Sightseeing New York City – art galleries, museums, parks, theatre, Times Square.
San Francisco – cable cars, art galleries and parks.
Los Angeles – shopping, Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, restaurants, museums, art and music.
Las Vegas – glamorous hotels, five-star restaurants and casinos. Orlando – theme and water parks.
Accommodation
Luxury city hotels, excellent family resorts and apartments (Orlando).
Family activities
Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Studios, national parks, Kennedy Space Center, Cypress Gardens, SeaWorld® Adventure Park, American Museum of Natural History and Golden Gate Park. Many attractions have special sections for children.
Shopping
What you can buy – Everything you desire.
Where you can buy – Shops, malls and factory outlets throughout the country.
Entertainment
Restaurants, coffee shops, street stalls and fast food outlets offer food from around the world. There is a huge choice of bars, discothèques and clubs, as well as opera, theatres, musicals (notably New York’s Broadway), jazz clubs, museums and art galleries.
Sports and leisure
Baseball, basketball, American football, ice hockey, car racing, tennis, beach and water sports. Golf courses throughout the country.
Exploring by road
The excellent road network makes the USA ideally suited for self-drive car rental and motorcycle rental. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road.
Sundance Film Festival (January); Super Bowl (February); St Patrick’s Day (March); Indy 500, Indianapolis (May); Kentucky Derby, Louisville (May); Independence Day Parade and Fireworks (July); US Open Tennis Championship, New York City (August – September); Halloween (October); New York Marathon (November); Thanksgiving Parades (November); Times Square’s New Year’s Eve festivities (December).
Visas:
Nationals of the following 27 countries that are under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) have to present a machine-readable passport (MRP). Those who cannot comply require a visa to travel to the USA. Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Most Gulf and Middle East nationals, including UAE nationals, require a visa to enter the USA.
Health requirements:
No compulsory vaccinations are required. However, immunisation against tetanus and polio is recommended.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover.
Note: Medical expenses and hospital charges are extremely high in the USA. Only extreme emergency cases are treated without prior payment. Continuing treatment and non-emergency cases will usually be refused without evidence of adequate insurance or payment of a substantial deposit. It is absolutely essential that you obtain appropriate medical insurance cover before departure.
Currency:
US Dollar (USD) divided into 100 cents.
Notes in denominations of USD1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20,
10, 5, 2 and 1.
Coins in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
Approximate exchange rate:
AED1 = USD0.27
EUR1 = USD0.75
Please check the rate of exchange prior to travel.
Banking hours - 0900 to 1500 hours, Monday - Friday.
Payment in foreign currency is not accepted in the USA.
Most banks in the USA do not offer currency exchanges and do not accept travellers cheques in foreign currencies. Currency exchange takes place in many exchange bureaus and we recommend that you buy travellers cheques in US Dollars rather than in your own currency.
You can find money exchange bureaus in luxury hotels and at airports. It is advisable to request for small denomination bills and coins, which are useful when travelling (especially on public transport) within the USA.
All major credit cards are accepted in most shops and department stores. In all the big cities in the USA, local currency can be withdrawn using major credit cards from the numerous automated teller machines (ATMs) in the city as well as at most international airports.
Clothing:
Due to the varied climatic conditions that exist in the USA, the type of clothing required differs from region to region. Please refer to the climate charts for more information.
Airport information:
New York City - John F Kennedy International (JFK) Airport is approximately 22 kilometres south-east of downtown Manhattan. The airport telephone number is 718 244 4444.
Newark International (EWR) Airport is in New Jersey and is approximately 26 kilometres south-west of New York City. The airport telephone number is 973 961 6000.
La Guardia (LGA) Airport is approximately 13 kilometres east of central Manhattan. The airport telephone number is 718 533 3400.
Houston - George Bush Intercontinental Airport is approximately 37 kilometres north of downtown Houston. The airport telephone number is 281 230 3000.
San Francisco - San Francisco International (SFO) Airport is approximately 25 kilometres south of San Francisco. The airport telephone number is 650 821 8211.
Los Angeles - Los Angeles International (LAX) Airport is approximately 24 kilometres south-west of downtown Los Angeles. The airport telephone number is 310 646 5252.
Orlando - Orlando International (MCO) Airport is approximately 16 kilometres south-east of Orlando. The airport telephone number is 407 825 2001.
Miami - Miami International (MIA) Airport is approximately 11 kilometres north-west of Miami. The airport telephone number is 305 876 7000.
Customs:
Duty free allowance for non-residents: Persons of 21 years of age or above - 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or two kilogrammes of tobacco or a combination of proportionate parts and one litre of alcoholic beverage. For all passengers including accompanied or unaccompanied minors - gifts not exceeding USD100 in value, provided that the stay in the USA is not less than 72 hours and that the gift exemption has not been claimed in the previous six months.
There are no restrictions on the import and export of local or foreign currencies, provided amounts in excess of USD10,000 in cash or cash instruments are declared.
The following items are prohibited:
• Illicit drugs
• Fresh food items like meat, vegetables, fruits or cooked/pre-cooked items and canned items
• Seeds
• Matches
• Soil
• Live insects, snails and other living plant or animal pests
• Imports from or exports to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya and Sudan
Sales tax:
Visitors to the USA frequently misinterpret the state sales tax with the Value Added Tax (VAT). The state sales tax is a small tax on purchases or services, calculated at the time of purchase. This tax is assessed by individual states and the US federal government neither determines nor receives it and hence cannot refund it. The USA does not have a VAT. Many states do not charge tax on items shipped out of the state. It is advisable to enquire about the respective sales tax policies of the state where you make your purchases. Please note, taxes vary from state to state and city to city. Prices in supermarkets and stores are always printed without tax and restaurants and hotels often print their prices without tax.
Driving licence:
Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Besides possessing a driving licence from your country of residence, you require an International Driving Permit to drive in the USA.
Note: Speed limits are clearly indicated along highways and are expected to be strictly followed, failing which heavy fines are charged. Throughout the USA, there are extremely tough laws against drinking and driving. Please ensure that you carry a valid driving licence at all times while driving. All travellers intending to rent or drive cars in the USA are strongly advised to ensure that they have a comprehensive insurance cover for all passengers.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Police, Fire and Ambulance - 911
Hours of work:
Business: 0900 to 1730 hours, Monday - Friday.
Shopping: 0930 to 1800 hours, Monday - Saturday,
1200 to 1800 hours, Sunday.
0930 to 2100 hours (shopping centres)
Most shops operate on Sundays as well but open slightly later in the morning. There are 24-hour shops in most major cities.
Public holidays (fixed):
19th January - Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday
16th February - George Washington’s Birthday
31st May - Memorial Day
4th-5th July - Independence Day Celebration
6th September - Labour Day
11th October - Columbus Day
11th November - Veteran’s Day
25th November - Thanksgiving Day (Last Thursday of November)
24th-25th December - Christmas Day Celebration
31st December - 1st January - New Year’s Day Celebration
Time zone:
Winter (November to March)
• Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 hours (New York, Washington DC, Boston, Miami and Orlando).
• Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 hours.
• Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 hours.
• Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 hours (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas).
• Alaska: GMT - 9 hours.
• Hawaii: GMT - 10 hours.
Summer
Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins for most of the United States at 0200 hours on the first Sunday of April, moving the clock forward by one hour. The clock reverts to standard time at 0200 hours on the last Sunday of October.
Language:
English is the official language. Spanish is widely spoken in Miami and Los Angeles.
Tipping:
Gratuities of around 15 - 20 per cent are customary for all those providing services unless a service charge is included in the bill. Care must be taken not to offend anyone by not offering a tip.
Electricity:
110 volts, 60 cycles AC. Plugs used are the flat two-pin type. Electrical appliances not fitted with dual voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which should preferably be purchased before arrival.
Safety tips:
As with every major city in the world, care must be taken while travelling in the USA. Avoid lonely streets after dark and beware of pick pockets. Carry minimum cash on you, preferably in smaller denomination bills. Also carry a photocopy of your identification papers and leave your valuables in the safety deposit box at your hotel.