Fast Facts

Business Hours The following are general open hours; specific establishment may vary. Businesses and offices are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Banks' hours are usually Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 1pm. Some banks may be closed on weekends, but most offer 24-hour access to ATMs. Shops' operating hours are likely to be daily from 10am to 6pm. Most bars and nightclubs close at 2am. The ski resorts in the area tend to run from 9am to 4pm, with a few offering skiing at night.

Electricity The U.S. uses 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles), compared to 220 to 240 volts AC (50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Emergencies Call tel. 911 for emergencies, fire, ambulance, or police.

Internet Access Alpine Sierra Coffee Co., 3940 Lake Tahoe Blvd. #1 (tel. 530/544-7740) offers free Wi-Fi. Many hotels, such as the Best Western Station House Inn (www.stationhouseinn.com), offer internet access in guestrooms for free or at a nominal charge. Also, many hotels offer business centers with internet access.

Liquor Laws The legal age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages in the U.S. is 21; proof of age is required at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, so bring ID when you go out. Beer, wine, and hard liquor can be purchased at liquor stores. Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car or in any public area that isn't zoned for alcohol consumption. Driving while intoxicated is considered a criminal offense.

Mail At press time, domestic postage rates were 27¢ for a postcard and 42¢ for a letter. For international mail, first-class postcards and letters weighing up to 1 ounce cost 94¢ (72¢ to Canada and Mexico). You can buy stamps and mailing supplies at any post office; to find locations in Lake Tahoe, call 800/275-8777 or go to www.usps.com.

Newspapers & Magazines The main local paper is the Tahoe Daily Tribune (www.tahoedailytribune.com). Other local periodicals include the North Tahoe Bonanza (www.tahoebonanza.com), and the weekly Sierra Sun (www.sierrasun.com).

Pets To bring your pet to Lake Tahoe, your pet must be healthy, with a current rabies vaccination, although California does not require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). Most airlines allow pets on flights, but require pets to be at least eight weeks old. Some local hotels, such as the Best Western Timber Cove Lodge (tel. 530/541-6722; www.timbercovetahoe.com), are pet-friendly.

Police For emergencies, dial tel. 911. This is a free call. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department can be reached at tel. 530/542-6100.

Safety The crime rate in Lake Tahoe tends to be lower than the national average, especially in South Lake Tahoe. Still, it is important to take the usual common-sense precautions: Avoid deserted areas, especially at night, and don't venture into public parks at night unless a concert or another event is attracting crowds. Keep money and valuables out of sight, always lock your hotel door, and don't carry too much cash on you.

Smoking Smoking is prohibited in public places and places of employment, including restaurants and nightclubs. Exceptions include designated smoking rooms in hotels, some casinos, retail tobacco stores, outdoor patios, and private clubs. In Nevada, smoking is permitted in bars that do not serve food. In California, it is prohibited to smoke in the presence of a minor (17 years or younger) while in a moving vehicle.

Taxes Hotel rooms are subject to an 8% tax, and the sales tax is just a fraction less, at 7.75%. In the U.S., there is no value-added tax (VAT) or other indirect tax at the national level.

To Make International Calls To dial international numbers, dial 011, then the country code, then the phone number. The telephone system in the U.S. is run by private corporations, so rates, especially for long-distance service and operator-assisted calls, can vary widely. Generally, hotel surcharges on long-distance and local calls are remarkably expensive, so you're usually better off using a public pay telephone or a cell phone if you have one with you. Many groceries and convenience stores sell prepaid calling cards; this can be the least expensive way to call overseas.

Time Zone California and Nevada are both in the Pacific Time Zone, which puts them 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-8).

Tipping Gratuities are not usually included in rates. Here are guidelines to follow when tipping: In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per piece of luggage and the housekeeping staff $1 per person per day (more if you've left a mess). Tip the doorman or concierge if he or she has provided you with a service, such as calling a cab or obtaining hard-to-get tickets. Tip the parking attendant 15% of the parking rate. Cab drivers should get at least 15% of the fare. In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip wait staff 15% to 20% of the check, bartenders 10% to 15%, and checkroom attendants $1 per garment. Skycaps at airports generally get at least $1 per bag, while hairdressers expect 15% to 20%.

Water Water here is considered safe to drink.