 The United States ranges from the Atlantic Ocean on the nation's east coast to the Pacific Ocean bordering the west, and also includes the state of Hawaii, a series of islands located in the Pacific Ocean, the state of Alaska located in the northwestern part of the continent above the Yukon, and numerous other holdings and territories. This “land of the free and the home of the brave” is known as the most powerful country on earth.
The United States provides a myriad of holiday options for travellers. From the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and rugged canyonlands in the west to the bright lights of New York City and historical significance of New England in the east, the possibilities in this ‘Land of Opportunity’ are endless.
Insight Vacations offer a number of itineraries which visit the United States of America which include; the 9-day Best of California, the 8-day Spectacular Fall Foliage and the 15-day Great Western American Adventure.
>>click here to see our collection of tours featuring the USA
CAPITAL: Washington DC
POPULATION: 293.5 million
AREA: (9,826,630 sq kilometers)
BANKING:
Banks are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Some banks may have branches that open on Saturday.
Some U.S. banks will only change currency for bank customers, but that is the exception. As long as you have proper identification (passport) and a major currency, most will exchange it for you. You may also exchange currency and travellers cheques at exchange bureaux and many hotels.
 CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
The climate is temperate in most of the US. Generally, it gets hotter the further south you go and seasonally more extreme the further you are north and inland from the coasts. Winters in the northeast and upper Midwest can bring long periods below freezing even though it's still warm enough to swim at the beaches in Florida and southern California.
CURRENCY
US Dollar US$ = 100 US cents.
Notes: $100, $50, $20, $10, $5, $2, $1
Coins: 25-cent (quarter), 10-cent (dime), five-cent (nickel) and one-cent (penny)
Major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted.
ELECTRICITY
110 V 60Hz. Plugs are 3 or 2 pin circular types.
EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
Australia:
1601 Massachusetts Ave
Washington DC NW 20036-2273
Canada:
501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC
New Zealand:
37 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington D.C. 20008
South Africa:
3051 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20008
FOOD AND DRINK
The US is known for fast food and it is certainly very readily available. You will find a wide variety of fast food restaurants serving all sorts of delicacies from American style hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken. Beware of sizes. Servings in the United States are typically a lot larger. Specialities vary from state to state and are highly influenced by the types of ingredients locally available, as well as the cultural background of the people that settled in the area.
GEOGRAPHY
The United States is divided into 50 states. It is most situated in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to its east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait, and the state of Hawaii is in the mid-Pacific.
LANGUAGE
The official language is English.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
All major cities in the United States have comprehensive public transport systems. Licensed taxi operators are generally metered, however small surcharges may apply at weekends, bank holidays and late-night travel.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
Normal social courtesies should be observed. A tie, trousers and shoes are necessary for entry to some nightclubs and restaurants. Tipping your waitstaff at a restaurant is customary in the United States. The amount is at your discretion however 15-20% of the bill is standard, based on the quality of service
POSTAL SERVICES
Post Offices are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am - 5pm on Saturday in major cities or 9am-12pm on Saturday in rural areas. Stamps may be purchased from post offices and many shops.
RELIGION
The United States is a predominantly Christian nation however there are many different Christian denominations: Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Episcopalian etc. There are also Jewish, Muslim, Hindu minorities.
TELEPHONE
The international code to dial out of the USA is 011
The standard American telephone number is ten digits. The first three digits are the "area code," which sometimes must be dialed even when making a local call. If you are calling a number outside the originating area code, you may need to dial "1" before the ten-digit number if using a residential landline phone. Hotel and business phone systems have their own specific dialing requirements.
Calling cards are easily obtained from most convenience stores. Some hotels, vending machines, and most every supermarket also sell these easy-to-use calling cards
TIME DIFFERENCE
NEW YORK 7am
LONDON Noon
JO’BURG Noon
SYDNEY 7pm
AUCKLAND 9pm
WATER
The water in the United States is perfectly safe to drink.
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