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Memphis marathon | page 1, 2

Where can I find a comprehensive list of phone numbers for tourist offices for all the states in the country?

Most states and many cities and tourism regions have toll-free contact numbers. Increasingly, the toll-free numbers lead you to a "fulfillment house" or recording where you can leave your name and number and a free travel packet will be sent to you.

Many contact numbers can be found online, but the most thorough listings for cities and tourism regions are in those printed state vacation guides.

That said, here are some sources for extensive listings:

An uncluttered source is the Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory, distinguished because it notes when each entry was last updated.

The Web site of theInternational Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus has links to its more than 400 members, listed alphabetically.

Another site with extensive tourism office listings, including foreign locations and U.S. cities and counties, is at Official City Sites.

The Web offers many other sources, some in unexpected places, including the site of the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. Another ace source site belongs to the Washington Post travel section, where the Travel Toolbox has listings, with links and phone numbers, for state and national tourist offices.

If you want a printed guide, "The Toll-Free Traveler," compiled by Don and Betty Martin (Pine Cone Press, 1997), can be found in bookstores or ordered by sending $9 to Pine Cone Press, 631 N. Stephanie St., No. 138, Henderson, NV 89014. It has all the state numbers and many others, including those for foreign tourism offices, airlines, hotels and other travel-related businesses.

Revisiting a previous Travel Advisor Q&A:

A recent column discussed merchant ships that accept paying passengers.

Thanks to S.L. in Nashville for calling attention to "Come Hell on High Water: A Really Sullen Memoir," "the funniest tragedy I have ever read," and one that "any person thinking of 'catching' a freighter should read." The author is Gregory Jaynes (North Point Press, 1997). Reviews both calm and stormy can be found at Amazon.com's entry for the book.

salon.com | Sept. 23, 1999

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About the writer
Donald D. Groff has been dispensing travel advice for a decade for such publications as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsday, the Boston Globe and the Kansas City Star.

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