The Frugal Traveler Remembers Arthur Frommer, the Guy Who Inspired Travelers to ‘Just Do It’

As of 1 January 2025, Romania and Bulgaria will officially become full-time members of the Schengen Area, which allows free movement between member states for 450 million citizens.

"Will it or won't it reopen?" hotel cynics have been wondering about Waldorf Astoria New York for years. (Not me, of course. I'm an eternal optimist who always thought it was coming back. Cough.) But now, the Waldorf Astoria New York finally has a clear path to reopening day.

I had intricately planned my road trip exploring the Italian and German heritage of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, to maximize immigrant cuisine, unsung wineries and villages with charming timber-frame buildings. I’d visit Antônio Prado, the self-proclaimed “most Italian city in Brazil,” drive along rural roads lined with hydrangeas, and explore Gramado, a town whose center this time of year resembles an Epcot version of an Alpine ski town, decked out with Santa statues and massive candy canes.

Dec 11, 2024 • 5 min read

Dec 10, 2024 • 5 min read

Africa’s riches are staggering. Yet, while its baobab trees, lions and gorillas, and deltas like the Okavango have long captured the world’s imaginations, its cities have been too often overlooked by travelers from beyond the continent, despite being equally exciting cultural ecosystems, and destinations in their own right.

Urban Africa is a love letter to the bustling African metropolises south of the great desert—Dakar, Kigali, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg, to name a few—that are dynamic, diverse, and more traveler-ready than ever. Find more inspiration here.

It has been a remarkable few years of changes in the travel landscape. We saw a dramatic surge in travel demand after the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, and there appears to be no letup in sight.

Nude beaches, or “clothing-optional beaches” as they are fondly called, are shores where the choice to bare it all lies entirely with you—nudity is welcome but never a requirement. Naturist beaches aren’t just about getting rid of tan lines, they are about liberation. Not every sandy shore that invites naturists is “officially” designated as such. In most cases, an official nude beach is one where local governments have legalized public nudity within a specific zone such as in Spain with nudist friendly beaches on the island of Formentera, and in Germany with naturist spots like the English Garden in Munich. Unofficial nude beaches, on the other hand, are typically known through word of mouth or naturist forums. The stories of these beaches trace back to the naturist movements in the early 20th-century. A movement about health, physical fitness, and social equality. The first nudist club in the United States was established in New York City in 1929, and the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) was established in 1931. The naturist movement quickly spread to other parts of Europe, with the establishment of nudist clubs and resorts throughout the continent. Campsite Koversada, Europe’s first naturist campsite, opened in 1961. Nearly four decades earlier, Britain’s first nudist colony, Sunbeam—fondly called “The Camp”—was established in 1924 by the Moonella Group. In France, the Fédération Française de Naturisme (FFN) was established in 1950, which promoted naturism as a legitimate lifestyle choice. Today, these sand stretches tell tales as diverse as the landscapes they occupy

You don't have to take a transatlantic flight to feel like you're in Europe this holiday season.

In Vienna, Christmas markets go hand-in-hand with the winter season. The Austrian capital sees its many public spaces play host to stalls and vendors peddling all manner of warm treats and artisanal crafts that are sure to get anyone—whether local or traveler—into the holiday spirit. Though there are many iconic Christmas markets in Europe—ranging from nearby Germany all the way over to the United Kingdom—Vienna’s Christmas markets are special for their venues, set against the kinds of glittering imperial palaces and grand squares that you’ll only find in Austria. The market season in Vienna is also relatively long, with some running from early November all the way to January, making the city—one of our Best Places to Go in Europe for 2025—a magnificent Christmas destination.

Arthur Frommer poses at a travel event. (Photo Credit: Flickr/PilotGirl)