The Frugal Traveler

Last year, Matt Gross, better known as the New York Time’s Frugal Traveler, set himself a challenge: to visit as many places as he could around the world in 90 days without spending more than $40 on food and $100 on lodging per day. Very quickly his weekly updates became the first article everyone read on Wednesdays. This summer, he’s spending 12 weeks on the road, doing his own version of the quintessential American road trip.

His frugality certainly makes him appealing, but it’s more than just saving a few bucks here and there. He’s interested in having genuine experiences, not simply checking sites visited off a master list. Likewise, he values style over (cheap) substance: he won’t pay a lot, but he wants to get a lot (think camp sites and B&Bs over Motel 6s). Finally, he actively takes—and uses—tips from readers. His method of travel is 'solicit advice, then DIY with lots of patience, few set expectations, and a willingness to try new things,' an effective demonstration of the way the Internet has the potential to be the friendly neighbor next door, cluing you into the all the cool ins and outs of a place, without the intervention of a publicist or major ad campaign.