Language

English is the language spoken in Michigan, but the residents have one of the strongest and fastest dialects in the country. They tend to contract a lot of their words and speak quickly, which can confuse even native English speakers. Therefore, it’s important to keep the context in mind when talking with folks from Michigan.

Currency

The sole currency used in Michigan is the US dollar (US $). Banknotes come in denominations of US$1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. There are 100 cents in US$1, with coins available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents. The easiest place to exchange cash is at a bank, and most tourist towns have a bank branch which is large enough to exchange most major currencies. ATMs are another way to get cash. They are readily available in bank lobbies, supermarkets, and other large stores. If you have travelers’ checks, it is best to cash them at a bank. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost everywhere in the state.

Time

Michigan is in the Eastern Time Zone.

Electricity

Michigan uses electricity at 110-120V, 60Hz. Flat, two-prong plugs are typical, so it is recommended that you travel with a universal plug adapter if you are carrying electrical goods from Europe or Asia, which may also require a transformer.

Communications

The dialing code for the United States is +1. Michigan uses 11 different area codes depending on the part of the state. The main area codes are: 313 (Detroit), 734 (Ann Arbor), 616 (Grand Rapids), and 517 (Lansing). In the Lower Peninsula, expect good mobile phone coverage in most areas, but the Upper Peninsula has some pockets of remote wilderness where it isn’t possible to get a signal. Wireless internet hot spots are common in tourist towns, usually at coffee shops or book stores.

Duty-free

If flying directly into Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, every passenger over the age of 18 is allowed to carry one liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes (or 50 non-Cuban cigars or two kilograms of tobacco), and gifts valued at up to US$400 without paying any duty.

Tourist Office

Michigan Tourism and Economic Development: 300 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48913 +1-888-784-7328, http://www.michigan.org/.

Consulates serving Michigan

Canadian Consulate, Detroit: +1-313-567-2340 German Consulate, Chicago: +1-312-202-0480 Netherlands Consulate, Chicago: +1-877-388-2443 French Consulate, Chicago: +1-312-327-5200 Australian Consulate, Chicago: +1-312-419-1480 British Consulate, Chicago: +1-312-970-3800

Emergency

Emergency services: 911