Customer Reviews

Ask Arthur Frommer: And Travel Better, Cheaper, Smarter

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Actually, contrary to another review I have read on this site, this book is one of the most plain-talking, no-holds-barred travel books I've ever laid my hands on. This guy isn't afraid to say stuff that could get him in trouble with the rest of the travel industry. Like this, on page 410: TripAdvisor.com is "virtually useless" and its rankings "have no value at all." On page 76, he says modern cruise ships look like they were "gigantic, metallic, orgone boxes of the sort envisioned in the 1920s by hallucinating psychologists." (That description is pretty hilarious. But then he goes on to tell you how to get a discount on one.) On p. 450, he calls for a wholesale change of guard at the Department of Homeland Security for the sake of the country's future! It's very fast-moving, with fact after fact coming right at you in between those opinions, and lots of websites worth bookmarking, so if you can't find something to use on one page, the next page is likely to help, and what's more, you get the feeling he really has tried all the things he's writing about. The book is chatty and dishy at times, and always opinionated, but no one can argue that this guy doesn't know his stuff. I don't know any other book that has all these details in one place. For example, Frommer's book mentions an airfare booking website called Yapta twice and it takes three pages to explain the ins and outs. I also have Peter Greenberg's recent book, and he gives Yapta just five lines. There's simply more meat here. There's also an index in this book, which makes finding what I need really easy.

I run my own travel blog which I'm not going to mention not to make this review sound like a self promotion. Though I must say Arthur pleasantly surprised me with his clean, straight to the point and at times controversial writing style and enormous amount of useful tips on how to travel, where and most importantly at what price. The depth of his knowledge is indisputable and I was amazed on how many possible different ways he knows that can save you heaps of money on your cruise, car hire, hotel reservation and more...

What I like about it is that it's not your "main steam" type of read. His advise is always full of new ideas, factual research and it makes me wonder why haven't I thought of the things that he's talking about, and which would ultimately be lots of fun - Trains, Safaris, Camping you name it. He's actually travelled the entire world and so he presents an objective view of various destinations some of which are now on my travel list.

Now, since I have my own travel blog, I thought that I know of most websites that can save you money, but I was wrong! The internet is ever-changing and now there are new amazing websites that can save you hundreds of dollars and he reveals them all. So, if you thought that Expedia or [...] or TripAdvisor are the ones to visit you will be surprised!

Below I'll give you just a few examples that I hope Arthur won't mind me disclosing.

[...] - gives you a huge selection of resorts in the tropics and beyond for a third of their cost, and it's reinforced by their best price guarantee.

[...] - Search all major travel sites simultaneously and find lowest hotel prices instantly on single page. I was travelling to Europe few months ago and found this site to have much better rates than [...], and TripAdvisor doesn't even come close..

[...] - This site tells you exactly that, how to travel to turkey, where to stay, what to do etc.. I wish I would have knows about it before. It's certainty the best site for turkey travel info and I would have never known about it if I wouldn't read this book.

Anyway, I'm really happy with my purchase and I felt compelled to write this review as indeed I think it's the best travel book that I've read in a while!

Anyone who is considering buying this book should understand that it is basically a reformat of Arthur's blog, available at [...] The blog entries have been sorted into categories, lightly edited by his staff, formatted and printed. There is value to having them printed on paper and bound, but basically the same material has been available online. Arthur's blog is an exceptionally fine one, but because it is a blog, the material in it (and thus the book) is not comprehensive and can feel a bit disjointed. The book doesn't have the same clear sense of theme and purpose as Arthur's old book The New World of Travel. Also, the time window for some entries' relevance is limited, which becomes noticeable in a printed book with its longer shelf life. That said, there is much of value in this book and the writing is often excellent.

I am disappointed in some of the reviews on this page. It would be more honest if Mr. Cochran would mention that he works for Frommer and has written guidebooks under the Pauline Frommer line. Mr. Brosnahan could mention that he is the former author of Lonely Planet's Turkey guidebook. Mr. Kvidt is connected with Beat of Hawaii, a web site that Frommer has repeatedly plugged on his blog. There is nothing wrong with these people writing reviews, but notice that all of them have a promotional feel to them, like the back cover of a book, and don't really describe the book honestly. It is very ironic that both Beat of Hawaii and Frommer's blog have spoken out very strongly against insider reviews on Trip Advisor that don't disclose reviewers' actual interests, and that Mr. Kvidt has then gone ahead and posted just such a review on this site!

On my first trip to Europe in 1966, of course I used Arthur Frommer's Europe on $5 a Day--as did every other American traveler I saw during that trip.

Over a half century after first publishing his world-changing guidebook, Mr Frommer is still going strong, publishing books, magazine articles, a nationally-syndicated newspaper column and radio program, and even a popular blog.

I think I can safely say that there is no one in the entire world who knows more about travel than Arthur Frommer.

It's not merely that he knows the best places to go, the most enjoyable things to see and do, and the tedious tourist traps to avoid. More importantly, he continues to steadfastly advocate the kinds of travel that educate, edify, inspire and delight.

Far from "It's Tuesday, this must be Belgium," the Frommer traveler actually does go off the beaten path--even along the route of that path. Unaware travelers will be browsing the touristy souvenir shops on the main square while those following Frommer's advice will be in an artisan's workshop only a few blocks away enjoying a thoroughly authentic and unforgettable local experience.

Well, then. Imagine taking that half-century-plus of travel wisdom and experience and distilling it into one 484-page book. That's what Frommer has done with Ask Arthur Frommer & travel better, cheaper, smarter: the ultimate travel guide that answers every major question.

No matter where you've been, no matter where you'll go, Ask Arthur Frommer can truly help you to travel "better, cheaper, smarter." It contains a wealth of up-to-date insider tips on how to get the lowest fares on flights, ships and trains; exhaustive and detailed information on the best accommodations worldwide and how to get them for the best price; adventure and special-interest trips and treks throughout the world; shopping and saving anywhere at all; how to get the most and best from travel industry agents and staff; and a shopping list of great destinations from Amsterdam through Turkey to Vietnam and even Washington, DC.

The benefit is obvious: you can't possible know all this, I can't either, so the book is a no-brainer buy. It pays for itself by Page 10.

Surprisingly, the book's best feature is not its encyclopedic, practical and highly useful tips and information. The book's best feature is Frommer himself: candid, eloquent, entertaining, enthusiastic, opinionated and outspoken, Frommer revels in his role as advocate for honest, down-to-earth, life-enhancing travel far removed from the Mandarin-elitist, photo-stylist $1000+-a-night vacations described in breathless prose by the glossy travel magazines.

Frommer made the point in his very first book: budget travel, in which one engages the world and truly learns about, is superior to luxury travel in which the real world--and its infinite beauty--is kept at a "safe" distance and one's preconceptions and prejudices are never questioned, let alone challenged.

If you love travel--as you must if you are contemplating a trip to Turkey--you'll find Ask Arthur Frommer to be a priceless encyclopedia of on-the-road wisdom, and a worthy "bible" of the aware travelers' creed.

I agree heartily with Cochran, Schwartz, and other previous reviewers here, that this is Frommer at his best -- which means it's the savviest, most knowledgeable, and handsomely helpful travel advice available anywhere.

This author has strong opinions on behalf of US travellers, VS. the elite of travel writers, editors, and "hospitality industry" marketers. He shows you how to go beyond being a tourist to being a true traveller, who brings back not just trinkets, but great experiences and an enriched MIND.

And he has an eagle eye for the inauthentic, the over-priced, and the pernicious. This book lives up to its sub-title: "Travel Better, Cheaper, SMARTER!"

This is Arthur Frommer's best work, in my opinion, because it's his voice and it contains much more than the usual guide book, even the usual Frommer -- tours, hotels, airline tickets, websites and every conceivable category, all with an eye to your budget.

This latest book from Frommer is a treasure trove of valuable information. Even as a professional travel writer, I'm constantly learning from Frommer about insider secrets (like lodging deals at convents and monasteries) and getting the scoop on deals I didn't know existed.

In this incisive book, Frommer offers hundreds of nuggets of advice he's garnered in more than half a century in the travel-guide business. Sure you'll find cheap beach deals and cruise advice here, but there's much more: like how to use craigslist to arrange a home exchange that results in free lodging or how to find a bicycle tour that doesn't break the bank.

Ultimately the foundation of Frommer's advice isn't just how to travel more cheaply; it's how to enrich your travels. I especially appreciated the advice on train trips (and Frommer's outrage about US lack of support for high-speed rail), small-group adventure tours, free camping, and his suggestion to visit national parks in winter. I've visited both Yellowstone (where I huddled just 20 yards from a herd of buffalo, their breath visible in the frigid air) and Yosemite, where I skied 10 miles to Glacier Point on a trail with views of Half Dome, and wholeheartedly agree that the cold season, with its lack of crowds, is an ideal time to visit popular parks.

I've followed Frommer's advice for many years and it's often enlivened my travels. What I most appreciate about Arthur is that he's on the cutting edge and he remains the traveler's advocate, always seeking affordable ways for people to travel in ways that are educational, inspiring, and memorable.

I subscribe to Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel and this was a very good compilation of resources and tips. Kind of like a "best of".

Really enjoyed this book. Was surprised by the amount of new information since I'm constantly reading travel info. Would highly recommend.

In today's economy, "Ask Arthur" is a must read guide for any traveler on a budget. It's an excellent compendium based on a life of acquired insights and wisdom from the original, celebrated travel evangelist. I like Arthur's basic tenant that in travel, often the less you pay, the more you enjoy.

"Ask Arthur" covers topics that are wide ranging, sometimes controversial (which I like), and offers advice that will please even the most seasoned traveler.

After reading Arthur's book, I know I'll travel wiser and save money wherever I go. I'm already putting his advice to use on my upcoming trip to New Zealand.