Planning a Trip

Whether you're visiting Memphis combined with a trip to Nashville or heading specifically to this sprawling city on the Mississippi, you're likely to have some questions before you arrive. This chapter puts all the planning information at your fingertips.

Visitor Information

For information on Memphis, contact the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, 47 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103 (tel. 800/8-MEMPHIS or 901/543-5300). You can also get information online at www.memphistravel.com.

For information on other parts of Tennessee, contact the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development, P.O. Box 23170, Nashville, TN 37202 (tel. 615/741-2158).

Money

What will a vacation in Memphis cost? Of course, it all depends on how much you want to spend and how comfortable you want to be. If your standards are high and you like to stay in the best hotels and eat at gourmet restaurants, you may find yourself spending upwards of $130 per person per day. However, if you'd rather spend less money, you can have a comfortable Memphis vacation for less than half of that.

When it comes time to pay your bills, you'll find that a credit card is most convenient, although traveler's checks are accepted at hotels, motels, restaurants, and most stores. If you plan to rent a car, know that you'll need a credit card at almost every rental agency for the deposit.

Automated teller machines (ATMs) are readily available and use the Cirrus, PLUS, Most, Gulfnet, Money-belt, and Pulse networks.

Health & Insurance

If you should find yourself in need of a doctor, call the referral service at Baptist Memorial Hospital (tel. 901/362-8677) or Methodist Le Bonheur Med Search Doctor Locating and Information Service (tel. 901/726-8686). The Baptist Memorial Hospital Medical Center is at 899 Madison Ave. (tel. 901/227-2727), with another location in East Memphis at 6019 Walnut Grove Rd. (tel. 901/226-5000).