Star Alliance carrier TAP Portugal offers free stopovers in Lisbon on most of its connecting tickets. In this special case, it even drops the price: With departure from London (both Heathrow and Gatwick), you can reach San Francisco for as little as €313 (~£269), if you spend two to five nights in Lisbon on the outbound leg. Adding a checked bag costs €75 for the entire trip.
You have to be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days to enter the United States, with an approved vaccine, unless you are a US resident/citizen. You can read more about the entry requirements at the CDC.
TAP flights purchased before June 30, 2022, can be rebooked without having to pay a rebooking fee, but the price difference will have to be paid. This does not apply to Discount fares.
Our availability will forward you to TAP with your preselected flight dates. We recommend booking directly there, as OTAs sell tickets only €10 cheaper, with a much greater chance of running into trouble. Tickets are available in January and February 2023.
Without the stopover in Lisbon, tickets are roughly €100 (~£86) more expensive.
Airbus A320 family planes take you from London to Lisbon and back. Some flights from Gatwick are Embrear 190 services, which might be preferable. The Embraers have a much more generous seat pitch than TAP’s A320s.
The airlines uses brand-new Airbus A330-900 NEO aircraft for its transatlantic services. These marvels of modern engineering feature a 2-4-2 seating in economy, with in flight entertainment in every seat.
Search & Book
The fare rules don’t give an expiration date for this price. You have to stay at least six days at your destination or a night from Saturday to Sunday at the lowest fare.
Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates. Because these are multistop tickets, flights are a bit harder to find, but the price justifies the time invested. You can also search directly on TAP’s website.
Mileage
TAP issues tickets for all flight segments in booking class O, severely limiting your earning opportunities:
- 3,084 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 1,258 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 1,258 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
- 1,258 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 1,258 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 1,012 Miles on Hainan Fortune Wings Club
- 628 Miles on Azul TodoAzul
Destination
While it’s easier to strike a bargain in Lisbon, hotel prices in San Francisco are among the highest in the US. They usually start at roughly €80 depending on the hotel category. Whichever category and hotel you opt for, make sure to get the best price! Our recommendation is to search on booking.com, or even on our own Travel-Dealz hotel search:
Information & Tips for USA
The USA offers many sights, natural wonders and cultural significance. Thanks to numerous airlines offering flights across the Atlantic, it is always pretty inexpensive to get there. Alternatively, you can also cross the Atlantic by boat.
Immigration, ESTA & Visa Requirements
The USA has one of the strictest entry regulations in the world. Most EU citizens, among others, are lucky to be able to participate in the so-called Visa Waiver Program. If you get an electronic entry permit (ESTA) for approximately €20, you don’t need a visa for entry.
The Best Time to Visit
Due to its sheer size, the perfect time to visit the USA varies greatly from region to region. In winter, Florida is very popular due to the mild temperatures. In the summer the West and East Coasts are flooded by tourists which drives up the prices for hotels and flights and during the Indian Summer in late autumn New England is a very popular destination. The hurricane season between July and September can be dangerous in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida and the southern states are regularly struck by these tropical storms. Blizzards occur from the East Coast to the Midwest during the winter months and regularly put air traffic and public life on hold.
Currency
The US dollar is widely used throughout the world and accepted as a currency in most tourist hotspots worldwide. That being said, carrying cash isn’t necessary in the US, all you need is a credit card! These are very common in the USA and are accepted pretty much everywhere without any issues. If you already have a credit card in your wallet, you should make sure that it does not charge a foreign currency fee if possible. Carrying a few dollars in cash doesn’t hurt though. You might need cash e.g. for the bus ticket if you want to buy it directly from the driver. Most of the time you even have to give exact change.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Knowroaming and Ubigi. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for the USA 🇺🇸 Compared
→ All Dealz for USA
Information & Tips for San Francisco
The city on the Pacific coast in California captivates with unique buildings like the Golden Gate Bridge but also with the serenity, enlightenment and cultural diversity of the population.
Best Time to Visit
Temperatures in San Francisco are quite warm and moderate all year round. But in winter you have to expect to get more rain. The best months for traveling are April to October.
Top 3 Sights
Golden Gate Bridge: There are only a few buildings that say ‘USA’ as much as the bridge that connects with San Francisco to Sausalito. You can pass the bridge either by car, on foot or by bike. The latter is highly recommended because it is somewhat tricky to get on the bridge by foot. When planning your trip, you should always check the weather forecast, as the bridge is often covered in thick fog. This might be great for taking spectacular pictures of the bridge, but passing it could be rather disappointing due to the limited visibility.
Alcatraz Island: You can reach the legendary prison island, on which Al Capone was imprisoned, by ferry. You can book tickets on the official website. Attention: Other sites that also offer tickets are only re-sellers who charge excessive prices. It is worth to book the tickets in advance because especially during high season the ferry can be full due to the limited number of seats.
Fisherman’s Wharf: An excellent place to start your visit to San Francisco. This old part of town – once the Little Italy of San Francisco – is famous for its shops, restaurants and the beautiful atmosphere by the water. It’s a nice place to walk around and get a taste of the city. It’s also a starting point for tours with spectacular views of the city.
→ All Dealz for San Francisco
Thanks to our source flynous!
Cover Picture: Fabian Joy