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CNN Live Today

Interview With "Budget Travel"'s Pauline Frommer

Aired June 23, 2003 - 11:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All packed up with nowhere to go? The soft economy is making for some vacation steals, right now. in fact, "Budget Travel" magazine just looked at the 40 best travel bargains out. And there the deals are out there. And to find them all let's bring in the magazine's executive editor, Pauline Frommer. Good to see you, Pauline.
PAULINE FROMMER, "TRAVEL BUDGET" MAGAZINE: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: All right, well let's break it down real quick, maybe the top five of your top 40. Usually Las Vegas is kind of for the high rollers, but you say we can go there on a budget?

FROMMER: Well, actually, Las Vegas is the most popular destination in the U.S. But it has the most hotel beds of almost any in the U.S., which leads to discounting. Your choice here is Southwest Airlines Vacations, which has $144 packages to Las Vegas for airfare from Los Angeles, Phoenix or San Diego, and four nights hotel. They also have packages from other areas of country. And their competitor America West Vacations is another good place to look.

WHITFIELD: Wow, that is a pretty good deal. Because you know you're going to spend money once you get on the ground at least with the gambling or something.

All right, Disney. I never associate going to Disney with saving money. It's just one, big, giant sucking sound. It just takes all your money.

FROMMER: Well it can be, but not this year, because, let's face it, Disney is in trouble this year. They've seen a sharp decrease in visitors. And so they have introduced the Fairy Tale Savings Plan which gives you seven nights vacation at Disney World for the cost of four, which is $499. That not only includes an on-site hotel, but your Park Hopper Pass which gets you into every single Disney park. It's an amazing deal for Disney which never, ever discounts.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So I'm hearing an underlying theme here, and that means packages, and that applies when you travel abroad to Europe as well. Doesn't it?

FROMMER: Absolutely. We are seeing historic lows to Europe. Now the dollar is weak against the euro and the pound. But if you buy an airfare and hotel package to London, say, you can spend $499 for six nights hotel and your airfare to Europe this summer. It's a remarkable deal. We've never seen deals that low. That's from New York City from companies such as Virgin Atlantic Vacations, GoToday.com, Europe Express. And you'll find similar prices, $30 to $150 more from most other American gateways.

WHITFIELD: All right, and if that does not float your boat, maybe this will. Canoe trips? What's that all about? That sounds like fun.

FROMMER: There's a wonderful company called Wilderness Inquiry. And they take wilderness trips, usually paddling vacations, to all parts of the United States.

And what they do that is different from other companies is they have groups that are mixed of able-bodied people and people with mobility impairments, people who may be deaf or blind. And instead of ghettoizing those groups, they have them travel altogether for a truly unique vacation that are usually very inexpensive. Usually about $80 to $100 a day for guide services and everything else.

WHITFIELD: Wow, OK. No money, no problem, mon. Why is Jamaica a steal of a deal?

FROMMER: Jamaica is a wonderful place to go in the summer because it's low-season. Most people go in the spring. And there's a company called Atlas Vacations on the Web at Atlas.net which has Jamaica seven nights airfare and hotel for just $474. Now, you can't beat that in the Caribbean. It's a terrific value.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh. Those are serious deals. A little something for everyone there. And you've got 40 to suggest in all. Those are just the top five.

FROMMER: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: All right. Pauline Frommer, thanks very much. Appreciate it of "Budget Travel" magazine. Giving us some great ideas and great ways to get away.

FROMMER: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired June 23, 2003 - 11:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All packed up with nowhere to go? The soft economy is making for some vacation steals, right now. in fact, "Budget Travel" magazine just looked at the 40 best travel bargains out. And there the deals are out there. And to find them all let's bring in the magazine's executive editor, Pauline Frommer. Good to see you, Pauline.
PAULINE FROMMER, "TRAVEL BUDGET" MAGAZINE: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: All right, well let's break it down real quick, maybe the top five of your top 40. Usually Las Vegas is kind of for the high rollers, but you say we can go there on a budget?

FROMMER: Well, actually, Las Vegas is the most popular destination in the U.S. But it has the most hotel beds of almost any in the U.S., which leads to discounting. Your choice here is Southwest Airlines Vacations, which has $144 packages to Las Vegas for airfare from Los Angeles, Phoenix or San Diego, and four nights hotel. They also have packages from other areas of country. And their competitor America West Vacations is another good place to look.

WHITFIELD: Wow, that is a pretty good deal. Because you know you're going to spend money once you get on the ground at least with the gambling or something.

All right, Disney. I never associate going to Disney with saving money. It's just one, big, giant sucking sound. It just takes all your money.

FROMMER: Well it can be, but not this year, because, let's face it, Disney is in trouble this year. They've seen a sharp decrease in visitors. And so they have introduced the Fairy Tale Savings Plan which gives you seven nights vacation at Disney World for the cost of four, which is $499. That not only includes an on-site hotel, but your Park Hopper Pass which gets you into every single Disney park. It's an amazing deal for Disney which never, ever discounts.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So I'm hearing an underlying theme here, and that means packages, and that applies when you travel abroad to Europe as well. Doesn't it?

FROMMER: Absolutely. We are seeing historic lows to Europe. Now the dollar is weak against the euro and the pound. But if you buy an airfare and hotel package to London, say, you can spend $499 for six nights hotel and your airfare to Europe this summer. It's a remarkable deal. We've never seen deals that low. That's from New York City from companies such as Virgin Atlantic Vacations, GoToday.com, Europe Express. And you'll find similar prices, $30 to $150 more from most other American gateways.

WHITFIELD: All right, and if that does not float your boat, maybe this will. Canoe trips? What's that all about? That sounds like fun.

FROMMER: There's a wonderful company called Wilderness Inquiry. And they take wilderness trips, usually paddling vacations, to all parts of the United States.

And what they do that is different from other companies is they have groups that are mixed of able-bodied people and people with mobility impairments, people who may be deaf or blind. And instead of ghettoizing those groups, they have them travel altogether for a truly unique vacation that are usually very inexpensive. Usually about $80 to $100 a day for guide services and everything else.

WHITFIELD: Wow, OK. No money, no problem, mon. Why is Jamaica a steal of a deal?

FROMMER: Jamaica is a wonderful place to go in the summer because it's low-season. Most people go in the spring. And there's a company called Atlas Vacations on the Web at Atlas.net which has Jamaica seven nights airfare and hotel for just $474. Now, you can't beat that in the Caribbean. It's a terrific value.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh. Those are serious deals. A little something for everyone there. And you've got 40 to suggest in all. Those are just the top five.

FROMMER: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: All right. Pauline Frommer, thanks very much. Appreciate it of "Budget Travel" magazine. Giving us some great ideas and great ways to get away.

FROMMER: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com