c WEICO/VIE TO THE USA, '^^miA .? *«.. J GREETINGS CONTENTS Whether you are here for business or pleasure, the United States Travel Serv- ice — the national tourist agency — sin- cerely hopes that your visit will be memorable and enjoyable. This booklet will answer some of your most immediate questions. 1 Have a Healthful Stay in the U.S.A. 2 Money of the U.S.A. 3 Tipping in the U.S.A. 5 Telephones and Postage in the U.S.A. 6 How to Travel in the U.S.A. 8 This Is the U.S.A. 10 Where to Stay in the U.S.A. 12 Where to Eat and Shop in the U.S.A. 16 Other Sources of Information. HAVE A HEALTHFUL STAY IN THE U.S.A. If you have any questions about your health en route to this country, the U.S. Quarantine Inspector may be able to help you. If you are from an area where one of the quarantinable dis- eases, such as yellow fever, smallpox, cholera, plague, re- lapsing fever, or typhus is present, you may receive a Health Alert Notice. This is for your protection and good health. Please read it carefully and follow the instructions. If you find it necessary to see a physician be sure to show it to him. If you receive a Surveillance Order, it means that you may have been exposed to a disease, but the risk of it developing is not considered sufficient to warrant interruption of your visit. Please observe carefully the requirements stated in the order to assure protection of your health, the health of your friends and relatives, and the public health. The above measures are taken to assure you of a healthful stay in the U.S.A. MONEY OF THE U,S.A. The currency unit is the dollar ($). Fractions of the dollar are referred to in cents (4). The coins are: penny (1^), nickel (5^), dime (10^), quarter (25(^), half dollar (504)' Coins may be referred to by the name, as a nickel, or by the number of cents, 5 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Larger bills are in limited circulation. The denomination figure is placed in each corner of the bill. Currency may be exchanged and traveler's checks cashed at banks or exchange offices in airports of entry. Commer- cial banks in the large cities also handle exchange. Remem- ber exchange rates fluctuate, and a nominal charge is usually made for converting currencies. Dollar traveler's checks are safe when traveling and they are easily cashed. Banks are normally open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. 'Nm^j^i^ '-^ ^.M^ TIPPING IN THE U.S.A. Tipping as a reward for service is the custom throughout the country. Tips are not generally included on the bill in hotels and restaurants. Unless you are a member of a tour group and all tips are being paid by the tour director, you should be prepared to tip for service. The following guide-lines may be helpful to you: The hotel bellman who escorts a guest to his room is usually given 25(^ per bag with a minimum of 50^ . The doorman who secures a taxi at a guest's request should receive 25 (?f. In restaurants, a tip of 15 percent of the total bill (before taxes) should be left at the table, or added to the check if it is signed by the customer. For taxicabs the usual tip is 15 percent of the fare with a I5(i- minimum. Porters at the airport usually receive 25 <• per bag. Porters at the railroad station 35(;'' per bag, but this is not a tip — it's a charge. On trains, sleeping-car porters receive $1 per night per person, the waiter in the dining car 15 percent of the check as in restaurants. The usual tips in a barbershop are 25*^ per haircut, 25 (^ for a shave, 10(* for a shoe shine, and 10^ for valet service. Ladies should tip hairdressers 15 percent of the bill plus 25(:' to the girl who shampoos hair and 35('- to the manicurist. Do not tip theatre ushers, retail store sales people, gas- station attendants, hotel clerks, elevator operators, bus drivers, airline stewardesses, police officers, and government employees. TELEPHONES AND POSTAGE IN THE U.S.A. Directories are found at most telephone booths. The "dial" system is generally used. Simply follow the instruc- tions on the front of the telephone. If you plan to make a long distance call, have plenty of small coins. Only the first two letters of the exchange are dialed. If you make a mistake while dialing, stop at once and replace receiver on hook. Your coin will be returned, so you can start over again. Outgoing stamped mail may be dropped into letter chutes in public buildings, hotels, or in the official red, white, and blue mail boxes marked U.S. Mail on street corners. Post offices are generally open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturday. Stamps may be purchased at post offices, from hotel clerks, and from stamp vending machines. There is a small charge for the convenience of these machines, so you will not receive an even exchange in stamps for the coins deposited. Air Postage: Letters to Europe or South America — 15^ (Vi oz). Letters to Central America — 13<^ (i/^ oz). Letters within U.S.A., to Canada and Mexico — 8<^ (1 oz). Letters to Australia, Japan, and other countries — 25(^ (Vi oz). Post cards within the U.S.A., to Canada and Mexico — 6*^ each. Post cards to all other countries — 11 (?^. Air letter forms to all countries — 11(5^. Surface Postage: Letters within the U.S.A., to Canada and Mexico — 5^ (1 oz). Letters to all other countries — 11 <^ (1 oz). Post cards within U.S.A., to Canada and Mexico — 44 each. Post cards to all other countries — 7 4- % 9:00 AM Pacific Time • SEATTLE PORTLAND « OAKLAND •SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES ^ ©LONG BEACH SAN DIEGO* • ■^ PHOENIX FORT WORT SANi THIS IS THE U,S.A. Central Time 12:00 Noon Eastern Time 7 DETROIT MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL • MILWAUKEE • CHICAGO |^« COLUMBUS INDIANAPOLIS • •CINCINNATI OCHESTER# NEWARK • BUFFALO TlEWYORK • !S"kR0n'"'° •PHILADELPHIA TOLEDO •AKRON .BALTIMORE PITTSBURGH •WASHINGTON INSAS CITY • ST. LOUIS LOUISVILLE •NORFOLK lA CITY MEMPHIS BIRMINGHAM ATLANTA • DALLAS OUSTON A)NIO NEW ORLEANS • ^ A MIAMI • %\? (Map)— 45 principal cities "^^ ' New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Houston, Cleveland, Washington, St. Louis, Mil- waukee, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, New Orleans, Pitts- burgh, San Antonio, San Diego, Seattle, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Memphis, Denver, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Kan- sas City, Columbus, Phoenix, Newark, Louisville, Portland (Oreg.), Oakland, Fort Worth, Long Beach, Birmingham, Oklahoma City, Rochester, Toledo, St. Paul. Norfolk, Omaha, Honolulu, Miami, Akron. HOW TO TRAVEL IN THE U.S.A, Whether yoii travel by car, bus, railroad, or airline will depend upon your personal preference, time available, com- fort desired, and cost. Long Distance Transportation: Bus lines offer the least ex- pensive means of scheduled transportation. Terminals are located near the business district and the principal hotels. Arrange to obtain your tickets 30 to 45 minutes prior to departure. Usually 15-minute rest stops will be made every 3 to 4 hours, unless toilet facilities are available aboard the bus. Brief stops will be made for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Scheduled Airlines: Airlines generally provide two types of service: first class and economy/tourist. Often a single plane will furnish both types of service. Inquire at any travel agency or airline concerning special rates for off-season or family plan service. 8 Railroads: There are two major classes of rail travel: coach and pullman. Coach ticket entitles you to ride in the passen- ger coach, which is comfortably equipped. You may sleep overnight in coaches at no extra charge. Pillows are avail- able for rent, and frequently sandwiches and drinks are sold by vendors. Pullman class features several types of accommodations. Prices vary. Dining cars or snack bars are available on all but local trains. There is no charge for hand luggage, and 150 pounds of luggage may be checked free. Car Rental: Check with bell captain at your hotel or consult Yellow Pages section of telephone directory under "Auto- mobile Rental." Most airports have car rental offices. To rent a car you must have a valid driver's license recognized by the U.S.A., credit credentials, or other evidence of ade- quate funds. Since auto rental charges vary, it is wise to compare rates with one or more agencies. Ask whether gaso- line, oil, and insurance are included in the rental fee. Local Transportation: Local buses generally have a standard fare, no matter how far you are going. Symbols for bus stopping-places vary from city to city. Sign usually reads "Bus Stop." It is a good idea to have the right coins ready when you enter the bus. If the driver must make change for you, he will hand you all the money as he is not allowed to place coins in the box himself. When boarding, state your destination and ask if a "trans- fer" is necessary. If so, it must be obtained at that time. Taxis are usually plentiful at transportation terminals, hotels, taxi stands and may be hailed from the street if unoccupied by passengers. Fares vary according to time and distance. Subways: Subways are found only in large cities. A subway map will be found most useful. WHERE TO STAY IN THE US,A. There are varied types of accommodation facilities in the U.S.A. Hotels: Most hotels operate on the European Plan, which is room without meals. Hotels operating on the American plan are usually located in resort areas and the rate includes room, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Services offered by the larger hotels include restaurant, bar, coffee shop, travel desk, laundry and dry cleaning, barber and beauty shop, and a resident physician. Many hotels have interpreters available or a list of local residents who have offered to serve as interpreters. Always check for your mail at the hotel desk. You will be notified only if special delivery or registered mail has been received for you. Do not place your shoes outside your hotel room door at night. It is not customary to shine shoes while the guest sleeps. 10 Hotel coffee shops offer light meals at moderate prices. Quite often these shops serve meals on a continuous basis from early morning until late at night. You will be expected to vacate your room by a specific hour, generally ranging from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the day of your departure. The check-out hour, if not posted in your room, will be available upon inquiry with the desk clerk. If you occupy your room beyond the designated hour, you will be charged for an additional day unless prior arrangements have been made with hotel management. It is desirable to note the name, address and telephone number of your hotel and to keep this information with you. Leave a forwarding address when you depart. Motels or "motor hotels" are located along the principal U.S. high- ways and in many cities. The guest may park his car at or near his room and handle his own luggage. Motels frequently have fine restaurants as well as more casual eat- ing facilities on the premises. Often there is a swimming pool and room television. "Vacancy" or "No Vacancy" signs are often displayed to avoid fruitless inquiries by tourists. Tourist homes, "guest homes" and inns abound in smaller towns and resort areas, where the motorist will find a variety of private homes with rooms for tourists, identifiable by signs posted outside reading 'Tourist Home," "Rooms," or "Tourists." YMCAs and YWCAs are well established in large cities throughout the country. They provide accommodations at lower cost than most hotels and motels. Usually they are centrally located and furnish such facili- ties as cafeterias, swimming pools, and gymnasiums. 11 WHERE TO EAT AND SHOP IN THE U.S.A. Each region of the U.S.A. has its own specialty foods, which you are urged to sample. Unless prohibited by law, wines are available upon request. Your waiter can recom- mend good domestic wines. Breakfast in general is a more substantial meal than in many other countries. Lunch (12 to 2) is usually a light meal. Dinner (6 to 9) is the principal meal of the day. Hotel Dining Rooms and Restaurants: In cities, reservations are recommended. Usually seating is assigned by hostess. A la carte items generally take longer to prepare than dishes on the complete meal menu. 12 it 6PO ; 1965 — 780-430 If you are economy minded, many restaurants display a menu posted in a case or on the window outside the main entrance. Before entering, you might hke to check price range and food assortment. Many drugstores offer quick food service either at counters or at tables. Snack Bar and Grills: Usually menus and prices are listed over the serving counter. Customers frequently eat standing up at snack bars in principal transportation terminals. Cafeterias: Self-service of ready-to-eat foods. Look for the day's "Special." The cashier at the end of the counter accepts payment or gives you a ticket to be paid as you depart. Coin-Operated Machines: Usually found in public buildings. Dispense drinks and sweets. Drive-In and Roadside Restaurants: Convenient if traveling by automobile. Customers are served in their cars or in the restaurant. Picnic areas are available for those wishing to purchase food and eat by the roadside. Stores in the U.S.A. vary from large department stores to small specialty shops. The "notions" counters of depart- ment stores carry a wide assortment of inexpensive gifts. When buying electrical appliances, make sure you get a guarantee certificate with the item. Be certain that appli- ances comply with the electrical power system of your country. Since many countries have entirely different methods of marking sizes, it is best to try on clothing, especially shoes, before purchasing. Prices are usually marked on merchandise. There is no bargaining in stores in the U.S.A. In most States you will be required to pay a nominal tax ( 1 % to 3 % ) on some items you purchase unless you request they be shipped to your home. Be sure and get a receipt for articles bought — needed for Customs. U.S. stores are usually open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and many remain open until 9 p.m. one or more nights during the week. They are open on Saturday but closed on Sunday. There is no mid-day closing period. PERSONAL FACILITIES Public toilets are called "rest m 3>=i rooms." They can be found in a ^^ ;^ hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and transportation terminals. They are labeled "Men" and J3 = m CD 31 m 0) "Women." Entirely private fa- cilities are generally available [T for a 10(^ fee. tr^^> Other Sources of Information For emergency assistance, contact a policeman. You will find him quite willing to be helpful. The Travelers Aid Society maintains information centers in many airline, railroad, bus, and steamship terminals. Their representatives are dedicated to assisting travelers in need. If you need assistance at your hotel, speak to the clerk on duty at the reception desk. For details on the attractions of the cities in which you travel, contact the information office of the local Chamber of Com- merce or Convention and Visi- tor's Bureau.