A Q&A for Cheapflights.com

I'm flattered -- Cheapflights.com was nice enough to ask me to be part of the company's "Waiting to Board With..." blog series.

In the Q&A, I talk about my quirky packing habits/obsession ... and my worst trip ever.

Gift Guide for Travelers

You won't find frivolous luggage tags or passport covers in this Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers.

For Money magazine's December issue, I interviewed travel experts about what they'd like to give (and receive) this year.

The panel of travel experts included:

Meredith Hanrahan, Chief Travel Officer of Cheapflights Media (www.cheapflights.com) and a million-mile frequent flier who has logged more than 175,000 miles in the past 9 months

Marybeth Bond, author of 50 Best Girlfriends Getaways in North America

Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com

John DiScala, founder of JohnnyJet.com

From a lightweight Delsey suitcase to a TSA-friendly Samsonite laptop bag, it's hard not to add these great gift ideas to your holiday wish list.

Photo: Courtesy Delsey

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.

Rally to Restore Sanity, Washington, D.C.

Like a trail of ants, thousands of people from all corners of Washington, D.C., head toward the National Mall for the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert rally.

Photo by Amy Chen

How to Score a Free Travel Upgrade

If you’re not a business traveler with elite status, getting upgraded can seem like a long shot. Want a better seat on the plane? These days, extra legroom or an aisle seat will cost you extra. Want a nicer hotel room? You can pay a bit more at check-in for a room on a higher floor.

So how exactly do you ask for a complimentary upgrade without coming across as a demanding customer or a complete cheapskate?

I asked travel experts with the power to grant or deny an upgrade -- including a front-desk manager, a car-rental agent, and airline experts -- for tips on how to score that coveted upgrade and other perks even if you’re an infrequent traveler.

Check out my "How to Score an Upgrade" story on CNN.com or pick up a copy of the October issue of Money magazine.

UPDATE: "How to Score an Upgrade" has been picked up by Yahoo! for the homepage carousel. Thanks to everyone who noticed and let me know about it!

Photo by Amy Chen: An ocean-view room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu.

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.

NYC's Restaurant Grades: Grossed Out by a C Rating

I first wrote about New York City's restaurant grades for Gadling.com when I set up a poll to ask: Would you eat at a place with mice?

Since then, I've seen more restaurants around the city receive letter-grade signs that must be displayed prominently in the window. I was walking around the West Village yesterday when I saw my first C-rated restaurant -- in this case, it was Mojo Coffee, a sweet little cafe that would've otherwise been tempting -- until I saw the C grade displayed in the window like a huge "stay away" warning. How could it have earned a C? I couldn't help but imagine that perhaps rat droppings were mixed in with the coffee beans.

I've since looked up Mojo Coffee on NYC's Dept. of Health site and found that among the health violations, there was "evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas" and "filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist."

Tasty.

Rafael Nadal at the 2010 US Open, New York City

Last night in New York City, Rafael Nadal beat Teimuraz Gabashvili in Round 1 of the 2010 US Open.

I shot this video from the Club Level at Arthur Ashe Stadium using the Olympus Pen E-P2 camera with a powerful yet compact 75-300mm lens. The telephoto lens ($899.99) will be available in Dec. 2010.

To see the action in HD, double-click on the video to view it in its full-screen glory.

The Best Airport Experience Ever: Free Daughtry Concert

While waiting to board a JetBlue flight to Los Angeles last week, I was pleasantly surprised when Chris Daughtry (of American Idol fame) performed for 30 minutes before an adoring crowd. Pilots, flight attendants, and even TSA agents stopped to catch part of the free show in JFK's Terminal 5. Whether you're a fan or not, stumbling on the concert was one of the most refreshing airport experiences I've ever had. (Who knew that it's possible to find happy travelers at JFK?)

The Cheese in France: Just One Reason to Return

Paris Police v. World Cup Soccer Fans

Last week, I was getting off the Charles de Gaulle-Etoile Metro stop in Paris when I was surprised to see that the exit was blocked. Here, the police were ready for flag-draped World Cup soccer fans who were screaming and yelling on the train. (They're clearly not fans of the disgraced French team...)

Summer in New York City: Urban Fountains

Why I love New York

Sometimes rush hour coincides with an impromptu concert.

New beauty site sells TSA-friendly products

Finding travel-size toiletries is now a cinch, thanks to a new beauty site called 3floz.com.

It's like a Sephora but only carries products that fit TSA requirements of 3 oz. or less.

The available products are on the higher end though: for example, The Art of Shaving sells a 1.7-oz. canister of shaving cream for $15, and Malin+Goetz makes a starter kit with 1 oz. bottles of facial cleanser, face moisturizer, body cleanser, body moisturizer, shampoo, and conditioner ($30).

If you search under "sunscreen," only two choices show up so far: the Sunshield Travel Kit ($25) or the Sun Kit ($35). For travel-size suncreen, I usually end up squeezing the amount I need (and the brand I like) into these great GoToob reusable containers.

There are some bargains on 3floz.com: For $7, you can buy a Yes to Carrots set with shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. If you live in New York City, you can add $9 for courier delivery. Otherwise shipping costs at least $10 for UPS Ground. By the way, many Walgreens and Duane Reade locations carry Yes to Carrots products, so I'd recommend just going to your local pharmacy if you can't justify paying more for shipping than the actual product.

Still, 3floz.com is a fun site with a novel concept if you're short on time and can afford tiny luxuries.

Tip: TravelandLeisure.com's blog Carry On has a promo code "tl10" for 10 percent off all 3floz.com products through Feb. 7.

Photo: 3floz.com

Design a pair of free KLM luggage tags

I first heard about KLM Royal Dutch Airlines giving away free luggage tags on Twitter last month, so I had to try it out. Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that I have way more luggage tags than actual luggage, but who can argue with free?

I uploaded a photo that I took of San Francisco's Bay Bridge, filled in the form with my home address, phone number, and e-mail address, and waited for the set of two labels to arrive a few weeks later.

Of course KLM now has my info so since then, I've received some e-mails about fare sales. If you're cagey about giving out your personal info, then these free tags probably aren't worth the spam. Also, I know some people who never write their home address and phone number on these tags. If you prefer to use an office address instead, you can do that as well.

Tips: You'll need one hi-res image, or you can pick from KLM's photo gallery, which includes airplanes (KLM of course), nature (mountains, beaches), and iconic skylines (Paris, Venice, London). The labels will each be printed with the same photo and the same address, and you can only use one name per order. You can also customize a set as a gift, but you'll need your recipient's personal info, including an e-mail address. I'd check with your friend/spouse/relative before giving that out since they'll be the ones receiving the KLM e-mails.

Photo: Amy Chen

Say 'Omm' this Saturday: Free Yoga Classes

On Saturday, hundreds of schools and studios across the country will host free (or nearly free) yoga workshops as part of the 2nd annual Yoga Day USA. Organized by the Yoga Alliance, some classes may request a donation to benefit a charity; others are completely free. Some locations are even throwing in passes for future classes.

I was in Seattle a few weeks ago and saw that the Olympic Sculpture Park pavilion will be one of the participating locations. The free 60-minute vinyasa flow class on the waterfront starts at 11 a.m.; don't forget to bring a mat. Before you show up at any of these classes, it's probably a good idea to check if you need any gear or should reserve a spot.

To find a class near you, check out yogadayusa.org.

Photo: Amy Chen