After landing in Santa Rosa, I kept taking all kinds of photos just for y’all!

They did a really nice job in remodeling this small airport that may no longer be considered so small anymore. With the number of people flying in these days, for the first time ever (and even the lady at the car rental desk admitted), it was a zoo!

The Charles Schultz, Santa Rosa Airport aka STS, used to be a remote little airport with nothing but propeller flights but now, there are major airplanes that commute not only from LAX but with direct flights from towns like Portland, Burbank, and Las Vegas.

Here are 3 tips when making your way into STS.

1. The Flexibility of Time:

   I’m not one to barely make it to a flight if I can help it. I like to eat before taking off at the airport if I can but when you’re here for the weekend, even if it’s a holiday, as long as you get here within an hour of take-off, you’ll be just fine. If we have a noon flight, we’ll wake up around 9 am, have breakfast, and be headed to STS by 10:45. We made sure to get to the airport way in advance during the holidays and we ended up having lots of cocktails in the bar before taking off. But again, that was before the remodel.

2. When Renting a Car:

   When renting a car, try not to take arrive late in the evening but if you do, CALL ahead. Make sure to contact the car rental desk to let them know you’ll be arriving late. The desk closes around 8 pm and once it’s closed, there’s nothing you can do about getting a car.

3. Free Case of Wine Check-in:

   Only Alaska Airlines provides free check-in boxes for a case of wine and you have to be a member. If you’re planning to fly back with at least a case of wine or two, (it’s one free case of wine per person) only Alaska Airlines offers this amazing deal. Avelo and Southwest do not offer this service.

Pro tip: I typically reserve the cheapest economy car and this is typically what I have gotten. I didn’t even know which car company I was reserving. This has happened a few times. The last time, I reserved a standard SUV and we ended up with a BMW X7.

People ask me all the time what my license plate LAX2STS stands for too. I guess flying into Santa Rosa is still the best-kept secret!