Fast Facts

Automobile Organizations Auto clubs supply maps, routes, guidebooks, and emergency road service. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is the major auto club in the United States. If you belong to an auto club in your home country, inquire about AAA reciprocity before you leave. You may be able to join AAA even if you're not a member of a reciprocal club; to inquire, call AAA (tel. 800/222-1234). AAA is actually an organization of regional auto clubs; so look under "AAA Automobile Club" in the White Pages of the telephone directory. AAA has a nationwide emergency road service telephone number for members (tel. 800/222-4357).

Business Hours Banks are open from 9am to 4pm weekdays. There's usually 24-hour access to the automated teller machines (ATMs) at most banks and other outlets. A few drive-through branches in central Florida are open until noon on Saturday. Generally, offices are open from 9am to 5pm weekdays. Stores are open 6 days a week, with many open on Sunday, too; malls and factory outlets usually are open until 9pm Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6pm Sunday.

Drinking Laws The legal age for buying and consuming alcoholic beverages is 21; proof of age is required and often requested at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, so it's always a good idea to bring a photo ID when you go out. Beer and wine often can be purchased in supermarkets.

Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car or any public area that isn't zoned for alcohol consumption. The police can and will fine you. Nothing will ruin your trip (not to mention your life and possibly the lives of others) faster than getting a citation for DUI ("driving under the influence"), so just don't do it.

Electricity Like Canada, the United States uses 110 to 120 volts, 60 cycles, compared to 220 to 240 volts, 50 cycles in most of Europe and Australia. In addition to a 100-volt converter (bring one with you; they're hard to find in the U.S.), small appliances of non-American manufacture, such as hair dryers or shavers, require a plug adapter having two flat, parallel pins.

Embassies & Consulates All embassies are located in Washington, D.C. Some consulates are located in major cities, and most nations have a mission to the United Nations in New York City. International visitors can obtain telephone numbers for their embassies and consulates by calling "Information" in Washington, D.C. (tel. 202/555-1212).

The Canadian consulate closest to Orlando is at 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1600, Miami (tel. 305/579-1600). The British consulate is located at 200 S. Orange Ave., Orlando (tel. 407/426-7855). Other consulate offices in Orlando are the Consulate of Mexico, 100 W. Washington St., Orlando (tel. 407/422-0514); Consulate of the Netherlands, 400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando (tel. 407/425-8000); and French-American Institute of Orlando, 522 E. Washington St. (tel. 407/839-0581). These consulates operate with small staffs, and many keep abbreviated business hours. Don't be surprised if you get an answering machine.

Emergencies Call tel. 911 to report a fire, contact the police, or get an ambulance. This call is free from all public telephones and should be the first call made in case of any serious medical emergency or accident.

The Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, the state tourism promotions board, sponsors a help line (tel. 800/647-9284). With operators speaking over 100 languages, it can provide general directions and can help with lost travel papers and credit cards, minor medical emergencies, accidents, money transfer, airline confirmation, and much more.

Gasoline (Petrol) Petrol is known as gasoline (or "gas") in the U.S. and is sold at service stations and convenience stores. One U.S. gallon equals 3.75 liters, and 1.2 U.S. gallons equal 1 imperial gallon. There usually are three grades (and price levels) of gasoline available at most gas stations, and you'll notice that their names change from company to company. The ones with the highest octane are the most expensive. If you have a rental car, use the least expensive, "regular" unleaded gas. Gas prices average $1.95 a gallon, but can be 20¢ or 30¢ a gallon higher in the main tourist areas.

Holidays Banks, government offices, post offices, and some stores, restaurants, and museums are closed on legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day); third Monday in January (Martin Luther King, Jr., Day); third Monday in February (Presidents' Day); last Monday in May (Memorial Day); July 4 (Independence Day); first Monday in September (Labor Day); second Monday in October (Columbus Day); November 11 (Veterans' Day/Armistice Day); fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day); and December 25 (Christmas). However, you will find theme parks, accommodations, and most restaurants open on these days.

Languages Major hotels may have multilingual employees. Unless your language is very obscure, they usually can supply a translator on request. In Central Florida, many people speak Spanish, French, German, and Dutch; and several other languages are growing in frequency, including Chinese and Japanese.

Legal Aid As an international tourist, you'll probably never become involved with the American legal system. If you are stopped for a minor infraction, such as speeding or some other traffic violation, never attempt to pay the fine directly to a police officer; you may be arrested on the much more serious charge of attempted bribery. Pay fines to the clerk of the court (tel. 407/836-6000 in Orlando or tel. 407/343-3530 in Kissimmee). If you're accused of a more serious offense, it's wise to say and do nothing before consulting a lawyer. Under U.S. law, an arrested person is allowed one telephone call to a party of his or her choice. Call your embassy or consulate immediately if you find yourself in any kind of trouble.

Mail If you want to receive mail on your vacation and you aren't sure of your address, your mail can be sent to you, in your name, c/o General Delivery at the main post office of the city or region where you expect to be. The post office nearest Disney and Universal (tel. 800/275-8777) is at 10450 Turkey Lake Rd. The ZIP Code is 32819. You must pick up your mail in person and produce proof of identity (driver's license, passport, and so on). You could also have it sent directly to your hotel, if you call your hotel in advance, they can provide you with the proper address and information necessary to have mail delivered to you there.

Often found at intersections, mailboxes are blue with a white American eagle logo and carry the inscription U.S. MAIL. Make sure you see this inscription; overnight delivery companies also often have drop-off boxes along the road. Don't forget to add the five-figure postal code, or ZIP Code, after the two-letter abbreviation of the state to which the mail is addressed (FL for Florida, NY for New York, and so on).

Within the U.S., it costs 22¢ to mail a standard-size postcard and 37¢ to send letters weighing up to 1 ounce (that's about five pages of 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper), plus 23¢ for each additional ounce. A postcard to Mexico costs 50¢, a 1-ounce letter 35¢; a postcard to Canada costs 50¢, a 1-ounce letter 60¢; a postcard to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, South America, or elsewhere costs 70¢; a letter is 80¢ for each ounce.

Measurements The United States doesn't use the metric system.

Newspapers & Magazines National newspapers include the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal. National newsweeklies include Newsweek, Time, and U.S. News & World Report. You'll be able to find the Miami Herald in many cities around Florida. Most of these publications are available in bookstores and some major hotels. The best buy for local coverage, including entertainment, is the Orlando Sentinel.

Much harder to find are newspapers from the United Kingdom. Since 1997, the London Daily Mail is printed in Orlando for distribution along the East Coast. Because of the time difference, British travelers can actually pick up a paper at the airport and read the next day's newspaper on the way home.

Radio & Television There are five coast-to-coast television broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS (the Public Broadcasting System) -- in America. These, plus two smaller networks (UPN and WB) are available in Orlando, as are cable networks such as HBO, ESPN, and the Disney Channel. (Options on hotel TVs may be limited, so ask.) At Disney resorts, there also are Arabic, German, and Japanese channels.

You'll also find a wide choice of radio stations, broadcasting talk shows, and/or music, punctuated by news broadcasts and frequent commercials. Most Central Florida cable networks carry at least two Spanish-language stations, and there are numerous Spanish-language radio stations.

Smoking If you're a smoker, light up where and when you can. Smoking is prohibited in many of Florida's public places. While some bars have smoking areas and most hotels have smoking rooms, many are eliminating them. You're still permitted to inhale in most outdoor areas, but the Disney parks restrict where. Note: Don't expect to light up over dinner. In 2002, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that bans smoking in public work places, including restaurants and bars that serve food. Stand-alone bars that serve virtually no food and designated smoking rooms in hotels are exempt.

Taxes In the United States, there isn't a VAT (value-added tax) or other indirect tax assessed on most things at a national level. Every state, city, and county has the right to levy its own tax on purchases including hotel bills, restaurant checks, and airline tickets. In the Orlando area, the state sales tax is 6.5%-7%, depending on the county you're in. Hotel taxes can push the totals up to 12%. Note: Unlike the VAT in many countries, sales taxes are not included in the sticker prices, they are added on at the checkout counter.

Telephone, Telegraph & Fax Pay phones can be found in most restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and stores. Local calls made from public pay phones in most locales cost either 25¢ or 35¢. Pay phones do not accept pennies, and few will take anything larger than a quarter.

Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. For calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the telephone number of the person you are calling.

For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial 0 (zero, not the letter O) followed by the area code and number you want; an operator will then come on the line, and you should specify that you are calling collect, or person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator.

Because the telephone system in the U.S. is privately operated, long-distance rates can vary widely. Calling from your hotel room is convenient, but, generally, hotel surcharges on long-distance and local calls are astronomical. You're usually better off using a public pay telephone. Hotels sometimes charge a fee if you use your telephone credit card or call a toll-free number (with an 800, 888, 877, or 866 area code), so ask about surcharges before you dial.

Prepaid calling cards -- widely available in convenience stores and drugstores -- don't have the best per-minute rates in town, but are likely fairer than the ones charged by your hotel. Cards can usually be purchased in $5 or $10 increments. Be sure to check for an expiration date before purchasing the card.

For local directory assistance ("information"), dial 411; for long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code and 555-1212. There are two kinds of directories in the U.S. The White Pages list household numbers and business subscribers in alphabetical order. The Yellow Pages list all local services and businesses; they often include maps listing ZIP Codes and public transportation routes.

Most telegraph and telex services in the U.S. are provided by Western Union. You can bring your telegram into the nearest Western Union office (there are hundreds across the country) or dictate it over the phone (tel. 800/325-6000). You can also telegraph money, or have it telegraphed to you, very quickly over the Western Union system, but this service can cost as much as 15 to 20 percent of the amount sent.

Most hotels have fax machines available for guest use (be sure to ask about the charge to use it). Many hotel rooms are even wired for guests' fax machines. A less expensive way to send and receive faxes may be at stores such as The UPS Store (formerly Mail Boxes Etc.), a national chain of retail packing service shops. (Look in the Yellow Pages directory under "Packing Services.")

Time Orlando, like most of Florida, is on Eastern Standard Time (EST). When it's noon in Orlando, it's 7am in Honolulu, 9am in Vancouver, 11am in Winnipeg, and 6pm in London.

Daylight savings time is in effect from the first Sunday in April through 2am on the last Sunday in October. Daylight savings time moves the clock 1 hour ahead of standard time (7pm becomes 8pm and so on).

Tipping Tips are a very important part of certain workers' income, and gratuities are the standard way of showing appreciation for services provided. (Tipping is certainly not compulsory if the service is poor!) Service in the United States generally tends to be good, and gratuities are increasingly being added automatically to some services, particularly those in restaurants, so check the bill closely before adding a gratuity -- service is seldom good enough to double a tip.

In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per bag ($2-$3 if you have a lot of luggage) and tip the chamber staff $1 to $2 per day (more if you or your kids have left a disaster area for him or her to clean up). Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided you with some specific service (for example, calling a cab for you or obtaining difficult-to-get theater tickets). Tip the valet-parking attendant $1 every time you get your car.

In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip service staff 15% to 20% of the check, tip bartenders 10% to 15%, and tip checkroom attendants $1 per garment.

As for other service personnel, tip cab drivers 15% of the fare; tip skycaps at airports at least $1 per bag ($2-$3 if you have a lot of luggage); and tip hairdressers and barbers 15% to 20%.

Toilets You won't find public toilets or "restrooms" on the streets in most U.S. cities, but they can be found in hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, and service stations. Large hotels and fast-food restaurants are probably the best bet for good, clean facilities. If possible, avoid the toilets at parks and beaches, which tend to be dirty; some may be unsafe. Restaurants and bars in resorts or heavily visited areas may reserve their restrooms for patrons. Some establishments display a notice indicating this. You can ignore this sign or, better yet, avoid arguments by paying for a cup of coffee or a soft drink, which will qualify you as a patron. Within the theme parks, restrooms will be clearly marked on the park maps. Don't panic if you find the flushing handle is missing. Many new toilets are installed with lasers that trigger the flush automatically when you leave the stall.