The Frugal Traveler Bids Farewell

Travel Blog  •  Jim Benning  •  05.26.10 | 3:13 PM ET

The author of the New York Times’ Frugal Traveler column, Matt Gross, is leaving the gig after four years—soon to be replaced, as is customary, by a new Frugal Traveler columnist.

Gross, who is also a World Hum contributor, will be working on a blog about fatherhood and an idea for a TV project, among other things. In a farewell post, he looked back on his frugal travels and notes that it wasn’t always easy being the Frugal Traveler.

Often, I’d wind up on a beach somewhere (France, Greece, Malta) and want nothing more than to lie on the sand all day, with occasional forays into the cooling surf. But then I’d think: Where’s the drama there? If I didn’t go do something—anything—I’d have nothing to write about! And so off I’d go, anxiety-ridden and not nearly tan enough, in search of more prose-worthy excitement.

May your future travels be anxiety-free and allow you the time you need to tan sufficiently, Matt.