Each week, Frommer's brings you two fresh podcasts stuffed with travel tips, news, and inspiration. Recordings are made from our weekly call-in show on WABC-770AM in New York and our nationally syndicated radio program.
On our first weekly podcast, host Pauline Frommer broadcasts from Traverse City, Michigan, while Jason Cochran chimes in from England. Pauline describes Traverse City and her experience teaching a creative writing class at Interlochen Center for the Arts, a camp for musically gifted youth. Because of her own background in the performing arts, Pauline labels her time at Interlochen a real “birds-of-a-feather experience” and raves about the camp's rigorous courses and professional-level concerts.
In an interview with Trevor Tkach, president of Traverse City Tourism, listeners get some good reasons why the city should be a more popular tourist destination. As it turns out, there’s a lot going on in Traverse City this summer: the 15th annual Traverse City Film Festival (July 30–August 4), the inaugural Ironman 70.3 race (August 25), and the Pauline-approved Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (through August 11).
In this week’s second podcast, Pauline and her father, Arthur Frommer, discuss problems caused by both overtourism and undertourism.
The Mexican Caribbean is experiencing what Arthur terms an “invasion of sargassum.” Travelers unwilling to deal with seaweed-covered beaches have caused a 40% drop in hotel bookings there. Arthur sees this crisis as an opportunity for tourists, remarking that "you can enjoy a fine Mexican vacation for much less than usual.”
The Netherlands has an opposite problem, having stopped advertising for travelers due to an overwhelming influx of tourism. Pauline and Arthur also lament the overtourism that prompted Thailand to close one of its most famous beaches indefinitely.
Says Pauline: “It’s a better idea than ever to go to places in the off-season, to consider secondary destinations—maybe the ones you haven’t heard as much about.
The show later welcomes guests A.J. Jacobs, author of Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey, and Melanie Fine, a representative for the apartment-booking site Vrbo.
Listen to our podcasts by clicking the embedded players above or by following us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or whatever your preferred podcast-delivery system may be.
