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JOHNNY JET'S Q & A
Pauline Frommer ~ Pauline Frommer Guides

PROFILE

The last two years have been a whirlwind of editing, writing and traveling. The fruit of those labors (and the labors of the incredibly talented staff I work with), has been the new Pauline Frommer guides, a proudly budget series geared towards adult travelers who want to see the authentic side of the destinations they're visiting (and save a lot of money doing so!). I'm the author of Pauline Frommer's New York; I authored part of Pauline Frommer's Hawaii (and edited the rest); and I edited Pauline Frommer's Italy. I'm currently hard at work writing Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas. Before working on the books, I edited the travel section of MSNBC.com and previous to that served as Editor-in-Chief of Frommers.com. I've also written articles for a number of publications including Budget Travel, Newsweek, Marie Claire and the Dallas Morning News. I appear on CNN Headline News every Monday and Wednesday night to discuss the latest travel trends. On Sundays I often co-host "The Travel Show" which plays on WOR and is syndicated to over 100 stations nationwide. I've been married for 10 years to a wonderful physical therapist named Mahlon Stewart and we have two young daughters. I'm a proud graduate of Wesleyan University.

PAULINE'S ANSWERS

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL?
When I was four months old, I made my first trip to Europe with my travel writing parents. I filled diapers in front of all the great monuments, and spent countless hours of my childhood hopping from hotel to restaurant to museum with them as they checked prices, compared menus and peaked under coverlets. When I was in college, I did some research on my own for my father, and not too long after that he and I co-wrote a book.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU FLY?
It really varies year to year. This year has been slow as I had a baby in late February.
IN A YEAR HOW MANY MILES/POINTS DO YOU EARN?
Believe it or not, I don't collect frequent flyer miles. I think it stops me from buying whichever airline has the best deals at the moment. I may be wrong, but I think I save more money this way. I'm also way too disorganized to deal with miles (did you know that 70% of the miles folks collect go unused).
WHAT CLASS OF SERVICE DO YOU MOSTLY FLY IN?
I always fly economy. First class is a huge amount of money to waste on a few hours in a plane.
FAVORITE AIRLINE?
JetBlue or Singapore Air
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT?
Anything that doesn't crash.
FAVORITE HOTEL?
The Puri Saranswati bungalows in Ubud, Bali.
FAVORITE HOTEL AMENITY?
Someone else makes the bed! I also am very grateful when the hotel has a decent gym.
FAVORITE AIRPORT?
Narita, Tokyo
FAVORITE AIRPORT TO PASS TIME IN?
See above
FAVORITE CITY?
Right now, it's a toss-up between Paris and Rome.
FAVORITE ISLAND?
I like the isle of Manhattan, smoke on your pipe and put that in! I'm just not a beach person, although I have to admit to a fondness for the islands of Hawaii.
FAVORITE SPA?
I don't do spas.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
Now THAT's a tough one! There's a goofily romantic little place in Paris, in the Latin Quarter, called the Little Prince, which is really affordable and quite delicious. I also love the House of Nanking in San Francisco, a crowded, gruff Chinese restaurant with amazing food, dishes I've never seen anywhere else. And in my own home town, I really like Bond Street-- a cooler-than-thou sushi restaurant, with friendly sushi chefs (sit at the sushi bar) and creative rolls. I think it's better than the pricier Nobu. But Bond Street is also expensive; go there when you want a blow-out meal.
FAVORITE SHOPPING CITY (PLEASE INCLUDE STREET AND/OR STORE)?
Paris! Ah, if i could only look Parisian. Those women really know how to tie scarves. I had a field day a couple of years ago when the dollar was strong. Now, it's out of my range, except at the end of May when all of the stores go on sale. I tend to haunt the Rue D'Allesia, which is where all of the designers have sample sales. For kids clothes, there's no better chain than Au Pareil du Meme--GAP prices, gorgeous clothing. You'll find them all over Paris, as well as in other French cities. AISLE OR WINDOW?
Aisle.
ETICKET OR PAPER?
E-ticket.
TRAVEL AGENT OR ONLINE?
Online.
FAVORITE TRAVEL WEBSITE?
The one I edit, of course: Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Online (www.budgettravel.msnbc.com)
FAVORITE TRAVEL COMPANION?
My husband and our two daughters (well, the baby's still a bit difficult to travel with, but that will soon change...hopefully)
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A TROPICAL ISLAND, WHAT THREE ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU?
Sunscreen, my glasses (or contact lenses) and the complete works of Shakespeare.
WHAT DO YOU HATE MOST ABOUT TRAVEL?
Crowds. I hate it when a place is spoiled by too many tourists. I like to feel like I'm an explorer, discovering something for the first time.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT TRAVEL?
Making friends. I love meeting people from all over the world, and I'm blessed that my job allows me to do so.
BEST TRAVEL TIP:
Travel starts before you ever get on a plane. Prepare your mind for your trip before you leave. I always try to get a couple of good history books and historic novels before I go so I can better understand what I'm seeing once I'm on the ground.
BEST TRIP:
Another tough question! There have been so many. But I must say, I really enjoyed the vacation my family and I took to Ireland this summer. The people there were tremendously welcoming, the scenery spectacular and the pub scene fun and (important for us), kid friendly.
BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE:
Hmm..Racing by the Pyramids in Egypt, on a stallion, was one. Wandering through the back alleyways of Udaipur in India, watching people dance and set of small firecrackers to celebrate the festival of Diwali, would be another. A third would have to be camping out in Yellowstone, and the hikes we took there. I can't really say which of the three was the best. They were all pretty nifty.