Fast Facts

Abbreviations-- On highway signs and publications, you'll see the states of northern New England abbreviated. Vermont is "Vt." All capital letters are used when addressing mail for the U.S. Postal Service.

Automobile Organizations-- Becoming a member of an automobile club is handy for obtaining maps and route suggestions, and it can be helpful should an emergency arise with your automobile. The nation's largest automobile club is the American Automobile Association (AAA), which has nearly 1,000 offices nationwide. AAA offers reciprocal arrangements with many overseas automobile clubs; if you're a member of an automobile club at home, find out whether your privileges extend to the United States. For more information on AAA, call tel. 800/222-4357; www.aaa.com.

Business Hours-- Most offices are open from 8 or 9am to 5 or 6pm. Shops usually open around 9:30 or 10am. Banks typically close at 3 or 4pm, but many have automated teller machines (ATMs) available 24 hours. Post offices in larger cities may be open past 5pm, but it's best to call ahead before going out of your way. A few supermarkets are open 24 hours a day, but they're not terribly common in this part of the world. If you need quick provisions, look for one of the brightly lit convenience stores, which are usually open until at least 10 or 11pm.

Drinking Laws-- You must be 21 years old to legally drink alcohol in the U.S. No matter what your age, state laws in New England are notoriously harsh on those who drive drunk. Know your tolerance. If you plan to exceed that in an evening, allow enough time for the effects to wear off, or imbibe within walking distance of your hotel or inn.

Driving-- A current overseas license is valid on U.S. roads. If your license is in a language other than English, it's recommended that you obtain an International Drivers Permit from an American Automobile Association affiliate or other automobile organization in your own country prior to departure (see "Automobile Organizations," above).

Drivers may make a right turn at a red light, provided that they first stop fully and confirm that no other driver is approaching from the left. At some intersections, signs prohibit such a turn.

Electricity-- Electrical incompatibility makes it tricky to use appliances manufactured for Europe in the United States. The current here is 110 to 120 volts, 60 cycles, compared to the 220 to 240 volts, 50 cycles used in much of Europe. If you're bringing an electric camera flash, portable computer, or other gadget that requires electricity, be sure to bring the appropriate converter and plug adapter.

Embassies & Consulates-- Embassies are located in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Some consulates are located in major U.S. cities, and most nations have a mission to the United Nations in New York City. If your country isn't listed below, call for directory information in Washington, D.C. (tel. 202/555-1212) or log on to www.embassy.org/embassies.

The embassy of Australia is at 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202/797-3000; www.austemb.org).

The embassy of Canada is at 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001 (tel. 202/682-1740; www.canadianembassy.org). Other Canadian consulates are in Buffalo (NY), Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle.

The embassy of Ireland is at 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/462-3939; www.irelandemb.org).

The embassy of Japan is at 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/238-6700; www.embjapan.org).

The embassy of New Zealand is at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/328-4800; www.nzemb.org).

The embassy of the United Kingdom is at 3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/462-1340; www.britainusa.com). A handful of countries also maintain consulates in Boston, including Canada, 3 Copley Place, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 617/262-3760); Great Britain, Federal Reserve Plaza, 600 Atlantic Ave. (25th floor), Boston, MA 02210 (tel. 617/248-9555); Ireland, 535 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 617/267-9330); and Israel, 1020 Statler Office Building, 20 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 617/535-0200). For other countries, contact directory assistance (tel. 617/555-1212).

Emergencies-- In the event of any type of emergency -- whether medical, fire, or if you've been the victim of a crime -- simply dial tel. 911 from any phone. You do not need a coin to make this call. A dispatcher will immediately send medics, the police, or the fire department to assist you, though you may need to provide your location to the dispatcher. If 911 doesn't work (some of the more remote areas haven't yet been connected to the network), dial 0 (zero) and report your situation to the operator. If a hospital is nearby when a medical emergency arises, look for the "Emergency" entrance, where you will be quickly attended to.

Gasoline-- Gasoline is widely available throughout the region, with the exception of the North Woods region of Maine, where you can travel many miles without seeing a filling station. Gas tends to be cheaper farther to the south and in larger town and cities, where the competition is a bit stiffer; you're better off filling up before setting off into remote or rural areas. Gas is available in several different grades at each station; the higher the octane, the more expensive it is.

Many of the filling stations in New England have both self-serve and full-service pumps; look for signs as you pull up. The full-service pumps are slightly more expensive per gallon, but an attendant will pump your gas and check your oil (you may have to ask for this). The self-serve pumps often have simple directions posted on them. If you're at all confused, ask the station attendant for instructions.

Holidays-- With some important exceptions, national holidays usually fall on Mondays to allow workers to enjoy a 3-day holiday. The exceptions are New Year's Day (Jan 1), Independence Day (July 4), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (4th Thurs in Nov), and Christmas (Dec 25). Other holidays include Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Mon in Jan), President's Day (3rd Mon in Feb), Easter (1st Sun following a full moon occurring Mar 21 or later), Memorial Day (last Mon in May), Labor Day (1st Mon in Sept), and Columbus Day (2nd Mon in Oct). In Maine and Massachusetts, Patriot's Day is celebrated on the third Monday in April.

On these holidays, banks, government offices, and post offices are closed. Shops are sometimes open on holidays, but assume almost all will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Languages-- Some of the larger hotels may have multilingual employees, but don't count on it. Outside of the cities, English is the only language spoken. The exception is along the Canadian border and in some Maine locales (including Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford, Lewiston, and Van Buren), where French is commonly spoken or at least understood.

Legal Aid-- If a foreign tourist accidentally breaks a law, it's most likely to be for exceeding the posted speed limit on a road (it's the law U.S. residents frequently run afoul of). If you are pulled over by a policeman, don't attempt to pay the fine directly -- that may be interpreted as a bribe, and you may find yourself in graver trouble. If pulled over, your best bet is to put on a display of confusion or ignorance of local laws (this may be feigned or legitimate), combined with a respect for authority. You may be let off with a warning. Failing that, you'll be issued a summons with a court date and a fine listed on it; if you pay the fine by mail, you don't have to appear in court. If you are arrested for a more serious infraction, you'll be allowed one phone call from jail. It's advisable to contact your embassy or consulate for further instruction.

Mail-- 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 (driver's license, passport, and so forth). Most post offices will hold your mail for up to 1 month, and are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Generally found at intersections, mailboxes are blue with a red-and-white stripe and carry the inscription U.S. MAIL. If your mail is addressed to a U.S. destination, don't forget to add the five-digit postal code (or zip code), after the two-letter abbreviation of the state to which the mail is addressed. This is essential to prompt delivery.

At press time, domestic postage rates were 23¢ for a postcard and 37¢ for a letter. For international mail, a first-class letter of up to 1/2 ounce costs 80¢ (60¢ to Canada and Mexico); a first-class postcard costs 70¢ (50¢ to Canada and Mexico); and a preprinted postal aerogramme costs 70¢.

Newspapers & Magazines-- Foreign newspapers and magazines are commonly found in Boston and Cambridge to the south, but are harder to track down in northern New England. Your best bet is to go to Borders (Portland and Bangor, Maine; or Burlington, Vermont), or Barnes & Noble (Augusta, Maine; Salem, Nashua, and Manchester, New Hampshire; and South Burlington, Vermont). Both bookstore chains have large stores and offer a limited selection of overseas newspapers and magazines.

Taxes-- Visitors to the United States are assessed a $10 customs tax upon entering the country and a $6 tax on departure. The United States does not have a value-added tax (VAT). The tax you most commonly come across is a sales tax (usually 5%-6%) added on to the price of goods and some services. New Hampshire does not have a sales tax on goods but does levy an 8% tax on hotel rooms and meals at restaurants.

Telephone, Telegraph, Telex & Fax-- The telephone system in the United States 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 astronomical, so you're usually better off using a public pay telephone, which you'll find clearly marked in most public buildings and private establishments as well as on the street. Convenience grocery stores and gas stations always have them. Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50; these can be the least expensive way to call home. Many public phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. Local calls made from public pay phones in most locales cost from 25¢ to 50¢. Pay phones do not accept pennies, and few will take anything larger than a quarter.

You may want to look into leasing a cellphone for the duration of your trip.

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, the city code, and the telephone number of the person you are calling.

Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to numbers in area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, "dating" services, and so on) can be very expensive -- usually involving a charge of 95¢ to $3 or more per minute, and they sometimes have minimum charges that can run as high as $15 or more.

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.

For local directory assistance ("information"), dial 411; for long-distance information, dial 1, followed by the appropriate area code and 555-1212.

Telegraph and telex services are provided primarily 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% 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.")

There are two kinds of telephone directories in the United States. The so-called White Pages list private households and business subscribers in alphabetical order. The inside front cover lists emergency numbers for police, fire, ambulance, the Coast Guard, the poison-control center, the crime-victims hot line, and so on. The first few pages tell you how to make long-distance and international calls, complete with country codes and area codes. Government numbers are usually printed on blue paper within the White Pages. Printed on yellow paper, the so-called Yellow Pages list all local services, businesses, industries, and houses of worship according to subject, with an index at the front or back. (Drugstores/pharmacies and restaurants are also listed by geographic location.) The Yellow Pages also include city plans or detailed area maps, postal zip codes, and public transportation routes.

Time-- All of northern New England is in the Eastern time zone -- the same as Boston, New York, and the rest of the eastern seaboard. All three states shift to Daylight Savings Time in summer, setting clocks ahead 1 hour in the spring (the 1st Sun in Apr) and back again in the fall (the last Sun in Oct).

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 ($2-$3 if you have a lot of luggage) and tip the chamber staff $1 to $2 per day (more if you've left a disaster area 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%, 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 ($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 libraries, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, some hotel lobbies, and most service stations. Failing all else, try a fast-food restaurant. 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.