I have a trip lined up in late May. We'll be staying at the soon to be opened Hilton by the Arc de Triomphe.

I have tried to send an email to the Hilton to request some maps and brochures but don't believe they have received it yet. Any other suggestions for getting some cheapie/free maps of Paris that I can write on when planning my trip?

This is the best I could find:

UNITED STATES
New York
French Government Tourist Office
444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10022-6903
(No phone calls)
Fax: +1 (212) 838-7855
Request Information


Chicago
French Government Tourist Office
676 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2819
(No phone calls)
Fax: +1 (312) 337-6339
Request Information

Los Angeles
French Government Tourist Office
9454 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 715
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2967
(No phone calls)
Fax: +1 (310) 276-2835
Request Information

Have a good trip

....PLEASE SELECT FROM THE LIST BELOW YOUR AREA(S) OF INTEREST
IN VISITING FRANCE: (LIMIT 2 PER ORDER) ...
http://www.leadnet.com/leadnet-bin/l...A2jc84fxhD0xEY

In case the above link does not work:

http://www.franceguide.com/home.asp?...A2jc84fxhD0xEY

You can get some guide books out of the library.

I don't know hwo small your budget is, but I am amazed as to how much people spend to go somewhere, then do not buy the $50-100 of necessary guidebooks and maps that really help plan the trip.

My preferred guide books for Paris are:

Access guide to Paris
Zagat Paris
Michelin paris red book
Guide to small museums of paris.
Any old Fodors Paris for the top tourist spots.

What is the Michelin Guide? I'm heading to the library to check out as many as they have but haven't seen that one.

You have to buy it at a bookshop. Every year a new "Red book" and "Green Books" for each region.
http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichel...oller/HomePage

http://www.gaultmillau.fr

The red guide is called "le Guide Rouge.. PARIS". This guide has only hotels and restaurants and basic maps locating them. The first time we went to France, we bought the Michelin Red Guide for France, and were dismayed to find no Paris. These guides go out of date after acouple of years.

The Green Guide for Paris has all the sights, and are star rated. These guides hold up pretty well, and we replace only about every 4-5 years. I think Paris has now split off Paris Environs, but not sure.

The Michelin map integrates the guides with the city, and is well worth having.

If you are a big enough nerd to do guide books, maps, and actually want to see things and walk around in Paris, get a compass. It really helps.

USAFAN also listed the Gault-Millau(Go-Mi-o) site. These two guys really were the driving force in moving from the butter and cream food of Escoffiea(sp) and Brillat-Saverin(sp) to the new, light cooking now presented. However, I think both are now dead, and the reviews , if any, are not like of old. The G-M books still work well in the outling areas (anywhere 50km away from Paris)

Just a little word of advice.

Paris is a great city but don't burden yourself with too much reading material. A good illustrated map which shows you the highlights is sufficient. I have seen too many tourists with their noses plunged into guides that in the end they missed looking at Paris...

Just follow your nose and listen to advice when you are there. There will always be someone you'll meet who'll tell you where to go and what to do.

Enjoy the atmosphre, take a metro pass and just roam the city.