GENERAL INFORMATION ON AMERICA

Language

U.S. English is the official language for America.

Currency

US Dollars (USD) are the currency used in America. The official exchange rate between SGD and USD currently is about 1.7: 1 (SIN$1.7 = US$1).

USD currency is issued in the following denominations:

Notes: USD1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100

Coins: Cents1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and USD1

Credit Cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discovery and Diner’s Club are accepted in major hotels and business establishment.

Visa Requirement

Most visitors to the United State required a visa. However, Canadians need only proof of citizenship. There are 27 Countries under visa-waiver program (VWP) which are Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. All passports presented for VWP travel are required to be machine-readable.

Time Difference

The Time difference between America & Singapore are as follows:

East Coast - 13hours behind Singapore from November – March

12hours behind Singapore from April – October

West Coast - 16hours behind Singapore from November – March

15hours behind Singapore from April - October

Electricity
The electricity used is 110 volts. It is advisable to bring along an adapter plug as different hotels require different plug prongs.

Telephone services

Only tri-band mobile phones can work when roaming. IDD service is also available at all hotels and post offices. Phone cards are also readily available. International Dialing code is 1.

Area codes: Los Angeles: 213, 310, And 323

New York: 212

Denver: 303

Chicago: 708, 630, 773, 312

New Orleans: 504

Climate

Spring March – May 10°C - 20°C

Summer June – August 20°C - 38°C

Autumn September - November 10°C - 22°C

Winter December - February 5°C - 12°C

Season and Clothing

Spring (Mar-May: 10-20°C) Jackets, sports coats, woolen jackets, long sleeve shirts, travel shoes

Summer (Jun-Aug: 20-38°C) Light, causal short sleeve shirts, sandals, caps, umbrella, rain wear

Autumn (Sep-Nov: 10-25°C) Jackets, sports coats, light woolen sweaters, rain wear, travel shoes

Winter (Dec-Feb: 5-18°C) Overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats, cap, gloves, cotton-padded shoes

Water and hygiene

The water is safe to drink throughout the United States and the standard of all hygiene is extremely high.

No vaccinations are required for travel to United States but it is advisable to check with your doctor for current information and take the necessary precautionary measures before you travel.

Travel insurance

Prior to departure, it is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses in case of injury or illness, loss of personal belongings, flight delays etc.

Tipping

Tipping is a customary gesture as a sign of appreciation for services rendered.

A general guideline for tipping is as follows:

Driver US$2.00 per person per day (inclusive of free day)

Tour Manager US$2.00 per person per day (inclusive of free day)

Porter US$1.00 per luggage every time you check in/out hotel

Shopping

Shops are generally open 10.00 – 21.00 hrs Monday – Friday, 10.00 – 19.00hrs Saturday & Sunday. There are 24-hours stores in almost all large towns and certainly in city districts.

The rate of sales tax varies by city and state and ranges from 4% to 15%. It is applied to the price at the checkout.

Emergency Numbers

Police : 911

Ambulance : 911

Fire : 911