United States
Business people are generally expected to wear shirt and tie, although a man may wear a short-sleeved shirt under his suit in hot weather. Normal business courtesies should be observed, although Americans tend to be less formal than Europeans. Appointments and punctuality are normal procedure and business cards are widely used. Dates in America are written month-day-year: 4 July 1998 would thus be abbreviated as 7/4/98. Write out the month in full to avoid confusion. Office hours are 0900-1730 Monday to Friday.
Visitors to major cities should be vigilant to their surroundings. Visitors should avoid walking alone at night, and should avoid walking through obviously run-down neighborhoods. To avoid becoming victims of pickpockets, purse-snatchers, or muggers, visitors are advised not to wear flashy jewelry and to carry only necessary cash and credit cards. Gangs and thieves are targeting vehicles and their contents on an increased basis. Visitors are advised to lock their vehicles properly and park their cars in well-lit areas. Visitors should not sleep on the side of the road or pick up hitchhikers. Hitchhikers have been known to rob, assault, and even murder their drivers.
Carjackings against tourists are a main concern of foreigners traveling to Miami. In late 1992 and early 1993, a number of tourists were killed in Miami carjackings, including, in separate incidents, two Canadians and a German woman. The German woman was murdered after she took a wrong turn while leaving Miami airport. Thugs bumped her rental car -- identifiable by its unique license plate -- beat her, then ran her over with their own vehicle. It is comforting to know that tourist attacks have decreased in recent years. Miami authorities have put forth several efforts to crack down on crime against foreigners.
Hotels are plentiful in nearly every U.S. destination. The majority of hotels are modern and part of national and international chains, often with standard prices. In general the quality of accommodation is high, with facilities such as televisions and telephones in each room. Basic categories fall into 'Super', 'Deluxe', 'Standard', 'Moderate' and 'Inexpensive'. Prices vary according to standards.
Full telephone IDD service is available. The country code is 1 and the outgoing international code is 011. For emergency police, fire or medical services, dial 911. There are fax bureaus in all main centers, and major hotels also have facilities. Fax services are very widely available at many corner pharmacies and stationary shops. Post office hours are 0900-1700 (24 hours at main offices in larger cities).
Electricity is a 110/120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat 2-pin type.
110 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat two-pin type. European electrical appliances not fitted with dual-voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which is best purchased before arrival in the USA. The television system is NTSC I/II and is not compatible with the PAL and SECAM systems used in Asia and Europe, although cassettes can be converted.
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In large cities, restaurants are mostly modern and very clean, offering a vast range of cuisines, prices and facilities. Restaurants come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from fast-food, self-service and counter service to drive-in and table service. The ‘diner’ is an integral part of the US way of life; consisting of a driveway, neon lights and simple food served from the counter; these are generally located in or just outside smaller towns. See Food & Drink in the individual State sections for further details on regional specialties. National specialties:
• Fried chicken.
• Hamburgers.
• Apple pie.National drinks:
• Coca-Cola.
• Espresso.
• Regional wines.
• Microbrewery beer
Things to know: There are also many types of bars, ranging from the smart cocktail lounge, cafe-style, high ‘saloon’ style bars and imitations of English pubs to the ‘regular’ bar. Generally speaking, waiter/waitress service costs more. Drinking laws are set by the individual States, counties, municipalities and towns, although traditionally closing time in bars is between midnight and 0300. Legal Drinking Age: The legal age for drinking also varies from 18 to 21 from State to State and the laws on the availability of alcohol run from New Orleans’ policy of anytime, anywhere and to anyone, to localities, such as in Utah, where drinking is strictly prohibited. Tipping:
Widely practiced, as service charges are not usually included in the bill and waiters depend heavily on tips for their income. Waiters generally expect 15 to 20 per cent, as do taxi drivers and hairdressers. It should be noted that a cover charge is for admission to an establishment, not a tip for service. Porters generally expect US$1 per bag.Nightlife
Clubs generally stay open until the early hours in cities, where one can find music and theater of all descriptions. Theater tickets for Broadway, New York’s equivalent of London’s West End ‘Theaterland’, can be booked through the Group Sales Box Office, 226 West 47th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (tel: (800) 223 7565 or (212) 398 8383; website: www.bestofbroadway.com). Special discounts for group bookings are available. Tickets must be paid for in advance and will be mailed out or kept at the theater box office for collection on the night of the performance. Gambling is only allowed in licensed casinos and the legal age for gamblers is 21 years of age or over.
