Hurricane Season: 5 Safer Bets for Island Vacations

Hurricane Irene made everyone a bit nervous, but the experts know which islands are statistically less likely to have a major hurricane strike within 100 miles.

The Atlantic hurricane season -- which lasts from June 1 until Nov. 30 -- coincides with when some Caribbean resorts drop rates by 20 to 40 percent or try to entice you with free nights, according to Hotels.com. But before you book that too-good-to-be-true deal, remember that a fast-moving tropical storm or hurricane could literally rain out your vacation.

How can you pick wisely? "Any place within about 7 degrees latitude of the equator is almost always safe from hurricanes," says Kerry Emanuel, a professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Or if you want a tropical vacation with beachfront hotels but minus the iffy weather, look to these safer (and more affordable) bets instead.

Some interesting hurricane stats include:

Aruba: 4% chance of a hurricane hitting within 100 miles (v. 51% in the Bahamas)
St. Maarten: 5% chance

Other options: Contadora Island, Pearl Islands, Panama
"Panama is hardly ever directly hit by the core of a hurricane since it's so close to the equator," says Dr. Rick Knabb, tropical program manager for The Weather Channel.

Read the the full story in the October issue of Money magazine.

Other options that didn't make it into the final piece:

Mahé Island, Seychelles

Mahé Island, about 4 degrees south of the equator in the Indian Ocean, is part of an archipelago of 115 tropical islands that "aren’t affected by hurricanes, and they’re not that hard to reach from the U.S. as they are serviced by nonstop flights from London," Emanuel says. You also don’t need a royal budget to vacation here: Seven nights in early November at the four-star Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino come to $1,394 with taxes. Compared to $6,104 for a week in Anguilla at the famed Cap Juluca resort, spending a week here swimming in the calm seas more than compensates for the higher airfares. And in November, the average highs reach 86 degrees -- four degrees warmer than in Anguilla.

São Miguel, the Azores

The Azores, a group of nine Portuguese-speaking islands, "are occasionally hit by weak hurricanes, but strong ones are rare or nonexistent there," says Emanuel. On the largest island of São Miguel, the average November high of 66 degrees is ideal for hiking and exploring the island’s lake-filled calderas; locals even swim year-round at the dozen black-sand beaches. You'll also save on lodging at four-star waterfront hotels; seven nights in a sea-view room at the Caloura Hotel Resort is $842 for two people.

3 Affordable Wine Destinations: Willamette Valley, Finger Lakes, Mendoza

In the September issue of Money magazine, I talked to some wine experts to find out where you can enjoy the fall harvest season for less. (Napa Valley and Bordeaux, France, are naturally great destinations but not everyone can afford an expensive getaway right now.)

Seek out these three wine destinations instead, where the vintner could be pouring you a flight at the tasting room and you could save nearly 40 percent per night at a comparable B&B or hotel.

Fun Fact: Karl Storchmann, managing editor of the Journal of Wine Economics and an economics professor at NYU, averaged the five most affordable 2008/2009 vintages that scored 88 Wine Spectator points -- and found that Oregon's Willamette Valley wines cost 20 percent less than those from Napa Valley.

Photo Caption: The Damiani tasting room -- in a converted house -- overlooks Seneca Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region. Photo by Amy Chen

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