NEW YORK — Arthur Frommer, the visionary behind the iconic “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” guidebooks, has passed away at the age of 95. Frommer’s daughter, Pauline Frommer, confirmed that he died from complications of pneumonia on Monday.
Frommer’s legacy is one that has forever changed the way Americans travel. His belief that travel should be an enlightening and accessible experience for all, regardless of budget, opened up the world to countless individuals.
His journey into the world of travel began while serving in the U.S. Army in Europe in the 1950s. After his guidebook for American soldiers overseas sold out, he self-published “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” in 1957, which became an instant best-seller.
Frommer’s brand has remained one of the most recognizable names in the travel industry, with guidebooks to destinations around the world, a strong social media presence, podcasts, and a radio show. His philosophy of staying in budget accommodations, using public transportation, and dining with locals in small cafes revolutionized the way Americans traveled in the mid- to late-20th century. He believed that budget travel provided a more authentic experience, and his message encouraged average people to explore the world, not just the wealthy.
His books were released at a time when air travel to Europe was becoming more accessible, making his budget-friendly tips even more appealing. It was not uncommon to see Frommer’s guidebooks in the hands of every American tourist at popular destinations like the Eiffel Tower.
Frommer’s advice was considered radical at the time, before discount flights and backpacking became the norm. His approach to travel was pioneering and earned him respect from fellow travel experts, such as Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet guidebooks.
“Arthur did for travel what Consumer Reports did for everything else,” said Pat Carrier, former owner of The Globe Corner, a travel bookstore in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The final editions of Frommer’s groundbreaking series were titled “Europe from $95 a Day.” However, as hotel prices increased, the concept no longer made sense, and the series was discontinued in 2007. But the Frommer publishing empire continued to thrive, despite being sold multiple times. In a David vs. Goliath triumph, Frommer regained control of his brand from Google in 2013 and relaunched the print series with his daughter, Pauline.
“I never dreamed at my age I’d be working this hard,” Frommer said at the time, at the age of 84.
Even in the 21st century, Frommer remained a prominent figure in the travel industry, sharing his opinions on his blog and radio show. He was known for his dislike of mega-cruise ships and his criticism of travel websites where consumers could post reviews, which he believed were easily manipulated with fake postings. He even coined the phrase “Trump Slump” in a widely quoted column that predicted a decline in tourism to the U.S. after Donald Trump was elected president.
Frommer was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and grew up during the Great Depression in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was the child of a Polish father and Austrian mother, and his family moved to New York when he was a teenager. Frommer’s upbringing taught him the value of a dollar, and he carried this mindset into his travel philosophy.
After graduating from Yale Law School in 1953, Frommer was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to work in Army intelligence in Germany. He used his weekends and free time to explore Europe, and his first glimpse of the continent was from the window of a military transport plane. It was during this time that he wrote “The GI’s Guide to Traveling in Europe,” which sold out quickly and prompted him to write a civilian version of the guide.
Frommer’s daughter, Pauline, joined him and his first wife, Hope Arthur, on their trips starting in 1965, when she was just four months old. She jokingly referred to the book as “Europe on Five Diapers a Day.” In the 1960s, inflation forced Frommer to change the title to “Europe on 5 and 10 Dollars a Day,” but he was still passionate about providing budget-friendly travel options for all.
When asked about the impact of his books in a 2017 interview, Frommer said, “Most Americans had been taught that foreign travel
