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

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.