Travel & Leisure
Ratings & Advice
The latest ratings and advice for San Francisco Bay Area travel & leisure.
Advice
- 20 Ways Consumers Can Save Loads of Money
- 30 Tricks Sellers Use to Manipulate You
- 60 Travel Booking Tips
- 65 Things You (Probably) Shouldn't Pay For
- About Checkbook: Why We're Unique
- Airlines that Allow Free Stopovers Let You Design a Vacation with Variety
- Airport Parking Hack
- Amazon Floods Search Results with Ads
- Buy Now, Pay Later Often a Debt Trap
- Cell Phone Services
- Cell Phone Services: How to Avoid a Big Bill When Traveling Abroad
- Cell Phones: Protecting Yours
- Checkbook’s Top Shopping Tips
- Complaining: 10 Ways to Get Results
- Consumer Quiz
- Credit Cards Have Consumer Protection Superpowers
- DNA Ancestry Services
- E-Read for Free
- Fitness Plan: How to Make One and Stick with It
- Free Perks You Didn't Know You Have
- Hotel Intel: How to Find the Best Rates for Rooms
- Hotels: Tips for Finding a Sweeter Stay
- Hotels’ ‘Refundable’ and ‘Flexible’ Rates Often Not What They Seem
- House Sitting Networks
- Kids' Activity-Kit Services
- Marketers Often Use the Same Tactics as Cult Leaders
- Our Editors’ Favorite Websites and Apps
- Outlet Stores: What Do They Really Sell?
- Paid Loyalty Programs: What Are They, and Should You Join One?
- Parking: Finding the Best Rates
- Rental Car Insurance: Should You Buy It?
- Restaurants Pay Steep Commissions and Fees to Order-and-Delivery Services
- Sale Prices Are Usually Fake Discounts
- Social Media Headshots: Dos and Don'ts
- Social Media Privacy Tips
- Thrifty Gardening
- Tickets: Saving on Seats for Shows and Sports
- Timeshare Exit Companies Deserve a Time Out
- Tipping Tips
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Websites Mislead by Falsely Declaring Few Hotel Rooms Remain
- Travel: Health and Safety Info for International Trips
- Vacation Rental Industry Plagued by Problems
- Worse on Purpose: Taking on the Big Companies that Are Gutting Your Favorite Brands
Current Issue
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Do Outlet Stores Offer Real Savings?
Consumers’ Checkbook investigated 40 brands that operate off-price stores; we found many offer lower-quality merchandise, not legitimate bargains
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Securing Your Home
Strategies and gadgets that actually work
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Locksmiths
How to pick the best pros and devices
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Win the Healthcare Prior Authorization Game
How to fight a common health insurance battle
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Auto Body Shops
Help with making crash decisions
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Auto Glass Repair & Replacement
The most vulnerable part on your car can cost thousands of dollars to replace
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Appliance Repair
Dealing with a fritzy fridge, broken stove, or wonky washer
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Buying Appliances
Get the best deal and avoid headaches
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Estate Planning Tasks and Tips
Dos and don’ts to avoid common mistakes—and save you money
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Getting Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff
Tips on downsizing, decluttering, what to do with hazardous materials, estate and junk-removal options, and more
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Food Package Claims
Which terms are meaningful? Which are nonsense?
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Laundry Tips
Top expert explains how to get really clean clothes
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Protect Yourself from Fraud
12 top strategies to reduce your chances of becoming a victim