THE battle of the budget transatlantic airlines has led to eye-wateringly low US flights in the last couple of years.

But Thomas Cook’s latest offering could be the best yet.

At midday today, the travel company launched a 24 hour flash sale for direct flights from Manchester to San Francisco.

Return economy flights are available from £300 for travel in May.

But unlike other low-cost flights, these ones include all of the frills too, with the economy tickets include 6kg of hand baggage and 23kg of checked baggage.

They will also include a three-course meal and in-flight entertainment.

The hotel prices don't have to be crazy either  – from £326 for seven nights for a double room in May.

The west coast city is well worth a visit and May is a great time thanks to mild temperature and a lack of rain.

Take a couple of weeks and you can soak it all up on a road trip through the north of the state – but while in town, make use of the old cable cars.

As well as the famous Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, there is plenty to see in the middle of the city.

Now it’s a high tech heaven with Silicon Valley on the doorstep and loads of hipster hangouts.

The Mai Tai cocktail was invented in Oakland so it would be rude to pass through without trying a few.

These days, though, craft beer is what everyone’s drinking – with plenty of breweries to sample.

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The food is also out of this world, as Rick Stein realised on a recent trip to film his new show Rick Stein's Road To Mexico.

The first show starts in the bay of San Francisco, California. Here, the chef samples oyster pancakes and sourdough bread.

It's also the place where a young Rick got his first taste of Mexican food. Enchiladas, guacamole and burritos became real to the chef in this town.

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