WELCOME TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK
WELCOME TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Here's a great article about some of the interesting side trips you can do in New York City, notably the nearby islands like Staten Island and Ellis Island. From Uptake is this short article that has descriptions and links to these popular tourist attractions, as well as brief descriptions of Governors Island and Roosevelt Island. A handy article if you have only a short visit to New York. To read the article, click here.
06/24/08 by visitEarth
Time: New York is on Eastern Standard Time at GMT -5.
Electricity: 110 volts, 60Hz. Plugs are mainly the two, flat-pin type, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter.
Money: The US Dollar (USD) is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid hassles.
Language: English is the official language.
Passport/Visa Note: Visitors entering the country under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that has a bar code on the photo page. From 26 October 2006 eligible travellers under the VWP must include biometrics in their machine-readable passports if they wish to enter the country without a visa, containing unique personal data such as fingerprints or iris details. All new passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must contain a digital photo image in order to travel visa-free. Due to new security measures, all visitors to the USA will have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival, including those travelling visa-free under the Visa Waiver Programme.
Health: There are no specific health risks associated with travel within the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive. Only emergencies are treated without prior payment and treatment can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of funds. Good medical insurance is essential.
Tipping: A 15% tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and waiters, but don't tip in fast-food or self-service restaurants. In expensive restaurants or for large parties tip 20% of the bill. It is normal to tip staff in hotels. Most services are customarily tipped if the service is good.
Safety: Travel within the United States is generally trouble-free, however travellers should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world an increased threat from terrorist incidents. At airports restrictions on hand luggage apply and travellers are advised to check on the latest situation with airlines in advance.
Business: The East Coast is traditionally more formal than the West Coast. Punctuality is important and it is considered rude to be late for a meeting. Gift-giving is uncommon as it may be construed as bribery. Appropriate titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms) are used upon introduction and until otherwise stated. Americans favour politeness and greetings of 'Hello' and 'How are you?' are often expressed with sincerity. Business hours may vary in each state, but an 8am start and 5pm finish Monday to Friday is the most common with an hour over lunch.
Communications: The international country dialing code for the United States is +1. The US has numerous area/city codes, which must be dialed before the local number required (e.g. New York Manhattan, 212). Unless you have a tri-band phone it is likely your cellular phone from home will not work in the United States. Internet cafes are prevalent in most towns and cities.
Travel guide content sourced from wordtravels.com
09/25/07 by visitEarth
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