European Tourist Offices in the U.S.
Tourism is an important part of Europe's economy. Just about every European city has a tourist information office (abbreviated as TI in my books) located downtown and loaded with maps and advice. This is my essential first stop upon arrival in any town. But you don't need to wait until you get to Europe. Each European country has its own official tourism website — a great first stop when you begin researching your trip. Many of these sites are packed with practical information, suggested itineraries, interactive maps, colorful photos, and free downloads of vacation planning kits or brochures. Most also allow you to order printed materials by snail mail. For an extensive listing of tourist boards, see www.towd.com.
In addition, nearly every European country has a national tourist office in the United States with a healthy promotional budget. Switzerland, for instance, figures you'll be doing the Alps, but you've yet to decide if they'll be French, Swiss, or Austrian Alps. They are happy to send you a free package of promotional information to put you in a Swiss Alps frame of mind. Use the form on their website, send an email, or call the office of each country you plan to visit. Ask for specific information to get more than the general packet. If you want to sleep in a castle on the Rhine, river-raft in France, or hut-hop across Slovenia, there's a free brochure for you. Ask for an English-language schedule of upcoming events and for maps of the country and various cities you'll be visiting. I find it's best to get answers to specific questions by telephone.
Austrian Tourist Office: tel. 212/944-6880. Ask for their "Austria Kit" with map. Fine hikes and city information.
Belgian Tourist Office: tel. 212/758-8130. Hotel and city guides; brochures for ABC lovers — antiques, beer, and chocolates; map of Brussels; information on WWI and WWII battlefields; and a list of Jewish sights.
Croatian National Tourist Office: tel. 800-829-4416. Free brochures and maps.
Czech Tourism Office: tel. 212/288-0830. Basic information and map are free; additional materials are $4 (prepaid by check).
Denmark (see Scandinavia)
Estonian Consulate and Tourist Office: www.visitestonia.com or www.nyc.estemb.org, tel. 212/883-0636. Free country and city maps and brochures.
Finland (see Scandinavia)
French Government Tourist Office: For brochures (on regions, barging, wine country, etc.), order online or call 514/288-1904. One brochure and the France Guide magazine are free; additional brochures are $0.50 each, with a handling fee of $2 per order. Many brochures can also be downloaded from their website (read the options carefully to avoid signing up for promotional emails).
German National Tourist Office: tel. 800-651-7010. Maps, Rhine cruise schedules, castles, biking, and city and regional information.
Great Britain Tourist Office: tel. 800-462-2748. First five brochures are mailed free. Helpful vacation planner; detailed London city and underground maps; regional guides to England, Scotland, and Wales; garden-tour map.
Greek National Tourist Organization: tel. 212/421-5777. General how-to booklet, maps of Athens and Greece, and plenty on the islands.
Hungarian National Tourist Office: tel. 212/695-1221. Free guides to Hungary, Budapest, national parks, and events. To download brochures, go to www.hungary.com.
Ireland Tourist Office: tel. 800-223-6470. Vacation planning kit with maps and sample itineraries, plus brochures on everything from golfing to cultural events. Tourism Ireland also provides information to travelers who wish to visit Northern Ireland. While their website has some downloadable brochures, more are available by phone.
Italian Government Tourist Board: To order a free, general Italy guide, call their brochure hotline at 212/245-4822; for more specific information, call 212/245-5618.
Luxembourg National Tourist Office: tel. 212/935-8888. Maps, events calendar, biking, hiking, B&Bs.
Netherlands Board of Tourism: tel. 212/557-3500 or 212/370-7360. They no longer distribute printed material; all information is now available only on their website.
Norway (see Scandinavia)
Polish National Tourist Office: tel. 201/420-9910. Warsaw and Kraków information, regional brochures, and maps.
Portuguese National Tourist Office: www.visitportugal.com (general info and to download brochures) or www.orderportugal.com (to order brochures by mail), tel. 646/723-0200. Maps, regional information, golf, and beach resorts.
Scandinavian Tourist Board: tel. 212/885-9700. Good general booklets on all the Scandinavian countries. Ask for specific country info and city maps.
Slovenian Tourist Office: Slovenian tel. 011-386-1-560-8823. Welcome to Slovenia brochure, map, regional information, hiking, biking, winter travel, and farm stays.
Spain Tourist Office: www.okspain.org or www.spain.info, tel. 212/265-8822. Regional and city guides, maps.
Sweden (see Scandinavia)
Switzerland Tourism: tel. 877-794-8037. Comprehensive brochures, great maps, and hiking material.
Turkish Tourist Office: tel. 212/687-2194. Numerous maps, hotel guides, and brochures on regions, spas, and outdoor activities.
Middle Eastern and North African Tourist Offices in the US
Egyptian Tourist Authority: tel. 877-773-4978. City and regional maps and brochures.
Israeli Ministry of Tourism: tel. 888-774-7723. Request the general packet in English. Interesting brochures for Christian and Jewish faiths.
Moroccan National Tourist Office: Download brochures and sign up for an email newsletter.
Updated for 2008. For lots more tips, check out our best-selling Europe Through the Back Door travel skills guidebook.