You are likely reading this right now because of Arthur Frommer’s passion for travel.
The travel icon passed away Nov. 18 at the age of 95.
When he wrote his book “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day,” he wrote the book on leisure travel.
He penned that book in 1957 as what was originally intended as a sort of field guide for American servicemen. He self-published it, and it became an immediate best-seller. It revolutionized travel.
“It struck a chord and became an immediate best-seller,” he recalled in an interview with The Associated Press in 2007, on the 50th anniversary of the book’s debut.
It was written of Frommer that he helped bring travel to the masses. While it’s hard to argue against that, of course, it might be more accurate to say that he made travel more accessible. His guidebooks were like the Bible of the industry. He uncovered hidden gems, and then shared them with all of us.
His daughter, Pauline, said: “My father opened up the world to so many people. He believed deeply that travel could be an enlightening activity and one that did not require a big budget.”
Isn’t that the truth?
For instance, two people see the Roman Colosseum for the first time. They both have the same stunned, jaw-dropping reaction.
Now, which one makes $50,000 a year? And which one makes $50,000 a day? That’s how travel is the great equalizer.
How many people can do that? How many people can transcend a genre?
Arthur Frommer did.
And we’re all the better for it.
In his understated and unassuming way, he made us all appreciate travel in its simplest form as well as its complexities. Not many people can bridge that gap in any form.
He built a brand and then shared it with the rest of us. He taught us to embrace the concept of budget travel. He did what few people can do — change a mindset.
He helped teach us that places like Japan and Germany were not mortal enemies but were beautiful countries with beautiful cultures.
Think about it. There was a time when people traveled only with their passports, cash and a Frommer’s guidebook. He was that influential. He was that important. The internet and social media now make it easy to travel. Sixty or 70 years ago we didn’t have that option. But we did have Arthur Frommer.
I suppose there are some people out there who can be considered “greater” than Arthur Frommer.
But none will be as influential.
