, along with low late-summer transatlantic currently
Airports
Long lines, hassles at the crack of dawn at the airport
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
The airport check-in area was already teeming with people. Airline gate agents were busy lecturing a big tour group about carry-on luggage limits. The lines for security were dozens deep — even the PreCheck
Airports
Watch out: An early morning surprise at the airport
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
The airport check-in area was already teeming with people. Airline gate agents were busy lecturing a big tour group about carry-on luggage limits. The lines for security were dozens deep — even the PreCheck
San Francisco, CA
The cheapest flight deals out of San Francisco, just in time for Labor Day weekend
SFGate - Susana Guerrero
Click on the slideshow above to see the best deals on flights out of SFO before Labor Day. If you need an excuse to escape San Francisco this Labor Day weekend without breaking the bank, luck could be
Maui
You Want the Best Swimming Holes? These 8 Hidden Stunners Will Make Your Summer
SFGate - Jessica Mordo, Sunset
PICTURED: Havasu Falls, Supai, Ariz. When temperatures rise, there's nothing better than cooling off at a pool deep in the wilds—and nowhere in the West more beautiful than these jaw-dropping spots. For
American Airlines
Routes: Air Italy at SFO, LAX + United to India, Delta, AA, MAX mess, Frontier, Hawaii
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
A weekly roundup of major airline route and service news Air Italy said it will resume San Francisco-Milan flights in March. In route news, Air Italy confirmed it will resume flights to San Francisco Los
Paris
How to pull off a surprisingly cheap French dream vacation
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
France on a budget? Oui, c'est possible! Wine tasting in Bordeaux, wandering the idyllic streets of Ile St. Louis in Paris, and sunning on the French Rivera — they're experiences on many travelers' bucket
Chernobyl
Instagrammers hospitalized after diving into toxic Spanish 'lake' nicknamed the 'Galician Chernobyl'
SFGate - Eric Ting
Multiple Instagrammers were reportedly hospitalized after swimming in a toxic "lake" in Spain. Multiple Instagram influencers were reportedly hospitalized after swimming in a highly-toxic "lake" in Spain,
United Airlines
United hopes to make wi-fi free, faster
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
United COO says it's working to fast, free inflight wi-fi United Airlines is improving its onboard internet product in hopes of eventually making wi-fi free for customers, the airline's president Scott
Hiking
How to survive if you get lost hiking
SFGate - Dakota Kim, Sunset
Have you ever taken a wrong turn at a trailhead, and suddenly an easy one-mile hike becomes an eight-mile and counting excursion with no end in sight? Even the most experienced hikers can get lost. Getting
Vancouver, BC
Portland to Vancouver in two hours – by high-speed rail
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
New report backs a high-speed corridor in the Pacific Northwest A new report backs a high-speed rail service in the Pacific Northwest. As California plods along with planning for an intra-state high-speed
Airlines
Delta's newest jet is set for West Coast routes
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
Delta Air Lines debuted its newest long-haul plane in Seattle Monday, a jet the carrier intends to operate on some of its most important — and highly lucrative — routes between the U.S. West Coast and
Seattle, WA
Deal: Almost-private JetSuiteX has rare fare sale
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Semi-private JetSuiteX is offering a rare late summer fare sale If you've not had a chance to try JetSuiteX, now's your chance to fly in style on the cheap with a new 3-day fare sale for late summer travel.
Marriott International
Marriott CEO defends irritating resort fees
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
New York City's Marriott Marquis at Times Square charges $30 a night as a "destination amenity fee." There's no doubting that deceptive resort fees are a hot-button issue among travelers. And now, after
Northern California
9 incredible tiny home Airbnbs in Northern California
SFGate - Ryan Craggs
Tiny homes are having a moment — maybe just a second, given their size — and Northern California is no exception to the phenomenon. While you could spend nearly $20,000 on your very own tiny home kit,
Tokyo
Flying to Tokyo on ANA's B777 set to get a lot nicer
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Meal service in business class on ANA's redesigned 777-300ER. Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) – a joint venture partner of United and a member of the Star Alliance – just revealed a really nice redesign
Burning Man
How you can still get a ticket to Burning Man even if you procrastinated
SFGate - Isabela Angus
Burning Man is an annual gathering where "Burners" from all over come together in the Black Rock desert of Gerlach, Nev. to construct a temporary city. Alright. You want to be a Burner. You want to get
Lufthansa
Routes: Lufthansa jumbos, Norwegian at SFO' Delta's new jets, Virgin A350s
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
Lufthansa will put a 747-8I onto its San Francisco-Frankfurt route next summer. In route news, Lufthansa will change aircraft on two San Francisco routes next year; Norwegian moves more Oakland flights
Campgrounds
The top 15 family campgrounds in the West
SFGate - Sunset
Splash in the ocean, wade in a lake, ride a bike, or paddle a kayak—these sites will keep kids and parents happy for days. Summer is perfect time to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Airports
Paris is calling: Cheap roundtrip flights from SFO and OAK going for around $400
SFGate - Susana Guerrero
If Paris has long been on your bucket list, now’s the time to book a cheap flight from San Francisco or Oakland. Thrifty Traveler, a travel news website, spotted lots of roundtrip deals for less than with
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines' largest lounge opens in Seattle [PHOTOS]
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
A peek into the look of new SFO lounge opening 2020 Alaska Airlines flagship Alaska Lounge at Seattle Airport's North Satellite Terminal opened in July 2019 with sweeping views from the runways to the
Boeing 737 MAX
Southwest reissues 737 safety cards to allay MAX fears
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
737 MAX 8 is no longer mentioned on 737-800 seatback advisories Southwest has issued separate safety information cards for the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8. A few months ago, not long after the FAA ordered the
Staycations
The 15 best places for a staycation in the Bay Area
SFGate - Drew Costley
Check out the gallery above to see 15 of the best places for a staycation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Do you want to get away from the bustle of life in San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose, but don't
Marriott International
Is this the end of deceptive hotel resort fees?
SFGate - Chris McGinnis
The resortfeechecker.com website cites a resort fee of $38.74 a day at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. The hotel industry practice of charging so-called resort fees as a mandatory add-on to the quoted
Unesco
See all of UNESCO's new additions to its 2019 World Heritage sites list
SFGate - Nikki Tran
Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (Portugal) Photo: The Royal Convent and Mafra's baroque and neoclassic National Palace. To see all 29 of these
Bangkok
Unusually good roundtrip flights to Thailand on sale for $520
SFGate - Alix Martichoux
If you've been dreaming of top-notch street food, beautiful Buddhist temples, or seeing elephants in nature, Thailand is calling your name. Roundtrip flights from San Francisco to Bangkok are on sale about
British Airways
First look: British Airways lounge at SFO (PHOTOS)
SFGate - Chris McGinnis, Tim Jue
New private dining room could be San Francisco's most exclusive The closure of the British Airways Lounge at San Francisco Airport at the beginning of the year has left the airline's fliers bouncing around