Places & Travel
**The Frommer’s Travel Show**

Since the 1957 publication of Arthur Frommer’s (1929-2024) seminal Europe on $5 a Day, the Frommer guidebooks have been America’s most trusted travel source. This podcast, hosted by Arthur Frommer’s daughter, and President of FrommerMedia LLC, Pauline Frommer, gives listeners the low down on what’s happening in the world of travel today. Topics range from the most appealing destinations, to money-saving and enjoyment-enhancing trends, to books and TV shows that bring travel into your daily life, and more. Expect guest appearances by some of the biggest names in travel today, including Samantha Brown, Andrew McCarthy, Frances Mayes, Jason Cochran, travel journalists from the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other publications.

Latest Episodes:

S1E577 - Maps: What They Show About Us and the World We Inhabit, Plus What Packable Items Are Necessary for Good Trips? Mar 23, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Andrew Middleton, cartographer, "Map Philosopher" and owner of Rhode Island's Map Center, was our first guest. Then Shannon Simms discussed her recent New York Times article about what items need to be in your emergency travel stash.

S1E576 - Race Round the World on a Clipper Ship? Here's How. Plus Historic Train, Plane and Ocean Liner Meals Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Jacqueline Kavanagh, of Clipper Round the World, an 11-month race around the globe that takes paying amateurs as crew, was our first guest. She was followed by Nina Nazionale of the New York Historical museum, discussing their upcoming exhibit "Dining in Transit", which "showcases the innovative ways ocean liners, trains, and airplanes catered to passengers’ appetites and expectations during the first half of the 20th century".

S1E575 - Warning! Hotel Fires, Dating Scams, and Rising Anti-Americanism Mean Travelers Need to Take More Precautions on the Road Mar 09, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Andrea Sachs of the Washington Post discussed a new scam targeting male vacationers in Brazil, plus what rising anger at Trump Administration' policies and pronouncements may mean for travelers. Then, author Sophie Stuber talked about her recent New York Times article on what you need to know to survive a hotel fire.

S1E574 - Los Angeles: Is It Open for Visitors Right Now? Plus a Chat with Kathy McCabe of the PBS TV Show "Dream of Europe" Mar 02, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Los Angeles: Is It Open for Visitors Right Now? Plus a Chat with Kathy McCabe of the PBS TV Show "Dream of Europe".

S1E573 - A Crisis for the U.S. National Park System Feb 23, 2025

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Episode Notes

Kurt Repanshek of NationalParksTraveler.org talked with Pauline about what the widespread layoffs at the National Parks will mean for travelers in the coming weeks and months

S1E572 - Desert Island Survival Vacations, Plus Where to Move If You Decide to Leave the United States Feb 16, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Jen Rose Smith discussed her recent article for Afar magazine about a new type of adventure vacation, involving being dropped off alone on a desert island. Then Laura Begley Bloom, author of the Transformative Travel column on Forbes.com, talked about all the issues involved in immigrating away from the U.S.A. and where you should go.

S1E571 - Are New Hampshire's Mountain Huts Endangered? Plus a Look at Sexual Intimacy Retreats Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Miles Howard, former worker at the White Mountains Appalachian Mountain Community huts, discussed his recent Boston Globe piece on the challenges facing these backcountry delights. Then New York Times writer Caren Osten Gerszberg talked about vacations created by experts to help "rekindle the spark".

S1E570 - Nashville & Memphis: Best Strategies for a Visit. Plus a Look at TourRadar, a Marketplace for Finding Both Group, and Personalized, Tours Feb 02, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Ashley Akin Brantley, author of the just released "Frommer's Nashville and Memphis" was our first guest. Then Travis Pitman, CEO of the tour marketplace site TourRadar, came on to discuss how to find the right tour for your interests.

S1E569 - Samantha Brown on Rainy Season Costa Rica, East Germany, and More Jan 26, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

PBS' own Samantha Brown, host of "Places to Love", was our guest this week, in celebration of her 25 years as a TV travel show host.

S1E568 - Los Angeles: Can You Visit It Now or In the Near Future? Plus AI's Effect on Attraction Pricing, Lounge Chair Horders and More Jan 19, 2025

Show notes

Episode Notes

Jason Cochran, California resident and Editor in Chief of Frommers.com, was our first guest. Along with Los Angeles travel, he and Pauline discussed identity theft scams that involve travel, and good and bad new developments in New York City. Then Dawn Gilbertson of the Wall Street Journal joined Pauline to discuss how resorts are handling poolside chair issues.