What should you pay attention to when traveling to New York, USA?

One of the things to note when traveling in the United States: Preparation

1. Most hotels in the United States do not provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, slippers and other related toiletries, so please prepare them yourself.

2. Please bring appropriate clothing, preferably comfortable, light and casual clothes. In summer, bring a jacket with you in case the evenings get cooler. The winter weather in the eastern United States is cold, so please keep warm. In addition, because the sunshine in the United States is very strong, you can prepare parasols, sunshade hats, sunglasses and sunscreen lotion and pay attention to sun protection.

3. Since the U.S. Customs has strict restrictions and regulations on the entry of agricultural products, please pay attention when preparing food and do not bring fresh or pickled animals such as meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. When bringing plant products into the country, any food must be declared at customs regardless of the type. If you have brought any food, it is recommended to tell the tour leader before entering customs for your reference.

4. If you have emergency medicines for travel, please try to bring packaged medicines, preferably with English names, and store the medicines in a unified way. It is recommended that you inform the tour leader before entering customs for your reference. .

U.S. Travel Precautions 2: Entry and Exit

1. Entry Instructions:

According to U.S. immigration law, all U.S. land ports, airport ports or seaports Everyone entering the port must be inspected. If you take a plane to the United States, the service staff on the plane will issue you an I-94 form, which is the Arrival/Departure Record. This form records the personal information and address of the immigrant in the United States.

There are four main inspection contents at the US port of entry:

1. Public hygiene; 2. Immigration status; 3. Customs inspection; 4. Agricultural inspection.

These four inspections may be conducted by one officer or by multiple officers.

On the way to the United States, flight attendants will distribute I-94 forms to passengers for them to fill out. Passengers fill in basic personal information and address in the United States on this form.

At the port of entry, the immigration officer will check the documents and valid visas held by the immigrants, review the reasons for traveling to the United States, and decide whether to allow the inspected person to enter the United States and how long he can stay in the United States. If entry is allowed, the immigration officer will stamp the immigrant's I-94 form and indicate the date of entry, visa status, and length of stay in the United States.

It should be noted that holding a valid U.S. visa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer at the U.S. port will ultimately decide whether to allow you to enter. The I-94 form reviewed and approved by the port immigration officer is proof of legal entry into the United States and needs to be properly kept. If lost or damaged, you must report it to the nearby immigration office in time and apply for a reissue. Form I-94 must be returned to the port immigration officer when leaving the United States.

The passport must be valid for at least six months longer than the intended period of stay in the United States.

2. Safety regulations

To improve passenger safety, the United States has restrictions on liquids, aerosols and hair sprays carried on inbound and outbound flights. These regulations are necessary to protect you from the threat of liquid explosions.

Liquid, aerosol or hairspray containers in hand luggage must be equal to or less than 100 ml in size. All containers must be sealed in clear one-liter plastic bags, and each person is limited to one plastic bag. Travelers are allowed to use ziplock bags with a capacity of one liter or less.

Prescription medications can still be carried through security. Passengers are allowed to bring baby products and prescription drugs for use on the flight, but you may be asked to show proof of need.

When you arrive at security, you must hand over any liquids, sprays and hairsprays in excess of 100ml that you still have with you, including duty-free items. The new regulations will also add random body searches to the security inspection process.

Have plastic bags ready before check-in so you have time to put any overly large containers in your checked luggage.

3. Follow the steps

Before checking in

Sort out the liquids, sprays and hairsprays that you are going to take with you on the flight. If possible, please Be prepared before heading to the airport.

Liquids, aerosols and hairsprays to be carried in hand luggage must be packed in containers with a capacity of 100ml or less (weight approximately equal to 100g).

Containers exceeding 100ml should be packed in checked baggage or not taken away.

Half-full containers with a capacity of more than 100 ml are not allowed.

Please put the containers you plan to carry in your hand luggage into a transparent ziplock plastic bag.

The capacity of the plastic bag shall not exceed 1 liter, which is approximately 20X20 cm or 15X25 cm. These plastic bags are available in most supermarkets.

After the plastic bag is filled with items, it should be easy to seal. If it is not easy to seal, you should remove some items and only bring one plastic bag per person.

Please keep the plastic bag within easy reach in your carry-on luggage. Plastic bags must be presented to security personnel for inspection.

At the security checkpoint, you should present the plastic bag separately to the security inspector for inspection.

Security personnel may ask for proof that you are bringing medications on board, such as comparing the name on the prescription to your boarding pass.

Please take off your bulky coat.

You may also be subject to a pat-down search.

These regulations also apply to passengers transferring at U.S. international airports.

In many airports, as long as you pass through the security checkpoint and enter the safe area, you can purchase duty-free goods, drinks and other items, and these items can be brought on board.

Things to note when traveling in the United States: Hotel accommodation

1. The check-in time of the hotel is generally 14:00 pm, and the check-out time is before 12:00 noon. Additional fees will be charged for overtime cost.

2. Personal items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, slippers, razors, etc. are generally not provided in hotels. Please bring the above items by yourself. If you really forget it, you can check with the hotel front desk. Some hotel front desks can provide it for a fee.

3. The tap water from the cold water faucet in the hotel can be drunk directly, but the hot water from the faucet cannot be drank directly.

4. The hotel provides free and pay TV. Some hotels also provide services for connecting TVs to the Internet. Please check the fee description before making a decision before watching paid CCTV or using TV Internet.

5. There is a charge for making outside calls from the phone in the hotel room. This fee is relatively expensive. It is recommended to purchase a local phone card for use.

6. The United States uses 110 volts 60 Hz alternating current, and the three-pin socket is different from China, so a conversion socket is required. Please prepare yourself before traveling.

7. Please pay attention to protecting the equipment and facilities in the hotel. Hotels generally require expensive compensation for damage to equipment and facilities.

9. Smoking is not allowed in most hotel rooms, and some hotels have completely banned smoking. If you need to smoke, please ask for a smoking room before checking in, or ask where you can smoke. All losses caused by smoking in non-smoking rooms will be borne by the smoker.

10. The local hotel star standards are higher than those in China.

11. Please pay attention to safety in personal finance. You can make full use of the safe in the room. In addition to tipping the room cleaner every day, do not put personal money under or in the pillow when leaving the room. The cleaners will consider this a tip and take it away.

Things to note when traveling in the United States: Time difference

1. If New York time is 12 noon, then Chicago is 11 a.m., Denver is 10 a.m., and Los Angeles is 9 a.m. , Alaska is 8 a.m. and Hawaii is 7 a.m.

2. Most areas in the United States implement daylight saving time. The current implementation method is to set the time forward one hour between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. NOTE: Arizona and Hawaii have chosen not to implement this system.

3. US Eastern Time is 13 hours behind Beijing time and 12 hours behind during daylight saving time. Pacific time is 16 hours behind Beijing time and 15 hours behind during daylight saving time. Hawaii is 18 hours behind Beijing time.

The United States is divided into six time zones, and each adjacent time zone differs by one hour. Among them, there are four in the United States, from east to west:

1. The major cities in the Eastern Time Zone (EST): New York, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami.

2. Major cities in the Central Time Zone (CST): Chicago, Detroit, Houston, and Dallas.

3. Major cities in Mountain Time (MST): Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix

4. Major cities in Pacific Time Zone (PST): Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas Gas, Seattle, and San Diego

In addition, the two states outside the mainland United States each have their own time

Precautions for traveling in the United States No. 5: Credit cards and exchange rates

Currently China UnionPay cards can be used in many cities in the United States, including: New York, Los Angeles, Hawaii, San Francisco, Washington, Las Vegas, etc.

Currency

The currency unit of the United States is the US dollar. There are seven denominations of banknotes: 100 yuan, 50 yuan, 20 yuan, 10 yuan, 5 yuan, 2 yuan, and 1 US dollar. Coins are There are four types: 25 points (quarter), 10 points (dime), 5 points (nickel), and 1 point (penny). All international airports have foreign currency exchange service counters. Foreign currency or travelers checks can also be exchanged at many banks and larger hotels.

Exchange rate

The exchange rate changes frequently. The average monthly exchange rate change in the past three months has been more than 10%. Please pay attention to the latest exchange rate at any time

Currency exchange tips:< /p>

Before leaving the country, you can bring your ID card and a copy to the nearest bank that can handle foreign exchange business to handle relevant exchange matters. Each Chinese resident can redeem the equivalent of US$50,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency each year. For specific currency exchange information and business outlets, please refer to the information inquired by bank staff or the bank.

When using a debit card for consumption and withdrawal, the exchange rate is based on the US dollar to RMB selling price of domestic banks on the day of the transaction, which is directly converted into RMB and deducted from the card. Therefore, tourists do not need to deposit US dollars before going abroad, they only need to deposit enough RMB. In addition, there is no need to pay any handling fees when using a debit card to make purchases. When making a purchase, you only need to enter a password and do not need to sign the purchase form, which is more convenient and in line with the card usage habits of Chinese citizens.

According to regulations, each debit card can withdraw US dollars equivalent to 5,000 yuan per day. During your stay in the United States, if you expect to need more cash withdrawals during the day, you can bring more UnionPay debit cards.

A special reminder is that if the trip is only for a short period of time, it is recommended to buy a round-trip air ticket when purchasing air tickets. You can go to the official website of Rainbow Trip to buy some special discounted tickets.

Precautions for traveling in the United States No. 6: Telephone communications

The mobile phones that can be used in the United States are tri-band mobile phones (tri-band refers to GSM with three frequencies: 900M, 1800M and 1900M) If your mobile phone model meets the requirements, you can activate international roaming calls by yourself.

Most public telephones in the United States are coin-operated phones. There are two ways to call public phones: coins and phone cards.

Use a local phone in the United States to make an international long-distance call back to China. The dialing method is: international live broadcast (011) + country code (86) + area code (21) + phone number (12345678). If your mobile phone has applied for international roaming, the method for calling back to China is the same as above.

To make long distance calls within the United States, dial 1 + area code (212) + phone number. For local calls, just dial the local number.

If you do not have an international roaming call, it is recommended that you purchase a local calling card.

In most places in the United States, the directory number is 411

Emergency hotline: The unified national emergency number in the United States is: 911

International access No.

011

U.S. long-distance area code 1

Precautions for traveling in the United States: Safety

Many American cities have high crime rates , but crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods of the city. Since most Chinese visitors carry cash, they are attracting the attention of pickpockets, and incidents of property theft occur from time to time. Generally speaking, the western United States is safer than the eastern United States, it is safer outside the city than inside the city, and it is safer during the day than at night. Must note:

1. When traveling in the United States, do not carry large amounts of cash. Instead, use credit cards, checks or check cards or traveler's checks as much as possible;

2. Take good care of your belongings. When leaving the hotel, you must check whether there are any leftover items or money;

3. Please do not talk to strangers when you go out. It is best not to go alone, especially at night. ;

4. When encountering robbery, do not resist forcefully. America is awash with guns, and gangsters often have guns. Deal with it calmly. After being robbed, if the loss is large, you should immediately call 911 or report to the nearest police station.

5. Don’t leave the team easily. If you run around alone on the streets of the United States, some unexpected problems may easily occur. So, remember to go with the tour group. At the same time, it is also important to note that when choosing a tour group, you must choose a regular, fully qualified, general large-scale international travel agency with offices at home and abroad. For example, Rainbow Travel International Travel Agency, before choosing, you need to check some of the travel agency's certificates, qualifications, services, reputation, and the establishment time of the travel agency.

Tip No. 8 when traveling in the United States: Tipping

In the United States, almost every service provided to an individual person expects the person being served to pay a tip. Not tipping indicates that you are extremely dissatisfied with his or her service. If there is nothing wrong with the service itself and you don't tip, you may be denied service next time.

When dining in a restaurant, it is usually necessary to tip the waiter at 15% of the total meal price (unless it is fast food, buffet, or it is stated in the bill that Gratuity is included, no tip is required).

Pay the bartender $1 for every drink ordered at the bar.

When taking a taxi, you usually need to pay an extra 15% of the fare as a tip for the taxi driver.

Tour bus drivers and tour guides will pay $5 to $10 per passenger per day.

Hotel room cleaners usually need tips of $2~3 per bed per day.

You need to pay a tip of $1 for each piece of luggage the bellman helps you carry.

If the hotel doorman calls a taxi specifically for you, you need to tip him $1. If the taxi is originally parked at the door, you do not need to tip.

The masseur at the spa needs to tip 20% of the spa fee.

If you win money at a casino, you usually give the dealer 10% of your winnings (but usually no more than $25).

Things to note when traveling in the United States: Customs and taboos

The United States is a country of immigrants and respects the various customs and habits of all ethnic groups and has no special taboos.

Because each state in the United States has its own laws, there are certain differences. Independent travelers should pay attention to the differences in traffic regulations in different places.

American police patrol by car when on duty, so please obey traffic rules even in places with few people and cars. Pedestrians jaywalking may also be fined $100 by the police.

Since American police officers are equipped with guns, if you need to communicate with the police, please try to follow the instructions in front of them and do not make sudden movements, especially do not suddenly reach into the inner pocket of your jacket to retrieve something, to avoid misunderstandings on their part. . If you hear "Freeze" or "Stop", you are asked to stop immediately. Please do so. If you have communication difficulties, you can tell the police "I don't speak English" and they will try to solve it.

Another thing to note is that smoking is not allowed in government buildings, most transportation vehicles, public places, and most indoors. Many non-smoking hotels are equipped with detection equipment.

If you accidentally collide with someone, say "Sorry"; when asking others to give way, say "Excuse me"; do not smoke in public places, and ask people around you before smoking in other places. May I smoke?"; follow the Western custom of "Lady first" and let the lady go first; say "Hi" first when greeting people.

Top 10 tips for traveling in the United States: Shopping and tax refund

In major cities in the United States, there are differences between urban areas and suburban areas. Shopping has its own characteristics. Under normal circumstances, shops and commercial establishments will remain open at noon.

Metropolitan areas are usually located in the downtown area in the center of the city, where office buildings are gathered, and government agencies and large commercial institutions are concentrated here. It is very lively during the day, but at night these areas are sparsely populated and not very safe. Commercial organizations generally work from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Shops in downtown areas usually close between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.

Suburban areas are residential areas where most Americans live. Most people do their daily shopping in "shopping centers" on the outskirts of the city. Such places generally have at least one supermarket that mainly sells various foods and one pharmacy.

Plus a variety of other shops and commercial service agencies. Ordinary stores usually open at 9:00 or 10:00 am from Monday to Saturday and continue to operate until 9:00 or 9:30 pm. Supermarkets are usually open on Sundays, and some are even open 24 hours a day. Another type of shopping spot is a shopping mall. It usually contains one or two large department stores, as well as many brand stores selling clothing, accessories, entertainment, restaurants, etc. These stores usually open at 10:00 am and are open until 5:00 pm or 9:00 pm depending on the city.

In the United States, people widely use credit cards. Banks, credit card companies, gasoline companies and department stores, and even some utilities and automobile manufacturers, all issue credit cards that people can use to make purchases.

The United States does not charge federal consumption tax, so there is no national tax refund system. Each state and city will charge state taxes and local taxes, with tax rates ranging from 0% to 9%. The more prosperous the city, the higher the tax rate. For example, the tax rates in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are around 8.5-9%. On the contrary, there is no state sales tax for shopping in the five states of Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. The prices of goods marked in the United States are always exclusive of tax. You can ask the sales staff for the price after tax.

There are DFS duty-free shops in each international airport for you to make final purchases before boarding your international flight: the main products include cosmetics, cigarettes, wine, chocolate, etc. Please note that in the United States, you must be twenty-one years or older to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages of any kind.