Language

The English spoken in New Jersey is slightly influenced by its neighbors, New York and Philadelphia, so expect a mild accent that is hard to pin down.

Currency

The currency in New Jersey 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. Foreign currency is easily exchanged at major bank branches though ATMs are readily available throughout the state. Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted everywhere, but small rural shops. In major tourist centers like Atlantic City and Cape May, travelers’ checks are easy to use at businesses.

Time

New Jersey is in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT -5 or GMT -4 between March 12 and November 4 during daylight savings).

Electricity

New Jersey uses electricity at 110-120 V, 60 Hz. Flat two-prong plugs are common style, so it is advised to travel with a universal plug adapter or converter if you are bringing electrical appliances from outside the US.

Communications

The dialing code for the United States is +1. New Jersey uses nine different area codes depending on the region. The main one is 609 (Atlantic City, Trenton and Princeton). You can expect very good mobile phone coverage except in the national forests like the Pine Barrens and along remote sections of the Jersey Shore. Internet access is easy to find in tourist towns like Atlantic City, Cape May and Princeton. Check local coffee shops for Wi-Fi hot spots.

Duty-free

All travelers arriving to the United States over the age of 18 are allowed to bring in one liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes (or 50 non-Cuban cigars or two kilograms of tobacco) and gifts valued up to US $400 tax-free.

Tourist Office

New Jersey Tourism Commission, PO Box 460, Trenton, NJ 08625: +1-609-599-6540 or http://visitnj.org/.

Consulates in New Jersey

Canadian Consulate General, New York: +1-212-596-1628
German Consulate General, New York: +1-212-610-9700
Netherlands Consulate General, New York: +1-877-388-2443
French Consulate General, New York: +1-212-606-3600
Australian Consulate General, New York: +1-212-351-6500
British Consulate General, New York: +1-212-745-0200

Emergency

Emergency services: 911