“Europe on 5 Dollars a Day†is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The book which came out in 1957 became an immediate bestseller is still used by the average American as a guide for leisure travel in Europe. The original by Arthur Frommer is due to bow out this year after selling millions of copies. The Frommer brand is being carried forward by Pauline Frommer.
Arthur Frommer’s book caught the imagination of the Americans who were struck by the thought of doing Europe on five dollars a day. Back then, travel to Europe was a consideration only for the wealthy. Factors that led to the success of Frommer’s book included the affluence in the American society post WW2 and the growth of air travel.