Europe on 5 Dollars a Day

by Arthur Frommer

In 1957, Arthur Frommer published a slim travel guide that showed Americans how to travel to Europe without breaking the bank. "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" revolutionized the way Americans traveled - no longer did they have to be rich to eat a croissant from a Parisian bakery or take in the masterpieces at the Uffizi Gallery. To celebrate this remarkable achievement, Frommer's has issued a limited edition reproduction of "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day." Inside you will find the original text exactly as it was published by Arthur Frommer 50 years ago, as well as a current-day interview with Arthur Frommer on the past and future of travel.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Arthur Bernard Frommer was an American travel writer known for founding the Frommer's brand of travel guides.

Reviews

[Rickmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of Arthur Frommer's first books, and we did it! Back in 1964 it was possible (with certain provisos). We still have the (very) worn old paperback,hich we carried around with us for three months all over Europe!

We counted basic costs (food and lodging) only and stayed within the $5/day guideline. Transportation was extra (we ordered a '64 VW 'bug' in advance, picked it up in Koln, Germany, and shipped it back to the U.S. prior to the end of our self-guided tour. Gas was extra, as were repairs (none), ferries and tolls (almost none, since we carefully avoided toll roads). We also did not count museum admissions or entertainment (the latter was rare, indeed, as we were more than adequately entertained by our experiences and people- watching.

We found Frommer to be reasonably reliable, although these days, I think I would prefer to rely on Rick Steves - but Frommer was the pioneer writer on cheap travel, and he had the same philosophy as Steves - that going 'native' was a much better way to see and experience a country - and only after age 65 have we agreed to go to a first-class foreign hotel (but NOT a posh super-star tourist hotel like Ritz-Carlton ever).

[Paul Kovatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

read older version
great if you are fast

[Danira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did it! What a trip! We checked-out quite a few of the places listed for food and lodging, and, along with recommendations from other travelers, were able to stay on a pretty tight budget.
I'm going back to Europe this summer, but not to any of the countries I had originally visited, as I don't want to taint my original experiences. It will be great, I'm sure, and a LOT more expensive, I know.