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CNN Live Today

Interview With Pauline Frommer

Aired June 30, 2003 - 11:40   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Summer time is here and that means vacations. With the Fourth of July weekend just ahead we thought it would be a good time to see what kind of last-minute trips and bargains we could find for you. So joining us today to help us chart that course to those great deals Pauline Frommer. She is executive editor of "Frommer's Budget Travel" magazine and joins us from our bureau in New York. Good morning. And happy early holiday to you.
PAULINE FROMMER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL": Thank you. Good morning.

KAGAN: Let's get right to it with some great ideas. First of all, Washington, D.C., a fun place to head, of course, for the Fourth of July weekend.

FROMMER: Yes, for the last 37 years, Washington has been a hot spot for July 4 travel because the Smithsonian Institute (sic) organizes a Folklife Festival there. Like everything the Smithsonian does, it's absolutely free. The entire mall is taken over with wonderful booths and music. And this year they are celebrating the folk life of Appalachia, of Mali and of Scotland. So it should be quite an exciting time there.

KAGAN: Well it's fascinating.

If you are hungry how about heading to Chicago?

FROMMER: Yep. Chicago is the place for food lovers. This year, as in past years, they are hosting the Taste of Chicago which gets 3.6 million visitors annually. And this year for the first time they're going to be hosting other states.

So if you want to go to Chicago and see what the people in Mississippi eat and see what the people in New York eat, it's the time to do it. And it's a wonderful festival. Sheryl Crow will be performing, Elvis Costello. There's games for the kids and it's all free to get in. Not free to eat but free to get in.

KAGAN: Looks tasty though.

A lot of people will be hitting the road, lot more than have over the past year. There's a good tip here about when to fill up your gas tank.

FROMMER: Yes. AAA is expecting more people traveling for this July 4 weekend than in the past nine years. And when you have that kind of volume on the road, gas prices can inch up. Not that much, but a little. So if you can fill your tank on July 2 it's a good idea. Also try and leave July 2. If you get out on July 3 you're really going to be stuck in a lot gridlock probably.

KAGAN: And in terms of airfare bargains out there, Alaska Airlines. We have a lot of viewers this hour from the West Coast. So tell those viewers what's in store for them.

FROMMER: Yes, there had been a lot of airfare sales. They're over now except for Alaska Airlines. If you are willing to travel on July 4 then come back a couple days later, you can travel between a number of cities for just $34 each way, which is not bad for the holiday weekend.

KAGAN: No, that's a great deal.

Now if you want to go a little bit more exotic, how about Tahiti?

FROMMER: Tahiti. This is for people from Los Angeles from a company called Tahiti Vacations. You can find them on the Web at TahitiVacations.net. And they are flying people from L.A. to Tahiti. You get to island hop there. You spend one night in Tahiti, four nights in Moorea for $699. It's a remarkable last-minute deal and that includes airfare.

KAGAN: And finally, if you are going to hit the airport give yourself some extra time. I have been living in airports lately so I can appreciate this.

FROMMER: Yes. No, the lines have been getting longer at airports because more people are traveling. And especially if you will be flying out of Denver, out of Washington, out of Seattle, the lines have been terrifically long there.

But this weekend give yourself two hours when you get to the airport because security is going to be extra tight, obviously.

KAGAN: Thanks for the tips. Have yourself a great holiday. What city do you plan to spend it in?

FROMMER: I'm going to be in my hometown of New York. There are lots of great things happening here.

KAGAN: Well you enjoy that. Pauline Frommer, thanks for the tips and enjoy happy holiday.

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 30, 2003 - 11:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Summer time is here and that means vacations. With the Fourth of July weekend just ahead we thought it would be a good time to see what kind of last-minute trips and bargains we could find for you. So joining us today to help us chart that course to those great deals Pauline Frommer. She is executive editor of "Frommer's Budget Travel" magazine and joins us from our bureau in New York. Good morning. And happy early holiday to you.
PAULINE FROMMER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL": Thank you. Good morning.

KAGAN: Let's get right to it with some great ideas. First of all, Washington, D.C., a fun place to head, of course, for the Fourth of July weekend.

FROMMER: Yes, for the last 37 years, Washington has been a hot spot for July 4 travel because the Smithsonian Institute (sic) organizes a Folklife Festival there. Like everything the Smithsonian does, it's absolutely free. The entire mall is taken over with wonderful booths and music. And this year they are celebrating the folk life of Appalachia, of Mali and of Scotland. So it should be quite an exciting time there.

KAGAN: Well it's fascinating.

If you are hungry how about heading to Chicago?

FROMMER: Yep. Chicago is the place for food lovers. This year, as in past years, they are hosting the Taste of Chicago which gets 3.6 million visitors annually. And this year for the first time they're going to be hosting other states.

So if you want to go to Chicago and see what the people in Mississippi eat and see what the people in New York eat, it's the time to do it. And it's a wonderful festival. Sheryl Crow will be performing, Elvis Costello. There's games for the kids and it's all free to get in. Not free to eat but free to get in.

KAGAN: Looks tasty though.

A lot of people will be hitting the road, lot more than have over the past year. There's a good tip here about when to fill up your gas tank.

FROMMER: Yes. AAA is expecting more people traveling for this July 4 weekend than in the past nine years. And when you have that kind of volume on the road, gas prices can inch up. Not that much, but a little. So if you can fill your tank on July 2 it's a good idea. Also try and leave July 2. If you get out on July 3 you're really going to be stuck in a lot gridlock probably.

KAGAN: And in terms of airfare bargains out there, Alaska Airlines. We have a lot of viewers this hour from the West Coast. So tell those viewers what's in store for them.

FROMMER: Yes, there had been a lot of airfare sales. They're over now except for Alaska Airlines. If you are willing to travel on July 4 then come back a couple days later, you can travel between a number of cities for just $34 each way, which is not bad for the holiday weekend.

KAGAN: No, that's a great deal.

Now if you want to go a little bit more exotic, how about Tahiti?

FROMMER: Tahiti. This is for people from Los Angeles from a company called Tahiti Vacations. You can find them on the Web at TahitiVacations.net. And they are flying people from L.A. to Tahiti. You get to island hop there. You spend one night in Tahiti, four nights in Moorea for $699. It's a remarkable last-minute deal and that includes airfare.

KAGAN: And finally, if you are going to hit the airport give yourself some extra time. I have been living in airports lately so I can appreciate this.

FROMMER: Yes. No, the lines have been getting longer at airports because more people are traveling. And especially if you will be flying out of Denver, out of Washington, out of Seattle, the lines have been terrifically long there.

But this weekend give yourself two hours when you get to the airport because security is going to be extra tight, obviously.

KAGAN: Thanks for the tips. Have yourself a great holiday. What city do you plan to spend it in?

FROMMER: I'm going to be in my hometown of New York. There are lots of great things happening here.

KAGAN: Well you enjoy that. Pauline Frommer, thanks for the tips and enjoy happy holiday.

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