American Express -- The American Express travel agency, 555 17th St. (tel. 303/383-5050), is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. It offers full member services and currency exchange. To report a lost card, call tel. 800/528-4800; to report lost traveler’s checks, call tel. 800/221-7282.
Area Code -- Area codes are 303 and 720, and local calls require 10-digit dialing.
Babysitters -- Front desks at major hotels can often arrange for babysitters for their guests.
Business Hours -- Generally, business offices are open weekdays from 9am to 5pm and government offices are open from 8am until 4:30 or 5pm. Stores are open 6 days a week, with many also open on Sunday; department stores usually stay open until 9pm at least 1 day a week. Discount stores and supermarkets are often open later than other stores, and some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day.
Banks are usually open weekdays from 9am to 5pm, occasionally a bit later on Friday, and sometimes on Saturday. There’s 24-hour access to automated teller machines (ATMs) at most banks, plus in many shopping centers and other outlets.
Dentists & Doctors -- Dentist and doctor referrals are available by calling tel. 800/DOCTORS (362-8677). Ask-A-Nurse Centura (tel. 303/777-6877) provides free physician referrals and answers health questions.
Drugstores -- Throughout the metropolitan area, you will find Walgreens and other chain pharmacies, as well as Safeway and King Soopers grocery stores (which also have drugstores). The Walgreens at 2000 E. Colfax Ave. (tel. 303/331-0917) is open 24 hours a day. For the locations of other Walgreens, call tel. 800/925-4733.
Emergencies -- Call tel. 911. For the Colorado Poison Center, call tel. 303/739-1123. For the Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Hotline, call tel. 303/318-9989.
Eyeglasses -- One-hour replacements and repairs are available at LensCrafters, in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center (tel. 303/321-8331).
Hospitals -- Among Denver-area hospitals are St. Joseph Hospital, 1835 Franklin St. (tel. 303/837-7111), just east of downtown, and Children’s Hospital, 13123 E. 16th Ave. (tel. 720/777-1234).
Maps -- The flagship REI, 1416 Platte St., Denver (tel. 303/756-3100), offers USGS and recreation maps, along with some state maps and travel guides.
Newspapers & Magazines -- The Denver Post (www.denverpost.com) is Colorado’s largest daily newspaper, and Denver's only daily since the Rocky Mountain News folded in 2009. A widely read free weekly, Westword (www.westword.com) is known as much for its coverage of local politicians and celebrities and its entertainment and dining listings. National newspapers such as USA Today and the Wall Street Journal can be purchased at newsstands and at major hotels.
Photographic Needs -- For photographic supplies, equipment, 1-hour processing, and repairs, visit Wolf Camera at one of its 18 Denver locations; the downtown branch, at 1545 California St. (tel. 303/623-1155; www.wolfcamera.com), claims to be the biggest single-floor camera store in the world. Another good source for photo supplies and film processing is Mike’s Camera, 759 S. Colorado Blvd. (tel. 303/733-2121; www.mikescamera.com).
Post Office -- The main downtown post office, 951 20th St., is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 10:30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 10:30pm. For full 24-hour postal service, go to the General Mail Facility, 7500 E. 53rd Place. For other post office locations and hours, check with the U.S. Postal Service (tel. 800/275-8777; www.usps.com).
Safety -- Although Denver is a relatively safe city, it is not crime-free. Safety is seldom a problem on the 16th Street Mall, but even streetwise Denverites avoid late-night walks along certain sections of Colfax Avenue, just a few blocks away. If you are unsure of the safety of a particular area you wish to visit, ask your hotel concierge or desk clerk.
Taxes -- State and local sales tax in Denver is about 7.75% (it varies slightly in neighboring counties and suburbs). The hotel tax is 10.75%, bringing the total tax on accommodations to about 18.5%.
Useful Telephone Numbers -- For a weather report, time, and temperature, call tel. 303/337-2500. Statewide road condition reports are available at tel. 303/639-1111. For information on possible road construction delays in the Denver area and statewide, see www.cotrip.org.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
