What to Pack in a Go Bag

As the East Coast cleanup begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, now is a good time to take stock of your emergency supplies -- no matter where you live.

I grew up in California where having an earthquake preparedness kit was expected, but after moving to New York, I have to admit that I grew complacent. At times, I'd be lucky to find anything edible in my fridge or cupboards. And spare batteries? Most of my electronics are charged via USB these days. Apparently many New Yorkers faced the same dilemma, as seen with the pre-hurricane rush to supermarkets and hardware stores.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management has a complete list of what to include in an emergency supply kit. Of all the travel gear that has crossed my desk over the years, here are some of the travel essentials that I'd make sure to include in my "go bag."

1. Backup phone charger. Energizer makes a great portable charger that I take on road trips or anytime I need some extra juice for my iPhone.

2. Zip-top bags. I'm a fan of Ecozip, 2-in-1 plastic zip-top bags.

3. Sleep sack. DreamSacks by Yala are lightweight silk liners that can make the prospect of sleeping on an airport floor a little less disgusting.

4. Water bottle. Bobble makes reusable water bottles with a built-in filter.

5. Travel-friendly toothbrush. Colgate makes Wisps, disposable toothbrushes that help freshen your breath without needing toothpaste.

6. Mini flashlight. D-cell batteries are just so heavy and clunky.

7. Disposable wipes. Baby wipes or wet wipes come in handy if no running water is readily available.

8. Spare contacts.

Photo by Amy Chen

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.

London: The Royal Wedding

Like the millions of people who tuned into watch Prince William marry Kate Middleton earlier today, I set my alarm to catch the live web streaming that began at 6 a.m. EST. Granted, I watched most of the ceremony on my iPad while still in bed.

The pomp and circumstance aside, I was especially impressed by the crowd control. In this shot, the cops/bobbies held hands to keep the crowd at bay as the revelers surged into the streets outside Buckingham Palace. The palace itself is open for public tours in August and September. While watching the wedding coverage, I couldn't help but get a bit nostalgic for London, where I lived for nine months while studying abroad during college.

On my tour of Buckingham Palace, I recall asking a security guard about the heavy red carpets that lined the corridors. Apparently the carpets are removed after the tourists have come and gone. (The carpets naturally aren't good enough for the Queen.) Perhaps the carpets were rolled out again for wedding guests at the reception?

Photo Caption: The scene outside Buckingham Palace as viewed on the iPad. Photo by Amy Chen