Arthur Frommer, the American author whose guidebooks revolutionised budget travel for millions of holidaymakers, has passed away aged 95.
By the turn of the century, while many Aussie travellers leaned on Lonely Planet, and Brits read Rough Guides, in the US, it was all about Frommer’s – especially when it came to travelling on a shoestring. In fact, Frommer’s guidebooks helped pioneer budget travel for Americans, particularly those seeking affordable European getaways.
Following his self-published Europe on 5 Dollars a Day in 1957 – the guidebook that put him on the map – Arthur Frommer became a champion of cheap holidays. In fact, the American eschewed luxury travel, reflecting the philosophy of the guidebooks, and travel media empire, that carried his name.
“The moment you put yourself in a first-class hotel, you become walled off from life, in a world devoted to creature comforts,” Frommer told The Los Angeles Times in 2009.
“When you go to sleep, you no longer know whether you’re in a one-star or a five-star hotel. Big rooms and amenities are all sheer nonsense.”
With that line of thought, Frommer’s guidebooks struck a chord with countless Americans who thought travel, especially to Europe, was out of reach. Beyond guidebooks, Frommer’s launched a travel agency as well as the travel website, Frommers.com.
The travel icon’s passing was announced by his daughter, Pauline.
“It is with deep sadness that I announce my father, Arthur Frommer, founder of the Frommer’s guidebooks and Frommers.com, passed away today at the age of 95, at home and surrounded by loved ones,” she said.
“He published the revolutionary Europe on 5 Dollars a Day, the first in the Frommer’s guidebook series that continues publication today; he was a prolific writer, TV and radio host, and speaker; and in 1997, he was the founding editor of Frommers.com, one of the world’s first digital travel information sites.”
Pauline added that her father had “democratized travel, showing average Americans how anyone can afford to travel widely and better understand the world”.
“I am honored to carry on his work of sharing the world with you, which I proudly do with his team of extraordinary and dedicated travel journalists around the world. We will all miss him greatly.”
