Travel and Bargains

Jean Chatzky
Everyone loves to travel, but it doesn't always fit in your budget. Jean talks with travel expert Pauline Frommer about ways to help you save money on vacation while still seeing the best sites and attractions. As the daughter of Arthur Frommer, creator of the Frommer travel guides, Pauline says she has been traveling since she was four months old! Pauline offers some great tips for traveling on a budget—in fact, she says that's the best way to do it!

Pauline Frommer's Money-Saving Travel Ideas:

  • Avoid hotels! Try renting a room in an apartment, or even the entire place. Also, if you live near a tourist attraction or big city, take advantage of apartment swapping. You can trade up through companies that can be found online. Pauline says to go with a larger company for the widest array of options.
  • If you're traveling internationally, try to go where the dollar still has purchasing power—South and Central America and Canada are great options.
  • If you're traveling with other people, use online consolidators to purchase a hotel and airline package in one.
Pauline also recommends avoiding tourist traps by eating at neighborhood restaurants where the locals eat. Here's how to find them:

  • Never ask a hotel for recommendations. They are often paid to drive customers to certain restaurants.
  • Go up to someone on the street and ask where they would eat.
  • When in a country that speaks another language, avoid places with menus in English.
Related Resources
  • Pauline Frommer is the author of the Pauline Frommer's Travel Guidesseries


The information provided here is general advice and you should always consult your own financial adviser before making major financial decisions, including investments or changes to your portfolio. The opinions expressed by the hosts, guests and callers to Oprah Radio are strictly their own.