Fast Facts

American Express -- Downtown offices are at 1 State St. (tel. 617/723-8400), opposite the Old State House, and 170 Federal St. (tel. 617/439-4400), in the Financial District; they're open weekdays from 8:30am to 5:30pm. The Back Bay office, 432 Stuart St. (tel. 617/236-1331), is open weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm. The Cambridge office, 39 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square (tel. 617/868-2600), is open weekdays from 9am to 6:30pm, Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm.

Area Codes -- Eastern Massachusetts has eight area codes: Boston proper, 617 and 857; immediate suburbs, 781 and 339; northern and western suburbs, 978 and 351; southern suburbs, 508 and 774.

Note: To make a local call, you must dial the 3-digit area code and the 7-digit number.

Automobile Organizations -- Auto clubs will supply maps, suggested routes, guidebooks, accident and bail-bond insurance, and emergency road service. The American Automobile Association, or AAA (tel. 800/222-4357; www.aaa.com) 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 even if you're not a member of a reciprocal club; check ahead or call AAA after you arrive in the States.

Babysitters -- Many hotels maintain lists of babysitters; check at the front desk or with the concierge. Local agencies aren't a cost-effective option; most charge a steep annual fee on top of the daily referral charge and the sitter's hourly wage and expenses. If you're in town on business, ask whether the company you're visiting has a corporate membership in an agency.

Tip: If you already know that your visit will include a child-free evening out, make arrangements when you reserve your room.

Business Hours -- Offices are usually open weekdays from 9am to 5 or 6pm. Banks are open weekdays from 9am to 4pm or later and sometimes on Saturday morning; most offer 24-hour access to automated teller machines (ATMs). Stores typically open between 9 and 10am and close at 6 or 7pm from Monday through Saturday; most shops that open on Sunday do so around noon. Stores in shopping complexes or malls tend to stay open until about 9pm daily.

Convention Centers -- Convention centers include the Bayside Expo Center, 200 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester (tel. 617/474-6000; www.baysideexpo.com); Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., South Boston (tel. 617/954-2800; www.massconvention.com); Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St. (tel. 617/954-2000; www.massconvention.com); and Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd. (tel. 877/732-7678; www.seaportboston.com).

Currency -- The most common bills are the $1 (a "buck"), $5, $10, and $20 denominations. There are also $2 bills (seldom encountered), $50 bills, and $100 bills (the last two are usually not welcome as payment for small purchases).

Coins come in seven denominations: 1¢ (1 cent, or a penny); 5¢ (5 cents, or a nickel); 10¢ (10 cents, or a dime); 25¢ (25 cents, or a quarter); 50¢ (50 cents, or a half dollar); gold-colored coins bearing likenesses of Sacagawea or various American presidents, worth $1; and the rare silver dollar.

Customs -- What You Can Bring Into Boston Every visitor over 21 years of age may bring in, free of duty, the following: (1) 1 liter of wine or hard liquor; (2) 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars (but not from Cuba), or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco; and (3) $100 worth of gifts. These exemptions are offered to travelers who spend at least 72 hours in the United States and who have not claimed them within the preceding 6 months. It is altogether forbidden to bring into the country foodstuffs (particularly fruit, cooked meats, and canned goods) and plants (vegetables, seeds, tropical plants, and the like). Foreign tourists may carry in or out up to $10,000 in U.S. or foreign currency with no formalities; larger sums must be declared to U.S. Customs on entering or leaving, which includes filing form CM 4790. For details regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection, consult your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or U.S. Customs (tel. 202/927-1770; www.customs.ustreas.gov).

What You Can Take Home from Boston Canadian Citizens: For a clear summary of Canadian rules, request the booklet I Declare from the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca), or view it online.

U.K. Citizens: For information, contact HM Customs & Excise (tel. 0845/010-9000 in the U.K., or 44/2920-501-261; www.hmce.gov.uk).

Australian Citizens: A helpful brochure, Know Before You Go, is available from Australian consulates or Customs offices and downloadable from the website of the Australian Customs Service (tel. 1300/363-263; www.customs.gov.au).

New Zealand Citizens: A free pamphlet available at consulates and Customs offices, New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice no. 4, answers most questions. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 0800/428-786 or 04/473-6099; www.customs.govt.nz).

Dentists -- The desk staff or concierge at your hotel might be able to suggest a dentist. The Massachusetts Dental Society (tel. 800/342-8747 in Massachusetts or 508/480-9797; www.massdental.org) can point you toward a member.

Doctors -- The desk staff or concierge at your hotel should be able to direct you to a doctor. You can also try the physician referral service at one of the area's many hospitals. Among them are Beth Israel Deaconess (tel. 800/667-5356), Brigham and Women's (tel. 800/294-9999), Massachusetts General (tel. 800/711-4MGH), and Tufts-New England Medical Center (tel. 617/636-9700).

Drinking Laws -- The legal drinking age in Massachusetts (and the rest of the U.S.) is 21. In many bars, particularly near college campuses, you might be asked to show identification if you appear to be under 30 or so. Some bars and clubs "card" (check the ID of) everyone who enters. At sporting events, everyone buying alcohol must show ID. Liquor stores and a few supermarkets and convenience stores sell alcohol. Liquor stores and the liquor sections of other stores are open Monday though Saturday and open at noon on Sunday in communities where that's legal. Most restaurants have full liquor licenses; some serve only beer, wine, and cordials. Last call typically is 30 minutes before closing time (1am in bars, 2am in clubs).

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 probably will -- fine you on the spot. And nothing will ruin your trip faster than getting a citation for DUI (driving under the influence), so don't even think about driving while intoxicated.

Drugstores -- Downtown Boston has no 24-hour pharmacy. The CVS at 587 Boylston St., off Copley Square in the Back Bay (tel. 617/437-8414), is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, as is its pharmacy. The same goes for two CVS locations in Cambridge: 1426 Mass. Ave., Harvard Square (tel. 617/354-4420), and 36 White St., off Mass. Ave. in the Porter Square Shopping Center (tel. 617/876-5519). The Back Bay Walgreens, 841 Boylston St. (tel. 617/236-1692), is open 24 hours, and its pharmacy is open until 10pm on weeknights, 7pm on weekends. Some emergency rooms can fill your prescription at the hospital's pharmacy.

Electricity -- Like Canada, the United States uses 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles), compared with 220 to 240 volts AC (50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Downward converters that change 220-240 volts to 110-120 volts are difficult to find in the United States, so bring one with you.

Embassies & Consulates -- Embassies are in Washington, D.C.; some consulates are in the Boston area, and most nations have a mission to the United Nations in New York City. If your country isn't listed below, call directory assistance in Washington, D.C. (tel. 202/555-1212) or visit www.embassy.org/embassies.

The embassy of Australia is at 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202/797-3000; www.austemb.org). There is no consulate in Boston.

The embassy of Canada is at 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001 (tel. 202/682-1740; www.canadianembassy.org). The Canadian consulate in Boston is at 3 Copley Place, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 617/262-3760).

The embassy of Ireland is at 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/462-3939; www.irelandemb.org). The Irish consulate in Boston is at 535 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 617/267-9330).

The embassy of New Zealand is at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/328-4800; www.nzembassy.com). There is no consulate in Boston.

The embassy of the United Kingdom is at 3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/462-1340; www.britainusa.com). The Boston-area U.K. consulate is at 1 Memorial Dr., Suite 1500, Cambridge, MA 02142 (tel. 617/245-4500).

Emergencies -- Call tel. 911 for fire, ambulance, or the Boston, Brookline, or Cambridge police. This is a free call from pay phones. For the state police, call tel. 617/523-1212. Dialing 911 on a cellphone connects you to the state police; to reach the Boston police on your cellphone in an emergency, call tel. 617/343-4911.

Gasoline (Petrol) -- Petrol is known as gasoline (or simply "gas") in the United States, and petrol stations are known as gas stations or service stations. Gasoline costs less here than it does in Europe (north of $3 per gal. at press time); the printed price includes taxes. One U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or 0.85 Imperial gallons.

Holidays -- Banks, government offices, post offices, and some stores, restaurants, and museums close on the following legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), the third Monday in January (Martin Luther King, Jr., Day), the third Monday in February (Presidents' Day, Washington's Birthday), the last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July 4th (Independence Day), the first Monday in September (Labor Day), the second Monday in October (Columbus Day), November 11 (Veterans' Day/Armistice Day), the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), and December 25 (Christmas Day). Also, the Tuesday following the first Monday in November is Election Day and is a federal government holiday in presidential-election years (held every four years, next in 2008).

In Massachusetts, state offices close for Patriots Day on the third Monday in April, and Suffolk County offices (including Boston City Hall) close on March 17 for Evacuation Day.

Hospitals -- Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St. (tel. 617/726-2000; www.massgeneral.org), and Tufts-New England Medical Center, 750 Washington St. (tel. 617/636-5000; www.nemc.org), are closest to downtown. At the Harvard Medical Area on the Boston-Brookline border are Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave. (tel. 617/667-7000; www.bidmc.harvard.edu); Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St. (tel. 617/732-5500; www.brighamandwomens.org); and Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Ave. (tel. 617/355-6000; www.childrenshospital.org). In Cambridge are Mount Auburn Hospital, 330 Mount Auburn St. (tel. 617/492-3500; www.mountauburn.caregroup.org), and Cambridge Hospital, 1493 Cambridge St. (tel. 617/655-1000; www.challiance.org).

Hot Lines -- AIDS Hotline (tel. 800/235-2331), Poison Control Center (tel. 800/682-9211), Rape Crisis (tel. 877/627-7700 or 617/492-7273), Samaritans Suicide Prevention (tel. 617/247-0220), and Samariteens (tel. 800/252-8336 or 617/247-8050).

Internet Access -- For a tech-happy area, Boston has few cybercafes. Your hotel might have a terminal for guests' use, and many hotels offer on-premises wireless access (sometimes for a daily fee). The ubiquitous FedEx Kinko's (www.fedexkinkos.com) charges 10¢ to 20¢ a minute. Locations include 2 Center Plaza, Government Center (tel. 617/973-9000); 10 Post Office Sq., Financial District (tel. 617/482-4400); 187 Dartmouth St., Back Bay (tel. 617/262-6188); and 1 Mifflin Place, off Mount Auburn Street near Eliot Street, Harvard Square (tel. 617/497-0125). Tech Superpowers, 252 Newbury St., 3rd floor (tel. 617/267-9716; www.newburyopen.net), also offers access by the hour ($5/hr.; $3 minimum). And you'll find free Wi-Fi all over the place.

Legal Aid -- If you are "pulled over" -- stopped by the police -- for a minor infraction such as speeding, never attempt to pay the fine directly to a police officer. That could be construed as attempted bribery, a much more serious charge. Pay fines by mail or directly to the clerk of the court. If you're accused of a more serious offense, say and do nothing before consulting a lawyer. Here the burden is on the state to prove a person's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and everyone has the right to remain silent, whether he or she is suspected of a crime or actually arrested. 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.

Lost & Found -- Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa's U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/847-2911 or 410/581-9994. American Express cardholders and traveler's check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/307-7309 or 636/722-7111. For other credit cards, call the toll-free number directory at tel. 800/555-1212.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you through Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Luggage Storage & Lockers -- The desk staff or concierge at your hotel may be able to arrange storage. For security reasons, the airport does not have public lockers. Ticketed Amtrak passengers can check bags (during the day only) at South Station; Back Bay Station has no luggage facilities. Some kindhearted bartenders in the North Station area may agree to watch your backpack or briefcase while you attend an event at the TD Banknorth Garden (which forbids them), but it's easier to leave the bag at the hotel.

Mail -- At press time, domestic postage rates were 26¢ for a postcard and 41¢ for a letter. For international mail, a first-class letter of up to 1 ounce costs 90¢ (69¢ to Canada and Mexico); a first-class postcard costs the same as a letter. For more information go to www.usps.com and click on "Calculate Postage."

Boston's main post office, at 25 Dorchester Ave. (tel. 617/654-5302), behind South Station, is generally open daily 24 hours, but has been known to reduce hours when the budget is tight.

If you aren't sure what your address will be in the United States, 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. (Call tel. 800/275-8777 for information on the nearest post office.) The addressee must pick up mail in person and must produce proof of identity (such as a driver's license or passport). Most post offices will hold your mail for up to 1 month and are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5 or 6pm, Saturday from 8am to 2 or 3pm.

If your mail is addressed to a U.S. destination, don't forget to add the five-digit zip code (postal code) after the two-letter state abbreviation. If you don't know the zip code, visit www.usps.com/zip4.

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Boston Globe and Boston Herald are published daily, and the New York papers are widely available in Boston. 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.

Newsstands with good selections of international periodicals include Out of Town News, Zero Harvard Square, Cambridge (tel. 617/354-7777); Nini's Corner, across the street at 1394 Massachusetts Ave. (tel. 617/547-3558); and the newsstand on the street level of Faneuil Hall.

Passports -- For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service (tel. 131-232; www.passports.gov.au).

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca). Note: Canadian children who travel must have their own passports. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport remains valid for you and your child until it expires.

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: Pick up a passport application at any branch of the New Zealand Passport Office (tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100; www.passports.govt.nz) or download it from the website.

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-yr. passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service (tel. 0870/521-0410; www.ukpa.gov.uk).

Police -- Call tel. 911 for emergencies; to call the Boston police from a cellphone, call tel. 617/343-4911.

Radio -- AM stations include 680 (WRKO: talk, sports, Red Sox and Celtics games), 850 (WEEI: sports talk), 1030 (WBZ: news, talk, Bruins games), 1090 (WILD: talk), and 1510 (WWZN: sports talk). You can catch regular traffic updates on WBZ (every 10 min.) and WRKO (every 15 min. during rush hours).

FM stations include 89.7 (WGBH: public radio, classical, jazz), 90.9 (WBUR: public radio, classical), 92.9 (WBOS: album rock), 93.7 (WMKK: variety hits), 94.5 (WJMN: dance, rap, hip-hop), 96.9 (WTKK: talk), 98.5 (WBMX: adult contemporary), 99.5 (WCRB: classical), 100.7 (WZLX: classic rock), 101.7 (WFNX: progressive rock), 102.5 (WKLB: country), 103.3 (WODS: oldies), 104.1 (WBCN: rock, Patriots games), 105.7 (WROR: '60s and '70s), 106.7 (WMJX: pop, adult contemporary), and 107.9 (WXKS: contemporary hits).

Restrooms -- The visitor center at 15 State St. has a public restroom, as do most tourist attractions, hotels, department stores, malls, and public buildings. The CambridgeSide Galleria, Copley Place, Prudential Center, and Quincy Market shopping areas and most branches of fast-food restaurants and coffee bars have clean restrooms. Some restaurants and bars, including those in Boston's tourist areas, display a sign saying that toilets are for the use of patrons only. Paying for a cup of coffee or a soft drink qualifies you as a patron.

You'll find freestanding, self-cleaning pay toilets (25¢) at various locations around downtown. These include City Hall Plaza, Congress Street behind City Hall, and Commercial Street at Snowhill Street, just off the Freedom Trail. Check these facilities carefully before using them; despite regular patrols, IV-drug users have been known to take advantage of the generous time limits.

Smoking -- Massachusetts is an anti-tobacco stronghold. State law bans smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Taxes -- The United States imposes no value-added tax (VAT) or other indirect national tax. Every state, county, and city may levy its own tax on purchases, including hotel bills, restaurant checks, and so on. The 5% state sales tax in Massachusetts does not apply to groceries, prescription drugs, newspapers, or clothing that costs less than $175. The tax on meals and takeout food is 5%. The lodging tax is 12.45% in Boston and Cambridge.

Telegraph, Telex & Fax -- Telegraph and telex services are provided primarily by Western Union. You can telegraph (wire) money, or have it telegraphed to you, very quickly over the Western Union system, but this service can cost as much as 20% of the amount sent. For more information go to www.westernunion.com.

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.

Television -- Nationally, there are five commercial over-the-air television networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CW -- along with the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and the cable news network CNN. Most hotels have at least basic cable, and many offer access to "premium" movie channels that show uncut theatrical releases. Boston stations include channels 2 (WGBH), public television; 4 (WBZ), CBS; 5 (WCVB), ABC; 7 (WHDH), NBC; 25 (WFXT), Fox; and 56 (WLVI), CW. Cable TV is available throughout Boston and the suburbs; the regional station New England Cable News is channel 14 on Boston cable.

Time -- Boston's watch is set to Eastern Time. The continental United States is divided into four time zones: Eastern Time (ET), Central Time (CT), Mountain Time (MT), and Pacific Time (PT). Alaska and Hawaii have their own zones. For example, noon in Boston (ET) is 11am in Chicago (CT), 10am in Denver (MT), 9am in Los Angeles (PT), 8am in Anchorage (AT), and 7am in Honolulu (HT).

Daylight saving time is in effect from 1am on the second Sunday in March through 1am on the first Sunday in November, except in Arizona, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Daylight saving time moves the clock 1 hour ahead of standard time.

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!) In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per bag (more if you have a lot of luggage) and tip the housekeeping staff at least $2 per day (more if you've left a disaster area). Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided you with a 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%, tip checkroom attendants $1 per garment, and tip valet-parking attendants $1 per vehicle.

As for other service personnel, tip cab drivers 15% of the fare, tip skycaps at airports at least $1 per bag, and tip hairdressers and barbers 15% to 20%.

Transit Info -- Call tel. 617/222-3200 for the MBTA (subways, local buses, commuter rail) and tel. 800/23-LOGAN for the Massachusetts Port Authority (airport transportation).

Visas -- For information about U.S. Visas go to http://travel.state.gov and click on "Visas." Further information is available from any U.S. embassy or consulate, from the State Department's visa website (www.unitedstatesvisas.gov), and from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (www.cbp.gov). Or go to one of the following websites:

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information from the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6214-5600) or by checking the U.S. Diplomatic Mission's website at http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular.

British subjects can obtain up-to-date visa information by calling the U.S. Embassy Visa Information Line (tel. 0891/200-290) or by visiting the "Visas to the U.S." section of the American Embassy London's website at www.usembassy.org.uk.

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the Embassy of the USA Dublin, 42 Elgin Rd., Dublin 4, Ireland (tel. 353/1-668-8777; or by checking the "Consular Services" section of the website at http://dublin.usembassy.gov.

Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy New Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (tel. 644/472-2068), or get the information directly from the website at http://wellington.usembassy.gov.

Weather -- Call tel. 617/936-1234.