By doing some pre-trip research and reading you will find information that will helpful for your trip. Doing a little homework will address your particular needs and interests. Determining your traveling style, where you want to go, what you want to do and see will help you to access the critical information you will need for a pleasurable and memorable trip. Europe Traveler Guide tries to categorize areas of information that will help you find the right information and web site.
By doing some pre-trip research and reading you will find information that will helpful for your trip. Doing a little homework will address your particular needs and interests. Determining your traveling style, where you want to go, what you want to do and see will help you to access the critical information you will need for a pleasurable and memorable trip. Europe Traveler Guide tries to categorize areas of information that will help you find the right information and web site.
HOW DO MOST AMERICANS OBTAIN THEIR INFORMATION WHEN PLANNING A TRIP?
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce: International Trade Commission, Air Travelers (SIAT) Survey Data on U.S. Residents Visiting Overseas Countries.
63.3 % Airline
29.9% On-Line Travel Agency
20.2% Personal Recommendation
10.5% Corporate Travel Department
7.7% Travel Agency Office
5.3% National/ State/ City Travel Office
5.3% Travel Guide
4.7% Tour Operator/Travel Club
4.7% Others
YOU CAN ATTAIN A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES.
- Guide Books – The old fashion way of extracting travel information on your destination of choice. They are typically 5 1/2″ x 8″ to easily pack and carry around with you while travel about. These can be purchased at a book store or a web site book provider online.
- EBooks – Many of these are versions of the physical guide books, only you download them to your smart device for viewing while traveling about.
- Audio Guides – These are downloadable audio files for your devices so you can listen to a description while walking around or visiting a point of interests.
- Travel Blogs and Videos– Usually created by extensive travelers who are so passion about their adventures that they want to share their experiences. These travelers can provide extremely helpful updated information about the places they have visited. They can also inspire you to travel to places you may not have thought about visiting. Most videos are available on YouTube however, some offer no useful travel information. These sites are more about the person promoting themselves rather than the travel experience.
- Travel Web Sties – These provide a lot of the same information you can get out of travel guide books. Some provide travel forums, travel assistance with booking flight or rooms.
- Travel Forums – A lot of todays web sites allow anyone to contribute their travel experiences. The topics can have a range of recomondations for hotels, restaurants, airlines, sights, etc. Some sights also allow users to rank these places.
- Tourist Offices – Almost every country, major city, popular tourist area and attraction will have local tourist offices. Nobody knows their backyard better than a local so these can be an invaluable source for the latest accurate information.
- Direct and Aggregate Booking Web Sites – Airline, hotel, rental car and aggregate booking sites also will provide local information on many destinations they serve or your final destination. For more on booking sites go to our ➾ Booking On Line page.
Travel Guide Books & Web Sites…
There are many guide books available from publishers as well as online web sites that provide great information. Some are publishers that have guide books you can buy and take with you on your trip. In addition some also have web sites loaded with information but also have forums where travelers can sign up for an account and leave their own experiences and reviews for hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. You can even ask questions and some travelers will respond to you with very valuable information. However be forewarn, some web sites only allow reviews by people who have booked through them. This eliminates ex-disgruntled employees or competitors going on line and making false claims in reviews. Other forums can be open to anyone who wants to write a review and this is why you’ll a five star review and then a zero for the same place. It is also the personal opinion of each individual’s expectation of what they should receive in the way of service. It varies from person to person and country to country.
Some web sites do not publish books but, will be very good sources of information. Some may also assist with your trip planning with booking flight and rooms.
The following web sites and guide book publishers provide some of the best information from which you can plan your trip.
E Books – Guide Books – Web Site
Blue Guides are throughly researched books that offer great information on archeology, architecture, art and history through drawings, maps and photos.
Web Site – Travel Services
Independent travel community for Indie Travel. Beginner’s guide to hitchhiking internationally, travel insurance offers and RTW round the world travel. Air Treks services.
Miscellaneous Travel Publications
Books written for travelers by travel experts. They are known for a deep understanding of culture and history, as well as opinionated and witty writers.
Web Site – Things to See & Do – Guides & Tips – Food & Drink – Places to Stay – Art / Flim & TV – Music & Books
Web site is dedicated to showing the the best of countries, cities & destinations.
Guide Books
Beautifully done books with wonderful graphics and photos. Very encyclopedic on certain topics such as buildings, landmarks, history. Best read before your trip.
Traveler’s Handbook – Web Site
By the author of “How To Europe” travelers guide book. Provides information for the independent budget traveler
Travel Services – Web Site
One of our favorites as their staff stays and reviews inexpensive hotels. Also great tips on ways to save money with transportation & attractions.
Web Site
Written by Europe travelers Durant & Cheryl Imboden as an un-bias review of major destinations. Good informative pages featuring Rome, Paris, Venice & Cruises
Guide Books – Web Site
Eugene 1st published his first guide book in 1936. Other than just hotel, restaurant & landmark listings he provided information on the people and their culture. Their web site was launched in 1996
Guide Books – Travel Forum – Travel Services – Web Site
Arthur Frommer’s 1st guide was for American GI’S in Europe. Then came Europe on $5.00 a day which focused on traveling with a budget. He also ranked sights and landmarks by importance.
Globetrotter Guide Books
Guide Books
There is no company web site but, their guide books can be found here at Amazon or Walmart online or other web sites that sell published travel materials
Travel Magazine – Web Site
Magazine dedicated to discovering the exotic in everyday. Focuses on the journey as much as the destination of genuinely out-of the-way places.
Guide Books – Travel Blog
More than 45 years helping travellers to plan their next adventures. As well as popular guidebooks, they now offer the opportunity to book tailor-made private tours completely personalized to your interests and needs
Apps – E Books – Guide Books – Web Sites
Comprehensive travel information on urban destinations. Locally produced , practical information for over one hundred cities. More than 70 published guide books in 23 countries
Travelers Forum – Travel Services – Web Site
Travel tips, deals and information on destinations as well as, reviews, a forum and blog.
E Books – Guide Books – Travel Services – Web Site
Publishers with over 200 authors who only write about what they personally see and do while, committed to independent travel, trustworthy advice and editorial independence
Michelin Guides (Europe)
Guide Books – Restaurant Guides – Online Interactive Maps – Travel Services – Web Site
Publishers with over 200 authors who only write about what they personally see and do while, committed to independent travel, trustworthy advice and editorial independence. They have been rating hotels and restaurants for over 100 years.
Travel Guide Books – Web Site – Travel Blog
Professional traveler Matt writes about his personal experiences and what he has learn traveling. Saving money, tips for certain travel destinations. Author of the book “How to travel around the world on $50. a day”.
Passport to European Travel Guides
Travel Guides – Audio Books
There is no company web site but, their guide books can be found online at Amazon, Apple Books or other web sites that sell published travel materials.
Guide Books – Podcasts – Travel Forum – Tours – Web Site
Rick has become America’s best known guides for Europe travel. His approach to traveling Europe as a local creates an understanding and appreciation of Europe its history, culture and people. This approach has opened up a new perspective to European travel.
E Books – Guide Books – Travel Services – Web Site
1982 two friends felt guide books needed a more journalistic approach to guide books and issue their first book. They also now publish guides to music, culture topics and phrasebooks books for 18 major languages.
Apps – E Books – City Guide Books – Travel Magazine – Travel Merchandise – Web Site
A web site of what to do in 19 European cities, Time Out sites have an emphasis on entertainment, venues and events. Highly read by the younger travelers.
Web Site – Countries – Cities – Beaches – Castles – Tours and Things to do
Web site is dedicated to showing the top choices of destinations for Countries – Cities – Beaches – Castles – Tours and Things to do
Web Site
Explore by country the: Best places to visit – Top tourist attractions – Most beautiful churches and châteaus – Best hotels & places to stay – Underatted destinations – National parks – How to spend 2 or 3 weeks in a particular location.
Web Site – Travel Magazine
Travel advise and tips for travels across the globe to the World’s Best, A-List, Trip Ideas, News, Hotels & Resorts and Cruises.
Web Site – Travel Forums
On line Travel Community. Book accommodations, write personal blogs and upload photos. Create travel maps and find important travel tips and information.
Apps – Travel Forum – Travel Services – Web Site
This has become one of the biggest travel web sites where travelers can report their experiences and rate hotels, restaurants, etc. Individual may submit questions when planning trips and receive feedback from other travelers on their traveler forum.
Web Site
A travel site written by real experts, not anonymous reviewers. One of the top-10 travel information sites in the world as measured by comScore. 20-year-strong library of more than 30,000 articles.
Online App – for iOS or Android
Access for your smart device to Guides, Maps, Trip Planning, Tours & Hotel booking.
Web Site
Travel information on primary cities across Europe and the rest of the world. What attractions to see, day trips from cities, amps and more. Also Travel Tips for planning and travel while at your destination.
Web Site – Online Monthly Magazine
This site is dedicated to only European destinations by country or region. Information on Experiences, Events and Trips for these destinations. Travel tips and information by category of interests. Monthly magazine with special articles.
Web Site
Open source travel guide featuring up-to-date information on attractions hotels restaurants travel tips and more. Free and reliable advice written by Wikitravellers
Web Site
The World Travel Guide (WTG) is a comprehensive guide to the world’s best travel destinations. Available in English, German, French and Spanish versions, the WTG provides detailed and accurate travel content designed to inspire global travellers.
ONLINE TRAVEL GUIDE BOOK SELLERS
➾ Amazon, Apples Books, Barnes & Noble, Walmart
For a more comprehensive list of booking sites go to our ➾ Booking On Line page. Go to our ➾ Transportation page to find additional pages for: ➾ International Airlines & Airlines in Europe ➾ Boats & Ferries ➾ Buses ➾ Autos & Taxis ➾ Publice Transit
➾ Trains
National Tourists Office Information…
ALBANIA
Email: info@albaniatourism.info Web site: http://albaniatourism.info
ANDORRA
Department of Tourism
Ministry of Tourism and Culture
Carrer Prat de la Creu, 62-64
Andorra la Vella
Principality of Andorra
Telephone: +376 875702
Fax: +376 860184
Email: turisme@andorra.ad
Web site: http://www.turisme.ad/
AUSTRIA
Austrian Tourist Office, Inc.
P.O.Box 1142
New York, NY 10108-1142
Telephone: +1 (212) 944 6880
Fax: +1 (212) 730 4568
Email: travel@austria.info
Web site: www.austria.info/us
BELARUS
Consulate General of Belarus (USA)
708 – 3rd Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: +1 212-682-5392
Fax: +1 212-682-5491
Email: info@belarustourism.by
Web site: http://www.belarus.by/en//
BELGIUM
Belgian Tourist Office
220 East 42nd Street, Room 3402
New York
Internet: http://www.visitbelgium.com
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
phone: + 387 33 580 999
fax: + 387 33 580 998
Email: tourinfo@bih.net.ba
Web site: http://www.bhtourism.ba/eng/
BULGARIA
Bulgarian Tourism Office
1 St. Sofia Str.
1000 Sofia
Telephone: +359 2 987 9778
Fax: +359 2 989 6939
Email: info@bulgariatravel.org Web site: http://bulgariatravel.org/en
CROATIA
Croatian National Tourist Office
350 5th Ave., Suite 4003
New York, NY 10118
212-279-8672web site:https://croatia.hr/en-GB
CYPRUS
Cyprus Tourist Organization
13 East 40th Sreet
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: +1-212-683-5280
Fax: +1-212-683-5282
Email: gocyprus@aol.com
Web site: http://www.visitcyprus.com/
CZECHIA
Czech Tourist Authority
1109 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10028
Telephone: +1 (212) 288-0830
Fax: +1 (212) 288-0971
Email: info@czechcenter.com
Web site: http://www.czechcenter.com/
DENMARK
Danish Tourist Board
PO Box 4649, Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163-4649
Telephone: +1 212-885-9700
Fax: +1 212-885-9726
Email: info@goscandinavia.com
ESTONIA
Estonian Tourist Board
Mündi 2
Tallinn 10146 Estonia
Telephone: +372 699 0420
Fax: +372 699 0432
Email:tourism@eas.ee
Web site: http://www.visitestonia.com/en/
FINLAND
Finnish Tourist Board
P.O. Box 4649 Grand Central Station
New York NY 10163-4649
Telephone: +1 (212) 885-9700
Telephone: 1-800-FIN-INFO (1-800-346-4636) toll-free in North America
Fax: +1 (212) 885-9739
Email: mek.usa@mek.fi
Web site: http://www.gofinland.org/
FRANCE
French Government Tourist Office
444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10022-6903
Telephone: +1 212 838-7800
Fax: +1 (212) 838-7855
Email: info.us@franceguide.com
9454 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 715
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2967
Telephone: +1 310 271-6665
Fax: +1 310 276-2835
Email: info.losangeles@franceguide.comwweb site: http://us.france.fr
GERMANY
German National Tourist Office 122 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10168-0072
Telephone: +1-212-661-7200
Fax: +1 212-661-7174
Email: gntonyc@d-z-t.com
Web site: http://www.cometogermany.com/
GREECE
Greek National Tourism Organization 305
East 47th Street New York, New York 10017
Tel: (212) 4215777 Fax: (212) 8266940 Source
Email: gnto@greektourism.com
Web site: https://www.greeka.com/greece-travel/greece-tourism-offices.htm
ICELAND
Icelandic Tourist Board
655 Third Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10017
Telephone: +1 212-885-9700
Fax: +1 212-885-9710
Email: goiceland@aol.com
Web site: https://www.iceland.is
IRELAND
Tourism Ireland Office
345 Park Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10154, USA
Tel: (212) 418 0800
FAX: (212) 371 9052
Email: corporate.usa@tourismireland.com
Web site: www.ireland.com
ITALY
Italian Government Tourist Board 630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1565
New York NY 10111
Telephone: +1 212 245-4822
Fax: +1 212 586-9249
Email: enitny@italiantourism.com
Web site: http://www.italiantourism.com/
LATVIA
Latvia Tourist Board
4 Pils sq.
Riga, LV-1050
Telephone: +371-7-229945
Fax: +371-7-508468 (same as telephone number)
Email: tda@latviatourism.lv
Web site: http://www.latvia.travel
LIECHTENSTEIN
Liechtenstein Tourismus
St344dtle 37
Postfach 139
FL-9490 Vaduz
Telephone: +423 239 63 00
Fax: +423 239 63 01
Email: info@tourismus.li web site: https://tourismus.li/en/
LITHUANIA
Lithuanian State Department of Tourism
Vilniaus 4/35
2600 Vilnius
Telephone: +370 2 62 26 10
Fax: +370 2 22 68 19
Email: http://www.tourism.lt/en/
LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg National Tourist Office
17 Beekman Place
New York N.Y. 10022
Telephone: +1 212 935-8888
Fax: +1 212 935-5896
Email: luxnto@aol.com
Web site: http://www.visitluxembourg.com/
MALTA
Malta Tourism Authority Auberge D’Italie
Merchants Street
Valletta VLT 1170, Malta
Tel: 356 22915000
Fax: 356 22915394
Email: info@visitmalta.com
Web site: http://www.mta.com.mt
MOLDOVA
Departamentul Dezvoltarea Turismului / Department of Tourism Development
MD-2004
Republica Moldova
mun. Chisinau
bd. Stefan cel Mare, 180, bir. 901
Telephone: +373 (2) 21 07 74
Fax: +373 (2) 23 26 26
Email: dept@turism.md
MONACO
Monaco Government Tourist Office 565 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: 1-800-753-9696 toll-free in USA
Telephone: +1 (212) 286-3330
Fax: +1 (212) 286-9890
Email: mgto@monaco1.org
Web site: http://www.visitmonaco.com/en
MONTENEGRO
Montenegro
Stanka Dragojevica 26
81 000 Podgorica
Telephone: +381 81 241 591 , 245 959, 243 553
Fax: +381 81 247 087 , 241 591, 245 959, 243 553
Email: tourism@cg.yu
Web site: http://www.visit-montenegro.com/
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands Board of Tourism
355 Lexington Ave
New York NY 10017
Telephone: 1-888-GO-HOLLAND toll-free in Canada and USA
Telephone: +1 212 557 3500
Fax: +1 212 370 9507
Email: info@goholland.com
Web site: http://us.holland.com/
NORTH MACEDONIA
Exploring Macedonia
Partizanski Odredi 62,
1000 Skopje, Makedonija
+389 (0)2 3080-111
fax: +389 (0)2 3075-333
Email: contact@exploringmacedonia.com
web site: http://www.exploringmacedonia.com
NORWAY
Norwegian Tourist Board 655 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: +1 212 885 9700
Fax: +1 212 885 9710
Email: usa@ntr.no
Web site: http://www.norway.org/
POLAND
Polish National Tourist Office 5 Marine View Plaza
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Telephone: +1 201-420-9910
Fax: +1 201-584-9153
Email: pntonyc@polandtour.org
Web site:https://www.poland.travel/en-gb
PORTUGAL
Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office
88 Kearny Street, Suite 1770
San Francisco, CA 94108
Telephone: +1 415 391-7080
Fax: +1 415 391-7147
Email: icepsf@portugal.org
Web site: https://www.visitportugal.com/en
ROMANIA
Romanian National Tourist Office
14 East 38th Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: +1 (212) 545-8484
Fax: +1 (212) 251-0429
Email: ronto@erols.comweb site: http://romaniatourism.com
RUSSIA
Russian National Tourist Office
130 West 42nd Street, Suite 412
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 1-877-221-7120 toll-free in USA
Telephone: +1 (212) 575-3431
Fax: +1 (212) 575-3434
Email: info@russia-travel.com
Web site: http://www.russia-travel.com/
SAN MARINO
Contrada Omagnano, 20
47890 – Rep. of San Marino
T: +378 (0549) 882914
F: +378 (0549) 882575
Email: informazioni.turismo@pa.sm
Web site: http://www.visitsanmarino.com
SLOVAKIA
CoSlovak Tourist Board
Namestie L. Stura 1
P. O. Box 35
974 05 Banska Bystrica 5
Telephone: +421-88- 413 61 46 or 413 61 47 or 413 61 48
Fax: +421 -88- 413 61 49
Email: sacr@sacr.sk
Web site:http://www.slovakia.org/tourism
SLOVENIA
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Dimiceva 13
1504 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Telephone: +386 1 58 98 000
Fax: +386 1 58 98 100 or 58 98 200
Email: infolink@gzs.si
Web site: https://www.slovenia.info/en
SPAIN
Tourist Office of Spain
666 Fifth Avenue, 35th Fl.
New York NY 10103
Telephone: +1 212 265-8822
Fax: +1 212 265-8864
Email: nuevayork@tourspain.es
Web site: http://www.spain.info/index.html?l=en_US
SWEDEN
Swedish Travel and Tourism Council
PO Box 4649, Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163-4649
Telephone: +1 212 885-9700
Fax: +1 212 885-9764
http://www.gosweden.org
http://www.visitsweden.com
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland Tourism
608 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10020
Telephone: 011800-100-200-30
international toll-free
Telephone: 1-877-Switzerland (1-877-794 8037) in USA
Fax: +1 (212) 262 6116
Email: info.usa@switzerland.com
TURKEY
Turkish Government Tourism Office
2525 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: +1 (202) 612-6800
Fax: +1 (202) 319-7446
Email: dc@tourismturkey.org
Web Sites: http://www.turizm.gov.tr
http://www.tourismturkey.org/
UNITED KINGDOM
British Tourist Authority
551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 701
New York, NY 10176-0799
Telephone: 1 800 462 2748 in USA
Telephone: +1 (212) 986-2266
Fax: +1 (212) 986-1188 for administration only
Email: travelinfo@bta.org.uk
Web site:http://www.travelbritain.org/
ENGLAND
English Tourist Board
Thames Tower Black’s Road Hammersmith, London W6 9EL Telephone: 0800 192 192 free call in England
Web site: http://www.travelengland.org.uk/
NORTHERN IRELAND
Tourism Northern Ireland
Floors 10-12, Linum Chambers, Bedford Square, Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7ES
Tel: 028 9023 1221
e-mail: info@tourismni.com
SCOTLAND
Scottish Tourist Board – USA
Telephone: 1 800 462 2748 toll-free in USA, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm ET
Email: travelinfo@bta.org.uk
Web site: http://www.visitscotland.com/
http://www.scotlandmotivates.com/
WALES
Wales Tourist Board
Brunel House
2 Fitzalan Road
Cardiff CF24 OUY
Wales, UK
Telephone: +44 29 2049 9909
Fax: +44 29 2048 5031
Email: info@visitwales.com
Web site: http://www.visitwales.com