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Seth Kugel is a freelance journalist who writes the Frugal Traveler blog for The New York Times and the Viagens blog for the Brazilian web portal IG. Prior to taking on the Frugal Traveler job, he was the Brazil correspondent for GlobalPost, and before that contributed over 10 years to almost every section of The New York Times from Styles to Metro to Real Estate. From 2006 to 2008 he wrote the Weekend in New York column for the Travel section, and from 2001 to 2005 covered the Bronx and Queens for the City section. He is the co-author of Nueva York: The Complete Guide to Latino Life in the Five Boroughs (St. Martins Press, 2006), holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School and speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese. He currently splits his time between New York, São Paulo, and just about everywhere else.

Cheapflights: How did you become the Frugal Traveler?

Seth Kugel: I used to write a column called Weekend in New York for The New York Times’ Travel section, so I knew the editors well. But I left to work as a foreign correspondent in Brazil, and after two years abroad, I heard that Matt Gross, the former Frugal Traveler, was leaving the position. They asked me if I was interested. The application process was a bit more complicated than that, but that’s more or less what happened.  If you want to know how ANYONE gets to be the Frugal Traveler, it’s obviously a mix of travel experience, life experience, luck and (I hope) talent. Obviously, you also have to develop a strong voice in your writing. I never even wanted to be a travel writer, but Frugal Traveler is not exactly the kind of gig you turn down. It’s like if I didn’t want to be an actor (and I don’t) and then someone wants me to star in a movie opposite Angelina Jolie. Uh, yes. I’ll do it.

CF: As the Frugal Traveler, what are some of the questions that you receive that you find odd?

SK: I guess the craziest thing is that some people complain I spend way too much money on my trips and some complain that I’m too cheap. It’s a bit frustrating. The column is supposed to show that you can travel for less and still have a minimal level of comfort. To be honest, I don’t get questions all that often, because I travel anonymously. So really, no one I meet knows what I do. Of course, questions come in through email and Twitter. Of those, the ones I absolutely find both hilarious and frustrating are people who write in and say “I’m going to southern Cambodia in June. Have any tips?” People just assume I’ve been everywhere. And that I have a few magic sentences that will give them the greatest vacation of all time. Really, what I wish people would do is try to learn how to travel, not ask exactly what town to go to or what restaurant to eat at.

CF: What is one of your travel pet peeves?

SK: Airports that charge outrageously for internet access, and countries that make it difficult to get a SIM card for your phone. The internet thing is just PR basics. My experiences in airports with free internet are 100 times more awesome than my experiences in other airports, starting right from the curses I utter when I see that I have to pay $12.95 to check my email. So I want to return to that airport, and that city. It’s not really rational. Also, the SIM thing — in some countries you just strut into a store and buy a phone number for five bucks. In others, you have to fill out endless forms and documents and all that. Bolivia and Brazil are the worst I’ve encountered.

CF: What countries or regions do you believe offer the best bang for your buck?

SK: Look, you did it too! You think I’ve been everywhere! Of the places I’ve visited as Frugal Traveler, which entirely excludes Africa and Asia, two pretty big locations, Bolivia and Albania have been the best bargains.

CF: How do you discover local or off-the-beaten-path places?

SK: A variety of ways. Some countries and regions are well covered online, with local blogs, sites like Chowhound and Yelp, and excellent local search engines. But that’s not really so fun. The second best way to do it is simply to ask in a way that makes people realize you don’t want the standard tourist advice. Like say you’re willing to walk up to two hours to get to a place if it’s really good, and you don’t want to be anywhere where you’ll see another foreigner. That gets people’s attention. And the best way is to find the place yourself by looking in unexpected places. But that takes a lot of trial and error.

CF: Is there a destination that without fail you visit regularly?

SK: Brazil. I lived there full-time for two years, and come back as much as possible. I still have a shared apartment in Sao Paulo. I love having a presence in two countries at once, although with all the travel I do, it’s hard enough to have a presence in New York.

CF: What are some simple (painless) ways to stretch your travel budget?

SK: Take public transportation instead of taxis from the airport, though that takes advance planning. Buy snacks and water at local supermarkets (which are interesting places themselves) so you’re not tempted to spend between meals. Look for lodging on sites like hostelbookers.com and hostelworld.com, even if you don’t want hostels. But most of all, read The Frugal Traveler at www.nytimes.com/frugaltraveler, obviously.

CF: What are some ways you find useful for settling into a new destination?

SK: Figure out what friends of friends of friends of yours live there and arrange to meet one. Failing that, walk and walk and walk. It’s also quite soothing to unpack your suitcase completely, rather than living out of it – but that’s only if you have a hotel room all to yourself. Doesn’t work with hostels.

CF: How do you decide where to go next?

SK: That’s a complicated process that happens in discussion with the editors. It’s a mix of places I’m interested in, what we think our readers are interested in, and where the budget can take me. The Frugal Traveler budget is indeed frugal. So if I spot a great plane fare somewhere I’ve never been, there’s a much better chance I can convince my bosses to let me go there.

CF: Any websites or trusted print guides you regularly check – or invest in – before taking off for a new destination?

SK: I use the same websites and guides everyone else does — Lonely Planet and Moon and Rough Guides, Yelp and TripAdvisor and Chowhound.  But I think I use them a little differently – I use them to gauge what people already know is out there, so I don’t end up giving the same advice or having the same experiences all over again. The last thing I want is to only go to places that are already highly recommended by the top sites and guidebooks. There are so many great places and activities and sights out there, I have no excuse for being repetitive.

Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.

About the author

Pleasance CoddingtonPleasance is a British travel writer and online content specialist in travel. She has written for numerous publications and sites including Wired, Lucky, Rough Guides and Yahoo! Travel. After working for six years on content and social media at VisitBritain, she is now the Global Content and Social Media Manager for Cheapflights.

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