Arthur Frommer isn't happy with the press his latest book has been getting.  Reviews, though positive, seem to have left out the most important points.  "Ask Arthur Frommer: & Travel Better, Cheaper, Smarter," is, according to the author, a survey of his political and ethical views of what travel should be, as well as a practical guide to travel savvy.  So he's written an essay, an unabashed self-review, outlining what all the book reviewers have missed.

Here are Frommer's top 10, very good arguments:

(1) The urgent need for longer American vacations, guaranteed by law. We are the only prosperous country to lack such humane requirements, and the book pleads with the public to support congressional action to mandate at least - at least - three weeks per year of paid leave for every person.

(2) The right to travel, in peacetime, to wherever we wish. The book argues that travel is a First Amendment right, a learning activity; that the federal government has no more right to prohibit travel to a particular country than it has to stop us from attending a lecture or reading a book.

(3) The right of a travel writer to criticize travel establishments without being sued for libel. Several disquieting court actions in other countries are frightening examples of what could happen here.

(4) The immense expansion of Amtrak. To reduce our dependence on foreign oil, to improve our quality of life, we need a broad network of speedy trains. The recent allotments of economic-stimulus monies to high-speed rail is a start that must be duplicated by still more appropriations in the years to come.

(5) Greatly increased support for our National Parks, which are now suffering from inadequate financing in previous years. Fierce opposition to commercialization of the parks (Coca-Cola signs at the entrance to Yellowstone?).

(6) A limitation on the unnecessary operation of corporate jets, placing burdens on our already-overcrowded skies.

(7) An Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights, preventing airlines from stranding passengers on the tarmac for four hours and more.

(8) A start on assisting travel and tourism for the poor, including low-income-based reductions of the cost of Amtrak tickets and admission to public museums.

(9) An end to the mistreatment of foreign tourists to the United States, eliminating thoughtless and unnecessary barriers to incoming travel and discourteous treatment of such visitors by our customs officials.

(10) Correcting the failure by the Department of Transportation to devote adequate resources to dealing with deceptive advertising of travel (omission of key expenses and fees) by airlines, tour operators and others.

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