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Tips for United
States
Contents:
Tips for
the Traveler
Visas Health Issues and Risks
Time
Electricity,
Weights and Measures
At a Glance...
Capital City
People
Climate
Language
Religion
Government
Helpful
Tidbits...
Links... |
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Tips
for the Traveler |
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Visas : |
Visas aren't required for EU
nationals or visits under 90 days. Nationals of non-EU
countries should check with the embassy or consulate
before traveling. |
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Health
issues and risks: |
High standard of health care. |
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Time: |
GMT-5 in East; GMT-8 on Pacific
Coast |
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Electricity: |
110-115V, 60Hz |
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Weights
& Measures: |
Old English System, Metric used for
main road signs |
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At
a Glance... |
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Capital
City: |
Washington DC |
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People: |
Ethnic divisions: 80.29% white; 12.06%
black; 2.92% Asian and Pacific Islanders; 0.79% American
Indian, Eskimos and Aleut; 3.94% others. |
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Climate: |
Mostly temperate, but tropical in
Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the
great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in
the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures
in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January
and February by warm Chinook winds from the eastern
slopes of the Rocky Mountains. See travel guide link
below. |
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Language: |
Officially English though there are
many minority languages. Spanish is rapidly becoming a
main second language. |
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Religion: |
Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish
and several minorities. |
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Government: |
Federal republic; strong
democratic tradition. |
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Helpful
Tidbits... |
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The period
from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the traditional summer
season. During this time you may expect tourist
attractions like national parks to be crowded. The
holiday season peaks in July and August. |
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In the States you
can spend as little or as much as you like, so remember
your budget while traveling. |
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If you intend to
carry your stash in the form of traveler's checks, you'll
save yourself a lot of hassle and expense if you buy them
in US dollars. |
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Tipping is expected
in restaurants and better hotels. The going rate in
restaurants is 15% of the bill; never tip in a fast-food
or self service environment. Taxi drivers, bartenders and
hairdressers depend on similar-sized gratuities. |
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To avoid mobs (especially throughout
the national park system), it's better to go during
autumn or early spring. Autumn is an especially good time
to visit New England and the upper Great Lakes because
the fall colors are at their best. |
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Links |
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Travel
Diseases |
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a helpful guide to all travel diseases |
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USA Travel Guide |
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a complete guide to traveling in the USA |
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Access America |
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guides to each region and city |
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US Cities |
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a city-by-city guide to the US |
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Destination USA |
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a fantastic travel information resource for the US |
