Frommers.com's Editor in Chief Jason Cochran, and Managing Editor Zac Thompson, joined Pauline Frommer to discuss the destinations that will be particularly vacation-worthy in 2026. Today's show covered Peru, Jasper (Alberta, Canada), Hot Springs (Arkansas), Viti Levu (Fiji), Costa Navarino (Greece), and the United States' 250th birthday celebration venues. To see the complete list go to Frommers.com/bestplaces2026.

Takeaways:

• In our discussion, we emphasized that Peru offers far more than just Machu Picchu, highlighting its diverse attractions.
• The recent political unrest in Peru has affected tourism, necessitating a focus on alternative destinations within the country.
• We introduced Costa Navarino in Greece as an emerging travel destination, providing a unique cultural experience without the usual tourist crowds.
• The Rocky Mountaineer Train's new Jasper to Banff route presents an opportunity to explore the stunning Canadian Rockies conveniently and luxuriously.
• Viti Levu in Fiji is becoming more accessible to North American travelers, enriching its cultural landscape with a mix of influences.
• The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary with nationwide events that promote historical education and civic engagement.

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It's that time of year again! Frommer's writers from across the globe have nominated the places that they think will be especially appealing to visit in the coming year, for very specific reasons—important anniversaries, new features, affordability, you name it. From the dozens of suggestions, we narrowed the field down to 16. You can see the complete list at Frommers.com/bestplaces2026.

In this episode Frommers.com's Editor in Chief Jason Cochran, and Managing Editor Zac Thompson, joined Pauline Frommer to discuss Asheville (North Carolina), Patagonia Azul (Argentina), Kruger National Park (South Africa), Albuquerque, and Oulu (Finland).

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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Andrea Sachs, Travel Reporter for the Washington Post, discussed how to save money on inoculations and health advice for travel. Then Frommer's author Tamara Hinson discussed why so many travel prices are increasing, and how to save money anyway

Takeaways:

• Travelers must be aware of the significant costs associated with vaccinations required for some international trips, as they can be exorbitant.
• Consultation at travel clinics can lead to unexpected expenses, and it is advisable to research beforehand to avoid overspending.
• Primary care physicians can provide valuable recommendations for vaccinations, potentially reducing unnecessary expenses .
• It is prudent to investigate various travel clinics and compare prices, as not all facilities charge the same for vaccinations and consultations.
• AI is driving up the cost of hotels and airfares, but there are strategies for outwitting the machine
• Rental car companies moving to electric fleets is temporarily raising the cost of rental cars
• Airport expansion projects are making many costs at airports higher, primarily parking and food. So pack your own meals and get a friend to drop you off before your flight
• Many countries are adding additional fees to visit and at some top attractions. We looked at a few of the places where costs are increasing

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Washington Post
• Passport Health
• CDC
• HMO
• University of Maryland
• Cox Automotive
• Atomize

Mentioned in this episode:

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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Frommer's Author David McElhinney joined Pauline Frommer to discuss the culinary specialties of different Japanese regions, walking vacation opportunities that mirror the Camino de Santiago experience, ways to experience Japan's sizzling pop culture, and some strategies for saving money on a Japanese vacation.

Takeaways:

• Transportation in country is one of the highest costs travelers face, but buying a Japan Rail Pass may save you money. A look at its pros and cons.
• Accommodations can also take a bite out of the budget, so we discussed what capsule hotels are like, plus the more conventional but still affordable options most travelers prefer.
• Japan's culinary offerings are diverse and budget-friendly. We took a look at convenience store meals, Tokyo's Ramen scene, and the foods eaten in a region of Japan that has the most centenarians.
• Visiting off-the-beaten path Japan will get you out into some stunning nature areas, and into communities that really need the tourist business.

The Frommer's Travel Podcast was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. It is hosted by Pauline Frommer, the Publisher of the Frommer's guidebooks and Frommers.com, with new episodes issued weekly.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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Seth Kugel, the Tripped Up columnist for the New York Times, shared a shocking tale of an Airbnb stay that went wrong. He also gave advice on how to keep yourself safe in a vacation rental. Then Jason Lucking of pAIback.app, discussed this new flight savings tool.

The Frommer's Travel Podcast was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. It is hosted by Pauline Frommer, the Publisher of the Frommer's guidebooks and Frommers.com, with new episodes issued weekly.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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Traveling to Cuba today requires a knowledge of the law, and some strategies for getting the most out of your trip. Podcaster Chris Christensen of the Amateur Traveler podcast just recently returned from this storied island nation, and discussed some of the elements of a trip there, including:

• Why United States citizens have to find non-hotel accommodations
• How issues with the power grid will impact travel
• Why farm visits are so intriguing in Cuba (especially for cigar fans)
• How the beach scene differs in Cuba from other destinations
• Some of the top sights and experiences in Havana and Trinidad

The Frommer's Travel Podcast was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. It is hosted by Pauline Frommer, the Publisher of the Frommer's guidebooks and Frommers.com, with new episodes issued weekly.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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Jeff Greenwald, author of the brilliant travel memoir "The Size of the World: Once Around Without Ever Leaving the Ground" was today's guest.

In the course of the conversation, he discussed:

-What the ideal travel companions are

-What it's like to travel by freighter

-The mysteries of the Dogon people of Mali

-A moving encounter with novelist Paul Bowles in Morocco

-The many meanings of pilgrimage

-The Lhasa Valley in Tibet

And much more.

The Frommer's Travel Show was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. It is a weekly podcast, hosted by Pauline Frommer, daughter of Frommer's guidebooks founder Arthur Frommer, and President of Frommer Media LLC.

Mentioned in this episode:

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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Barbara Balfour, author of "Frommer's Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick" was our first guest, talking about how to plan the best trip to the Canadian Maritimes. Among the topics she hit:

• The tragic Acadian history of the region, and how to experience Acadian culture today
• Why lesser-known New Brunswick many now be the best state in the Maritimes for a nature vacation
• How to plan a road trip along the Cabot Trail
• How you can enjoy Prince Edward Island even if you don't give a damn about "Anne of Green Gables"

Then, Dawn Padmore, Vice President of Awards at the James Beard Association came in to give us a backstage look at this important culinary contest. She discussed:

• Who James Beard was, and how the awards began
• How restaurants get nominated for the honor
• What winning an award can mean for a restaurant
• The Foundation's special dinners, in New York City and across the country, which introduce the public to award winning chefs.

The Frommer's Travel Show was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. It's hosted by Pauline Frommer, daughter of founder Arthur Frommer and the publisher of the Frommer's guidebooks and Frommer's.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

The Frommer's Travel Show was named one of the 13 Best Podcasts for Travel by the New York Times. It's hosted by Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director for the Frommer's guidebooks, and President of FrommerMedia LLC, which publishes Frommers.com (12 million page views per month) and the Frommer's guides.

This week's episode features James Hammond, host of the "Winging It Travel Podcast," discussing his adventures in the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan.

In the he covered:

• Why Jordan is such an exciting and
• What the fallout is, miles-wise from the recent JetBlue/United partnership
• Which hotel chain gives the most valuable points
• And ways for people to get started on the "game" that is reward travel.

If you enjoy the podcast, we hope you'll give us a good review and rating wherever you listen to it. Doing so helps us keep creating impartial, journalistic (ie no "pay for play") travel information, both here, on Frommers.com, and in our books. Too much travel information is simply disguised marketing, and we're trying to stem the tide.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

The Frommer's Travel Show was named one of the 13 Best Podcasts for Travel by the New York Times. It's hosted by Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director for the Frommer's guidebooks, and President of FrommerMedia LLC, which publishes Frommers.com (12 million page views per month) and the Frommer's guides.

This week's episode features Greg Davis-Keane, the President of Frequent Miler, a blog and podcast that teaches how to make the most of loyalty points. He came on to talk points and miles, but did it in a way that beginners will understand (we promise).

In the course of conversation, he covered:

• Why "buying portals" are excellent tools for amassing points
• What the fallout is, miles-wise, from the recent JetBlue/United partnership
• Which hotel chain gives the most valuable points
• And ways for people to get started on the "game" that is reward travel.

If you enjoy the podcast, we hope you'll give us a good review and rating wherever you listen to it. Doing so helps us keep creating impartial, journalistic (ie no "pay for play") travel information, here, on Frommers.com and in our guidebooks. Too much travel information is simply disguised marketing, and we're trying to stem the tide.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast