How to Find the Best Travel Deals

Money magazine's timing couldn't be better. Its latest cover story reveals how to find the best deals on everything, including how to save money on travel.

I talked to some industry experts for their best tips on traveling on a budget.

Here are some highlights:

Travelzoo's Andrew Young shared his pick of Croatia's Dalmatian Coast as a money-saving alternative to Italy's Amalfi Coast.

CheapOair's Bill Miller revealed that holiday airfare sales tend to start in October.

Kayak's Robert Birge found that airfare to Denver and Seattle from many U.S. cities was actually lower than this time a year ago.

Rich Tucker of CruiseDeals.com said that last-minute cruises could save you an additional 20%.

Read more travel tips here.

Duty-Free Shops: Deal or No Deal?

Are airport duty-free shops a rip-off -- or is it actually possible to find a decent travel deal at one of those ubiquitous duty-free stores?

Freelance writer Lisa Cheng (formerly of Travel + Leisure) tackled the tough topic for Frommers.com, which gained the attention of both USA Today and Rudy Maxa of the radio show "Rudy Maxa's World."

Since I edited the piece, I was asked to share some of Lisa's findings on last Saturday's "Rudy Maxa's World" broadcast. Listen to learn if it's worth buying designer bags, watches, cosmetics, cigarettes, or other items at airport duty-free shops. (I come on at the 23-minute mark).

Photo Caption: Duty-free cigarettes and alcohol are for sale by the departure gates at New York's JFK Airport. Photo by Amy Chen

Best-Value Destination: Lisbon, Portugal

I recently sat down with CNN.com to discuss Lisbon, one of the most affordable destinations in Europe right now. Want luxury for less? You can book a five-star hotel in Lisbon for about $160, according to Hotels.com's annual Hotel Price Index.

Yes, airfare to Europe is out of control this summer. Luckily, Lisbon is said to have weather that's similar to Southern California -- which means that come fall, Lisbon is still a good 10 degrees warmer than, say, Paris.

How to Find Hidden Airfare Deals

In the April issue of Money magazine, I tackled the multimillion dollar question: Is it possible to find affordable airfare deals?

Experts like George Hobica of Airfarewatchdog.com, Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com, and Ike Anand of Expedia weighed in on how to book cheaper plane tickets.

Read their money-saving tips at CNN.com.

Photo by Amy Chen

Holiday Travel Deals for Christmas & New Year's

Scared off by high prices and holiday-travel crowds?

Here are some affordable alternatives for holiday travel, as I wrote for Money magazine's November issue.

Where to Find Holiday Travel Bargains

Rather than ski in Breckenridge, head to Crested Butte, Colorado. I found a five-night Ski.com package that includes lift tickets and an airfare credit up to $400.

Everyone goes to San Juan, Puerto Rico, but you can find white-sand beaches and savings in Nassau, Bahamas.

New York City is one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve parties, but Washington, D.C. has the museums -- and the National Christmas tree.

Photo by Amy Chen: The view of the Washington Monument from the rooftop bar at the W Hotel.

Best Fall Travel Deals: Barcelona, Hilton Head Island & Sydney

I was asked by Money magazine about where to find the best travel deals this fall. Rather than resort to the obvious choices (Las Vegas? been there, done that), I consulted some industry experts, did the math, and came up with a list of winners: Barcelona, Hilton Head Island, and Sydney.

Check out this slideshow for the best shoulder-season destinations this fall.

Photo by Amy Chen: A wine bar in Barcelona's Raval neighborhood.