Best of Travel: Guidebook Editor & Radio Host Pauline Frommer
Pauline Frommer knows a thing or two about travel. The nationally syndicated radio talk show host and editorial director of the Frommer Guides will be sharing her expert advice at the upcoming Travel & Adventure Show in San Diego February 14-15. The show will not only feature Pauline and other expert speakers but also give travelers access to tourism boards, top chefs, and cultural performers.
We spoke with Pauline to get her advice about international travel, discover the most unusual place she’s ever spent a night, and get her travel wish for the world (we think you’ll like her answer).
Q: When you research a destination, what do you look for? What activities/attractions tend to catch your eye?
A: I’m always going somewhere for work, so it’s either because I’m giving a speech somewhere, working on a piece, or checking up on a writer’s work. The few times I plan a vacation it’s usually for my family, so I look for a place to keep a teen and a tween engaged, which for us is a mixture of culture and adventure. They love doing things such as snorkeling and zip lining.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is new to international travel?
A: Don’t assume there will be someone in the destination who can explain what you are seeing. Your trip will be much richer if you do some advanced reading—and I don’t just mean guidebooks.
Q: What is your favorite island to visit and why?
A: Manhattan, my hometown.
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what five things would you want with you?
A: Wi-Fi, a device on which to read, sunblock, my contact lenses, and an endless supply of chocolate.
Q: Where is the most unusual place you’ve stayed when traveling?
A: I did an Airbnb rental in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the home of an acupuncturist and I slept on the acupuncture table. It was only $35 a night! It wasn’t the most uncomfortable bed I’ve had….
Q: Is there a destination you didn’t think you would enjoy visiting, but you returned home with a changed mind?
A: Colonial Williamsburg, where I went last year for Thanksgiving. I thought it was going to be goofy, but it wasn’t. It was informative and fun. The people who work there are so knowledgeable about the Colonial era. It was really terrific.
Q: What is one place you’ve never been that is at the top of your must-visit list?
A: New Zealand.
Q: If you were planning a round-the-world trip, what five countries would you want to be sure to visit?
A: As a budget traveler I’d choose the five featured on around-the-world itineraries to save money.
Q: If you had to choose another country to live in for a whole year, where would you go?
A: I’d probably go to Spain. I love the food, I love the culture, and I’d love to improve my Spanish.
Q: If you could make one decision for the world about traveling, what would it be?
A: Free airfares for everyone!
Want to see Patricia and the other headlining speakers this weekend at the San Diego Travel & Adventure Show? Get tickets for just $9 with the promo code “JETSET”!
