United States Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

North America.

Language

English, with significant Spanish-speaking minorties (10.7%).

Area

9,826,630 sq km (3,794,083 sq miles).

Time Zone

The USA is divided into six time zones: Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November. Arizona does not observe DST). Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). Alaska: GMT - 9 (GMT - 8 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). Hawaii: GMT - 10.

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat two-pin type. European electrical appliances not fitted with dual-voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which is best purchased before arrival in the USA.

Population

301 million (official estimate 2007).

Population Density

32.5 per sq km.

Capital City

Washington, DC. Population: 581,530 (2006). Over 25 other cities have a population larger than that of Washington, DC. New York is the largest city, with a population of 8.3 million (2006). Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio and San Diego had populations ranging from 1.2 - 3.8 million in 2005.

Government

Federal Republic since 1789. Gained independence from the UK in 1776. The USA has 50 States and the District of Columbia (as in ‘Washington, DC'), which lies between Maryland and Virginia.

Head of State

President Barack Obama since 2009.

Religion

Protestant majority (52%) with Roman Catholic, Mormon, Jewish and many ethnic minorities.

Recent History

National security in general is a major issue for the USA. President George W Bush secured a second term at the presidential election in November 2004 while the Republicans tightened their grip on the Senate, kept control of the House of Representatives, and also presided over the possibility of further changes in the Supreme Court. Mid-term election results in November 2006 represented a turnaround of public opinion as the Democrats gained the majority in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The election of November 2008 saw a record turnout and victory to Democrat candidate Barack Obama. He took over from George W Bush as president in January 2009.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +1. For emergency police, fire or medical services in major cities, dial 911. The following codes denote toll free (freephone) numbers: 800, 855, 866, 877 and 888

Mobile Telephone

Foreign mobile telephones only work if they are tri-band or quad-band; charges are high. Visitors can also hire a mobile telephone. Pre-pay cell phones can be purchased from a variety of retail outlets, including drug stores.

Internet

There are Internet cafés in most urban areas, and an increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots. Many coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi. Many of the international airports offer Internet access too.

Media

Freedom of expression in the US is guaranteed by the constitution. The USA has the most highly developed mass media in the world. Public broadcasting is partly government-funded, but also supported by private grants.

Post

There are numerous post offices throughout the states. Stamps can also be bought at stamp machines in hotels and shops. Airmail to Europe takes up to one week.Mon-Fri 0830-1630 (24 hours at main offices in larger cities).

Press

• High readership papers include the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times.
• The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Washington Post are also popular.
• The high degree of self-government of each state means newspapers tend to be region specific.
• The USA publishes more newspapers than any other country.

Radio

National radio networks include:
• ABC Radio Networks.
• National Public Radio
• Fox News Radio.
• CBS operates Westwood One and American Radio Network.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
17 Jan Martin Luther King Day
21 Feb Presidents’ Day
30 May Memorial Day
4 Jul Independence Day
5 Sep Labor Day
10 Oct Columbus Day
11 Nov Veterans’ Day
24 Nov Thanksgiving Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
16 Jan Martin Luther King Day
20 Feb Presidents’ Day
28 May Memorial Day
4 Jul Independence Day
3 Sep Labor Day
8 Oct Columbus Day
11 Nov Veterans’ Day
22 Nov Thanksgiving Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

Contact Information

International Trade Administration (ITA), Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI)

US Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230, USA
Tel: (202) 482 2000.
Website: www.tinet.ita.doc.gov

Travel Industry Association of America

1100 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 408 8422.
Website: www.tia.org

Embassy of the United States of America in the UK

24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 9000 or 0904 245 0100 (recorded information).
Visa Branch: 55/56 Upper Brook Street, London W1A 2LQ, UK
Website: www.usembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1730 (Only applicants with visa appointments admitted).
Consulates in: Belfast and Edinburgh.