The 'Frugal Traveler' has a big budget
Posted
Nov 29 2007, 07:34 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
New York Times "Frugal Traveler" Matt Gross is indeed a travel writer, but is he frugal? No, says poetloverrebelspy in a post at one of our favorite budget-travel sites, Less Than a Shoestring. Poet breaks down Matt's $392 in expenditures during two days in Seattle and explains how he could have spent a lot less and still had tons of fun. Matt forks over $250 for two nights at a B&B. Poet wonders why Matt didn't stay with his sister, with whom he visited during the trip. Poet also notes that Matt spent $55 on booze. "A travel writer can drink $10 martinis; a frugal travel writer should be sticking to the $2 beer specials," poet recommends.
The bottom line, poet says, is that Matt's $500-allotment per trip doesn't require him to be frugal, and so his work isn't very helpful to travelers who truly have to watch their spending. "Moral of the story, NYT: Stop giving the 'frugal traveler' $500 per weekend," poet writes. "If you must, make that include airfare and let him spend the rest."
