Superbloom! In California, Flowergeddon Approaches
Posted on 02/14/2019, 5:00 AM
Superbloom may sound like the name of a '90s rock band to you, but in Borrego Springs, California, it means millions of rare wildflowers carpeting thousands of acres of desert. And Superbloom is coming soon. In California's ecosystem, seeds might hide dormant for years until conditions are perfect, and this year, there are signs they have been awakened by recent wildfires and intense rains. Co...
Don’t Overlook The Literary Life of Dublin, Writes Arthur Frommer
Posted on 02/12/2019, 12:00 AM
In forecasts of the most popular travel destinations for 2019, Ireland almost always appears. Americans are apparently eager to roam the roadways of rural Ireland and its quaint villages, castles, and other ancient sights. Less visited is the city of Dublin. But that may change with the popularity of a best-selling book called Mad, Bad, Dangerous to Know by Colm Tóibín, about the literary...
In Nevada, a School for Stolen Native American Kids Will Be a Museum
Posted on 02/11/2019, 12:00 AM
Starting in the late 19th century, the U.S. government forced tens of thousands of Native American children to leave home and attend boarding schools with the goal of assimilating students into the dominant Euro-American culture. While providing a basic education, the schools also often required Native attendees to do manual labor and forbade them from speaking their languages, carrying out cultu...
Finally! After Years of Waiting, TWA Hotel at JFK Opens Reservations
Posted on 02/08/2019, 10:45 PM
Booking a room at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport is off to a lovely start. On Valentine’s Day, Thursday, Feb. 14, at noon, reservations open for stays beginning May 15, 2019. The grand opening is an illustrious second act for what was once known as the TWA Flight Center, a major hub during the Jet Age era. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962, the distinctive terminal, cons...
You Can Throw Your Own Parade in New Orleans! Here's How
Posted on 02/06/2019, 12:00 PM
You don’t have to be the king of a Mardi Gras club to throw your own parade and march through the streets of New Orleans. But if you do, you’ll certainly feel like one. While it's a little-known fact, it’s actually quite simple to throw your very own second line parade in New Orleans, legally and complete with police escort and marching band. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps ahead...
Tipping in Japan? Not So Much a Thing
Why Japan doesn't go for gratuities—but why you still might have to pay extra fees for meals and accommodations
Pauline Frommer: Come Travel with Me in Vietnam this February
Posted on 12/11/2018, 12:00 AM
Every other year, I host a trip for listeners of the Frommer's radio shows and the readers of our guides. And these tours are, I must say, very special experiences. There's nothing like hitting the road with Frommer's fans. They're an intelligent, gregarious, open-hearted bunch, people who are deeply enamored with travel, and who have been broadened by their own wanderings. I'm also quite caref...
Arthur Frommer: Rejecting an Army Made Life in Costa Rica Better
Posted on 12/06/2018, 12:00 AM
Of all the documentary films recently shown in America, one has a special relevance to the world of travel. It is called A Bold Peace, and it deals with the Central American nation of Costa Rica. To the extent that it showcases that country’s superb beaches, its forested mountains, and its beautiful cities, it is a superb travelogue, encouraging Americans to vacation there. (You can purchase ou...
Meet UNESCO's New Cultural Heritage Inductees: Reggae, French Perfume, and More
Posted on 12/05/2018, 12:00 AM
Reggae music from Jamaica, the Irish sport of hurling, Polish Nativity scenes, Korean wrestling, and about three dozen more arts, crafts, folk dances, foods, and festivals are the latest global traditions added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (Pity the arts and tourism officials currently trying to squeeze that mouthful into quick after-dinner speec...
Arthur Frommer: On an African Safari, Budget is Better
Posted on 12/04/2018, 12:00 AM
To a great many travelers, including myself, the African safari is one of the top travel experiences. There is something mystical, indeed mind-changing, about seeing the world inhabited by animals, as it was before the earth was populated by human beings. But not all African safaris are equal in bringing that vision to you. Upon looking for a safari to book, you are often inundated by marketi...
Arthur Frommer: 12 Famous Destinations That Are Almost Too Crowded to Visit
Posted on 11/29/2018, 12:00 AM
It doesn’t often happen that one travel writer advises his or her readers to study the works of another travel writer. But exceptions should occasionally be made, and that’s the case with a recent and quite thorough analysis of the hideously overcrowded places that smart tourists should avoid visiting—at least in high season. Prepared by the travel department of CNN and entitled “12 Destinati...
Thinking of Taking an African Safari? Some Tips from an Expert
Posted on 11/16/2018, 1:30 AM
African safaris: They are, for many, at the tippy top of the bucket list. But the how-tos for finding the right one have shifted in the last few years, so old conventional wisdom may not necessarily apply. On our Frommer's national radio show, I spoke with Sunit Sanghrajka, president of Alluring Africa, a company that plans custom safaris for individual travelers, to get his advice. Here’s a bit of...
